５年ぶりに公開となった天守閣内部は、テクノロジーを駆使した歴史博物館！

After five years of repairs and renovations the inside of Kumamoto Castle’s main tower is again open to the public. It features a well-designed museum that explains, from floor to floor and using state-of-the-art technology, the history of the castle from its earliest beginnings to the modern era.

公式アプリ（ダウンロード無料）を利用するのは、新しい天守閣を楽し方法の一つ！

日本語、英語、簡体、繁体、韓国語の多言語で提供されていて、海外ルーツの方が訪れる時には本当に便利です。詳細な説明ではないものの、展示セクションごとの概略を音声と文字で伝えてくれます。

With the Kumamoto Castle Multi-lingual app you can get a concise general overview (spoken and written) of each section in English, Simplified Chinese, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. (Note for real history buffs: Most of the details of the exhibits are left out of the app, so having someone along who can read and explain the Japanese would be a very good thing.)

アプリで利用できるAR（拡張現実）機能で、明治初期に撮影されたお城からの遠景を楽しむことも可能！

With the app’s Augmented Reality function you can see views from the main tower as they were in the past. Enjoy the castle in ways that were never before possible.

One way to enjoy the exhibits fully is to get an annual pass!

It would take more than 2 hours if you want to really appreciate the whole exhibits, which might be difficult to do at one time.

Admission for an adult is ¥800, but the annual pass is ¥1,600.　It’s not a bad deal!

If you have the annual pass, you can easily visit the tower when you happen to stroll the Nino-maru square or have a chance to visit the Prefectural Art Museum, too.

またお城ファンにとって、年間パスは嬉しい存在！

一般の入園料は¥800ですが、年間入園券は ¥1,600! つまり2回で元が取れることになります。

天守閣内部の展示は、本当に充実しているので、全てを一度に見るには２時間以上は かかると言っても間違いではないほど。

１年間に数回、二の丸広場散策や県立美術館訪問も兼ね訪れることが可能であれば、年間パスが絶対お得です！

If you really want to take in the views and exhibits—details and all—you’ll probably need at least two hours. This might be somewhat difficult to do all in one go, so…

If you live in or near Kumamoto or if you are visiting for more than a few days, purchasing an annual pass is a very good idea.

Admission for an adult is ¥800, but the unlimited entry annual pass is only ¥1,600. Not a bad deal at all!

If you have the annual pass, you can easily come to the tower when you stroll through Nino-maru Park or visit the Prefectural Art Museum, or maybe even while waiting for friends and family members to finish up their downtown shopping.

年間パスの購入は、北口券売所（二の丸広場券売所にはありませんのでご注意！）もしくは熊本城HP（無料登録が必要）。

また北口券売所での購入の場合、その場で写真撮影が必要となります。

時間をかけて展示を楽しむ１つの方法は、年間入園券を利用すること！

The annual pass is available at the North Entrance Ticket Station (NOT at Nino-maru Ticket Office!) or online (the registration is necessary, though). For the pass you have to have your picture taken, so be ready!

ちなみに入園料免除対象（要　免許証・保険証などの証明書）は：

・熊本市・鹿児島市・福岡市・北九州市在住の65歳以上の方

・熊本市・鹿児島市・福岡市・北九州市の小中学生

・熊本城主カード（有効期限内）をお持ちの方

・障害者手帳・療育手帳お持ちの方

Admission is free for those in the following categories (ID required):

・those over 65 living in Kumamoto city, Kagoshima City, Fukuoka City, and Kitakyushu City

・elementary & junior high students in Kumamoto city, Kagoshima City, Fukuoka City, and Kitakyushu City

・those with a Kumamoto Castle Owner card

・those a disability/rehabilitation certificate

天気が良い週末などの場合、オンラインで日時指定のチケット購入しておく方が安全かもしれません。（以下のリンク）

The site might be very crowded on the weekends especially when the weather is good. We recommend that you get a ticket online beforehand.　↓

あの「天守閣からの市街地」の眺望同様、天守閣の新しい楽しみ方、ご堪能あれ！