Kitakyushu Things to Do

Next door to the Environment Museum is a show home of an Eco-House. UK fans of 'Grand Designs' - this is your opportunity to play at being Kevin McCloud.

I found it interesting to feel the heat generated from the solar tubes - even on a day which was not particularly hot and sunny. The house also gets electric power from a wind turbine and hydrogen from the nearby steelworks. The insulating material is derived from volcanic ash.

The windows have a range of shutters which can be deployed separately depending on whether you wish to have ventilation, insulation, sunlight etc.

It's definitely worth having a look if you are in the area for Space World, the Natural History Museum or the Environment Museum

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I would be the first to admit that this museum does not look too enticing from the outside, and certainly not as exciting as Space World next door. However, it is well worth a visit. It tells the story of the severe pollution problems that the industrial city of Kitakyushu suffered and how the city was cleaned up.

Particularly interesting are the 'Radiorama' models, with dramatised commentary available in several languages (inc. English) - one is about the effects of air pollution on a school, and another is about how the bay, which had become a 'dead sea' was brought back to life.

There are also interactive exhibits for children about enviromental matters generally, and a great model of an 'eco-house'.

There is a full-size eco-house show home next door, which is also worth a visit.

There is also a library area, and the opportunity to freecycle clothes and books.

Open 9-5 (except Mondays). Admission is 100 yen (adults) 50 yen children.

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Wakamatsu Port Festival is a summer festival held in Wakamatsu, which used to be Japanfs number one port in terms of the volume of coal being shipped.
The festival consists of the Dashi - a festival float shaped like a Goheita-fune (a boat used for transporting the coal), and a parade of young ladies wearing Yukata (a festival costume) dancing in rhythm to the Goheita-bayashi (an accompanying song) and Taru-taiko (a barrel drum) as they walk around the Wakamatsu downtown shopping center.
On the evening of the 3rd day, gHi matsuri gyojih ( a fire festival) is held, an event which is connected to the legend of Kappa (a water imp), and about 2000 people with torches climb Mt. Takato-yama to create an enchanting spectacle.

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Kurosaki Gion Yamagasa is a summer event which has been held since the 17th century as the festival for Kumate-suga Shrine and Fujita-suga Shrine.
The theme of this festival is that at first God is welcomed into the Sasa Yamagasa (festival float decorated with bamboo grass). The Sasa Yamagasa is then carried around each town while prayers are said for good health, a plentiful harvest and for the eradication of virulent contagious diseases.
After the parade in each town, the Sasa Yamagasa is dismantled, and is then refashioned into the Ningyo Yamagasa (Doll Float) which is decorated with beautiful dolls. The colored Ningyo Yamagasa is lit up at night and becomes a vivid spectacle.
The highlight of the festival is when the illuminated Ningyo Yamagasa gyrates, and the various colors of the dolls mingle and scatter alternately.
In the climax, the Yamagasa seems to gradually evolve into a dancing object, and this produces great excitement among the spectators.

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The Kokura Castle Japanese Garden, which features the villa of an Edo-period feudal lord and a serene Japanese style garden.

Admission fee for an adult is 300 yen.

[Back to Kitakyushu]

Kitakyushu-city is the gateway to Kyushu from anywhere in Japan and Asian countries.

Image of Kitakyushu is too industrialized, but Kitakyushu has provide various attractions to make you happy.

1) Historical attractions
-Kokura Castle
-Kokura Castle Garden
-Moji Port Retro District
-Blast Furnace

2) Amusement Parks
-Space World
-Itozunomori Park

3) Hiking
-Hiraodai Karst Plateau and Syonudo Cave
-Mount Sarakura
-Mount Adachi
-Kawachi reservoir

4) Museums
-Matsumoto Seicho Memorial Museum
-Kyushu Railway History Museum
-Kitakyushu Art Museum

5) Summer Festivals
-Kokura Gion Daiko
-Tobata Gion Oyamagasa

Access to Kitakyushu
1)By Bullet train, to JR Kokura Station
2)By Air plain, to Kitakyushu Airport
3)By ferry boats, to Sunatsu Port and Moji-ko Port

[Overview of Fukuoka-ken]

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Mt. Sarakura is the highest mountain in Kitakyushu with an altitude of 622 meters from sea level, and is a part of Kitakyushu Quasi-national Park.
You can go up to the top of the mountain just in 10 minutes by the use of longest-lined cable car in Kyushu and the slope car and from the top you can overlook the whole view of the magnificent landscape Kitakyushu such as Moji, Kokura Yahata, Tobata as well as Wakamatsu.
In the evening, you can also enjoy one of the most beautiful night scene in Japan called as "one million dollars night view".
The mountain is becoming popular as paragliding flight area recently.

Tsukimi Tei is a small, yet well maintained shrine on the northwest corner of Kokura Castle park.

The entrance is free to all, and only takes a few minutes. The setting is quite nice, with the ancient castle on one side, healthy trees and greenery. There is also a unique juxtaposition of the modern Riverwalk building on the north, but thankfully it does not detract from the serenity.

If you wish, you can take your turn ringing the bells and making your wishes come true.