Kitakyushu City
北九州市

Kitakyushu City's location in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.
Location
Country	Japan
Region	Kyūshū
Prefecture	Fukuoka prefecture
Physical characteristics
Area	486.81 km²
Population (as of October 2005)
Total	993,483
Density	2,040.80/km²
Location	33°52′N 130°49′E
Symbols
Tree	Ichiigashi (Japanese beech)
Flower	Tsutsuji (Azalea) Himawari (Sunflower)
Symbol of Kitakyushu City
Kitakyushu City City Hall
Mayor	Koichi Sueyoshi
Address	〒803-8501 Kitakyushu-shi, Kokura Kita-ku, Jonai 1-1
Phone number	093-582-2236
Official website: Kitakyushu City Hall

Coordinates: 33°52′N 130°49′E Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1081x901, 41 KB) Map of Fukuoka Prefecture highlighting Kitakyushu city. ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... This article describes country as a type of geographical or political entity. ... The regions of Japan are not official administrative units, but have been traditionally used as the regional division of Japan in a number of contexts: for example, maps and geography textbooks divide Japan into the eight regions, weather reports usually give the weather by region, and many businesses and institutions... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... The prefectures of Japan are the countrys 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one metropolis (都 to), Tokyo; one circuit (道 dō), Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures (府 fu), Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures (県 ken). ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Species Fagus crenata - Japanese Beech Fagus engleriana - Chinese Beech Fagus grandifolia - American Beech Fagus hayatae - Taiwan Beech Fagus japonica - Japanese Blue Beech Fagus longipetiolata - South Chinese Beech Fagus lucida - Shining Beech Fagus mexicana - Mexican Beech or Haya Fagus orientalis - Oriental Beech Fagus sylvatica - European Beech Beech (Fagus) is a genus... Field of Poppy flowers Cluster of Clivia miniata flowers A flower, (<Old French flo(u)r<Latin florem<flos), also known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). ... Species see text Source: The Rhododendron page, and some research. ... Binomial name Helianthus annuus L. The sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant in the family Asteraceae, with a large flower head (inflorescence). ... Made in inkscape by tracing over the citys symbol as found on the city website. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... An address is a code and abstract concept expressing the fixed location of a home, business or other building on the earths surface. ... A telephone number is a sequence of decimal digits that uniquely indicates the network termination point. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Kitakyushu (北九州市, Kitakyūshū-shi^?, literally "North Kyūshū") is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is midway between Tokyo and Shanghai. A city designated by government ordinance, or Government Ordinance City (政令指定都市 seirei shitei toshi or 政令市 seirei shi) is a city of Japan that has a population greater than 500,000 and important economic and industrial functions, and that is considered a major city in Japan. ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on KyÅ«shÅ« Island, Japan. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, and the de facto[1] capital of Japan. ... Shanghai (Chinese: ; pinyin:  ; Shanghainese: ), situated on the banks of the Yangtze River Delta in East China, is the largest city of the Peoples Republic of China and the eighth largest in the world. ...

Kitakyushu has a population of just under one million. Together with Shimonoseki on Honshū the city is the major part of the Kanmon Straits area, which has a total population of about 1.3 million, and Kokura station in Kitakyushu is 20 minutes by shinkansen from the largest city in Kyushu, Fukuoka which has a population of about 1.4 million, or 2.33 million in the greater Fukuoka urban area (福岡都市圏). Shimonoseki (&#19979;&#38306;&#24066;; -shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan. ... HonshÅ« (本州 Literally Main State) is the largest island of Japan, called the Mainland; it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait. ... The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ... 300 (Left) and 700 Series Shinkansen at Tokyo Station Shinkansen 500 Series at Kyoto Station, March 2005 The Shinkansen ) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by Japan Railways. ... This page is about Fukuoka, Fukuoka (福岡市), a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ...

The New Kitakyushu Airport opened on March 16, 2006. Kokura Station is Kyūshū's second largest railway station, with 120,000 users daily. New KitakyÅ«shÅ« Airport ) (IATA: KKJ, ICAO: RJFR), has been built three kilometres offshore in the Suo Nada area of the Seto Inland Sea on an artificial island (4th in Japan) in the south of Kitakyushu, Japan. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ...

