Next on the afternoons agenda was Kumamoto Castle. I'd been to Osaka Castle before and saw Hiroshima Castle from the outside the other day. Kumamoto is famous as being quite old and a large complex. It was a centre of some of the feudal lords during the Shogan period. You can buy a single entry ticket for 300Y ($3.75) or a combo ticket. I bought the one for the Governers residence for 640Y ($7.50). There was another combo to another history museum, which I decided to skip to visit the actual historical sites. There is an outer moat and a long and steep outer wall you have to walk around to one of the openings. Then there is long steep staircase to bring you inside the outer wall to the inner complex. The nearer you reach the centre there were costume characters greeting the visitors. I headed first for the twin tower main castle. Inside was a museum on each floor showing various aspects of historical life in the region. Each floor was smaller than the last as it was shaped like the inside of a pyramid. I couldnt figure out how to go up the smaller second tower as the tour path exited me out, so I went back in and asked for directions. There was a second staircase inside that I had missed to go up the second tower and get a view of the larger tower. Near the main castle was some palace which you were allowed into after removing shoes. It seemed quite simple but had interesting wood timber construction. The in the outer ramparts was another tower you were allowed inside. This one seemed much older and had wood timber Tudor style english architecture on the inside. It was nice as I havent been to many genuine Tudor places in England. I noticed many Koreans and the staff would greet them in korean. I decided to say hello just for the heck of it. The lady was surprised that someone with my appearance in Kumamoto was speaking Korean I told her I was from Daegu, and startled she said so was she. I told her I was from Chilgok and even more startled she said so was she. I told her the neighbourhood I was from and she is 20 mins away in my old neighbourhood. Her and her daughter find this whole experience quite surprising and unexpected, as did I. It was a very interesting castle complex and quite like The Tower of London. It's quite large and stretches over a large area. The outer castle wall is a striking local feature and like an iceberg slopes to quite a depth only revealling the small structure at the top.