During my trip we were able to visit Kumamoto Prefecture in order to see the famous castle. For castle fans and regular tourists alike, this castle is one of the best in the country! You can read more about the castle and how to get there here.
Upon arrival and climbing through the gates, this was my first view of the castle:

As you can see, that’s not exactly like the postcard
Still, it’s a pretty neat view!
This is the view from the top of the main keep, looking out over Kumamoto City.
We also visited the beautifully reconstructed Honmaru Goten Palace
From there, we headed out a different way we came in, turned around to get a last glimpse of the castle, and…
This is the Niyo-no-Ishigaki, the stone wall of two styles. Although it isn’t easily obvious in the picture, the closer wall is made of a more reddish-colored stone, while behind it is slightly grayer. To get here, head toward the Hazekata gate either on your way in or out, and you’ll find this spot!