Nakatsu Castle Town

Nakatsu Castle Town

Nakatsu is located at the north end of Oita Prefecture and at the boarder of Oita and Fukuoka Prefectures. Nakatsu used to be the capital of Nakatsu Feudal Domain in the Edo Age (1603 - 1868) . There are a couple of historical sites in Nakatsu in the Edo Age.

To the north of Nakatsu Station, many temples are located. The first temple you will see is "Horenbo" Temple. The temple was founded in 1600, when HOSOKAWA Tadaoki became the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain. Next to "Horenbo" Temple, Shoganji Temple is located. "Shoganji" Temple was founded in 1717, when OKUDAIRA Masashige (1694-1746) became the feudal lord of Nakatsu Domain.

A street continues from Shoganji Temple to the north. Along the street, temples are located. White cray walls surround temples.

Next to Shoganji Temple, Goganji Temple is located. The color of the wall surrounding Goganji Temple changes from white to red.

Goganji Temple was founded in 1587, when KURODA Yoshitaka (1546-1604) , known as "KURODA Kanbei", became the castle lord of Nakatsu Castle. In 1588, KURODA Yoshitaka killed KII Shigefusa (1536-1588) , who was the former castle lord of Nakatsu Castle. At the murder, retainers of KII Shigefusa were besieged in Goganji Temple. All these retainers were also killed and the walls of Goganji Temple were dyed with blood. Whenever cray walls colored in white, color of blood appeared on the walls. Finally, all the walls of Goganji Temple were painted in red.

The red walls recall how the civil-war-era in the sixteenth century in Japan was gruesome.

If you walk further to the north, you will see Enouji Temple. Enouji Temple was also founded in 1587 by KURODA Yoshitaka.

In the temple, there is the grave of "Kappa", which is a ghost described in traditional Japanese folklore. They look like human being, but they have webbed hands and feet and with turtle-like carapace on their back. They live in rivers.

To five hundred meters north from Enouji Temple, the former residence of FUKUZAWA Yukichi (1835-1901) is located. FUKUZAWA Yukichi was an enlightenment thinker and the founder of "Keio-Gijyuku" University, which is said, one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan.

FUKUZAWA Yukichi was originally born in Osaka as a son of FUKUZAWA Momosuke, who was a lower-class "Samurai" of Nakatsu feudal Domain. He lived in Nakatsu from 1836 (when he was one year old) until 1854 (when he was nineteen years old).

The former residence of KUKUZAWA Yukichi was frugally and it looks like a typical residence of a lower class "Samurai". Inside of the house was dark.

The former residence of FUKUZAWA Yukichi is located approximately five hundred meters east of the ruins of Nakatsu Castle.

The view of Nakatsu Castle across Nakatsu River is also 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.

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