Kokura Castle Japanese Garden

Kokura Castle Japanese Garden
ýýKokura Castle Japanese Garden, which has been recreated on its
original site, includes a genuine samurai-style mansion called a
shitayashiki, or "second house" that served as the castle annex. The
shitayashiki was the property of the Ogasawara family which reined in
the Kokura area (now a part of Kitakyushu) immediately after the
Hosokawa family which built Kokura Castle in 1602. This complex was
constructed in the well-known Shoin style, which combines a large
mansion and beautiful garden into one esthetic unit.
ýýOgasawara had a deep appreciation of Japanese traditions such as
Cha no yu (tea ceremony), Noh (a form of storytelling through song and
dance), painting, and singing. He has been acknowledged as the creator
of the "Ogasawara Manner" which his family practiced and taught to
others during that period.
ýýThe "Ogasawara Manner", characterized by Omoiyari no kokoro
(generosity) and Motenashi no kokoro (hospitality), is considered to be
one of the primary influences that has formed the Japanese culture.
Kokura Castle Japanese Garden is a unique complex where you can learn
the essence of this distinctive behavior and observe how the Japanese
way of life has been cultivated based on this style of comportment.
ýýIt is hoped that this beautiful facility will inspire visitors to clearly
imagine the life of nobility in the Kokura area during the Edo Period.
JR Nishi Kokura Station
Business Hours: 9:00ĝ17:00 (open until 18:00 from April to October)
▲
JR
Kokura Station
Katsuyama Bridge
Kokura Castle
Japanese Garden
● Yasaka
Katsuyama Park
Parking
Kokura Castle
Seicho Matsumoto
Memorial Building
Parking Areas: Katsuyama Park Parking:
ýýýýýýý200 yen/first hour, 150 yen/each 30 minutes thereafter
ýýýýýýýMunicipal Katsuyama Park Underground Parking:
ýýýýýýýý150 yen/30 minutes
Admission Fees:
Pass to all 3 facilities
Kokura Castle
(Kokura Castle Japanese Garden, Kokura Castle, Seicho
Japanese Garden Matsumoto Memorial Building)
Ogai Bridge
Shrine
P
Kokurakita ●
Police Headquarters
Murasaki River
Closed: December 29ĝ31
Kitakyushu
City Hall
●
P
Municipal Katsuyama Park
Underground Parking
Nakano Bridge
Municipal ●
Central Library
Access from JR stations:
● 15 minute walk from JR Kokura Station
● 7 minute walk from JR Nishi Kokura Station
● Bus and taxi service available.
General
300 yen
700 yen
Junior/Senior
High School Student
Elementary
ýýSchool Student
150 yen
400 yen
100 yen
250 yen
Groups of 30 people and over receive a 20% discount.
(There is no group discount for all 3 facilities)
Kokura Castle Japanese Garden
City of Kitakyushu
1-2 Jonai, Kokurakitaku, Kitakyushu 803-0813
TEL（093）582-2747 FAX（093）562-5265
http://www2.kid.ne.jp/teien/
Kokura Castle Japanese Garden
City of Kitakyushu
SHOIN ZONE
This is a traditional wooden building with genuine Japanese Shoin-style
architecture. This building consists of four main rooms: the Jyodan no ma
(throne room), the Ichi no ma (first-class Samurai room), the Ni no ma (secondclass Samurai room), and the Toritsugi no ma (reception room). The Ichi no ma
and Ni no ma rooms, each with 18 tatami mats, can be used independently from
the Japanese-style room by using a sliding door partition. In addition, because
the Kakezukuri (a part of the wide outer hallway) is built out over the pond,
visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the garden.
EXPERIENCE ZONE
Restrooms
Main
Entrance
This building contains two types of rooms for serving tea.
The first, called a Zashiki, is a classic Japanese tatami room with
a firepit built into the floor, a special kitchenette and reception
area. This room is used for traditional tea ceremony and requires
a reservation. The second room,
known as a Ryureiseki, is layed
out in café style with tables and
chairs and features authentic,
freshly made green tea and
Wagashi (Japanese sweets).
This room also serves as a
Zashiki ◆ A formal tea ceremony waiting room for people visiting
can be held here.
the Shoin Zone.
Library
Restrooms
Ryureiseki ◆ You can enjoy
authentic green tea while seated
at a table.
Training
Room
Shoin Zone
Ryureiseki
Experience Zone
Zashiki
Garden Zone
Reception Area
Central Garden
Exhibition Zone
Temporary
Exhibition
Room
Permanent
Exhibition
Room
EXHIBITION ZONE
The Permanent Exhibition Room, based
on the themes of Okuru (giving) and Ajiwau
(taste), shows the ceremonial history of
Japanese manners that are a part of the
traditional culture of Japan, and explains how
these manners have spread from their
beginnings to the everyday lives of contemporary people.
You can see pictures of the ceremonial
manners, which reflect the life and culture of
each era of Japan, and you can also enjoy
studying information about useful manners for
current lifestyles. In addition, various special
exhibition regarding traditional culture are
held in the Temporary Exhibition Room. The
Exhibition Zone includes a library with Internet
access and a training room for the study and
practice of Japanese manners.
GARDEN ZONE
This is a genuine Chisen Kaiyushiki style
garden which has a variety of enjoyable
scenes that can be viewed while walking
around the pond. The surface of this "peeping
pond" is lower than the surrounding ground,
giving it a very distinctive characteristic. When
viewed from the wide outer halfway of the
Shoin Zone, it gives the appearance of a
"floating garden."
Training Room ◆ This room,
which can hold thirty people, is
used for lectures and training
concerning traditional culture.
Temporary Exhibition Room ◆ Avariety
of temporary exhibitions are held here
which help to broaden and deepen the
themes displayed in the Permanent
Exhibition Room. (The photograph is of a
formal tea ceremony setting.)
Library ◆ There are approximately one thousand books on
Japanese manners contained
here. Also, information concerning
manners may be accessed by
computer.