Enjoy Retro Streetscapes and Spectacular Kanmon Strait Views! 11 Popular Things to Do in Mojiko

If you're planning a trip to Mojiko, spring and fall are the best times to visit.
Both seasons have mild, comfortable weather, making them perfect for a relaxed stroll through the retro streets.
Enjoy the pleasant breeze as you take in the spectacular views of the Kanmon Strait and the historic architecture.

Many visitors to Mojiko travel from central Fukuoka.
From Hakata Station, the main terminal station in Fukuoka City, you can take the JR Kagoshima Main Line and reach Mojiko in Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes without changing trains.
If you are coming from Fukuoka Airport, take the Airport Line subway to Hakata Station, then transfer to JR. The trip takes Approx. 1 hour 35 minutes.
Mojiko is also easy to access from Kitakyushu Airport, taking Approx. 1 hour by using the Kitakyushu Airport Bus and JR.

The Former Moji Customs Building is known for its beautiful red-brick exterior facing the Kanmon Strait.
Located in the Mojiko Retro District, it is one of the cultural assets that make up the Japan Heritage site “Kanmon Nostalgic Strait.”
Designed under the guidance of architect Yorinaka Tsumaki, one of the three great masters of Meiji-era architecture who also worked on the former head office of the Yokohama Specie Bank, the building was completed in 1912 and served as a customs office until the customs functions were relocated in 1927.

One of Mojiko’s best view spots. The high-rise condominium that stands out at the port was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, one of Japan’s leading architects.
A glass-enclosed observation room is located on the top floor, offering sweeping views from 103 meters above the ground.
From the observation room on the 31st floor, reached by direct elevator, you can enjoy panoramic views of the area around the Kanmon Strait, including the Kanmon Bridge, ships passing through the strait, and the historic streets of Mojiko.

A railway museum housed in a red-brick Meiji-era building that was once the headquarters of Kyushu Railway.
On display are old train cars, station staff uniforms from different eras, and railway tools, making it a fun place not only for train enthusiasts but for the whole family.
The main building introduces the history of railways in Kyushu. A Meiji-era passenger car has been recreated, and with mannequins of passengers and conductors as well as sound effects, visitors can experience the atmosphere of the time.

Built in 1921 as a social club for Mitsui & Co.
It uses a traditional European wooden construction technique known as the half-timber style, in which the structural framework, such as wooden pillars and beams, is exposed on the exterior. The contrast between the dark brown timber emphasizing vertical and horizontal lines and the white window frames, together with the intricate design, gives the building its distinctive appearance.

JR Mojiko Station, located in the town of Moji facing the Kanmon Strait, is the starting station of the JR Kagoshima Main Line.
The Neo-Renaissance-style, two-story wooden station building is known for its symmetrical exterior, said to be inspired by a gate, and has long been loved as a landmark of Mojiko.
The current station building was completed in 1914. Before the Kanmon Tunnel opened, it was bustling as the gateway to Kyushu by rail and was used by many travelers.

A pedestrian-only drawbridge, with a total length of Approx. 108 meters, making it one of the largest of its kind in Japan.
Spanning the first basin of Mojiko, the bridge opens and closes six times a day to allow ships to pass. The sight of it lifting to a 60-degree angle above the water is not to be missed.
It is in a great location with views of the Kanmon Strait and Kanmon Bridge, and nearby you will find sightseeing spots such as Mojiko Retro.

Kitakyushu and Dalian, China, have long been connected by international shipping routes and have enjoyed active exchanges.
This Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall (formerly the International Friendship Memorial Library) was built to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the two cities.
The three-story building, with its beautiful contrast of brown and white tiles, is a faithful reproduction of the office of the East Qing Railway Steamship Company, originally built in Dalian by the Russian Empire in 1902.
Its chimney and decorative roof windows, which reflect the architectural style of the time, are also distinctive features.

A Western-style building constructed in 1917 as the Moji branch office of the shipping company Osaka Shosen.
During the Taisho era, when Mojiko was a hub for routes to the Asian continent, the first floor was used as a waiting room and the second floor as offices, and the building served many people as a terminal connecting the port with overseas destinations.
The exterior, combining orange tiles and white granite, is eye-catching, and advanced Taisho-era architectural techniques can be seen throughout, including the railing-like roof decoration and small windows.

A museum introducing the history, culture, and nature of the Kanmon Strait. In 2019, it underwent a major renovation and was reborn as an interactive facility filled with exhibits that let visitors deepen their knowledge through all five senses.
Inside are many engaging exhibits, including the “Strait Experience Zone,” where you can experience the lives of people connected to the strait through patrol and steering simulations, and “Strait Retro Street,” which recreates a Taisho-era townscape.

An art museum centered on the collection gathered during the lifetime of Sazo Idemitsu, founder of Idemitsu Kosan.
The museum was built in Moji, a place closely associated with Sazo, who founded Idemitsu Shokai there and also served as chairman of the chamber of commerce. Its brick-style exterior blends well with the atmosphere of the Mojiko Retro District.
The core of the collection is Japanese calligraphy and paintings, as well as Chinese and Japanese ceramics.

A historic shopping street in Moji Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, established in 1957.
The arcade, stretching for Approx. 300 meters and completed in 1957, is its symbolic feature, and the street is lined with shops rooted in local daily life as well as stores with plenty of personality.
There are many local specialties unique to the area, including Mekari Manju from a long-established Japanese sweets shop dating back to the Meiji era, as well as locally made sake such as Sarukui 1757 Tokubetsu Junmai and sweet potato shochu called Jiimo.

A specialty restaurant for baked curry, located in Mojiko, a popular sightseeing spot at the northernmost tip of Kyushu.
Baked curry is a local Mojiko dish made by pouring curry over rice, topping it with cheese, egg, and other ingredients, then baking it in the oven.
The now-standard cheese topping is said to have started when the owner, Mr. Matsui, covered the egg yolk with cheese so that it would not burst.

A “milk hall” was a type of eatery that became popular from the Meiji to Taisho eras, something like a forerunner of today’s cafés that served milk and light meals.
Located in the Mojiko area with retro streets and views of the Kanmon Strait, this shop is also known for its menu inspired by the Taisho era.
Its signature Mojiko Pudding, refined again and again over time, has a firm texture rich in egg flavor while still offering a smooth mouthfeel.

Ousama no Tamago, where you can enjoy Mojiko’s famous baked curry, is a Western-style restaurant in a great location just a 2-minute walk from Mojiko Station.
The restaurant’s Ousama no Yaki Curry, made with special curry baked with cheese and egg on top, is a hot, melty dish that is one of its signature items.
The Ousama no Demi-Glace Omelet Rice, known for its fluffy egg, is also a popular menu item.
The interior has a calm atmosphere, and pets are welcome on the terrace seats.

A specialty souvenir shop located inside Kaikyo Plaza, a multi-purpose commercial complex in the nostalgic Mojiko Retro area.
The shop is filled with souvenirs from the Mojiko area, including banana sweets unique to Mojiko, which is said to be the birthplace of banana auction sales, and products related to Mojiko’s specialty dish, baked curry.

Inside the facility are the “Kitakyushu Souvenir Hall” and “Kaimon Market,” lined with local specialties such as banana sweets inspired by the port town’s once-popular banana auction sales, as well as local beer brewed by Kyushu’s oldest beer factory.
You will also find an excellent selection of specialties from nearby areas, including famous sweets from Kokura and processed foods made with fugu from Shimonoseki.