Take a selfie in Moji, Kitakyushu! Searching for "retro cute" scenery

Ai Nishimura

Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

Visit the retro yet modern Mojiko Station building

Mojiko Station, the terminal station of the Kagoshima Main Line, is still used by many local residents and tourists. In addition to using the train, many people visit just to see the station building, making it the most popular spot and symbolic presence in the Mojiko area.

This station was named "Moji Station" during the Meiji period and opened 200 meters away (currently the Kyushu Railway Memorial Museum). The current building underwent repair work over a period of about six years from 2012, and is a restoration of the second-generation station building of "Mojiko Station," which was relocated to its current location and renamed in 1914.
It is one of Japan's most representative stations, along with Tokyo Station, and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the national government.

During the Meiji period, Mojiko developed as an export port to the world, and as a result, offices and government offices were built one after another in the surrounding area.
It opened as a railway line transporting people to the port, and during the era of the Japanese National Railways it played the role of a first-class station, with an elaborately designed station building constructed to reflect that dignity. It is said that at the time, the number of passengers was about 2.5 times higher than it is today.
It continued to flourish as a railway station connecting Kyushu and Honshu until the Kanmon Tunnel was built, and the area now known as the Mojiko Retro District has developed a beautiful streetscape that reflects that prosperity.
Inside the station, you can still see remnants of the "first and second class waiting room" and "third class waiting room," which were separated according to the class of train seats, as well as the "former VIP room" on the second floor, which was once used by the imperial family.
You can also see historical heritage such as the washrooms and copper washbasins from that time, and you'll be amazed to find that they are still in use.

The long platform with a gentle slope exudes an atmospheric feel, and you can see many people taking photos here. It's a great photo spot to capture the retro feel of the station.
The facade of the Neo-Renaissance style building is a magnificent symmetrical appearance that resembles the character for "mon" (gate) in Mojiko Port.
You'll want to take some photos of the stately and elegant station building before you go home.

Mojiko Station

Take a stroll around the port area and visit the "Mojiko Retro" photo spots

Leaving Mojiko Station behind, we immediately went for a walk around the port area. The tourist area, including Mojiko Retro Kaikyo Plaza, which is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants along the waterfront, and the historical buildings that follow, are all within a 10-15 minute walk, and are packed with things to see.

The port of Moji flourished as an export hub for Japan and also as the gateway to Kyushu, and the area around it is home to many historical heritage sites that recall those glorious times.
Mojiko Port is also famous as the birthplace of the "banana bargain sale" tradition. This is due to the large quantities of Taiwanese bananas that were unloaded at the port, and many of the souvenirs from Mojiko Port contain bananas.

First, head to the "Osaka Shosen" building, marked by its tall turret. This is the Moji branch of the shipping company Osaka Shosen, an office building that ran an export business. Currently, it houses the "Watase Seizo Gallery," and displays safes from the Meiji period.
The brick building along the seafront is the "Old Moji Customs House." Inside the building, the bricks from that time stand side by side with the restored bricks from the Heisei era, giving you a sense of the flow of history.
The Dalian Friendship Memorial Hall was built to resemble the Railway Steamship Company in Dalian, China. All 100,000 bricks and the granite stripes between them were brought from Dalian. It is an elegant building with dormer windows, chimneys, and kamaboko arch motifs used here and there.

The townscape, with its tranquil scenery and a mix of old and new spots, is a fun place to just walk around. There are plenty of places you'll want to take photos of, including the Mojiko Retro Observation Deck, which offers a bird's-eye view of the entire port, and objects unique to Mojiko. Searching for the "hidden hearts" scattered around the town, known as "Kanmon Hearts," will also make for great memories.

Mojiko Retro

The Mojiko Retro District transforms into a sparkling spot in the evening!

The evening event "Illumination 2022 Mojiko Retro Romantic Lanterns" has been taking place since mid-November. The whole town is enveloped in a seductive atmosphere, and it is an event where you can fully enjoy Mojiko Port in a completely different way than during the day.
Historical buildings and roadside trees are lit up, gas lamps are lit, and the popular drawbridge "Blue Wing Moji" shines. The reflected light will once again highlight the beauty of the sea, and you can see the unique scenery that can only be seen at night.

The illumination event will run until March 12, 2023, and historical buildings are always lit up. The website also has an illumination map and information on photo spots, so be sure to check it out.
The sea breeze can be cold at night, so please dress warmly when you go out.

