Kokura Castle Travel Guide: Experience Kokura’s History and Japan’s Traditional Culture

Because Kokura faces the Kanmon Strait and played an important role as a key transportation hub, the Mori clan, rulers of the Chugoku region, built a castle on the site where Kokura Castle stands today.
Later, Hosokawa Tadaoki, a daimyo (a warrior serving the shogun) who distinguished himself in the Battle of Sekigahara, entered Kokura.
In 1602, Hosokawa Tadaoki began construction, and it was completed seven years later in 1609.
In 1837, a fire broke out inside the castle and it was destroyed, but it was rebuilt in 1839 without a castle keep.
From the late Edo period, it served as a base and stronghold during wartime, but after the Pacific War it was requisitioned by the United States.
It was returned in 1957, and in 1959 the castle keep was rebuilt into its current form.

Renovated in 2019, the “castle keep” is divided into floors from the 1st to the 5th, making it a sightseeing spot where you can experience Kokura’s history.
On the 1st floor, enjoy a powerful theater presentation covering Approx. 400 years of Kokura’s history; on the 2nd floor, learn about the history of the lords who ruled Kokura for many years and see a model of “Kokura Castle” as it was when first built.
The 3rd floor introduces the lives of the famed swordsmen Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.
At the “Ganryujima photo spot,” there’s a figure of Miyamoto Musashi in a striking pose.
Try taking a photo as if you were Sasaki Kojiro.
The 4th floor is a gallery space where you can view special exhibitions and works by local residents.
The 5th floor is an observation space with views over the city of Kokura.

Another great plus is that elevators are available from the 1st to the 5th floors.
Not only the inside of the castle, but also the “Kara-zukuri” keep and the bold-looking stone walls are must-sees.

Known as a famous cherry blossom spot, the best season to visit “Kokura Castle” is spring.
When the cherry blossoms are at their best, you can enjoy around 300 Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry trees blooming around “Kokura Castle.”
The beautiful, distinctly Japanese view of the castle lined with cherry blossoms is a must-see.
Every year from late March to early April, the “Kokura Castle Sakura Festival” is held, with food stalls and a variety of events, so there’s more to enjoy than just cherry blossom viewing.
During the festival, after sunset, the keep and cherry blossoms are illuminated, creating a magical scene.

“Kokura Castle Garden” is a restoration of the former villa of the Ogasawara clan, feudal lords who once ruled Kokura.
A feudal lord’s garden and a typical Edo-period samurai residence shoin (a space for receiving guests) are recreated here.
It’s a rare facility designed to introduce two traditional Japanese cultural values: “consideration for others” and “hospitality.”
“Kokura Castle Garden” is divided into four zones: garden, shoin, experiences, and exhibits, and also introduces history and daily life culture.
Please refer to the table below for what you can experience in each zone.

“Shiro Terrace,” located near “Kokura Castle,” is divided into four areas: a lounge, souvenirs, tourist information, and food and drinks.
In the souvenir area, you can find Kokura-only items, and in the food and drinks area, you can enjoy matcha and matcha sweets from a long-established local teahouse in Kokura.
All areas are unified in a Japanese style, so you should be able to feel that traditional atmosphere here as well.
If you get tired from exploring Kokura Castle and the surrounding area, be sure to take a break at “Shiro Terrace.”

Opened in 2012 in Kitakyushu City, which has produced many famous manga artists such as Leiji Matsumoto, Seizo Watase, and Tsukasa Hojo, the “Kitakyushu Manga Museum.”
It’s a facility that shares the appeal of manga through exhibits themed around “watch, read, and draw.”
Among its many areas, the most popular is the “Reading Zone,” which houses around 70,000 collected volumes.
You can read freely inside the museum, and there are also manga sommeliers who answer questions about manga.
Be sure to check out the regularly held events as well, including exhibitions and talk shows by popular manga artists, drawing lessons from instructors, and themed reading groups.

“Tanga Market,” known as Kitakyushu locals’ kitchen, is located about a 10-minute walk from JR Kokura Station.
It has a nostalgic atmosphere that feels like stepping back into the Showa era.
Centered around a 180 m-long street, around 120 shops line the area, selling not only fresh fish and vegetables, but also prepared foods and processed products—and you’ll also find shops selling “nukadaki,” a Kokura specialty.
“Nukadaki” is a local Kokura dish where sardines or mackerel are simmered in a sweet-and-salty broth with rice bran pickling bed added to the simmering liquid. Some shops pride themselves on their “100-year rice bran bed” passed down through generations, so be sure to check them out.

A large shopping mall packed with diverse attractions, including a large movie theater with 10 screens, game arcades, well-known shops from across Japan, and brands that started in Kyushu.
Shops are scattered across the spacious grounds, making it feel like you’re strolling past street-level stores in town.
From fashion to interior goods, 100-yen shops, and mobile-related stores, the lineup is varied. It also has a food court and restaurants.

A Japanese tea cafe that opened in February 2024.
Located in the Muromachi area just off a side street from JR Nishi-Kokura Station, it’s gaining attention for its new style of tea experience that blends Japanese tea with spices and elements of Japanese, Chinese, and Western traditions—said to soothe everyday mental and physical fatigue.

An okonomiyaki restaurant in Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka, in business since 1990.
Ishin’s okonomiyaki is thick, with a unique texture: crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
The batter includes Kokura local sake, and letting it rest overnight creates an addictive soft, chewy texture.

Shiroya Bakery’s Kokura store in Kokura, Kitakyushu City, is a long-established bakery that locals have loved since the 1950s.
It’s close to JR Kokura Station, conveniently located inside the Kokura Chuo Shopping Street arcade.
You choose the bread you want from the display case, and it’s so popular there’s almost always a line.