While strolling around Mojiko, I was drawn to this Western-style building with its exotic atmosphere. Since it was still early, I decided to buy a ticket and take a look inside. The Former Moji Mitsui Club was built in 1921 as a social club where Mitsui Bussan could entertain company guests and provide accommodations. It also bears witness to Mojiko’s thriving trade during that era. Inside, the refined wooden structure, ornate fireplaces, and vintage furnishings make you feel as though you’ve traveled back in time to experience the elegance of a century ago. The biggest surprise was learning that Einstein and his wife stayed here for five days during their trip to Japan in 1922! Their room from that time has been specially recreated on the second floor, along with related commemorative exhibits. The building also introduces Fumiko Hayashi, a writer from Moji. I had only gone in on a whim because the exterior caught my eye, but I unexpectedly learned so many historical stories, adding an extra discovery to my stroll around Mojiko.
Former Moji Mitsui Club | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Peko-chan
Peko-chan appears on the packaging of Milky, a longtime favorite among Fujiya’s candies. She is forever six, and her name is a Western-style adaptation of beko, an affectionate Japanese term for a calf. She loves sweets and helps spread the word about Fujiya’s treats.
When it comes to classic Japanese snacks, you can't leave out Fujiya's Peko-chan! This adorable girl with pigtails and her tongue sticking out has been part of many people's childhoods and remains a familiar, classic character today. As a child, my favorite treat was Fujiya's milk candy. Its rich milky aroma and sweet flavor still bring back so many memories. In addition to snacks, Fujiya also offers all kinds of Peko-chan merchandise, from desserts to everyday items that are hard to resist. I've visited Peko-chan specialty stores in Fukuoka and Kagurazaka, Tokyo. Every time I see all these cute products, I can't help but stop and look, as if I've rediscovered the happiness of childhood~
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Mojiko Retro Tourist Souvenir Hall “Minato House”
Mojiko Retro, one of Kitakyushu City’s most iconic sightseeing areas, preserves the atmosphere of the port town that once thrived on international trade. The area is lined with historic buildings designated as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan, such as the Former Moji Mitsui Club-where Einstein once stayed-and JR Mojiko Station, built in 1914. Nearby, you’ll also find the Blue Wing Moji, one of the largest pedestrian drawbridges in Japan, making the area full of fascinating sights.
The Mojiko Retro Tourist Souvenir Hall “Minato House” has a food court and a variety of local souvenirs to choose from. I was just casually browsing when some banana-shaped treats caught my eye, and that’s when I discovered the special connection between bananas and Mojiko Port! Starting in the Meiji era, large quantities of Taiwanese bananas were imported to Japan through Mojiko Port. To quickly sell bananas that had been damaged or become overripe during transport, a unique culture of “banana hawking” gradually developed and became one of Mojiko Port’s signature features. When you visit Mojiko Port, don’t forget to take home a few banana treats to try〜
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Kamon Wharf
Opened in 2002 in the Karato area of Shimonoseki Port, Kamon Wharf is the seaside mall where you can delight in Shimonoseki famed fugu dishes, sushi, seafood bowls, and other tastes from the Kanmon Straits, along with shops selling local specialties and souvenirs. The area is known to draw a crowd thanks to the Karato Market and its fresh seafood that’s open to the general public to come and shop, while the Kaikyo Kan aquarium and its 550 some species inside continues to stir up an unprecedented level of buzz around Moji Port.
Take a ferry from Mojiko to Shimonoseki, and once you dock, you’ll arrive at Kamon Wharf near Karato Market. This seaside mall combines dining and souvenir shopping, with a variety of seafood dishes, fugu specialties, and local products. After exploring Karato Market, stop by for something to eat or to buy souvenirs. You can also stroll along the waterfront, admire the Kanmon Straits and passing boats, and enjoy the relaxed harbor atmosphere.
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