A new journey in the New Year, follow the footsteps of history and visit Kokura Castle

❤ Start the New Year with a trip to Kokura Castle. 🌟 Kokura Castle, located in Kokura of Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, is also known as 'Katsuyama Castle,' 'Yukin Castle,' and 'Carp Castle' among others. Kokura Castle is very popular with tourists because Kokura is where the famous Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi once lived. The historical battle between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, known as the 'Battle of Funajima,' took place in the waters near Kokura. 👍 The castle tower of Kokura Castle consists of a 4-tiered 5-story main keep and a 1-tiered smaller keep, forming a connected tower structure. The top tier of the main keep is built in the Karahafu (also known as Nanban) style, featuring 'Sotomawari-en'—a balcony and railing set on the exterior wall of the keep. The Karahafu style is not only aesthetically pleasing but also makes the keep appear to have fewer stories from the outside. During the Tokugawa shogunate era, some daimyo's keeps adopted this style to avoid suspicion. From a practical standpoint, the protruding Sotomawari-en provides rain protection for the windows below. The current style was constructed by Hosokawa Tadaoki. ✅ The first floor is decorated in the style of the town below Kokura Castle, where visitors can take photos dressed in Edo period costumes, whether as samurai, ninja, or princesses. The second floor centers around Hosokawa Tadaoki, introducing his history from warfare to daily life, explained in detail for visitors. The third floor is dedicated to the stage of Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, housing their beloved swords and offering interactive activities for participation. The fourth and fifth floors are observation decks, complete with a café bar for resting. 📍 Address: 2-1 Jonai, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. 💰 Admission: Adults 350 yen, middle school students 200 yen, elementary school students 100 yen. Discounted joint tickets for two or three museums are available. 🕙 Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 (April-October), 9:00-17:00 (November-March), open all year round. 🚉 Access: From Nishi-Kokura Station (Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) Kagoshima Main Line, Nippo Main Line), it's about a 10-minute walk south. From Kokura Station (West Japan Railway Company (JR West) Sanyo Shinkansen, Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) Kagoshima Main Line, Kitakyushu Monorail), it's about a 15-minute walk southwest.