Hello! This is Hitapapa.
This time we will introduce you to Kokura Castle, the pride of Kitakyushu!
It’s about a 10-minute walk from JR Kokura Station, and it feels like the castle is right in the middle of the city .
Right next to the moat of Kokura Castle is the commercial facility “Riverwalk Kitakyushu,” creating a beautiful contrast between the past and the present.
The castle suddenly appears when you’re walking around the city of Kokura, so many tourists take photos there.
The Kokura Castle Garden is located right across from the castle, so be sure to visit it as well when you visit the castle!
There is a garden that changes with the seasons, a study building that resembles an old mansion, and you can even experience the tea ceremony.
It is recommended to purchase a set ticket for Kokura Castle and Kokura Castle Garden, as it is cheaper .
Now let us introduce you to Kokura Castle, a must-see for tourists in Kitakyushu!
Kokura Castle is a must-see attraction when visiting Kitakyushu.
- Facility information for “Kokura Castle”
- Go to Kokura Castle
- The exterior of “Kokura Castle”
- “Kokura Castle” 1st floor
- “Kokura Castle” 2nd floor
- “Kokura Castle” 3rd floor
- “Kokura Castle” 4th floor
- “Kokura Castle Keep” 5th floor (top floor/observation room)
- Kokura Castle: A must-see attraction for tourists in Kitakyushu
- Related Posts
Facility information for “Kokura Castle”
<Kokura Castle>
[Address] 2-1 Jonai, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture
[Business hours] 9:00-20:00
[Closed] Open all year round
[Parking] Available (Katsuyama Park Parking)
[Telephone number] 093-561-1210
[Official website] https://kokura-castle.jp/
A set ticket for “Kokura Castle” and “Kokura Castle Garden” is a great deal!
Go to Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle stands between the commercial facility “Riverwalk Kitakyushu” and the city hall.
The Murasaki River is nearby, and as you cross this bridge the castle comes closer and closer, which is exciting.
The contrast between the modern and the past with Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura Castle is wonderful!
When you walk through the city of Kokura, the castle comes into view.
The moat of Kokura Castle comes right next to Riverwalk Kitakyushu.
There are carp and other fish swimming in the moat.
It’s a beautiful big moat.
Toranomon Gate of Kokura Castle.
It has a nice atmosphere.
This is Toranomon!
From Riverwalk Kitakyushu, you can cross the moat on this bridge to get to Kokura Castle.
Next to Kokura Castle is Yasaka Shrine, a historic shrine in Kokura.
The combination of the castle and the shrine is amazing.
Yasaka Shrine and Kokura Castle are connected, so you can just walk from there.
The combination of castle and shrine is wonderful!
Near the entrance to Kokura Castle is Shiro Terrace, a shop that sells souvenirs from Kitakyushu.
It’s a fun place with a wide selection of goods related to Kokura Castle and local souvenirs from Kitakyushu.
If you’re looking for souvenirs from Kitakyushu, you can’t go wrong at Shiro Terrace!
The exterior of “Kokura Castle”
The overwhelming beauty of Kokura Castle!!
Kokura Castle stands out against the blue sky!
(I’ll post it on Instagram later)
Kokura Castle looks best from this angle
(near the entrance to Kokura Castle Gardens)
The magnificent stone walls are also beautiful!
We enter Kokura Castle through this Otemon Gate.
It is a stately entrance made of stone.
Let’s enter the castle through the Otemon Gate!
Let’s keep climbing up to the castle!
In front of the castle there is a green promenade and square.
It’s nice to have a picnic here.
The area around Kokura Castle is like a park filled with greenery. It’s a great place to visit during cherry blossom season.
There is a statue of the duel between “Musashi” and “Kojiro”, who have ties to Moji and Kokura.
Kokura Castle stands out against the blue sky.
Large stones are piled up in the castle’s stone walls.
Small stones are embedded between the larger stones with no gaps between them.
It must have been incredibly arduous work for people in the past to carry these huge stones down from the mountains one by one and build them by hand.
From here we enter the castle.
Once inside, there is a reception desk where you can pay the fee.
“Kokura Castle” 1st floor
Immediately after entering Kokura Castle, on the first floor, there is an exhibition on the history of Kokura Castle.
