I visited the ruins of Kokura Castle from "Nishinokuchi-Mon" Gate, West Gate.

On your right after passing through "Nishinokuchi-Mon" Gate, "Matsunomaru" Bailey is located. In the Bailey, a small tower is located.

If you walk directly to the east from "Nishinokuchi-Mon" Gate, you will see the sites of "Kurogane-Mon" Gate and "Keyaki-Mon" Gate on your left. These two gates were the entrance to the Main Bailey. "Kurogane-Mon" Gate was used for the retainers of Kokura Feudal Domain, "Keyaki-Mon" Gate was for a feudal lord and a chief retainer.

Further to the east from "Keyaki-Mon" Gate, "Ote-Mon" Gate, the Main Gate, is located. Behind "Ote-Mon" Gate, you will see the main castle tower of Kokura Castle.

I visited the Main Bailey from "Ote-Mon" Gate through "Keyaki-Mon" Gate. In the west side of the Main Bailey, "Tsukimi" Turret is located.

In the east side of the Main Bailey, the Main Castle Tower is located. The Main Castle Tower and other castle buildings were destroyed by fire in 1837. Many of castle buildings were rebuilt by 1839, but the Main Castle Tower was not rebuilt in the Edo Age.

In 1866, Edo Bakufu, the central government in Japan in the Edo Age, decided to conquer Choshu Domain, present Yamaguchi Prefecture. The military power of the Edo Bakufu was more than 100,000. Choshu Domain had only 3,500 of soldiers. Kokura Domain faced to Choshu Domain across "Kanmon" Channel and Kokura Castle became a battleground for the Battle of Choshu Conquest in 1867. Kokura Castle fell and was set fire.

The Main Castle Tower was rebuilt in 1959, after World-War II.

On the fifth floor of the Main Castle Tower, observation decks are located. You will see the inside of Kokura Castle and town of Kokura. The views from the observation decks are wonderful. The below left picture shows the view of the North Bailey. The below right picture shows the view of Kokura Castle Garden, located to the east of the Main Castle Tower.

The paintings of a tiger were displayed in the Main Castle Tower.

After visiting the Main Castle Tower, I visited Kokura Castle Garden. On the way from the Main Bailey to Kokura Castle Garden, you will see the Main Castle Tower from the east side.

The view of the Main Castle Tower is very powerful and gorgeous. However, the appearance of the current Main Castle is not the same as the original Main Castle Tower built in the Edo Age. The original Main Castle Tower did not have any gables.

In Kokura Castle Garden, "Shoin", Study Hall, was also rebuilt. The architecture of "Shoin" is traditional style of Japanese residential architecture. The below picture shows the main reception rooms.

"Shoin" faces to a Japanese stroll garden with a pond in the center. You can walk around a pond in the garden, as castle lords enjoyed the good atmosphere of the garden.

Finally, in the North Bailey, "Yasaka" Shrine is located. The shrine was originally founded in 870, as "Gion" Shrine. In 1678, OGASAWARA Tadaoki moved the shrine in the Kokura Castle as a guardian of Kokura Castle.

Kokura Castle was the stage of History in Japan at the end of Edo Age. The fall of Kokura Castle in 1867 was very impulsive loss to Edo Bakufu, the central government of Japan in the Edo Age. It was the beginning of the end of the Edo Bakufu, which continued for more than 250 years.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. From Osaka, take a "Nozumi", "Mizuho" or "Sakura". Get off at Kokura Sation. Change to a local train bound for Hakata on the Kagoshia Main Line and bound for Nakatsu on the Nippo Main Line. Get off at Nishi-Kokura. It will take you ten minutes on foot from Nishi-Kokura Station to Kokura Castle.

Official English Website:
https://www.kokura-castle.jp/overview-en/

Other Historical Sites near by:
Mojiko Station
Port Moji Historical District
Ruins of Hagi Castle
Ruins of Fukuoka Castle
Ruins of Nakatsu Castle