Geography

Kokura Castle (Kokura-jō) in central Kokura.

Kokura Castle, April 2002. ... Kokura Castle, April 2002. ... Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward in Kitakyushu was built by the Hosokawa family in 1602. ...

Wards

The Kanmon Straits viewed from space, with Kitakyushu on the left and Shimonoseki on the right. The new airport is also visible.

Kitakyūshū has seven wards (ku): Image File history File links Kanmon_Straits_from_space. ... Image File history File links Kanmon_Straits_from_space. ... The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ... Shimonoseki (&#19979;&#38306;&#24066;; -shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan. ... A ku (&#21306;), translated as ward, is a district in a large Japanese city. ...

			Area (km²)
	Kokura Kita-ku	小倉北区	39.27
	Kokura Minami-ku	小倉南区	170.25
	Moji-ku	門司区	73.37
	Tobata-ku	戸畑区	16.66
	Yahata Higashi-ku	八幡東区	36.36
	Yahata Nishi-ku	八幡西区	83.04
	Wakamatsu-ku	若松区	67.86

Nakama city was to become the eighth ward of Kitakyūshū in 2005, to be called Nakama-ku, Kitakyūshū. However, the planned merger was rejected on December 24, 2004 by Nakama city's councillors, despite having been initiated by Nakama city. The reason is that as part of the merger the twenty-one councillors would be reduced to just three in the enlarged Kitakyushu city. Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,80,0). ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(20,80,40). ... Categories: Japan geography stubs ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,40,100). ... Mojiko station Moji ward in Kitakyushu is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,0,0). ... Tobata (&#25144;&#30033;&#21306;; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(0,40,100). ... A ward in Kitakyushu. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(60,80,0). ... The large West Yahata ward of Kitakyushu includes JR Kurosaki Station, and JR Orio Station on the Kagoshima Main Line with several schools and universities nearby. ... Colour square for city ward maps: RGB(100,40,0). ... Wakamatsu is one of the wards of Kitakyushu city. ... Nakama (&#20013;&#38291;&#24066;; -shi) is a city located in Fukuoka, Japan. ... A ku (&#21306;), translated as ward, is a district in a large Japanese city. ...

History

The city's symbol mark is a flower with the kanji of "Kita" in the middle and five petals representing the five towns which came together to make the city in February 1963. The city was officially designated by government ordinance on April 1, 1963. A city designated by government ordinance, or Government Ordinance City (政令指定都市 seirei shitei toshi or 政令市 seirei shi) is a city of Japan that has a population greater than 500,000 and important economic and industrial functions, and that is considered a major city in Japan. ...

Kokura prefecture

Kokura prefectural office (September 2005).

Kokura prefecture was founded separately from Fukuoka prefecture in 1871 when the clan system was abolished. The old wooden-built Kokura prefectural office is still standing, though it needs a coat of paint, and it is now used as a medical clinic. It is opposite Riverwalk Kitakyushu. In 1876 Kokura prefecture was absorbed by Fukuoka prefecture. The city of Kokura was founded in 1900. ImageMetadata File history File links Kokura_kencho. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Kokura_kencho. ... Kokura prefecture The short-lived Kokura prefecture (小倉県 Kokura ken) was founded separately from Fukuoka prefecture in December 1871 after the clan system was abolished earlier that year. ... Fukuoka Prefecture ) is located on Kyūshū Island, Japan. ... Kokura prefecture The short-lived Kokura prefecture (小倉県 Kokura ken) was founded separately from Fukuoka prefecture in December 1871 after the clan system was abolished earlier that year. ... Riverwalk in Kitakyushu and the Kokura castle moat Riverwalk Kitakyushu is a prestigious shopping centre near Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward, Kitakyushu. ... Kokura (小倉) is an ancient castle town guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshu and Kyushu in Japan. ...

