Kumamoto Castle reopens to tourists after safety inspections following 7.1 quake
Kumamoto Castle welcomed visitors again on Thursday after city officials completed safety checks following the recent magnitude-7.1 earthquake.
The historic castle in Kumamoto, Japan, resumed public access after inspections through Tuesday found no hazards that would block entry. The July 28 tremor left the main tower's floor uneven and caused stone walls to collapse in several spots. The site, designated as a special historic landmark, remains under a long-term restoration program slated for completion in fiscal 2052.
Why it matters
The castle’s reopening signals recovery progress for a major cultural landmark after a strong earthquake.
In this story
Kumamoto Castleearthquakemagnitude-7.1safety checkshistoric siterestorationfiscal 2052