🗺️ Nakatsu Castle中津城

Nakatsu Castle was built at the mouth of the Nakatsu River and is a water castle (海城) that utilizes seawater to fill its moat, making it the oldest modern castle in Kyushu. It is one of the "Three Great Water Castles of Japan," alongside Imabari Castle and Takamatsu Castle. In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, recognizing the contributions of Kuroda Kanbei in pacifying Kyushu, commissioned him to build the castle, which was later completed by the Hosokawa clan after they took residence. In 1632, after the Hosokawa clan was transferred to Kumamoto Domain, Ogasawara Nagatsugu was appointed to establish Nakatsu Domain. In 1717, Okudaira Masanari replaced the Ogasawara family, and the Okudaira clan managed Nakatsu Castle until the Meiji Restoration. Nakatsu Castle was abandoned following the abolition of the han system, and even the structures that survived the Satsuma Rebellion were burned down. Later, in 1964, a tenshu (天守) was constructed to serve as a historical museum for the Okudaira family. The stone walls of the honmaru (本丸) show the seams between the stone walls from the Kuroda and Hosokawa periods. Modern investigations and restorations have confirmed the remains of structures and the expansion of stone walls from the Kuroda era.

Built by Kuroda Kanbei, this castle is one of Japan's three major water castles. The main keep now serves as the historical museum of the Okudaira family, relatives of the Tokugawa clan. You can see the junction of the stone walls from the Kuroda and Hosokawa eras at the main enclosure. In spring, the "Nakatsu Castle Hina Doll Display" event is held.