Honmaru Goten Palace

The massive walls and black keep of Kumamoto Castle rarely fail to impress, but they aren't the only highlight on the castle grounds. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), this one-story structure just outside the main keep was used as a residence for daimyo lords and their families. It burned down during the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 but has been painstakingly rebuilt - often incorporating original artifacts where possible - over the course of the last decade. An absolute must-see are the painted walls and doors of the reception rooms.