Kumamoto’s most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and, in its day, extremely well fortified Japanese castle. Close to the castle is Suizenji Garden, a spacious, Japanese style landscape garden best enjoyed by strolling along a circular path. The Former Hosokawa Residence (Kyū Hosokawa Gyōbutei) is the former residence of a branch family of the Hosokawa Clan and a great example of a high-class samurai mansion. Kumamoto has a prefectural mascot, ‘Kumamon’, a black bear with red cheeks.