Kitakyushu city

The city of Kitakyushu was founded on February 10, 1963 and was designated on April 1, 1963 by government ordinance. It resulted from the amalgamation of five cities, Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata and Wakamatsu, centred around the ancient feudal city of Kokura. February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 274 days remaining. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... A city designated by government ordinance, or Government Ordinance City (政令指定都市 seirei shitei toshi or 政令市 seirei shi) is a city of Japan that has a population greater than 500,000 and important economic and industrial functions, and that is considered a major city in Japan. ... Mojiko station Moji ward in Kitakyushu is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ... Kokura (小倉) is an ancient castle town guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshu and Kyushu in Japan. ... Tobata (&#25144;&#30033;&#21306;; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ... Yahata is an area of Kitakyushu, in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Wakamatsu is one of the wards of Kitakyushu city. ...

Lucky Kokura

Kokura was the primary target of the nuclear weapon "Fat Man" on August 9, 1945. Major Charles Sweeney had orders to drop the bomb visually, but the city was obscured by clouds. Hence Nagasaki, the secondary target, was where the bomb was dropped. The expression "Kokura's luck" thereafter became common in Japan to refer to occasions when someone avoids something unpleasant without his knowledge. A post-war Fat Man model. ... Brigadier General Charles W. Sweeney (1919 - July 15, 2004) was an officer in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II and the pilot who flew the Fat Man atomic bomb to Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. ... Nagasaki (Japanese: 長崎市, Nagasaki-shi  , long peninsula) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. ...

Demographics

As of March 2005, the city has an estimated population of 998,999 and the total area is 484.18 km². The average population density is thus 2,063 persons per square kilometre. The population has steadily decreased in recent years. Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ...

The city has a much larger total area than that of Fukuoka which is only 340.03km². This page is about Fukuoka, Fukuoka (福岡市), a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ...

Culture

Writers

Mori Ogai's house in Kokura Kita ward.

The novelist Mori Ogai lived in Kokura for several years and his house is open to the public in Kokura Kita ward. He wrote Kokura Nikki (Kokura diary) here. It is a ten minute walk from Kokura Station. Mori Ogais house in Kokura Kita ward, Kitakyushu Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 3 April 2004. ... Mori Ogais house in Kokura Kita ward, Kitakyushu Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 3 April 2004. ... Mori Ogais statue at his birthhouse in Tsuwano-cho Mori Ogai (森 鷗外 / 森 鴎外 Mori ÅŒgai, February 17, 1862 - July 8, 1922) was a Japanese physician, novelist and poet. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ... Mori Ogais statue at his birthhouse in Tsuwano-cho Mori Ogai (森 鷗外 / 森 鴎外 Mori ÅŒgai, February 17, 1862 - July 8, 1922) was a Japanese physician, novelist and poet. ... Kokura (小倉) is an ancient castle town guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshu and Kyushu in Japan. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ...

The writer Matsumoto Seicho [1] was born in Kokura. A museum dedicated to him is located in the city centre near Kokura Castle. Matsumoto Seicho (松本清張) (December 21, 1909 – August 4, 1992) was a prolific Japanese writer and journalist, awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1952. ... Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward in Kitakyushu was built by the Hosokawa family in 1602. ...

The writer Hino Ashihei was born in Wakamatsu ward and his birthplace can be visited. Hino Ashihei (1907-60) was born in Wakamatsu (now Wakamatsu ward, Kitakyushu) and received the prestigious Akutagawa Prize for one of his novels, Funnyōtan (Tales of Excrement and Urine) in 1937. ...

Radio

Cross FM started in Kitakyushu, and is now also in Fukuoka city.

Festivals

There are several local festivals (matsuri) held in the summer in various parts of the city and including the beautiful Tobata Gion Yamagasa festival in Tobata ward and the Wasshoi Hyakuman matsuri which brings all the festivals together for a grand parade and finale near the City Hall in Kokura Kita ward. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Tobata (&#25144;&#30033;&#21306;; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ... Kitakyushu is composed of five cities that where unificated in 1966. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ...

Hiraodai karst plateau in Kokura Minami ward

Hiraodai karst plateau in Kokura Minami ward, Kitakyushu - note the total absence of smokestacks and chimneys. ... Hiraodai karst plateau in Kokura Minami ward, Kitakyushu - note the total absence of smokestacks and chimneys. ... Categories: Japan geography stubs ...

