Nagamasa Kuroda, fuedal lord of Chikuzen, spent 7 years building the castle. It was never completed although it grew to having over 40 turrets of various sizes. Currently only the Otemon gate, Tamon Turret and a few areas of wall and moat remain. If you are going to visit other castles in Japan this will be a disappointment, but it is a pleasant place to stroll and play and the walls are certainly impressive.
A viewing platform on what remains of the castle ramparts provides excellent views over the city. Part of the castle walls are floodlit.
On a spring evening, with the cherry blossom around the turret and along the moat bathed in moonlight all the romance of Japan one has dreamed of since childhood flows intoxicatingly into the veins...
• The Ote-mon gate
See the page for Maizuru park for more information and pictures.
Get out at Akasaka subway station and leave by exit 1. Turn left and walk along the old moat. When you start to see the castle wall, turn left again into the castle grounds. Alternatively you can wlak back from Ohori Koen.
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