Ruins of Nakatsu Castle

Ruins of Nakatsu Castle

Nakatsu Castle was originally built in 1588, by KURODA Yoshitaka (1546-1604) , known as "KURODA Kanbei", following the order of TOYOTOMI Hideyoshi (1537-1598) . In 1600, as KURODA Nagamasa (1568-1623) , the heir of KURODA Yoshitaka, became the feudal lord of Fukuoka Domain, HOSOKAWA Tadaoki (1563-1646) became the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain. Nakatsu Castle became the palace of the feudal lord and the government offices of Nakatsu Domain.

Please refer the page of "Ruins of Fukuoka Castle" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Kyushu/FukuokaCastle_E.html

In 1632, OGASAWARA Nagatsugu (1615-1666) became the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain. Until 1716, five generations of OGASAWARA Clan were the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain. After five generations of OGASAWARA Clan had been feudal lords of Nakatsu Domain from 1632 to 1716, OKUDAIRA Masashige (1694-1746) became the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain. Until the end of the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) , the generations of OKUDAIRA Clan were the feudal lords of Nakatsu Domain.

Nakatsu Castle was built on the riverside of Nakatsu River. The Main Bailey is located in the middle, facing to Nakatsu River. The second bailey is located to the east of the Main Bailey. The Third Bailey is located to the south of the Main Bailey.

If you approach to Nakatsu Castle from Nakatsu Station, you will walk through the site of the main gate of Nakatsu Castle and "Kuro-Gomon" Gate.

The Main Gate was located at the east end of the Third Bailey and "Kuro-Gomon" Gate was located between the Second and the Third Bailey. To the north of "Kuro-Mon" Gate, "Shiinoki-Mon" Gate is located at the boundary between the Main Bailey and the Second Bailey. You will go to the Main Bailey through "Shiinoki-Mon" Gate.

At the south end of the Main Bailey, the inner moat is located between the Third Bailey. The moat and the stone walls were reconstructed recently.

These stone walls were originally built at the end of the sixteenth century. The appearance of stone walls at the Edo Age has been revived.

At the west end of the Third Bailey, the site of "Nishimon" Gate, the west gate is located in residential area. In the Edo Age, the turret was located on the stone walls. Unfortunately, the turret was destroyed by fire in 1868.

From "Nishimon" Gate, I came back to the Main Bailey. Vacant place is located at the south of the Main Bailey. There used to be palace buildings in this area. You will see the Main Castle Tower beyond trees.

There was no written record that the Main Castle Tower of Nakatsu Castle was built in the Edo Age. The Castle Tower and "Daihi" Turret were built in 1964 as an imitation. However, the view of the Main Castle Building and "Daihi" Turret is very spectacular.

As mentioned above, the generations of OKUDAIRA Clan were the feudal lords of Nakatsu Domain from 1716 to the end of the Edo Age. OKUDAIRA Clam originally lived in "Kuzukeno-Kunin", present Gunma Prefecture. They moved to "Mikawa", the east part of present Aichi Prefecture. OKUDAIRA Sadamasa (1555-1615) was the castle lord of Nagashino Castle as a retainer of TOGUGAWA Iyeyasu (1543-1616) who became the Shogun, when TAKEDA Katsuyori (1546-1582) attacked Nagashino Castle in 1575. OKUDAIRA Sadamasa had only 500 of solders, when TAKEDA Katsuyori attacked the Nagashino Castle with 15,000 of his army. OKUDAIRA Sadamasa endured the hardship situation and hold up in Nagashino Castle.

The efforts of OKUDAIRA Sadamasa brought the victory of the Allied Forces of TOKUGAWA Ieyasu and ODA Nobunaga (1534-1582) . Also, his efforts brought the brilliant prosperity of his descendants and the OKUDAIRA Clan. This is the reason why OKUDAIRA Clan became a feudal lord at the beginning of the Edo Age.

At the Main Castle Tower of Nakatsu Castle, treasures of OKUDAIRA Clan were displayed. The above right photo shows "Jinbaori" sleeveless campaign jacket worn over armor, which OKUDAIRA Sadakatsu (1512-1595) , the grandfather of OKUDAIRA Nobumasa, wore. The above left photo shows the Japanese armor of OKUDAIRA Masanobu (1809-1832) .

The below pictures show the view from the Main Castle Tower of Nakatsu Castle. The views of "Daihi" Turret and Nakatsu River are very beautiful.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a "Nozomi" bound for Hakata. Get off at Kokura Sation and take a Limited Express "Sonic" for Oita. Get off "Sonic" at Nakatsu Station. Nakatsu Castle is approximately 1.6km away from Nakatsu Station. It will take you approximately fifteen minutes on foot from Nakatsu Station.

Official English Website:
http://www.nakatsujyo.jp/foreign.html

Other Historical Sites near by:
Nakatsu Castle Town
Kitsuki Historical Districts
Ruins of Kitsuki Castle
Ruins of Kokura Castle
Mojiko Station