Kumamoto Castle sees visitor numbers halve after recent earthquake reopening
After reopening on Aug. 13, Kumamoto Castle attracted 32,400 guests through Aug. 27, roughly half the traffic recorded in the same span in 2025.
Kumamoto Castle reopened on Aug. 13, two weeks after a powerful quake, and recorded 32,400 visitors by Aug. 27, about half the count for the same period in 2025, according to the city government. The July 28 earthquake caused stone walls within the castle grounds to collapse at 40 locations, interrupting restoration work slated to continue through fiscal 2052. Nearby businesses are feeling the impact; a shop selling ice cream sees sales at roughly 20 percent of pre-quake levels, and a souvenir vendor worries about cancellations of school trips.
The regional economy of Kyushu relies heavily on tourism, and officials are counting on an October-launched subsidy program to reduce travel expenses and stimulate demand, similar to measures that helped after the 2016 earthquakes. A city official emphasized that increased visitor flow is essential for Kumamoto’s broader recovery.
Why it matters
Tourism drives Kyushu’s economy, and the sharp drop in castle visitors threatens local recovery after the quake.
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