Good news for evening visitors: Kumamoto Castle has confirmed that its nighttime opening hours and the Shiro-Akari illumination event have resumed as of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, following a temporary suspension caused by Typhoon 30.
The closure was triggered by the typhoon’s impact, and castle staff needed time to inspect and verify that all lighting equipment was in working order before reopening after dark. That check is now complete, and things are back to normal.
The Shiro-Akari installation marks a decade of recovery since the 2016 earthquake and fills the castle grounds with a moving light display well worth seeing after sunset. If you missed it during the typhoon disruption, now is your chance to catch it before the autumn season wraps up.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Resumption date | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 |
| Last entry | 8:00 p.m. |
| Closing time | 9:00 p.m. |
The castle apologized to visitors who had planned trips during the closure period. If you’re already in Kumamoto for the autumn castle festival, the evening light-up is a natural way to finish your day at one of Japan’s most iconic castle sites.
Source: Kumamoto Castle
