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[Fukuoka ]Must-see! 7 retro and charming historical buildings

[Fukuoka ]Must-see! 7 retro and charming historical buildings

2021-12-07 Management office

Fukuoka has a rich history and many historical buildings remain. The atmosphere of the city is very pleasant, with buildings remaining from the ruins of coal mines, which is typical of Fukuoka, and the legacy of a logistics town, reflected in the attractive streetscape of retro architecture. Mojiko Retro District, for example, is a sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the retro cityscape wherever you look. We hope you enjoy your visit.
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Former Moji Customs, Kitakyushu City



Built in 1902, it is now a representative building of the Mojiko Retro District and a popular spot for both tourists and locals.
On the first floor, the Customs Public Information Exhibition Room is a free exhibit that displays drug and methamphetamine smuggling techniques, as is typical of customs. Brand-name copies and other items that are subject to the Washington Convention are also on display, so visitors can enjoy not only the exterior of the building, but also the inside.

Illuminated & Historic Buildings & Sea



It becomes even more atmospheric at night and is a popular night view spot for many young people. Located just a few steps from the old Moji Customs Office in Kitakyushu City, "Blue Wing Moji "is also famous for its pedestrian overpass over the Kanmon Straits. The bridge rises six times a day, and there is a jinx that says the first couple to pass through the bridge when it drops will be the happiest. It is recommended that you visit the bridge and see the scenery as well.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Former Moji Customs Office, Kitakyushu City
Address: 1-24 Higashiminato-cho, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 801-0853
Phone number: 093-321-4151
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: The former Mojiko Customs House, built in 1909, has become a representative of the Mojiko Retro District. Inside there are exhibits unique to the customs house, and you can enjoy the atmosphere of a different space.
URL:https://www.mojiko.info/spot/zeikan.html

Former Residence of Mori Ogai



This is the site of the residence where the great writer Mori Ogai spent a year and a half.
It is also the setting for the short story "Chicken ", which is said to have been written based on this house, which is now a valuable residential site. In addition, it appears in the work as a summer garden.
It is a six-room Japanese-style house built around 1897, so you can get a good idea of how people lived in those days.

You can also see inside the building



It has been left almost exactly as it was in those days, and related materials are displayed in the earthen floor. It is close to the station, and even though it is designated as a cultural asset, it is free to visit. A bronze statue of Mori Ogai has also been erected in the garden, making it a relaxing space in the city.

"Facility Information "
Name: Former Residence of Mori Ogai
Address: Former residence of Mori Ogai, 1-7-2 Kajicho, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 802-0004, Japan
Phone number: 093-531-1604
Business hours: 10:00 - 16:30
Closed: Mondays, National holidays, Year-end and New Year holidays
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This is the former residence of Mori Ogai, built around 1897. He spent about a year and a half there, and the garden of this house appears in the short story "chicken ".
URL:

Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall



The Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall is a replica building.
Mojiko Port used to be a busy international shipping center, and the Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall is a replica of the Dongqing Railway Steamship Office built in Dalian, China. The design is strongly reminiscent of Germany, as the designer was a German. There is a restaurant on the first floor and a rest area on the second floor. The inside of the museum is also full of retro atmosphere and is a popular spot for many people.

The building behind is an apartment building!



The building in the background is an apartment building designed to fit in with the Retro District. It is called Retro Hi-Mart and was designed by Kisho Kurokawa. The apartment building and the Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall are well positioned and many people take pictures together at this angle. The Retro district is cobblestone paved and has a great atmosphere near the sea.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall
Address: 3F, 1-12 Higashiminato-cho, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 801-0853
Phone number: 093-331-5446
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: The Kitakyushu Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall is a replica of the Dongqing Railway Steamship Office built in Dalian, China. Both the exterior and interior are retro, creating a great atmosphere.
URL:https://www.mojiko.info/spot/kokusai.html

Mojiko Station



Mojiko is a retro city, and the station is also retro.
Until the opening of the Kanmon Tunnel, this station was the gateway to Kyushu and ranks among the nation's best stations to visit even if you have to make the long trip. Mojiko Station and Tokyo Station are the only stations designated as Important Cultural Properties.
The atmosphere of the station and its interior is popular among people of all ages, who think it looks like it could be in an anime. There are no benches on the platforms, all announcements are made in flesh tones, and there is even a happiness water bowl, making it a spot for people to enjoy themselves in a hush-hush manner.

There are also fountains and lights!



