Najima Castle, Japanese castle ruins in Higashi-ku, Japan
Najima Castle was a fortification built on a hill jutting into Hakata Bay with two enclosed areas, one to the north and one to the south. Today the site has been transformed into a shrine and public park with markers showing where the original structures once stood.
The fortress was built around 1600 and was later converted into a naval base to accommodate warships and support maritime operations. This transformation shows how the site's purpose shifted to meet new military needs.
Parts of the original gates were relocated to temples and castles across the area, and visitors can see these fragments in different places today. This scattering of the structure's elements reflects how the site evolved and changed over time.
The site is easy to visit on foot and the park is open to the public without restrictions. The markers scattered throughout help you understand where the original buildings were located, though most of the ancient structures are no longer visible.
The fortress was designed so that large warships could dock directly at its base, making it function as an unusual military harbor. This naval feature allowed ships and troops to be moved and supplied quickly when needed.
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