Fukuoka Castle, Castle in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
Fukuoka Castle is a historic fortification within Jōnai in Ōhori Park, Japan, that stands on Fukusaki hill and was partly built with wooden structures. The site uses the Naka River as a natural moat along its eastern edge.
Building work started in 1601 under Kuroda Nagamasa and created the largest castle complex in the Kyushu region spanning 47,000 square meters. Excavations in 1987 uncovered a korokan, an ancient diplomatic guesthouse from the Heian period.
The name Fukuoka was transferred from Fukuoka in Bizen Province (now Setouchi, Okayama), the Kuroda family's ancestral home, when Fukusaki hill was chosen as the castle site. Each spring the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival and Ohori Festival bring a parade from Kumo Shrine to the ruins, with participants dressed as Kuroda Takatomo, Kuroda Nagamasa and the Kuroda Twenty-Four Knights.
The grounds remain open throughout the year without entrance fees, except during special seasonal illumination events. Paths on the hill rise steeply in parts, so sturdy footwear makes exploring easier.
Beneath the castle hill lies the only known korokan, a diplomatic residence for foreign envoys from the 9th century. This building lay hidden under the foundations of the later fortress and only came to light during modern excavations.
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