Historical Park Kikuchi Castle

The Kikuchi Castle is an ancient Korean-style Ancient Mountain castle with a circumference of about 3.5 km built on the Yonabaru Platea.

At that time, the Yamato Imperial Court, which had sent reinforcements to Paekche　(Kudara) but was defeated by the combined forces of Tang and Silla at the Battle of Hakusukinoe in Korea (663), was in danger of being invaded by Japan in reverse. Therefore, castles were built all over the country to protect Dazaifu, which ruled Kyushu, and it is thought that Kikuchi Castle functioned as a base to supply these castles with weapons, food, and soldiers.

The research on the site of Kikuchi Castle began in 1937. The remains of many buildings, including warehouses and barracks, as well as gates, earthen mounds, and reservoirs, have been discovered. Today, the octagonal drum tower, a rare octagonal structure "Hakkakukei Korou" that shows the influence of Paekche (Kudara), "Heisha" (barracks), and "Komegura" (rice storehouse) have been restored to remind visitors of the castle's original appearance.

Adjacent to the museum is the "Onko Sosei Kan," which tells the history of Kikuchi Castle in an easy-to-understand manner using excavated artifacts, panels, and videos. There is also a souvenir store, "Chojakan."