TacoCat’s Travels #96 (Japan 4.0): The Mysterious Ruins of Fukuoka Castle 🏯

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Hey Hive/Steemit!

So if you didn't catch the last post, we're currently on a journey in Fukuoka that we went on back in May 2017! Neither of us had ever been to that part of Japan before and since there were some cheap flights we decided to go explore a new region together! Here we go!

Last week, we took a night flight on Vietnam Airlines and after a brief stopover in Ho Chi Minh City, arrived in Fukuoka the next afternoon!

After settling into our cozy Airbnb, we explored the nearby mall called JR Hakata City!

22 May 2017. Monday.

Turns out the night flight didn't really make a difference since we ended up waking late anyway. By the time we left the apartment it was around 5pm already. Welp.

We found that there was actually a Fukuoka Castle not too far away and since the weather was nice we thought it'd be a good day to go visit it! And since it was evening the sun wouldn't be too harsh then either. So it was actually perfect timing to head out and bask in some nature and history.

But first, banana selfie! Sean remarked that the bananas I was holding matched my favourite Sally shirt.

The strange thing I found when I was googling Fukuoka Castle was that there wasn't really any definitely photos of it that resembled a full castle. And many links referred to it as Fukuoka Castle Ruins, which was curious. But we'll get to that later.

After about an hour, we arrived at the entrance! Well not the main entrance per se, but the entrance to the park.

The sun was quite bright at the entrance but thankfully as you head in the trees provide ample cover. And the air felt cool and fresh inside.

A short ways in, we came across a shrine!

It was kinda small but still a really nice shrine nonetheless. At the end of the walkway was the well where you cleanse your hands and offer prayers, as usual.

I didn't feel comfortable taking photos past the gate since it might be a little disrespectful. But then again that little boy was running through the shrine willy-nilly and making noise so you know.

Anyway, a little ways on we came across a super huge gate! And we figured this was the main entrance because of how big it was.

But then we realised there wasn't much in here other than a couple of buildings which I figured were the old guesthouses or something that were now converted into souvenir shops. The main building in the middle seems to be the main shrine where you can get fortunes.

And I guess there were supposed to be other shops and stuff but it was all empty.

There was a weird satellite-looking structure in the distance but other that that there was nothing else breaking the mass of tree canopies.

I mean it was still nice to see but we were confused and a little lost.

Walking on, we came across another cleansing station, which I learned is called a purification fountain.

If you've never used it before, you're supposed to take one of the ladles and fill it with fresh water and rinse both hands. Then transfer some water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit the water beside the fountain. You are not supposed to transfer the water directly from the ladle into your mouth or swallow the water. Do not return any water from the ladle into the fountain, but dispose of it next to the fountain. It is advisable to have a handkerchief to dry your hands afterwards. You will notice that quite a few visitors skip the mouth rinsing part or the purification ritual altogether (Cr: Japan-guide).

Tbh I don't think I've done the purification ritual before, but the water here didn't look fresh or clean and I was scared of mosquitoes breeding in it so we stepped away.

Soon the sun was setting and full disclosure we were kinda lost and little frustrated. Google Maps wasn't helping either since the whole park area is ridiculously huge.

I couldn't find how many hectares it is exactly, but this is what it looks like on Google Maps:

So yea, it's easy to get lost in here. We did find a friend in a cute pond though:

Eventually, we managed to find one of the seven remaining towers and got a nice viewpoint of the park and city.

This was what it looked like btw. I realised I didn't have a picture of the other side.

Source: Google streetview

We were kinda tired from walking so we just hung around for a while and enjoyed the sunset.

It was almost 7pm and there weren't that many lights in the park so even if we wanted to explore more I think we wouldn't be able to see much else.

It was a really nice viewing spot though, and the nature contrasting with the city skyline below the clear sunset was just breathtaking!

There were a couple of benches there where you could sit and admire the view as well. And we actually saw a few people there too.

I think while we were resting we kinda resigned ourselves to the fact that the castle really was gone. We felt a little cheated and silly but oh well.

So I did some research and apparently the Fukuoka Castle was originally completed in the early Edo period (aka the Feudal period) for a daimyo named Kuroda Nagamasa. This was during the rise of the feudal period which allowed powerful families and clans to invade, conquer and own properties and build their own castles, which resulted in hundreds of castles erecting all over the country. Nagamasa actually tore down Najima Castle that was originally here and developed the entire area into a castle town. The castle itself is actually surrounded by the Naka river on the east and a mudflat on the west so it was protected by natural moats on both sides. The castle was subsequently destroyed in the late 1800s during the Meiji Restoration, which was when the feudal period of Japan ended (Cr: Yabai)

Source: Yabai

Now there are only seven of the 47 towers that were built, and only two gates and the walls of the inner castle that survived the mass demolition. Which was unfortunate since most of the castle was well-kept and thoroughly preserved. But I guess the Meiji government really wanted to solidify the end of the shogunate in Japan.

Source: Airpaz blog

I have no clue where this structure is and maybe it doesn't exist, but we couldn't find it. I imagine it must be nice to see though.

But I think that's gonna be all for now! Thanks so much for reading!

To find out more about me, check out my intro post here!

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Check out my previous post in this series!

TacoCat’s Travels #95 (Japan 4.0): Flying to Fukuoka! 🛫

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