Kokura Castle
Hosokawa Tadaoki helped in the victory of the Battle of Sekigahara, entered the area and started building a castle in 1602. It took seven years to complete. Then, it was occupied by Lord Ogasawara, but all but the stone wall was burned down in 1866. After WWII, upon the citizens’ fervent request, the castle tower was rebuilt.
Kokura Castle is a must-see when visiting Kitakyushu. It’s within walking distance of JR Kokura Station, making it very convenient to get to. The white castle tower, imposing stone walls, and moat offer a different view from every angle and create a strong sense of a traditional Japanese castle.
Kokura Castle is also a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot in Fukuoka Prefecture. During cherry blossom season, the castle and pale pink blossoms complement each other, making the scenery even more charming. Unfortunately, this visit wasn’t during cherry blossom season, so it was missing that romantic touch of pink. Still, Kokura Castle looked impressive under the clear skies and was well worth a stroll and some photos.










