Kitakyushu, Japan Cruise Port

As one of two designated cities in the Fukuoka Prefecture, Kitakyusha is a long-time gateway to Japan’s Kyushu Island. Along with its sister city, Fukuoka, this bustling metropolis has a population of just under 1 million people. While it offers modern comforts like shopping and contemporary restaurants, Kitakyusha also offers a glimpse into its Edo Period roots at the impressive Kokura Castle with sweeping, intricate eaves and stunning architecture. The old Mojito Port is a prime example of the area’s industrial history where century-old buildings are interwoven with the more modern homes and businesses. The pufferfish found in nearby Kanmon Straight is often prepared at local eateries and considered some of the finest in all Japan. Higher up the mountainside is the Kawachi Wisteria Garden, a private reserve open to tourists which includes the Purple Tunnels. The tunnels offer near-endless arches of purple wisterias or fiery autumn colors toward the end of cruise season.

• Experience Kitakyusha’s preserved historical architecture in the Mojito Retro district. When the original port moved, many nearby buildings were renovated while retaining their style. These wonders can be viewed at the Mojito Retro Observation Room.
   
• The Kokura Castle dates back to 1602 and contains natural stone walls and a Chinese-style tower. Much of its authenticity remained after a rebuild in 1959 and there’s a museum on-site documenting the structure’s history.
   
• View a preserved collection of old-fashioned locomotives at the Kyushu Railway History Museum, a must-stop for the avid train enthusiast.
   
• Give a thrill to your inner dinosaur lover at the Kitakyusha Museum of Natural History and Human History. Their impressive collection of bones far predates the Edo period.