Kumamoto Castle (熊本城, Kumamoto-jō) stands atop a hill in Chūō-ku, Kumamoto, within Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Originally a robust and sizable fortress, the current castle keep (天守閣, tenshukaku) is a concrete reconstruction completed in 1960, complemented by several remaining wooden structures from the original castle. Regarded as one of Japan’s three premier castles, alongside Himeji Castle and Matsumoto Castle, Kumamoto Castle boasts thirteen structures within its complex designated as Important Cultural Property.
Kumamoto (熊本市, Kumamoto-shi) serves as the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on Kyushu Island, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city is home to an estimated population of 738,907, with a population density of 1,893 individuals per square kilometer, covering a total area of 390.32 km2.
In the broader Kumamoto region (熊本都市圏), the 2000 census recorded a population of 1,461,000. By 2010, the Kumamoto Metropolitan Employment Area reported a noteworthy GDP of US$39.8 billion. Despite sharing a border, it distinguishes itself from the Fukuoka–Kitakyushu metropolitan area. The city attained official designation through government ordinance on April 1, 2012.