Located on the Kyushu island of Japan in the Fukuoka prefecture, the city of Kitakyushu covers an area of more than 488 square kilometers and has a population of more than 1 million. It was founded on February 10, 1963 and was designated on April 1, 1963 by government ordinance. Being the starting point of the Industrial Revolution in Meiji Era, Kitakyushu continues to be one of the important industrial cities and port cities in Japan.

              

The city was born from the merger of five municipalities (Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu). The city's symbol mark is a flower with the character "north" (“北”- kita) in the middle and five petals representing the towns that merged. In 1974, the Kokura Municipalities was divided into Kokura Kita Municipalities and Kokura Minami Municipalities, and Yahata Municipalities was divided into Yahata Higashi Municipalities and Yahata Nishi Municipalities.

Kokura Castle (小倉城) was built by Hosokawa Tadaoki in 1602. It was the property of the Ogasawara clan (from Harima) between 1632 and 1860. The castle was burnt down in 1865 in the war between the Kokura and Choshu clans. The Castle was rebuilt in 1959 and was fully restored in 1990. The castle's traditional architecture provides an interesting visual contrast to the neighboring modern shopping and entertainment center.

Address: 2-1 Jonai, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City 803-0813
Access: Kokura Castle is about a 15-20 minute walk southwest of Kokura Station.
Official Website (in Japanese): http://www.kokura-castle.jp/

Kawachi Wisteria Garden (河内藤園, Kawachi Fujien) is a private garden in the wooded hills south of central Kitakyushu, famous for its spectacularly presented, large numbers of wisteria flowers. The garden is opened to the public seasonally during the wisteria season which usually peaks around late-April to mid-May and during the maple leaf season in autumn. There is a collection of large wisteria trees that together form an enormous roof of drooping flowers.

Address: 2-2-46 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu City 805-0045
Official Website (in Japanese): http://kawachi-fujien.com/

Tanga Market opened in the early Taisho period (around 1913-1914) and is a historical market known as the "Kitchen of Kitakyushu area", beloved by the locals. In addition to the great food prepared by professional chefs using fresh ingredients, the area has an atmosphere of Showa Retro (Culture of the post-war period of high economic growth), which attracts many tourists.

Address: 4-2-18 Uo-machi, Kita-ku, Kokura, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
Access: The closest station is the Tanga Station on the Kitakyushu High Speed Rail Kokura Line, but Tanga Market is also in walking distance from Kokura Station on the JR Sanyo Shinkansen Bullet Train.
Official Website (in Japanese): http://www.tangaichiba.jp/

The port of Moji has a rich hidtory of over 120 years from the beginning of the Meiji Era (1872 to 1914) through today. Mojiko Station is one of the many buildings that exude the regal and nostalgic atmosphere which the town is famous for. It is one of the few train stations made almost entirely from wood. In the 1990s, the port was renovated to boost tourism and now make for a delightful setting to spend a day or evening.

Address: Minatomachi, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka 801-0852
Access: Close to JR Mojiko Station
Website: http://www.en.mojiko.info/

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