Illumination 2022 Mojiko Retro Romantic Lanterns (until March 12, 2023)

A hot and spicy "yaki-curry" lunch

When you stroll around Mojiko Port, you will notice the pleasant aroma of spices floating around from nowhere.
Yes, the specialty of Mojiko is "yaki curry."
This dish is offered at around 30 stores in the tourist area and can truly be called a standard local menu item in Mojiko.

Mojiko Yaki Curry is made by pouring curry over rice, topping it with egg and cheese, and baking it in the oven.
This time, we were told about this type of baked curry at "BEAR FRUITS," a restaurant conveniently located just a few minutes' walk from Mojiko Station.

The specialty of this baked curry, "Super Yaki Curry," is its curry roux. It is a complex-flavored curry made by simmering beef, lots of vegetables and fruits, and also uses dozens of spices, making it an authentic curry that will make you feel its aroma and flavor to the fullest.
By adding BEAR FRUITS' special "Bikkuri Spice" to the dish, you can experience the profound world of curry spices, a taste that can only be found in this restaurant. The spicy heat is mellowed by the cheese and egg, and the refreshing aroma of spices lingers in the back of your nose, so you won't get bored of eating it until the very end.
Surprise Spice was born from the restaurant's staff meals and is also sold as a souvenir. Just sprinkle it on your homemade curry to bring out the authentic spice flavor, or sprinkle it on fried chicken or stir-fry to create a rich flavor.

Mojiko soul food has been popularized through friendly competition between each store, offering a wide variety in appearance, taste, and toppings.
If you go to Mojiko Port, a unique grilled curry is a must-have lunch.

BEAR FRUIT

"BION" is a regional French pastry where the gentle flavor of the ingredients spreads in your mouth.

I found a great shop and cafe near Mojiko Station.
"BION" sells cookies and cakes, focusing on French baked goods.
Opened in its current location in 2010, it is a popular restaurant that attracts customers from inside and outside the prefecture. On the day we visited, as soon as it opened, the small shop was overflowing with customers.

The store values the ingredients and the season, and offers sweets that allow you to directly experience the aroma of baked goods and the deliciousness of wheat flour. Although simple, each ingredient has been carefully selected, and it is clear that they have been thought out to be most delicious when combined. These sweets, which give a sense of quality even to ordinary everyday sweets, are packed with the history of sweets and the thoughts of the farmers and producers who produce the ingredients.

On this day, I had strawberry tartlet.
The balance of fruit, cream, and tart crust is just right, and the sweetness is just right, creating a delightful taste that lifts your spirits and makes you feel happy. It's the kind of sweet that lets you forget about your everyday life and get lost in the deliciousness of the cake.

A popular item is the cookie tin, which contains an assortment of 12 different kinds of cookies.
They also take great care with the coffee and herbal teas they serve in the shop, so eating in is also recommended.

BION (Japanese Onion)

Moji Akarenga Place: A driving stop where you can enjoy beautiful architecture

We headed to Moji Red Brick Place in search of a different view of Moji than the Mojiko area.
This is also a seaside area, but it is a commercial complex lined with elegant brick buildings, and is located just a few minutes from Moji Station.

This is the birthplace of Sakura Beer, the first beer brewing company in the Kyushu region.
Sakura Beer, founded as "Teikoku Beer," received support from Suzuki Shoten of Hyogo during the Taisho era and produced the "Sakura Beer" trademark. At its peak, it was one of Japan's three largest beer companies.
After that, it was merged with Dai Nippon Beer and became the Sapporo Beer factory, but the site is now preserved and used as a restaurant and event venue.
Moji Beer Brick Museum serves as a museum where you can learn about the history of Sakura Beer as well as the evolution of Japanese breweries.

In the past, the Nagasaki Kaido road, where alternate attendance was also carried out, passed through this area, and the post town of "Ozato-juku" spread out. This group of facilities is located along this old road, and in front of the Moji Beer Brick Museum there is a pine tree that is said to have been planted in the early Edo period, and you can get a sense of the long history from this giant tree.
There are also popular bakeries, oyster huts, and restaurants that use the factory as it is, and you can enjoy Sakura Beer, which is sold as a brand of Sapporo Beer.
This is a tourist spot you'll want to visit along with any other attractions around Mojiko Port.

Moji Red Brick Place