Nakatsu Castle

The daimyo Kuroda Yoshitaka, who governed this region in 1587, began building Nakatsu Castle (Nakatsu-jo). It was completed by the daimyo Hosokawa Tadaoki, who subsequently came to govern this region. The total area of the castle grounds was about 78,000 sq m. The shape of the whole castle grounds resembles an open fan. The entire castle was destroyed by fire in the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877. The present five-tiered donjon was rebuilt in 1964. Heirlooms of families that governed this region in the past are exhibited inside the donjon. The top floor is an observation level.