The city of Kumamoto plans to take advantage of next year's Rugby World Cup to revive its struggling tourism industry by offering visitors special access to a famous castle currently undergoing repairs following a pair of powerful earthquakes in 2016.
The quakes, which both measured the highest reading of 7 on the country's seismic intensity scale, brought down more than 30 buildings in Kumamoto Castle Park, including some turrets built in the 17th century, and the main and secondary towers rebuilt in 1960.
The distinctive design of the stone walls, part of an old samurai fortress that has in the past drawn many foreign tourists, were badly damaged, with about 30 percent of them on the castle premises having partially crumbled or completely collapsed during the quakes, according to city officials.