There is a fountain right in front of the station and it is lit up at night, so you can enjoy the atmosphere of the station anytime you visit. It is said that the gate was made to look like the Chinese characters "gate "when viewed from directly in front, and some people make human characters under the gate and take pictures as different Chinese characters.
You can also see the noble room in the station, which you are welcome to admire when you go sightseeing.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Mojiko Station
Address: 1-5-31 Nishikaigan, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 801-0841
Phone number: 093-321-8843
Hours: 6:00 - 20:00 (Midori-no madoguchi)
Regular holiday: No mid-year break
Budget: 160 yen to enter the home
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: A retro station that has been designated an Important Cultural Property. Mojiko Station and Tokyo Station are the only stations designated as Important Cultural Properties.
URL:http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/railway/station/1191912_1601.html

Former Moji Mitsui Club, Kitakyushu City



Designated as a National Important Cultural Property, this historical building was built in 1921 as the social club of Mitsui & Co. It is built in the half-timber style wooden construction method, and it is said that Dr. Einstein stayed here in the old days. Therefore, there is an Einstein Memorial Room and a Fumiko Hayashi Memorial Room, both from Moji.

One of the representative of Mojiko Retro



It is also famous as a representative building of Mojiko Retro, and is illuminated at night. The illuminated building has become a popular spot for visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of the area.
The museum also has a restaurant. Admission is free to use the restaurant on the first floor, but there is a fee for the Memorial Room on the second floor. There is also a garden with roses, making it a sightseeing spot with many attractions.
"Facility Information "
Facility name: Former Moji Mitsui Club in Kitakyushu City
Address: 7-1 Minato-cho, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 801-0852
Phone number: 093-332-1000
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Year-end
Budget: 100 yen for adults on the 2nd floor / 50 yen for elementary school students and older
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: Built in 1921 as a social club for Mitsui & Co. The first floor is a restaurant and the Einstein Memorial Room is on the second floor.
URL:https://www.mojiko.info/spot/mitui.html

Old records of the minerals industry



This building, which is considered an industrial heritage, is a structure used to elevate baskets. It was used for digging coal mines in the old days, and there is a 430m-deep hole right under this building from which a machine was attached to hoist it up like an elevator, and it was used for digging out coal.
The simple design, which eliminates all waste, still blends in with the city without any sense of incongruity.
It is also designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

Evidence of a coal town



There is a shopping district called "Coal Mine Ginza" and a park, which shows that the area was once a bustling place.
It is also a must-see for locals as it has become an indispensable architectural structure that has always been there. The fact that it is still a residential area and has never become a rust-belt town makes it a rare spot in the country.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Former Shime Mining Site Shaft Tower
Address: 〒811-2202 Shifumi 495-3, Shifumi-cho, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka
Phone number: 092-935-7100
Hours of operation: 24 hours
Closed: Open every day
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: A shaft turret used in the coal mine, designated as a National Important Cultural Property, still blends in with the city without any sense of incongruity.
URL:http://www.town.shime.lg.jp/site/bunkazai/tatekou-yagura.html


Kaho Theater



The Kaho Theatre, considered a masterpiece of Japanese theater architecture, is a historical building that has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan and a Heritage of Industrial Modernization.
It is a two-story wooden Kabuki theater where Kabuki performances and other events are held. The theater is well known not only for Kabuki, but also for the live performances by Ringo Shiina, and its luxurious 1,200-seat capacity is said to have been made possible by the town's former prosperity as a coal mining town.

You can also visit the square!



Even when not performing kabuki, the theater is open to the public and can be visited during sightseeing. Of course, if you go to see a Kabuki performance, you will get a better sense of the theater's greatness.
In September, actors from all over the country gather for the National Zaicho Tournament, which has become so popular that it is difficult to get tickets to the performance.


"Facility Information "
Facility name: Kaho Theater
Address: 5-23 Iizuka, Iizuka-shi, Fukuoka 820-0041
Phone number: 0948-22-0266
Hours of operation: 9:00 - 17:00 (for tours on non-business days)
Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays
After the calculation: adults 400 yen / elementary school students 100 yen
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: This Kabuki theater has been in operation since 1922. It is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan and a Heritage of Industrial Modernization.
URL:http://kahogekijyo.com/

summary

Fukuoka has many fascinating historical buildings, and the people of the city are dedicated to making the best of their charm. We invite you to take a tour of the retro cityscape.

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