熊本城本丸御殿・熊本城ミュージアム わくわく座

Kumamoto Castle, built by Katō Kiyomasa from 1601 and defended by Tokugawa-era Hosokawa lords for 250 years, is one of Japan's grandest samurai fortresses. The castle museum (Waku Waku-za) and the reconstructed Honmaru Palace display swords and armor connected to Katō Kiyomasa — the great Toyotomi commander — and to the Hosokawa clan, cultured warrior-lords whose daimyo included the tea master Sansai (Tadaoki). The Higo (Kumamoto) sword tradition, including the Nami-hira school and Higo Yukiyasu lineage, is documented in the collection. The castle also connects to the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion — the last battle in Japan where swords met modern rifles — adding a uniquely poignant historical dimension to the sword displays. The castle was severely damaged in the 2016 earthquake and has been undergoing major restoration.