Moji Port, or Mojiko, which opened in 1889, once prospered as a hub for international trade. The Mojiko area is still filled with numerous western style buildings that echo of times past, greeting visitors with a sense of nostalgia.
There are also ferries leaving from Mojiko that take you to Karato in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the opposite shore in just five minutes. So why not enjoy a thrilling cruise as you take in the salty breeze on the open deck?
The bustling Karato Market, known as the kitchen of Kanmon, is just a short walk from the port.
* There is no parking available at the port, so please use the parking options around Mojiko Station.
See here for parking information

After disembarking from the ferry, head to the Kanmon Market, where even tourists can enjoy shopping. 
There is a weekly event held here on weekends (Fridays through Sundays) and holidays called Ikiiki Bakangai during which you can try local seafood dishes such as Nigirizushi, Kaisendon (seafood rice bowl), and Fugu-jiru containing fugu (pufferfish) from Shimonoseki. You can choose Nigirizushi one piece at a time, so ask the shop staff for their recommendations as you make your choices.
Then, after you make your purchases, head to the lawn plaza on the roof of the market and enjoy your lunch while taking in the breathtaking view of the Kanmon Straits.

After returning to Mojiko, lets visit this interactive museum that takes a dramatic approach to teaching you about the nature, history, and culture of the vast Kanmon Straits. The museum is filled with attractions, such as the Kaikyo Atrium that takes visitors on a strange voyage across time and space, describing the memories of the straits with fantasy and dynamism, or the Kaikyo Retro Dori exhibit that offers an atmosphere of nostalgia and recreates the buildings and townscape of the Taisho period when the port prospered for international trade. If you learn about the history of the Kanmon Straits before heading out on your walk around the streets, you will surely enjoy a much deeper sightseeing experience.

This two floor western style wooden building was constructed in 1917 as the Moji branch of a maritime shipping company that developed from a home base in Osaka. The building, notable for its orange tiles, large arched windows, and octagonal tower, once served as a port terminal which bustled with travelers.
Designated as a national tangible cultural asset today, the building currently houses the gallery of manga artist Seizo Watase, who is from Kitakyushu, as well as an open cafe.

This two-story wooden Art Deco building was once used as a social club and accommodations by Mitsui & Co., a major trading company, when the area prospered under international trade. Alongside the Mojiko Station building, it is also designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Albert Einstein, famous for the Theory of Relativity, once stayed here with his wife. The room he stayed in has been restored to the way it was at the time, and can be viewed today as the Einstein Memorial Room.
The restaurant on the first floor, where you can sense echoes of a former time of glamor and luxury, serves original cuisine with a focus on seafood.

Constructed in 1914, the Mojiko Station building is an example of the Neo-Renaissance style. Restoration work was performed to return it to how it appeared during the Taisho period (1912 - 1926). It was also the first station building in Japan to be designated as an important cultural property. The only two stations in Japan currently in operation that are so designated are Mojiko Station and Tokyo Station.
There are no benches on the train platform, so the uninterrupted view backed by the Mojiko sign make it a popular spot for snapshots. You can pass through the ticket gate and enter the station without taking a train by purchasing an entry ticket.

Blue Wing Moji is Japan’s only drawbridge for pedestrians with a total length of 108 meters. The bridge is opened a total of six times during the day, opening twice in the morning and four times in the afternoon. Recognized as a sacred place for lovers, it is said that the first couple to cross the bridge after it descends will stay together forever, so you absolutely must make it part of your route when walking around Mojiko on a date.
The view of Kanmon Bridge and the Kanmon Straits while you walk across through the fresh sea air is indescribable. So why not cross the bridge and experience a moment of true romance?

This observation room on the 31st floor of a high-rise apartment building was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, one of Japan’s leading architects. Here, you can look down on the nostalgic streets of the Mojiko area from a height of 103 meters above ground. You can even see as far as the Kanmon Straits, Kanmon Bridge, and the streets of Shimonoseki.
The night view from here is certified as a Japan Night View Heritage, and you can enjoy a sparkling vista thanks to the illumination set up during the winter.

Mojiko yaki curry is a dish where curry, cheese, and egg is placed over rice and baked in the oven. This local gourmet dish is available not only at specialty curry shops, but numerous other cafes and restaurants throughout the city as well. The combination of the steaming hot and spicy freshly baked curry and the stringy melty cheese is a match made in heaven! Each restaurant offers a slightly different version of the dish from the others, so you can try a wide variety of different yaki curries.
Use this Mojiko Yaki Curry Map to find the version of yaki curry that’s right for you.

If you spend the night in Mojiko, you can enjoy an otherworldly experience at a luxury hotel with a view of the sea, or enjoy drinks at a nostalgic bar. If your timing is right, we also recommended taking a nighttime cruise to see Mojiko at night! (See the Kanmon Kisen website for dates)
Fully enjoy the nighttime experiences one or two steps removed from the daytime options!

A karst is a type of topography where limestones can be seen jutting up out of the ground due to erosion by rain. Hiraodai is considered one of the three main examples of a karst in Japan, and the entire area is filled with strangely shaped stones and trees.
As far as you look, the ground is dotted with pure white stones. The place is also called Yogunbaru, or “sheep herd plain”, because it looks a lot like a herd of sheep playing on the meadow.
It is famous for its breathtaking views throughout the seasons, such as the scene of the pure white stones juxtaposed against the green of the land in spring and summer, and the silvery expanse of Chinese silver grass during the fall.

One of approximately 200 limestone caves spread throughout Hiraodai, Senbutsu Cave is said to be one of the largest caves in the area. It is located in the south east of Hiraodai at a height of 300 meters above sea level. Roughly 30 stalactites of various sizes hang down at the entrance, giving visitors a sense of the sheer power of nature.
The cave stretches approximately 900 meters along a snaking path toward the north east, and maintains an internal temperature of 16 degrees year round. Visitors can walk through this comfortable cave that is cool in summer and warm in winter. If you wet your feet in the abundant ground water that continues to erode the cave, you will no doubt feel as though you are on an adventure.
* It is possible to reach partway through the cave with shoes on. Please bring shorts and sandals if you wish to go deeper. Sandals are also available to borrow for free.

The Tanga Market boasts a history stretching over a century into the past. The shelves at this nostalgic market, replete with its Showa-era (1926 - 1989) atmosphere, are completely packed with fresh local vegetables, fruits, seafood, and ready-made meals. We recommend shopping around and trying some of the many local delicacies available here, such as the seafood rice bowls, the famous Kitakyushu Kashiwa Udon, and Kanappe, a famous Kokura dish featuring mashed fish wrapped in bread and deep fried.
The whole market is known for its homey atmosphere, so you can also enjoy interacting with all the outgoing market staff.

This, one of the largest shopping malls in Kyushu, lets you enjoy treasure hunting for exciting finds among the variety of shops, including foreign luxury brands, popular sporting goods, and domestic select shops.
You can also visit Space Labo on the grounds, the Kitakyushu public science museum, featuring one of the largest planetariums in Japan where you can view the stars in the nighttime sky. There is of course an abundant selection of shops offering the gourmet flavors of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu.

When you arrive at the top of this mountain via cable car or slope car, you are greeted with a vast panoramic view before you reaching from the streets of Kitakyushu to the Kanmon Straits.
The nighttime view seen from this spot has been certified as number one among the new top three nightscapes in Japan. The spot is also recognized as the “Holy land of Lovers” because it is considered to be a romantic spot that is perfect for proposing marriage.
If you arrive just a bit before sunset, you may get a chance to view the twighlight hour when the sky turns a dark royal blue.