Scenic areas

Hiraodai (平尾台) karst plateau and Mount Adachi （足立） in Kokura Minami ward; and Mount Sarakura (皿倉), and Kawachi (河内) reservoir in Yahata Higashi ward are all great walking areas with fine scenery.

Hiraodai includes the Shonyudo cave, where in summer you can walk for about one kilometre in freezing cold water.

Economy

Nippon Steel Corporation is still a major employer but the Yahata and Tobata plants are much reduced from the heyday of the 1960s. The Zenrin company known for its mapping and navigation software is based here, and so is TOTO, the biggest Japanese bathroom fixture manufacturer. Zenrin head office building in Riverwalk Kitakyushu Zenrin Co. ... TOTO Ltd. ...

Isetan department store.

The major department stores in Kokura Kita ward are Kitakyushu-based Izutsuya by the Murasaki river and Isetan, in front of the South exit of Kokura Station in the former Sogo department store building. Download high resolution version (480x640, 61 KB)Isetan (formerly Sogo) department store in front of Kokura station at New Year Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 5 January 2005. ... Download high resolution version (480x640, 61 KB)Isetan (formerly Sogo) department store in front of Kokura station at New Year Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 5 January 2005. ... Isetan Shinjuku flagship store Isetan Co. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ... Sogo Kobe Department Store Sogo Co. ...

A smaller scale shopping centre called Cha Cha Town has been created by Nishitetsu railroad and bus company next to the Sunatsu bus depot in Kokura Kita ward. It is of course easily accessible by bus and there are lots of free concerts on the stage in the middle of the complex. "Cha" is part of the local Kitakyūshū dialect, and Cha Cha Town is popular with all ages. The Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co. ...

Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat.

Riverwalk Kitakyushu is the newest shopping centre in Kokura. It contains many brand name shops, a Starbucks restaurant (note - there is another Starbucks near Kokura Station), the Kitakyūshū studios of NHK TV, two theatres, a multiplex cinema and a branch of the Kitakyushu city art museum. It is next to the castle and to Murasaki river which runs through the centre of Kokura Kita ward. Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat, with Izutsuya department store in back centre, on the other side of the Murasaki river Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 31 March 2004. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat, with Izutsuya department store in back centre, on the other side of the Murasaki river Photograph © Ian Ruxton, 31 March 2004. ... Riverwalk in Kitakyushu and the Kokura castle moat Riverwalk Kitakyushu is a prestigious shopping centre near Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward, Kitakyushu. ... Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward in Kitakyushu was built by the Hosokawa family in 1602. ... Riverwalk in Kitakyushu and the Kokura castle moat Riverwalk Kitakyushu is a prestigious shopping centre near Kokura Castle in Kokura Kita ward, Kitakyushu. ... Starbucks is the worlds largest multinational chain of coffee shops. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ... NHK (日本放送協会, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai), or the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, is Japans public broadcaster. ... The Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art is located in Tobata. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ...

The Kitakyushu Science and Research Park is home to four universities and nine research organisations. It is aiming to become a centre for hi-tech research in Asia.

Transportation

Located at a strategic position on the south side of the Kanmon Straits, Kitakyūshū is an important transport hub for traffic between Honshū and Kyūshū and has a large port. The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ... HonshÅ« (本州 Literally Main State) is the largest island of Japan, called the Mainland; it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ...

Planes

The new 24-hour New Kitakyushu Airport opened on March 16, 2006. It is much larger than the previous Kitakyushu Airport and offshore on an artificial island in the Suo Nada gulf in the Seto Inland Sea, near Kanda town. It will eventually be connected with Kokura Station by a new fast rail link. A new airline based in the city called StarFlyer began operations when the airport opened. New KitakyÅ«shÅ« Airport ) (IATA: KKJ, ICAO: RJFR), has been built three kilometres offshore in the Suo Nada area of the Seto Inland Sea on an artificial island (4th in Japan) in the south of Kitakyushu, Japan. ... Kitakyushu Airport is a very small airport in Kokura Minami-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan. ... The Inland Sea and its major straits with the bay of Osaka (dashed) Formally named the Seto Inland Sea (&#28716;&#25144;&#20869;&#28023; Seto Naikai), the Inland Sea is the body of water separating Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, three of the main islands of Japan. ... Kanda (&#33477;&#30000;&#30010;; -machi) is a town located in Miyako District, Fukuoka, Japan. ... Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ... StarFlyer Inc. ...

