Kita-Kyushu is the second largest city of both Fukuoka prefecture and the island of Kyushu. Kyushu island is made up of four large cities; Fukuoka city and Kitakyushu city, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, so Fukuoka prefecture is the center of a lot of the happenings in Kyushu. One big draw for anyone living in Fukuoka is the pleasant climate, as well as the cities being so close to the wilderness.

The city is located at the northernmost point of Kyushu island, connecting it to the Chugoku region. It has a population of around 940,978. The city was established in 1963, with the merger of 5 cities; Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata, and Wakamatsu.

Seven wards make up the Kitakyushu neighborhoods. If you are looking at where to live in Kitakyushu, here is our guide to all the different areas and what life is like living in Kitakyushu.

If you are moving to Kitakyushu, please check out our available rental apartments in Kitakyushu.

Kokurakita-Ku

Kokurakita-Ku is one of the central Kitakyushu neighborhoods and one of the business hubs of the city. Perhaps this neighborhood is the best place to start when you are considering where to live in Kitakyushu. It is home to JR Kyushu’s Kokura Station, which is the main transport hub of the city and also where the shinkansen stops.

If you are moving to Kitakyushu, you will probably use this station a fair amount! There is also a Kitakyushu monorail which is particularly helpful for travel around the Kokura Kitakyushu neighborhoods.

Uomachi, close to the station is where most people living in Kitakyushu go shopping. There are two department stores; Colet and Izutsuya, as well as a food market – the Tanga Market. Riverwalk Kitakyushu is an entertainment complex and shopping center including a cinema and restaurants.

One of the sights that you should make sure to see if you are living in Fukuoka is the Kokura Castle, which was first built in 1602 and restored in 1990.  On the grounds, you can find a beautiful garden as well as a memorial museum and folkloric museum. The castle is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing.

If you are looking for a Kitakyushu apartment in the Kokurakita-Ku area, here are our available apartments.

Kokuraminami-Ku

The southern part of what was Kokura city is a fairly rural area. If you are moving to Kitakyushu and wondering where to live in Kitakyushu, this is one of the more scenic Kitakyushu neighborhoods since it is not as developed.

Some of the highlights of the neighborhood include the Hiraodai Karst Plateau and the Sugao no Taki.

Though it is a quiet area, there are also other benefits to living in Kitakyushu Kokuraminami-Ku – the transport. Kitakyushu Airport is located here, on an artificial island in the Seto Inland Sea. The airport connects the city to various other cities across the country.

Here are our available rental apartments in Kokuraminami-Ku for anyone moving to Kitakyushu.

Moji-Ku

When you are looking at where to live in Kitakyushu, don’t rule out the port area of Moji-Ku!

Another one of the Kitakyushu neighborhoods, Moji-Ku is where you can find Mojiko Retro. The Mojiko Retro District is a tourist site around the JR Mojiko station, which is a replica of the Termini Station in Rome. If you are living in Fukuoka, it is worth a visit for the various historic buildings.

Another popular place to visit in Moji-Ku is the Shiranoe botanical gardens which are known for early-blooming cherry blossoms which bloom as early as February. If you’re living in Kitakyushu and looking to see flowers in the colder months, there are even some cherry blossoms that bloom in autumn too!

Tobata-Ku

Tobata-Ku is the smallest of the Kitakyushu neighborhoods. Tobata has a history as a steel-making town, and a large part of the area are the Nippon Steel factories, furnaces, and coaling docks.

There is an iconic bridge called the Waka-To Ohashi connecting Tobata to Wakamatsu. It was the first suspension bridge in Asia, and it was completed in 1963.

One of the attractions that people living in Fukuoka can enjoy in Tobata is the Kitakyushu city art museum, which holds a mix of Japanese and Western art. As well as this, Tobata is where the Tobata Gion festival is held every year.

There is a small shopping center, the Tobata Aeon, which is close to the JR Tobata station.

Yahatahigashi-Ku

Yahatahigashi-Ku is the second smallest ward in the city. It is known for Space World the amusement park as well as Kawachi Wisteria Garden, which is one of the most beautiful spots to enjoy viewing wisteria flowers in Japan. If you are in Fukuoka prefecture between mid-April and mid-May, you must visit! This area is also known for Sakurayama, which offers one of the best night views in Japan.

Residents of Yahatahigashi-Ku have some of the highest average ages in Japan!

Yahatanishi-Ku

Yahatanishi-Ku is mostly a residential area, making it a great and convenient option for anyone thinking about living in Kitakyushu.

One of the most popular areas in Yahatanishi is Koyanose-juku, by the Onga river, which was previously a post town.

If you are looking for a Fukuoka apartment in Yahatanishi-Ku here are the apartments currently available for anyone moving to Kitakyushu.

Wakamatsu-Ku

Wakamatsu-ku is a beautiful part of Fukuoka prefecture where it is easy to spend time in the beautiful outside. From the beaches along the West coast to the Green Park, a big green area which includes a popular rose garden, Japanese garden, and tropical house, it’s a lovely place to relax!

Here are our Wakamatsu-Ku apartments for anyone considering living in Fukuoka and wondering where to live in Kitakyushu.

Fukuoka prefecture is a great place for anyone wanting to live in Kyushu whilst still having easy access to other areas of Japan. Additionally, Kitakyushu is a popular choice amongst the resident of the prefecture for somewhere with a good combination of both city life and rural land.

If you are moving to Fukuoka and looking for a rental apartment in Fukuoka prefecture, please check out our available apartments.