Kokura Castle Garden

Kokura Castle Garden is a beautifully landscaped Japanese garden located beside Kokura Castle in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Recreated together with an Edo-period samurai residence, it offers a refined glimpse into traditional Japanese aesthetics.

The garden is divided into four zones. The Shoin Zone features an authentic wooden structure built in the shoin-zukuri style, a traditional form of Japanese residential architecture. Centered around a study, it includes a tea room and reception rooms separated by shoji and fusuma sliding doors, showcasing Japanese sensibilities in every detail. The view of the garden from the wide veranda is like a living painting-especially during the autumn foliage season, when the trees turn vivid shades of red and yellow, creating an almost dreamlike scene.

In the Exhibition Zone, permanent and special exhibitions are held under themes such as “giving” and “appreciation,” focusing on etiquette and manners. Visitors can learn about samurai customs, the Japanese spirit of hospitality (omotenashi), and everyday manners rooted in traditional culture.

The Experience Zone offers a ryurei tea ceremony, where guests can enjoy matcha while seated at tables and chairs (reservation required), providing an accessible way to experience Japanese tea culture. At the nearby gift shop Shiro Terrace, tea ceremony tools such as bamboo whisks and tea bowls are available for purchase-perfect souvenirs to remember the experience.

The Garden Zone is a traditional strolling pond garden (chisen-kaiyu-shiki) with views of Kokura Castle. Visitors can enjoy seasonal scenery throughout the year, making it an ideal spot for a relaxed walk and quiet contemplation.