Blast Furnace is a Steel plant for making the pig iron from iron ore and coke. Higashida No.1 Blast Furnace is only the Blast Furnace in the world which preserved as it was.  The birth place where Japan’s steel industry began in 1901. It contributed greatly to the development of the Japanese steel industry and was used until 1972, and has been preserved just as it was. The big signboard at the top of the Blast Furnace displaying “1901” indicates the year in which the Blast Furnace commenced operation. Equipment and tools which were actually used are exhibited in the square, and you can see the iron-making process from the raw material （ore and coke）to production of pig iron.

Higashida No.1 Blast Furnace, in Kitakyu…の続きを読む

  It is the only Station building that is designated as an Important National Cultural Property  together with Tokyo Station. Mojiko Station is a beautiful station built in the Renaissance  style and modeled on the Termini Station in Italy.  Kyushu Railway (nowadays JR Kyushu) began rail services between Mojiko Station  and Takase Station in 1891 and the Station building was built in 1914. This was the first railway in Kyushu and subsequently Mojiko prospered greatly as a gateway  to the Kyushu region after that. This was the first railway in Kyushu and subsequently Mojiko prospered greatly as a gateway to the Kyushu region after that.

Mojiko Station, in Kitakyushu-city…の続きを読む

  Mount Sarakura is the best scenic spot in Kitakyushu-city. The height of the mountain is 622 meters from sea level. At the top you are presented with a magnificent and spectacular view of Kitakyushu. ​In 10 minutes, you can reach the summit  from the Cable Car Station using the Cable car and the Slope car.    We offer the most dynamic night view in the World. The dynamic city where one million people are living and working, is creating the beautiful Night view which you have never seen before. The night view from the mount Sarakura is chosen the three major Night View in Japan along with Nagasaki from Mount Inasa. The area of Night view is the largest in the World ; about 40km east to west and 10km south to north  And also the number of lighting to create the night view is the largest in the World. 

Mount Sarakura, in Kitakyushu-city, Fuku…の続きを読む

  Beautiful and exciting Shine. Udo Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the cave of the cliff side facing the Pacific Ocean. It is located about 35 km south of Miyazaki city. In legend, a goddess of sea built a hut to give birth to a great god here. Then it is said that Empress Suiko (554-628) built the shrine there. The priest of Tendai Buddhism built a Buddhist temple in 782, on the order of Emperor Kanmu. In the middle ages, this area had been the training place for mountain priests because of the steep rocky cliffs.

Udo Shrine, in Miyazaki…の続きを読む

  Float Festivals including Tobata Gion Yamagasa inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Heritage List in 2016. The festival has a lot of energy and is very dynamic as is the case with festivals such as the Hakata Gion Yamagasa，with young men wearing the happi (festival costume) and hachimaki (head band)， carrying the Yamagasa (festival float) and walking  around the town shouting  “yoitosa yoitosa”.  What is remarkable is the way the character of the Yamagasa changes from daytime， with the Nobori Yamagasa (festival floats with flags); to nighttime with the Chochin Yamagasa ( festival floats with lanterns). The highlight is the Chochin Yamagasa Contest held in Tobata Ward Office on Saturday night. The Nobori Yamagasa used during the daytime is dismantled, and the 10 metre-high  Chochin Yamagasa，with its 309 lanterns arranged in 12 tiers, is assembled and carried along in a race by dozens of young people crying  “yoitosa yoitosa”.

Tobata Gion Yamagasa, in Kitakyushu-city…の続きを読む

  Kokura Gion Daiko is a summer festivals in which the main attraction is the playing the drums. In 1958 the event was designated as an intangible folk cultural asset of Fukuoka prefecture. On July 1st the Kokura Gion Taiko Uchizome-shiki (the ceremony to inaugurate Taiko practice sessions) is held，and from that moment，Kokura’s exciting summer begins， with each town and company group striving to perfect its own Taiko performance ahead of the  Festival which is held from Friday of the third weel in July. A prominent feature of the festival are the dashi (decorated cart) parades through the town， carrying two drums，one at the front of the cart and one at the rear，with four drummers beating the Taiko in time to gongs called jangara, and reciting the phrase Yassa Yare Yare.  The highlights of the Festival which you should not miss are the Taiko Performing Contest held at Kokura Castle on July 16th; and the Taiko Performing Parade held at Komonji-dori street on Sunday of the third week in July.

Kokura Gion Daiko, in Kitakyushu-city…の続きを読む

  An annual festival in Nagasaki held on Chinese new year.  The festival has been started to celebrate a new year by Chinese who lived in Nagasaki, and it became the Nagasaki’s festival since 1994. More than 10 thousand lanterns are decorated at China town during the festival.

Nagasaki Lantern Festival…の続きを読む

  Feativals and Events Japanese Culture Flowers in Japan Onsen Resorts in Kyushu Featured Architectures Japaense gardens Flower gardens     

Featured things in Japan…の続きを読む

  Shirakawa suigen is the fountain to Shirakawa river that is one of the first class rivers of Japan. The quantity of water that spouts with the sand at the bottom of the pond is approximately 60 tons per minute.

Shirakawa suigen, in Aso, Kumamoto Prefe…の続きを読む

  Sengan-en is the most famous garden in Kagoshima-ken, made by Shimazu lord in the 19th century at the beautiful bay side Kinko bay. The garden contains many historic artifact that tell of its long history.

Sengan-en, in Kagoshima…の続きを読む