Kokura Castle in Kitakyushu welcomed its 10 millionth visitor on February 11, marking a milestone for one of the city’s best-known landmarks. Originally built in the early Edo period by Hosokawa Tadaoki, the castle’s main keep was destroyed by fire and reconstructed in 1959. A ceremony was held at the keep to commemorate the occasion, with a Kitakyushu resident visiting with his family recognized as the milestone guest and presented with a certificate and a one-year free pass. Visitor numbers had fallen below 100,000 in fiscal 2005, but a 2019 renovation and new initiatives, including a bar and café on the top floor, helped revive attendance. The site recorded more than 290,000 visitors last fiscal year and is expected to surpass 300,000 this year. Source: NHK News / KBC News
Photo: Fukuoka Now
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