Kokura Castle Garden | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

Kokura Castle Garden

A traditional Japanese garden located beside Kokura Castle, where visitors can experience the refined beauty of Japanese aesthetics.

4 Nov 2026 See More

This elegant Kokura Castle Garden is located right next to Kokura Castle and has the tranquility and serenity characteristic of a Japanese garden. I happened to visit around sunset, and with relatively few visitors in the garden, I was able to sit on a bench and quietly enjoy the beautiful view of the historic castle, lush trees, and garden complementing one another.

Traditional tea ceremony experiences are also available by reservation. If you're interested, you can check the schedule and make a reservation in advance. It was truly wonderful to spend a leisurely afternoon in such a Japanese atmosphere.

Other Reviews by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

Kobe Animal Kingdom

This is an all-weather zoo and botanical garden with the theme of interaction. In the park, which realistically reproduces natural scenery, visitors can get up close and personal with animals that live in a near free-range environment. In addition to feeding and camel rides, there are also performances to learn about the ecology of the animals.
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What I was looking forward to most on this trip to Kobe was seeing the adorable red pandas in person. Not only can you see these comforting little animals up close, but you may even get the chance to see the hugely popular Pallas’s cat, with its grumpy-looking face and round, chubby body rolling around. The whole experience was truly soothing.

I really liked how there wasn’t any thick glass in the way, allowing you to observe the animals up close and feel more connected to them. The environment is kept very clean, and the birds throughout the park are also well cared for, with neat, clean feathers. It’s a very pleasant place to walk around, and the atmosphere is a little like Jojozoo Park in Nantou. If you enjoy getting close to animals, you definitely won’t want to leave. It’s a great place to spend a relaxing half day.
Hakata Gion Tetsunabe

A popular store selling a Fukuoka favorite,“Tetsunabe Gyoza”, which is said to have originated in a yatai stall in Hakata. On a hot pot, small gyozas are packed in a circle, grilling all pieces equally.
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When traveling to Fukuoka, most people only know about the iron-skillet gyoza in Hakata Gion, but the “Tetsunabe” restaurant in Kokura is actually quite famous as well. The two have deep ties, and even the red curtain at the entrance and the style of the iron-skillet gyoza look very similar.

This time, I made a special trip to try their signature gyoza cooked in a cast-iron skillet. They came out piping hot and were served right in the skillet. They were really delicious, and the restaurant’s special soy sauce and yuzu kosho completely cut through the greasiness of the pan-fried gyoza. The luckiest part was that there happened to be a festival while I was eating. I saw the parade passing by from the window and couldn’t resist running outside to take a few photos. Ordering is done on a tablet, and there’s a Chinese-language option, which is very convenient. If you’re worried that the Hakata location will be too crowded, consider coming to Kokura for a more relaxed meal. Highly recommended.
Naminoue Umisora Park Naminoue Beach

It is the only beach in Naha City that stretches near Naminoue Shrine, the first of the eight Ryukyu shrines and the most prestigious shrine in Okinawa.
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After visiting Naminoue Shrine, don’t miss Naminoue Beach right next to it, the only beach in Naha City. Just follow the small path beside the shrine downhill, and you can easily reach the beach. Since it’s right in the city, there were lots of people swimming and relaxing that day, making it very lively. The best part is that when you stand on the beach and look back, Naminoue Shrine perched on the cliff looks especially unique. Seeing the same building from a different angle always gives you a completely different perspective.

Although I didn’t actually go into the water this time, just walking on the fine sand, quietly listening to the waves, and looking at the deep blue sea felt incredibly relaxing and soothing.