Kokura Castle that symbolizes Kitakyushu was originally built by Tadaoki Hosokawa, the first lord of the Kokura Domain. The current incarnation of the castle was reconstructed in 1959. The castle tower is constructed in the Japanese Karazukuri architectural style, with the 5th floor notably being larger than the 4th. When originally built, it was the only such castle of its kind in Japan. Other impressive sites include the stone walls comprised of uncut stone following a style called Nozurazumi.
The interior features a spectacular theater that screens films on the history of Kokura Castle, exhibits on the lords of the Kokura Domain such as Hosokawa and Ogasawara and swordsmen such as Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro, as well as an observation zone that gives a 360 degree view of the city of Kokura.

This cultural facility recreates the Daimyo’s mansion and garden on the site of the former villa of Lord Ogasawara of the Kokura Domain. The garden is arranged in the Chisenkai Yushiki style in which you observe it while walking around the edge of a lake, and you can also watch the changing colors and scenery of the seasons from the Japanese style room facing the garden.
The exhibit area that you can enter includes a corner that introduces the history of etiquette and manners based on the spirit of Wa, or harmony, and also special exhibits on traditional Japanese lifestyles. Why not come here to experience Japanese culture at your own pace as you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Edo period?

This museum uses exhibits and graphic panels to introduce the multifaceted career of Matsumoto Seicho, one of the leading novelists of Kitakyushu. The 22 meter long chronological display that introduces his life and historical news footage is particularly impressive. Meanwhile, the mystery theater continuously screens an original documentary produced by the museum, Nihon no Kuroi Kiri (The Black Fog of Japan), a masterpiece of modern history. The museum also features a data library where you can search information available on Matsumoto Seicho, a reading room, a shop featuring original items, and a cafe.

This is the largest natural history museum in western Japan, featuring a collection of over 6,000 items on exhibit. The exhibits describe the evolution of life and the history of human kind, from the birth of our planet until today, following the concept, “The Journey of Life”.
When you enter the museum, you are first greeted by the dinosaur collection of the Earth Mall in the Natural History zone. The life-sized skeletons and replicas of large carnivorous dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus Rex will surely blow you away. You can see some of those dinosaurs in motion realistically in the diorama that recreates the area of Kitakyushu from 130 million years ago, and you will be dragged into the distant passed as if slipping back in time. 
The museum interior also features a zone where you can learn about the culture and lifestyles of Kitakyushu. Each zone features massive exhibits that are highly entertaining, allowing you to have fun while you learn.

The former Yahata Branch of the Hyaku Sanju Ginko (130 Bank), built in 1915, is designated as a tangible cultural property by Kitakyushu City. The architect was Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed such famous buildings in Japan as Tokyo Station and the head offices of the Bank of Japan. The exterior of red brick with geometric patterns decorating the entry way retain the “Modern” architectural mode of the Taisho period (around 1912 to 1926). Having been restored to its former glory, the structure now serves as a gallery where art exhibits and concerts are held.

The abundant nature of Mount Sarakura, the symbol of Kitakyushu, is situated quite close to the city, making it a great spot to easily enjoy a visit to the mountains.
You can reach the peak of the mountain in just 10 minutes from Sanroku Station, either via the cable cars or slope cars, each with full length windows. The observatory at the peak offers a vast 360 degree panoramic view of Kitakyushu city. The view is particularly wonderful at night, so much so that it has earned the title, “The Ten Billion Dollar Nightscape”, and selection as one of the top three nightscapes in Japan alongside Nagasaki (Nagasaki prefecture) and Sapporo (Hokkaido). There is a scenic restaurant on the 2nd floor of the observatory serving authentic curry and desserts, so we recommend that you stop by.

Constructed in 1914, the station building at Mojiko Station is an example of the Neo-Renaissance style. Restoration work was performed to return it to how it appeared during the Taisho period. As one of the oldest stations in Kitakyushu with high historical value, it was the first station in Japan to be designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The only two stations in Japan currently in operation that are so designated are Mojiko Station and Tokyo Station (Tokyo).
There are no benches on the train platform, so the uninterrupted view backed by the Mojiko sign make it a popular spot for snapshots. The old fashioned uniforms of the station staff are also something that can only be seen here. You can enter the train platform without taking a train by purchasing an entry ticket.

