NAKATSU CASTLE / Nakatsu City

Nakatsu Castle, located in Nakatsu City, is a flat castle (built on flat land rather than on a mountain or raised area) with a black wooden–panelled exterior. The castle was built by Kanbei Kuroda, a renowned general active in the Warring States period. Later, in the Edo period, it served as the base for influential warrior clans like the Hosokawa and Ogasawara families, shaping the region’s politics and culture.

Nakatsu Castle is also known for its unusual location facing the sea, and was once called a ‘water castle’, because at high tide, seawater would enter the moat, making it appear as if it were floating on the sea. It is one of the Three Great Water Castles of Japan’ along with Takamatsu Castle in Kagawa Prefecture and Imabari Castle in Ehime Prefecture.

The current castle tower, a building that serves as the symbol of the castle, was rebuilt in the Showa period, and the interior is open to the public as a museum, displaying materials related to the Okudaira family that ruled the Nakatsu domain in the Edo period. During cherry blossom season, people can enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms flowering alongside the moat. In the castle town area visitors can also enjoy strolling while experiencing the history and day–to–day life of the era, visiting the popular ‘Nakatsu Karaage’ (Fried chicken) restaurants, old townscapes and cafés.