Trains

Kokura Station owned by JR Kyushu is the penultimate stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen before the Hakata Station terminus and all Shinkansen services stop here. It is also served by local and express trains on the Kagoshima and the Nippo main lines. Within the city transport is provided by buses and a monorail line. Kokura Station with monorail tracks Kokura Station (小倉駅; -eki) in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. ... JR Kyushu Midori Express Train on Sasebo Line The Kyushu Railway Company (&#20061;&#24030;&#26053;&#23458;&#37444;&#36947;,Kyushu Ryokaku Tetsudo) is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railway. ... Sany&#333; Shinkansen (&#23665;&#38525;&#26032;&#24185;&#32218;; Sany&#333; Shinkansen) is a line of Shinkansen high speed rail, connecting Shin-Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, and it is operated by West Japan Railway Company. ... Hakata Station (&#21338;&#22810;&#39365;) is the main railway terminal in Fukuoka city, Japan. ... 300 (Left) and 700 Series Shinkansen at Tokyo Station Shinkansen 500 Series at Kyoto Station, March 2005 The Shinkansen ) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by Japan Railways. ... The Kagoshima Main Line (&#40575;&#20816;&#23798;&#26412;&#32218;) is a major part of the JR Kyushu rail network and runs between Moji-ko, in Kitakyushu, and Kagoshima, at the southern end of Kyushu. ... The Nippō Main Line ) is a railway line on Kyūshū, in southern Japan. ...

Mojiko Station is the northern terminus of the Kagoshima Main Line (J: Kagoshima honsen) which is the most important line on the JR Kyushu network. Moji-ko station, January 2005 Mojiko Station (門司港駅) in Moji ward, Kitakyushu is the oldest station on the Kagoshima Main Line in Kyushu and the terminus for those going to and from Honshu by boat. ... The Kagoshima Main Line (&#40575;&#20816;&#23798;&#26412;&#32218;) is a major part of the JR Kyushu rail network and runs between Moji-ko, in Kitakyushu, and Kagoshima, at the southern end of Kyushu. ... JR Kyushu Midori Express Train on Sasebo Line The Kyushu Railway Company (&#20061;&#24030;&#26053;&#23458;&#37444;&#36947;,Kyushu Ryokaku Tetsudo) is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railway. ...

The Kitakyushu Monorail links Kokura station efficiently and cheaply with residents and commuters in Kokura Minami ward. There are not many monorails in Japan. (There is one between Haneda Airport and Hamamatsu-chō in Tōkyō. It is called the Tokyo Monorail.) Kitakyushu monorail in party mood at New Year, 2005 The Kitakyushu monorail is run by the 北九州高速鉄道株式会社, (Kitakyushu Kosoku Kabushiki gaisha) known in English as the Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. ... Categories: Japan geography stubs ... Here is an alphabetical list of monorails in Japan: Categories: Japan-related stubs | Rail stubs | Transportation in Japan ... Tokyo International Airport ) (IATA: HND, ICAO: RJTT), located in Ota, Tokyo, Japan, is one of the two primary airports serving the Greater Tokyo Area. ... Tokyo Monorail (&#26481;&#20140;&#12514;&#12494;&#12524;&#12540;&#12523;) is a monorail system connecting Tokyo International Airport to Hamamatsucho Station in downtown Tokyo, Japan. ...

The Trans-Dokaiwan ferry, usually called the Waka-To ferry, between Wakamatsu and Tobata

The Wakato ferry beneath Wakato Bridge - it costs only 50 yen to cross from Tobata to Wakamatsu ward and vice versa, which takes just three minutes. ... The Wakato ferry beneath Wakato Bridge - it costs only 50 yen to cross from Tobata to Wakamatsu ward and vice versa, which takes just three minutes. ... Wakamatsu is one of the wards of Kitakyushu city. ... Tobata (&#25144;&#30033;&#21306;; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ...

