Ogasawara
Kokura Castle
小倉城
Picture Donated by Raffi
| Alternate Name | Katsuyama-jo, Yuukin-jo |
| Founder | Hosokawa Tadaoki |
| Year | 1608 |
| Reconstructed | 1959 (concrete) |
| Type | Flatland |
| Structure | 4 levels, 5 stories |
| Condition | Reconstructed |
| Admin's Rating | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ |
| Location | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Pref. |
| Map | Google Map |
| Access | Kokura Sta. (Kagoshima Line) |
| Website | Kokura Castle |
| Notes | not personally visited |
| History |
In 1600 after the Battle of Sekigahara, Hosokawa Tadaoki was rewarded the lands of Buzen and Bungo. The ruling castle of the area was really at Nakatsu Castle, but Hosokawa found Kokura to be a much more convenient place from which to rule. It is also located at the vital point in transportation between Kyushu and Honshu. He started building Kokura Castle in 1602 and completed it in 1608. Hosokawa's Son, Tadatoshi, was moved to Kumamoto in 1632. Ogasawara Tadazane replaced him and 9 generations of his descendents ruled for the next 230 years. The donjon burned down in a fire in 1837 and was not rebuilt. The castle itself was intentionally burned down and abandoned in 1866 when the Ogasawara fled Kokura during the second Battle of Shochuseito. The reconstructed castle you see today is borogata style with decorative gables called kara hafu and irimoya hafu, but the original donjon was a very simple sotogata and had no such gables. |
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