16 Castles in Fukuoka worth your time

Ōnojō is Japan's oldest mountain fortress, built in 665 to defend against foreign invasion.

What it is

• Large-scale fortification built in 665.
• Oldest known mountain fortress in Japan.
• Built to defend against foreign invasion.

What to see

• Eight kilometers of earthen and stone walls.
• Sections of stone wall between 3 and 8 meters high.
• Culverts or gaps in rock for water flow.
• Nine gates have been found.
• Seventy buildings, mainly storehouses.
• Central structure, possibly a headquarters.

Getting there

• Located on Mt. Shiōji, just north of Dazaifu.

Read more about Ōno Castle

Explore Fukuoka Castle ruins, a national historic site, and enjoy the surrounding park.

What it is

• Japanese castle built in the early Edo period.
• Also known as Maizuru Castle and Ishi Castle.
• Main castle ruins are a national historic site.
• Designated a national historic site in 1957.

What to see

• Castle ruins within Maizuru Park and Ohori Park.
• South Ninomaru Tamon Yagura is a cultural property.
• Hirayama castle with a Teikaku-style layout.
• Castle grounds cover 240,000 square meters.

Getting there

• 10-minute walk from Ohori Koen Station.

Address

810-0043福岡市中央区城内1番1から1番205まで、5番2、7番、9番、12番及び18番2から18番6まで並びに810-0042赤坂一丁目1001番 Map

Official site

fukuokajyo.com

Read more about Fukuoka Castle

Explore a 7th-century mountain castle, a National Historic Site with extensive ruins and gates.

What it is

• Ancient Japanese mountain castle.
• Built in the latter half of the 7th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1953.
• Part of Goshogatani Sumiyoshiike Park.

What to see

• Outer wall, approximately 3 kilometers long.
• Seven gates, including Chumon and West Gate.
• Chumon has a 6-meter wide gate path.
• Ruins of a pillar-supported building.
• 300-meter unfinished earthwork inside.

Getting there

• Accessible by taxi from Toyotsu Station.

Read more about Goshogotani Kōgoishi

Kurume Castle, a historic Edo-period domain headquarters, offers a glimpse into Japan's feudal past.

What it is

• A Japanese castle in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Served as headquarters for the Kurume Domain during the Edo period.
• Built as Shinohara Castle between 1504 and 1521.
• Designated as a Fukuoka Prefectural Historic Site.

What to see

• Castle ruins on a hill where two rivers meet.
• Shinoyama Shrine, built on the main keep site.
• Remains of a moat and stone walls.
• Site of one of the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan.

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Visit Tsutagatake Castle remnants on Mt. Jo for historical insights and views of sacred Okinoshima.

What it is

• Remnants of Tsutagatake Castle, also known as Akamayama Castle.
• Built in the thirteenth century by the Munakata family.
• Expanded around 1560 to be the largest castle in the region.

What to see

• Remnants of stone walls near the summit of Mt. Jo.
• Castle wall remnants visible along the trail up the mountain.
• Extensive earthworks like ridges and moats.
• View of the sacred island of Okinoshima from the summit.

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Najima Castle was a naval base on a hill, now a gate and ruins.

What it is

• A castle built as an outpost of Tachibanayama Castle.
• It served as a base for a naval force.
• Built by Tachibana Akizane.
• Abolished by Kuroda Nagamasa.

What to see

• The castle was on a 50m high hill.
• It was surrounded by the sea on three sides.
• Consisted of two enclosures: Honmaru and Ninomaru.
• Stone walls and a keep were magnificent.
• Najima Gate exists between Ohori Park and Heiwadai Athletic Field.

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Mizuki is an ancient, massive earthwork castle, a National Special Historic Site.

What it is

• Ancient Japanese castle spanning three cities.
• Built in 664, mentioned in the Nihon Shoki.
• Designated a National Special Historic Site in 1953.
• Selected as one of the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan.

What to see

• Two-tiered earthwork, 1.2 kilometers long.
• Earthwork is 9 meters high, 80 meters wide at the base.
• Outer moat is 60 meters wide and 4 meters deep.
• Mizuki-kan, a museum, opened in 2017.