Boats

Kitakyūshū is the largest ferry port in Western Japan. Ferry services operate between Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kōbe, Ōsaka, Tōkyō, Ulsan (Korea), Busan (Korea) and city's isolated islands. The main ferry port is at Shin-Moji, but there are also ferries at Moji-ko and in Kokura near the station. The Pride of Rotterdam, One of the P&O Ferriess Flagships operating the Hull-Rotterdam Route A ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, on scheduled services. ... Shimonoseki (&#19979;&#38306;&#24066;; -shi) is a city located in Yamaguchi, Japan. ... See Matsuyama (disambiguation) for other places having a name Matsuyama. ... Tokushima (&#24499;&#23798;&#24066;; -shi) is the capital city of Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku island of Japan. ... , Kobe ) is a city in Japan located on the island of Honshu. ... View on downtown Osaka from Umeda Sky Building Osaka )   is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... Tokyo , literally Eastern capital)   is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, the home of the Japanese Imperial Family, and the de facto[1] capital of Japan. ... Ulsan, a metropolitan city in the south-east of South Korea, facing the Sea of Japan (East Sea). ... Busan Metropolitan City, also known as Pusan, is the largest port city in South Korea. ...

Within the Kanmon-Kitakyūshū area, there are three commuter lines: Trans-Dokaiwan (Waka-To) Ferry, The Kanmon Straits Ferry, and The Kanmon Straits Liner.

Bridges

There are several bridges in Kitakyūshū and between the city and other places. The largest ones are the Kanmon Straits bridge (J: Kanmon Kyo) between Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki (on Kyūshū and Honshū respectively) and the Waka-To Ō-hashi bridge linking Tobata and Wakamatsu wards. But there are also bridges over the Onga river (J: Onga-gawa) on the western border of the city. The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ...

The present mayor Mr. Koichi Sueyoshi is very keen on building bridges and other major construction projects, having been formerly employed by the Construction ministry (Kensetsusho).

On August 1, 2006 ownership of the Waka-To Ō-hashi bridge was transferred to Kitakyushu city.

Kanmon Straits bridge from the Moji-ku, Kitakyushu side Kanmonkyo bridge between Kyushu and Honshu, from Moji ward, Kitakyushu - another remarkable feat of Japanese civil engineering, opened in 1973. ... The Kanmon Straits (関門海峡 Kanmon Kaikyō) or Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japans four main islands. ... Mojiko station Moji ward in Kitakyushu is the former city of Moji which was one of five cities merged to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ...

Tokiwa bashi in Kokura Kita ward ImageMetadata File history File links Tokiwa_bashi. ... Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Kokura castle moat in Kokura Kita-ku In Japan, Kokura Kita ward is the north part of what used to be Kokura City before the merger of five cities to create Kitakyushu city in 1963. ...

Waka-To O-hashi bridge between Tobata and Wakamatsu wards from Well Tobata Waka-To Bridge between Wakamatsu and Tobata wards, Kitakyushu from Well Tobata on the Tobata side of the inlet (firth in Scottish English) called Dokai wan. ... Tobata (戸畑区; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ... Wakamatsu is one of the wards of Kitakyushu city. ...

Waka-To O-hashi bridge at night from the Wakamatsu side ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1200x800, 372 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Kitakyushu, Fukuoka ...

Miscellaneous

A modern city

Kitakyushu is now the most advanced city in Japan with regard to pollution control and recycling technology. In the 1960s it saw the birth of environmental protests in Japan, led by a group of housewives in Sanroku-cho, Tobata ward who were concerned that their washing always became dirty while drying on the lines. Now Kitakyushu advises sister cities such as Dalian on water purification etc. It has been suggested that Externality be merged into this article or section. ... The international recycling symbol. ... Tobata (&#25144;&#30033;&#21306;; -ku) is the smallest ward of Kitakyushu city. ... Dalian (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Dàlián; Japanese: Dairen; Russian: Далянь, Dalian or Дальний, Dalny) is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China. ...

Kitakyūshū has an international conference centre and is very active in holding and hosting international conferences of various kinds, especially on the environment and education. A theme park called Space World is in East Yahata ward. There is a training centre of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also. Theme Park is a simulation computer game designed by Bullfrog Productions, released in 1994, in which the player designs and operates an amusement park. ... Space World (スペースワールド) is a theme park in Yahata Higashi ward, Kitakyushu, created in 1990 by Nippon Steel when the company was downsizing its steel plant in the ward. ... A ward in Kitakyushu. ... The Japan International Cooperation Agency (独立行政法人国際協力機構 dokuritsu gyōseihōjin kokusai kyōryoku kikō) is an independent governmental agency that coordinates official development assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. ...

