Kumamoto

Five Peaks of Aso (Aso Gogaku)

Nekodake, Takadake, Nakadake, Eboshidake, Kishimadake\these are the five peaks of Aso. Climbing to the top of the outer rim of the vast volcanic crater here early on a fine clear morning, the whole of the Aso valley is filled with a veritable sea of clouds. Reflecting the early morning light, they are tinted with delicate tints and hues but disappear as the sun rises above the rim. The puffy cotton wool clouds of early autumn are wonderful and with the five peaks rising out of this sea of clouds, the resulting image of nirvana is a scene of mystic, breath-taking beauty.

Kumamoto Castle (kumamoto-jo)

One of Japan's three most famous castles, Kumamoto Castle is also known as the "gingko castle" because of the gingko trees growing in the grounds. Work was begun on its construction in 1601 by the well-known feudal lord, Kato Kiyomasa took seven years to complete. Covering an area of some ninety-eight thousand square meters and with a nine-kilometer perimeter at the time of its completion, its three main towers, 49 turrets, 18 turreted gates, and 29 gateways give it a grand, imposing appearance, which is topped off by the masterly building of the gracefully curved stone ramparts and skillful use of the natural topography of the site. In 1877 during the Seinan Insurrection led by Saigo Takamori, the forces of the Satsuma clan were under siege in the castle for more than 50 days, thus amply displaying its impregnability. Nevertheless, on the day before a full assault was to be made on the castle, the Udo turret and 12 others were destroyed by a fire, the cause of which is unknown. The present main keep was rebuilt by the municipal authorities in 1960 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of Kumamoto as a city and the 350th anniversary of the year in which Kato Kiyomasa became a feudal lord. The castle is now also famous for its cherry trees. There are some 600 trees in all, of three main distinctive Japanese varieties. When they are in bloom, upward of ten thousand people visit the grounds. The trees bloom between the end of March and the beginning of April and during this period, the grounds are open to the public in the evening when the castle and the blossom are floodlit. Designated as an Important National Treasure, it is said that the Udo turret was in fact the main keep of Udo castle and was moved to the site of Kumamoto castle. The Nagabei, also designated as an Important National Treasure, is the wall which protects the southern flank of the castle and runs along the bank of the Tsuboi river. Built in a perfectly straight line, it is said to be the longest in Japan, measuring some 253 meters in length. Another of the Important National Treasures is the Fukaimon. Also known as the "Devil Gate" and located in the northeastern of the castle grounds, it was known as the gate of impurity as it occupied a direction, which was believed to be inauspicious. This gate was therefore normally never opened, least it let in some form of evil and hence its name, meaning the "unopened gate". However, it is now used as the northern point of entry to the castle grounds.Standing in the main baily, there are two main keeps. The taller one rises to some 30 meters, while the smaller is some 19 meters in height.

Suizenji Park (Suizen-ji jyojyuen, Suizen-ji Kouen)

Known as the Jojuen garden and occupying pride of place in the Suizenji Park, the origins of this garden date back to 1632, when the first generation of local lords, Hosokawa Tadatoshi, who ruled over the Higo provinces, built the temple Suizenji by the lake here. The temple was later moved and a tea house was built in its place and subsequently, the site became a retreat and garden for the Hosokawa family over many generations. Since the end of the 19th century, however, the gardens have been open to the general public. It was the third generation of the family, Tsunatoshi, who was responsible for laying out the garden according to principles adhered to during the Momoyama period at the end of the 16th century. There are also some 150 cherry trees planted along a walk, which becomes thronged with people enjoying the delicate blossom between the end of March and beginning of April. Stretching out across the middle of the site, the lake is said to represent the sea along the eastern seaboard of Japan. The garden as a whole, complete with its own impression of Mt. Fuji, is said to be a representation of the 53 stations of the Tokaido or main trunk road between Edo (Tokyo) and the Imperial seat of Kyoto. The whole composition of gently undulating lawn covered hills and vales is planted with expertly clipped and finely shaped miniature pines. In the middle of the lake is a spring. Its clear waters are said to rise unceasingly from the foot of Mt. Aso. Standing beside the lake is a building, which was moved from Kyoto and reconstructed. Designated a Prefectural Important Cultural Property, this building called the Kokin Denju no Ma, was originally used as a study and place for the ceremonial drinking of tea by Prince Katsura Tomohito. It seems that Hosokawa Yusai had been initiated into the mysteries of the ancient collection of poems called the Kokin Waka-Shu by Prince Tomohito, who was brother of Emperor Goyosei. At the beginning of the 20th century, the novelist Soseki Natsume, who spent sometime in Kumamoto as a teacher, often visited the garden and composed a poem making reference to Suizenji. Abutting the park to the north is the Izumi shrine, which has long enshrined the feudal leaders of the Hosokawa family. Standing in the grounds is an inscribed stone water basin. It is said to have been a foundation stone of a column of the castle gates of Seoul many centuries ago.