Read more about Mizuki

Explore Zoyama Castle, an ancient mountain castle and National Historic Site, for its unique earthworks and burial mounds.

What it is

• An ancient mountain castle in Japan.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1953.
• Built with earthworks around Mt. Kozuka.

What to see

• Castle walls, 2.7-3 kilometers in circumference.
• Four stone sluices: Ummedani, Gengodani, Hasedani, Kayumochidani.
• Yamauchi Kofun Group: two circular burial mounds.
• Burial mounds date to the late 6th century.
• Part of the Zoyama Historic Forest Park.

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Explore ancient mountain castle ruins, a National Historic Site with historical earthworks and artifacts.

What it is

• Ancient Japanese mountain castle ruins.
• Built between 756 and 768 AD.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1938.
• Construction led by Kibi Makibi and Saeki Imaemishi.

What to see

• Watchtower remains on northwest and southwest ridges.
• 2-kilometer-long earthwork line at western base.
• Numerous roof tile fragments and pottery fragments.
• Castle area measures approximately 280 hectares.

Read more about Ito Castle

Explore a 14th-century mountain castle ruin with historical significance and natural beauty.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle built in 1330.
• Crucial base overlooking the port town of Hakata.
• Site of battles between powerful clans.
• Stone walls were relocated to Fukuoka Castle.

What to see

• Stone wall remnants on the main keep site.
• An old well on the main keep site.
• Camphor trees are special natural monuments.
• Views from Mount Tachibana, 367m above sea level.

Read more about Tachibana Castle

Explore ancient mountain castle ruins, a National Historic Site with impressive stone walls.

What it is

• Ancient mountain castle ruins, also known as Raizan Kōgoishi.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1932.
• Located on the mid-slope of Mt. Raizan.

What to see

• Castle walls blocking the valley in two places.
• North sluice gate: 12m long, 10m wide, 3m high.
• North sluice gate has three culverts for drainage.
• Largely collapsed south sluice gate.

Read more about Raizan Castle

Explore Yanagawa Castle ruins, a historic flatland castle with impressive moats, once Kyushu's most impregnable.

What it is

• A historic flatland castle, also known as Maizuru Castle.
• Built by Kamachi Haruhisa.
• Served as the Yanagawa Domain office during the Edo period.
• Main keep site is a Yanagawa City historic site.

What to see

• The main keep base.
• Original stone walls.
• Outer and inner moats.
• A gate from the castle was relocated to Tsūji, Ōkawa City.

Read more about Yanagawa Castle

Kokura Castle is a reconstructed Edo-period castle with a unique keep, worth visiting for its history.

What it is

• It was the administrative center of the Kokura Domain.
• Mori clan built the original castle in 1569.
• The current keep was reconstructed in 1959.
• It is a flatland castle with a teikaku-shiki layout.

What to see

• The Tang-style keep constructed around 1602.
• The reinforced concrete keep rebuilt in 1959.

Official site

www.kokura-castle.jp

Read more about Kokura Castle

Explore Iwaya Castle ruins, a mountain fortress known for a historic 1586 battle.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle built between 1532 and 1554.
• It was a base for the Otomo clan's rule of Chikuzen.
• Site of the 1586 Battle of Iwaya Castle.

What to see

• Remains of moats and earthworks.
• Grave of Takahashi Joun, southwest of the ruins.
• Views from 291 meters elevation on Mt. Shioji.

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Explore Moji Castle ruins, a historic mountain fortress with remaining stone walls and a cannon foundation.

What it is

• A Japanese mountain castle, built in 1185.
• Ordered by Taira no Tomomori.
• Abandoned in 1617.
• Its ruins are now Mekari Park.

What to see

• The castle was built on Mount Kojō, 175m above sea level.
• Main keep site has a foundation for a cannon.
• Some stone walls from the past remain.

Read more about Moji Castle

Explore a 7th-century mountain castle ruin, a National Historic Site with unique stone rows.

What it is

• An ancient Japanese mountain castle.
• Built around the 7th century.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1945.

What to see

• Remains of stone rows, 40 to 80 centimeters high.
• Remains of a sluice gate.
• Fragments of Sue ware pottery from the early 7th century.

Read more about Kagenouma Kōgoishi