The present Mayor (Koichi Sueyoshi) is the third since the city's foundation, and was elected in 1987. The Kitakyushu Renaissance [2] project began in December 1988 and is to finish in 2006.

An unfortunate reputation

Kitakyūshū has suffered unfairly from the unfortunate image and reputation - both domestically and overseas - of an industrial and heavily polluted city with many smokestacks, which it indeed was back in the 1960s when it was a major engine of the Japanese economy and local people took pride in the multi-coloured rainbows of smoke. As a result some superficial and ill-informed guidebooks have described the city as "hideous", "ugly" etc. - but nowadays this is becoming more and more outdated, and it was in any case never the whole story.

The city covers a vast area - it is the largest in Kyūshū - and there are many unspoilt and beautiful areas which have never been touched by industry, especially in the southern part. It has some of the best sightseeing spots in Kyūshū. KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ...

Sister cities

• Inchon, South Korea
• Dalian, China
• Norfolk, Virginia, United States
• Tacoma, Washington, United States

Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Korea_(bordered). ... Incheon Metropolitan City is a metropolitan city and major seaport on the west coast of South Korea, near Seoul. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China. ... Dalian (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Dàlián; Japanese: Dairen; Russian: Далянь, Dalian or Дальний, Dalny) is the governing sub-provincial city in the eastern Liaoning Province of Northeast China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... Nickname: The City of Destiny Location of Tacoma in Pierce County and Washington State County Pierce Mayor Bill Baarsma (NP) Area    - City 162. ...

See also

Honjo stadium.

Universities Image File history File linksMetadata Japan_v_Tonga_at_Kitakyushu. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Japan_v_Tonga_at_Kitakyushu. ...

• Kyushu Dental College
• Kyushu Institute of Technology
• Kyushu Kyoritsu University - Nakano Daisuke, the gymnast who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004 (team event), is a student here.
• Kyushu Women's University (Kyūshū Joshi Daigaku)
• Seinan Women's University (Seinan Jo Gakuin Daigaku)
• The University of Environmental & Occupational Health
• The University of Kitakyushu

Entertainment KIT Tobata campus front gate (Seimon) on a national holiday Kyushu Institute of Technology (九州工業大学 Kyushu Kougyou Daigaku) is one of the 89 national universities in Japan. ... The University of Kitakyushu (founded in 1946) is a public university in Kitakyushu. ...

• Kokura Race course (Kokura keibajo)
• Media Dome, Kokura
• Honjo Stadium

Japan play Tonga at Honjo on June 4, 2006 Honjo Stadium is a small stadium (capacity approximately 10,000) in West Yahata ward, Kitakyushu city, Fukuoka prefecture. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kitakyushu

• Kitakyushu travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official website in Japanese
• Official website in English
• Kitakyushu page of Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association website
• Kitakyushu Science and Research Park
• CCA Kitakyushu
• Kitakyushu Film Commission
• Kitakyushu International Association produces Himawari - a monthly newsletter
• Kitakyushu Kicks - an unofficial English language website about Kitakyushu
• www.e-you.biz - a website for foreigners in Kitakyushu
• Kitakyushu weather
• Kitakyushu guide - some tourist maps about Kitakyushu

Fukuoka Prefecture
Cities
Asakura | Buzen | Chikugo | Chikushino | Dazaifu | Fukuoka (capital) | Fukutsu | Iizuka | Kasuga | Kama | Kitakyūshū | Koga | Kurume | Maebaru | Munakata | Nakama | Nogata | Ogori | Okawa | Omuta | Onojo | Tagawa | Ukiha | Yame | Yanagawa | Yukuhashi
Districts
Asakura | Chikujo | Chikushi | Itoshima | Kaho | Kasuya | Kurate | Mii | Miike | Miyako | Mizuma | Onga | Tagawa | Yamato | Yame
See also: Towns and villages by district edit