Kumamoto Castle to Reopen After Earthquake, Welcoming Visitors Again on Aug. 13 | WPN World People News

Kumamoto City officials announced on August 10 that Kumamoto Castle, which was temporarily closed following a recent strong earthquake, is expected to reopen to visitors on August 13 after completing final safety inspections.

Kumamoto Castle was severely damaged in the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake and has remained under restoration ever since. The July 28 earthquake caused around 40 additional areas of damage, including the collapse of several sections of stone walls and cracks appearing on the walls of the castle keep. Kumamoto Mayor Kazufumi Onishi said the castle is an important symbol of post-disaster reconstruction and expressed hope that its reopening would help boost local recovery and tourism.

The city government said the main visitor routes within the castle grounds have been confirmed to be generally safe. If the final safety checks are completed by August 12, the castle will reopen as scheduled on August 13. To help affected residents relieve stress and provide families with a place for recreation, the Kumamoto City Zoological and Botanical Gardens will also offer free admission for three consecutive days, from August 12 to 14.

Kumamoto Castle officials said safety barriers will be installed in areas where stone wall repairs and structural reinforcement work are still underway. Visitors will be required to follow on-site instructions and designated routes.

Despite continued progress in post-earthquake recovery efforts, the Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that seismic activity in the Kumamoto region has not yet fully subsided. Since the earthquake last month, a total of 590 earthquakes with a seismic intensity of 1 or higher have been recorded in the area.

The agency said the probability of an earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of 5-lower or stronger occurring over the next month remains about 30 times higher than normal. The likelihood of an earthquake reaching 5-upper or stronger is also about 50 times higher than usual. Authorities are urging residents to avoid dangerous areas and remain alert to further earthquakes and changes in weather conditions.