There's something exotic about a castle town, and Kumamoto is no exception. Kumamoto Castle's enormous fortifications and steps give an immediacy to the thrills and spills of history, and tower knowingly above its surrounds today.
Below the castle, new arcades and cluttered old streets form Kumamoto's small downtown area. The city is noticeably green. Kumamoto was dubbed a "citadel of forests" by writer Natsume Soseki and the description still rings true -- Kumamoto is surrounded by forested hills.
Winter is a great time for walking around its many natural and cultural attractions. First, the castle beckons visitors from almost every angle in town to spend a few leisurely hours. Built in 1607 on the orders of the daimyo Kato Kiyomasa, it escaped harm for over 13 generations until it was mostly destroyed in a seige in 1877 during the Seinan wars. A replica tower was built in 1960, but the original stone foundations and soaring fortifications remain.