Along with the history of Kokura Castle, the museum also displays the changes in people over the years.
You can learn about the history of Kokura Castle here.
Toratcha is the mascot character of Kokura Castle.
Let’s take a commemorative photo together for now.
There is a zone where you can try on a kimono and take commemorative photos for free.
It’s very popular not only with foreigners but also with Japanese people!
Be sure to take a commemorative photo!
It’s free so be sure to take some photos!
There is a type of palanquin that is often seen in period dramas, in which lords rode.
Get in a palanquin and experience what it’s like to be a feudal lord!
The inside of the palanquin is quite narrow.
Surprisingly, the lord was able to move around in this narrow space.
When you press a switch, the palanquin will shake, giving you the experience of actually being transported.
You can experience lifting the same weight as the stones used in the stone walls of Kokura Castle.
It’s extremely heavy!
People in the past had to bring these stones down from the mountain one by one, so it must have been an incredibly tough job.
A game where you can experience Yabusame.
This is a game where you mount a horse, it sways, and you shoot a bow at the screen.
Very popular with children ♪
The Yabusame game is fun even for adults!
It looks like a military uniform from the Boshin War and an old gun.
I can feel the history.
There are stairs and an elevator to get to the upper floors.
Be careful as the stairs are quite steep.
You can take the elevator up to the castle tower on the top floor (it stops on every floor)
“Kokura Castle” 2nd floor
The second floor is mainly an exhibition area, where valuable items that tell the story of past times are displayed.
Hmm. There are many valuable exhibits. I’m learning a lot.
The height of Kokura Castle’s castle tower is the sixth tallest in Japan, after Himeji Castle.
It was quite expensive, wasn’t it?
Kokura Castle was surprisingly expensive!
Furthermore, the size of the castle tower is the largest in Japan, beating out famous castles such as Kumamoto Castle, Himeji Castle, and Osaka Castle!
This is amazing!!
Kokura Castle’s castle tower was the largest in the country!
Kokura Castle has the largest castle tower in Japan.
“Kokura Castle” 3rd floor
On the third floor, there are explanations and exhibits about the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, who have ties to Moji and Kokura.
I understand Musashi and Kojiro a lot.
A replica of Miyamoto Musashi’s wooden sword and a replica of Sasaki Kojiro’s sword are on display.
This is a great spot for taking commemorative photos!
On the right is Miyamoto Musashi.
Become Sasaki Kojiro and film yourself dueling with Miyamoto Musashi!
“Kokura Castle” 4th floor
The fourth floor is a small rest area and a special exhibition corner.
When I visited this time, there was an exhibition of photos of castles from all over Japan.
“Kokura Castle Keep” 5th floor (top floor/observation room)
The fifth floor is the top floor of the castle tower!
wide!
It’s no wonder that the castle tower is the largest in the country.
The castle tower houses a cafe and observation deck, so you can enjoy the view while sipping a drink.
(You can use the observation deck even if you don’t order from the cafe menu.)
The combination of Riverwalk Kitakyushu and the moat is a beautiful sight!
The samurai residence you see below is the Kokura Castle Garden.
The Murasaki River flows at the back of Kokura Castle Garden.
It’s a 360 degree view and a great feeling.
There was a Shachihoko just below the castle tower!!
The observation deck of the castle tower is very spacious and the view is amazing.
Kokura Castle: A must-see attraction for tourists in Kitakyushu
Kokura Castle is located in the city center, about a 10-minute walk from JR Kokura Station, making it very easily accessible when sightseeing in Kitakyushu.
The contrast between the old castle and the modern commercial facility, Riverwalk Kitakyushu, makes for a beautiful composition.
The grounds of Kokura Castle are not that large, so you can see everything in a short amount of time, so it’s fine even if you don’t have much time.
The Kokura Castle Garden is located right across from the castle, so be sure to visit it as well when you visit the castle!
There is a garden that changes with the seasons, a study building that resembles an old mansion, and you can even experience the tea ceremony.
It is recommended to purchase a set ticket for Kokura Castle and Kokura Castle Garden, as it is cheaper .
If you are visiting Kitakyushu, be sure to check out Kokura Castle!
Let’s go visit Kokura Castle! It’s okay to go with small children♪
I hope the above information is of some help.
See you soon!
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