Samurai Culture In Kumamoto

Samurai culture in Kumamoto

Introduction

Kumamoto, in Japan, is a city with numerous charms that cannot stop knowing. Therefore, in this post we discover the best things to see and do in the place that concerns us and that constitutes one of the most interesting sites to discover in the country of Japan. Can you come with us? Visit Kumamoto Castle, any trip to the city must include the visit to its greatest symbol: Kumamoto Castle. In addition, it is considered one of the three best palaces in Japan along with that of Nagoya and Osaka. 

Its origin dates back to the end of the 15th century although later major expansions suffered until it became an extremely fortified large castle. However, this did not prevent it from being besieged during the Satsuma rebellion, looted and burned. Inside you can see how the feudal lords live between meditation rooms, halls with arrangements on their walls. It is also worth accessing the top of the building, where there is a viewpoint from which to enjoy incredible views.

Walking through the Swiss Garden. It is a large and open park that can be traveled following a circular path path, and in which the fifty -three stations that make up the Tokaido postal route are reproduced, which includes Mount Fuji himself. The Sanctuary of Izumi-Jinja also stands out in the place, where Sinto weddings are held;the great pond, which represents the ocean;or the Kokin-Denju tea hall, originally from the famous Rikyu Rikyu Garden. 

Access the Museum of Fine Arts of Kumamoto Prefecture raised its doors in the Kumamoto Castle enclosure and houses old, current, Japanese and Western works, such as those belonging to Renoir, Rembrandt, Gauguin, Picasso or Rodin. The collection is completed with old engravings, sculptures and calligraphy;and with reproductions of decorated tombs discovered in the prefecture. Very close to the previous one is the Popular Art Center for the Prefecture of Kumamoto, where you can contemplate a wide variety of artisanal objects and popular art in wood, ceramics or bamboo. 

Also covered or heigo -style marquetry, specific from the Kumamoto region. It is possible to buy some of the pieces in the building store. Discover the Shimada Art Museum. We continue with the museums, in this case with the art of Shimada, which exhibits objects related to the history of the samurai culture of the Kumamoto region. Of all of them, the weapons and the articles that belonged to Miyamoto Musashi, protagonist of the next place that must also be visited in the Japanese city that occupy us.

The Reigandō cave is famous for having been the temporary home of Rōnin Miyamoto Musashi. In it he spent his last months meditating and writing the Martial Arts Treaty entitled The Book of Five Rings. Today tourists can also easily access the bus site from the city of Kumamoto. Next to the cave is the Gohyaku Rakan, where there are more than five hundred stone statues of the Buddha disciples. Each of them presents a unique expression, so it is impossible to find two that are equal. 

conclusion

Knowing Kumamoto’s Hosokawa residence is a sample of the typical mansion of a high -ranking samurai of the Edo period. And it was the old residence of the Hosokawa family. Its origin dates back to the year 1678, although in 1873 the building moved from the Higashikoi Machi neighborhood to the castle park. Inside you can visit the rooms, which were faithfully restored in the 1990s, or discovering various objects of interest of the Hosokawa clan in the office, kitchen and bedroom. Some examples are board games, painted shells, tea services or combed combs.