In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Moji thrived as an international trading port, with ships arriving from China, Korea, and beyond. As Japan modernized, Moji became the starting point of Kyushu’s railway network, turning it into a critical node in the transport of goods like coal, iron ore, and rice. This connection between sea and rail powered Japan’s rapid industrial development. Today, Moji blends historical charm with retro flair. The Mojiko Retro District (“ko” means port) is lined with elegant red-brick buildings and Western-style architecture from the Meiji and Taisho eras, many of which now house museums, cafes, and boutiques. 
We were welcomed by Suna-Q, an Indo-Pacific finless porpoise dressed as a ship’s captain, the mascot for Moji, The Port of Kitakyushu.
MojiKO Station
We started the day with a walking tour with our Japanese guides, showing us some of the highlights. Our first stop was the train station, where we were greeted by someone very important in a uniform (? the stationmaster). Mojiko Station was built in 1914, and is one of Japan’s few train stations designated as an Important Cultural Property. Recognized for its graceful facade and retro ambiance, it remains a beloved symbol of the city.
Mojiko Retro
After the tour of the station, we had the day to ourselves. We enjoyed a wander through the town, admiring the historic buildings, street art and other sights.
Mojiko Retro Observation Room
The Mojiko Retro Observation Room is anything but retro. Perched on the top of a modern apartment building, this space gave great views over Moji and the Kanmon Strait.
Kanmon Straits Museum
After a quick lunch at a local brewery, we visited the very excellent Kanmon Strait Museum, where we were so entranced we spent the rest of the day. Honestly one of the highlights of the whole trip. There was a recreation of a street in Moji Retro, and a series of impressive large-scale displays depicting the history of the region. We watched 2 films on the huge 5-story high screen (one on history the other sea-themed art) and were blown away by the artistry in the history displays.
The Kanmon Strait Retro Lane on the first and second floors is a reconstruction of street scenes of Moji Port during its boom years between the 1890s and 1920s. A streetcar glides through the recreated cosmopolitan town, where banana sellers banter with their customers and men wear bowler hats and flat caps with their traditional Japanese attire.
The Kanmon Strait History Gallery on the third floor displays a series of dioramas by 10 leading artists from Japan and the Czech Republic. The dioramas bring to life different stories of the strait, including ancient legends, key battles, and historic scenes.
The central exhibition area is an atrium, at the centre of which is a 162-square-meter curved projector screen (one of the largest in Japan) that shows four action-packed animations depicting the past and present of the Kanmon Strait. We saw two of them – “Story of Moji Port” and “Sea of Light and Music”.
For some reason we didn’t video any of the fascinating “Story of Moji” but here’s a small taste of the “Sea of Light and Music” (it wasn’t all that frenetic!):
Bananarama
Bananas and banana themed decorations are everywhere – bananas were first imported into Japan at Moji.
As the sun was setting, we enjoyed a last stroll through Mojiko and got back on board in time for another delicious dinner.
