Ten years after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, the castle at the heart of the city is marking the anniversary with a quiet, reflective tribute. From August 7 (Friday) to August 16 (Sunday), Kumamoto Castle’s Ninomaru Plaza will be bathed in a special seasonal light-up under the theme of remembrance — part of the ongoing 熊本城REVIVAL2026 (Kumamoto Castle REVIVAL 2026) series of events. Entry is completely free.
The event is called Natsu no Irodori ~Ayumi no Jutto~ (夏ノ彩 ～歩みの十燈～), which loosely translates as “Ten Lights of the Journey” — a nod to the decade of recovery. The idea is simple and moving: visitors gather beneath the same night sky, carrying their own memories of the past ten years, and look ahead together toward the future.
Lighting hours are 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM on weekends and public holidays. The extra half-hour on weekends gives you a little more time to soak in the atmosphere.
Special guided evening tours of Kumamoto Castle are also running this August, so you could combine both experiences on the same night for a memorable visit to the castle grounds.
Getting There
- Tram: Kumamoto City Tram to Kumamoto-jo / Shiyakusho-mae stop, then about a 15-minute walk
- Bus: From Sakuramachi Bus Terminal, about 10 minutes on foot — or take the Shiro-Megurin loop bus to the Ninomaru parking lot stop (about 10 minutes), then 1 minute on foot
- Car: About 12 minutes from JR Kumamoto Station; parking available at Ninomaru, Sannomaru, Kyunai, and Sakura-no-Baba lots
For inquiries, contact Kumamoto City Tourism Policy Division (Kumamoto-shi Kanko Seisaku-ka) at 096-328-2393.
Source: kumamoto-guide.jp