Mojiko is a port that is sandwhiched between the mountains and sea. It was once considered one of the main three ports of Japan, alongside Yokohama (Kanagawa prefecture) and Kobe (Hyogo prefecture), and prospered as a hub for international trade. Numerous quaint buildings constructed from the Meiji to early Showa periods remain present a somehow nostalgic atmosphere. With so much to see in the town, we recommend touring either by rickshaw or rental bicycle. In wintertime, the entire area is decorated with illumination that gives it a fantastical mood. Take a walk around thetown and enjoy the classic, historic buildings and townscape, and the local cuisine only found in Mojiko.

This two-story wooden Art Deco was once used for hospitality and accommodations by general trading company Mitsui & Co. 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.

This two-story western style building was constructed in 1917 as the Moji branch of Osaka Shosen, a former Japanese shipping company. The exterior coated in orange tile follows the Secession style that blossomed in Europe at the time, and features impressive arched windows with a tower at the top. The building originally served as a hub for shipping routes to foreign countries, and featured company offices, a waiting room, and a customs office that were constantly bustling with the ebb and flow of people.
Today, the building contains a gallery exhibiting works by Seizo Watase, a manga artist and illustrator from Kitakyushu, as well as a cafe and rental hall.

This red brick building is aligned with the Kanmon Straights. It was used as a customs office during the early Showa period to support Mojiko Port as it grew as a hub for international trade.
Entering the spacious atrium beyond the door, you are greeted with a rest space, cafe, and gallery. There is an observation room on the upper floor offering a view of the pedestrian bridge that is raised six times per day, and the ships passing through the Kanmon Straits.

Trade once prospered between Kitakyushu and Dalian, China along the international trade routes that connected the two cities. The Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall was built as a copy of the building of the Dalian Kisen Kaisha company in Dalian in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of friendship between the two cities. The exterior of Dalian brick and stone offers a beautiful contrast of reddish brown and white, and the chimney and decorative roof windows speak of the architectural style of the time.
Today, the building contains an authentic Chinese restaurant in the Dalian style and a corner introducing Dalian city, as well as a rest space where anyone is free to take a break.

Baked curry is a dish where curry, cheese, and egg is placed over rice and baked in the oven. The dish speaks of the high class atmosphere that was once prevalent in this port of trade. It all began with a cafe in Mojiko Port. The dish is said to have started when leftover curry was baked in the oven like a gratin, and the result was found to be delicious (though there are other theories). The dish has now become popular as local cuisine, and is available at local restaurants in great variety, with each adding their own unique touches. Why not compare the different offerings with your list of restaurants on the Mojiko Port Curry Map in hand?

One place you cannot miss on your visit to Mojiko is the shopping mall facing the sea. The first floor features a market area with wide variety of goods such as unique Mojiko gifts, local seafood, various sundries, and sweets. Meanwhile, the second floor offers a selection of western and Asian restaurants, such as the classic Mojiko baked curry, as well as Akarenga Glass Kan, a shop offering glass items from around the world. The hands-on workshop at the Orgel (Music box) Museum Mojiko offers plans where you can create your own music box. Why not create a one-of-a-kind music box just for you by selecting the components you like, such as the design or song?
 

The Kyushu Railway History Museum is a railway theme park created in the renovated former headquarters of Kyushu Railway. In addition to passenger coaches used during the Meiji period and a variety of model train displays, visitors will also find numerous valuable items on display, such as the actual tickets used and the logo marks from the train cars.
There is also a popular train driving simulator with real-life views of the scenery between Mojiko and Orio that lets you experience what it’s like to be the conductor! You can also ride on the mini railway outside the museum, featuring fully operational equipment such as doubled tracks and signals over the 130 meter course. The train exhibit hall, designed after a station platform, features an impressive nine different train cars that were used in Kyushu.