Kokura | All Japan Ogasawara Family Head Family Kokura Castle Garden Ceremony

The Kokura Castle Garden next to Kokura Castle cannot be compared with the three great gardens of Japan or Shukkeien, but this garden surrounded by the city was actually the lower residence (separate residence) of the Ogasawara family, the feudal lord. It was burned down during the Choshu expedition in 1866. The academy and garden seen today have actually been rebuilt many times. However, when it comes to the first feudal lord Ogasawara Tadamasa, there are actually quite a lot of stories about him. He was given the name Tadamasa by Tokugawa Hidetada, and it was not until his later years that he changed his name to Tadamasa. Ogasawara Tadamasa was also the lord who served the longest for the Japanese swordsman, the two-sword master Miyamoto Musashi. He became a retainer at the age of 20 and followed all the way from Akashi Domain to Kokura. It is said that his son once lived in this lower house with Ogasawara Tadamasa's father, which also shows how much the Ogasawara family valued him. The Ogasawara family of Kokura is actually the head family of the Ogasawara family in Japan. The samurai academy building located in the garden now also has a mission. Ogasawara-ryu etiquette is an important school in Japan, famous for its care and hospitality. Today, the Kokura Castle Gardens also holds tea ceremony meetings from time to time to teach etiquette. 📍Address: 〒803-0813 Fukuoka Prefecture Kitakyushu City Kokura Kita-ku Jonai 1-2 🚗15 minutes walk from JR Kokura Station and 8 minutes walk from Nishi-Kokura Station. #MarchGoodPlaces2025