Most of Kumamoto Castle was destroyed in the Satsuma Rebellion (called the “Seinan Senso” in Japanese) of 1877 – but not all of it. As this article reminds us, the Utoyagura (the turret shown in the picture, which is near the main castle) was left untouched. If you visit the castle, be sure to take a look inside this smaller but completely authentic structure.
“For example, the Yomei Gate of Nikko Toshogu shrine in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, and the Utoyagura turret of Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto — both visited by Bird during her trip to Japan — are virtually unchanged.”