城造りの名手と謳われた肥後国の武将『加藤清正』が普請した城。西南戦争や度重なる大地震によって天守を始め多くの建造物が崩落あ...
続きを読むるいは消失したものの、熊本市の象徴を絶やすまいと幾度と復元を繰り返している。天守も復元されたものだが、威風堂々とした佇まいが現在も多くの人を引き付けている。
熊本城の魅力は天守に留まらない。現在の熊本城址の敷地面積は、復興や熊本市の都市計画等により江戸時代のものより半分程度にまで削減されたものの、それでも現在の江戸城（皇居敷地）や大阪城公園の広さに匹敵する。加藤清正の築城の象徴とも言える『武者返し』の石垣を始め、多数の櫓や城門を構え、その内のいくつかは現存している。もはや熊本城が屋外城郭博物館そのもの、と言ってよく、天守内の展示物の観覧を除いても、城郭を周遊しながら歩くだけでも2時間は軽く超えるだろう。堅牢さ・美観・往年の技術、全てがつぎ込まれた無類の城と言ってもいい。
歴史的価値を持っている城址であるため、可能な限り往年の姿を残しているが、それでも車椅子等の障碍を持つ人でも気軽に訪れることが出来るよう、スロープの設置など工夫されている。各史跡の案内は日本語だけでなく英語の説明も併記されており、ボランティアガイドの方々も英語で説明しているのを見かける。外国人観光客も安心して周遊できるスポットだと思う。
Kumamoto Castle was constructed by Kiyomasa Kato, a feudal lord of Higo Province renowned as a master of castle-building. Although many of its buildings, including the main keep (Tenshu), were destroyed during the Satsuma Rebellion and repeated earthquakes, restoration efforts have continued over the years to preserve this iconic symbol of Kumamoto City. While the current main keep is a reconstruction, its imposing and dignified appearance still draws many visitors.
The appeal of Kumamoto Castle is not limited to the main keep. Although the current castle grounds have been reduced to about half their original size due to urban development and post-earthquake restoration, they still rival the grounds of Edo Castle (now the Imperial Palace) and Osaka Castle Park in scale. Key features include the famous "Mushagaeshi" stone walls, designed with steep slopes to repel attackers, as well as numerous turrets and gates, some of which have survived from the original construction. In this sense, the entire site functions as an open-air museum of Japanese castle architecture. Even without entering the exhibitions inside the main keep, walking around the castle grounds alone will easily take more than two hours. It's a remarkable example of durability, beauty, and traditional craftsmanship.
As a site of historical significance, efforts have been made to preserve the castle’s original appearance as much as possible. Nonetheless, modern additions such as ramps ensure that visitors with disabilities can access many areas comfortably. Explanatory signs are provided in both Japanese and English, and volunteer guides can often be seen offering tours in English as well. It's a welcoming destination for international tourists looking to experience Japan’s rich history.
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投稿日:2025/07/20
