Kanmon Area Tour
Explore Japan’s Modernization Through Scenic Landmarks
Embark on a captivating journey through the Kanmon Area, where stunning coastal scenery meets Japan’s industrial legacy. This tour offers a rare chance to experience the region by land, from the sea, and even by walking through a tunnel beneath the ocean floor.
Kanmon Bridge – An Engineering Marvel Framed by Scenic Views
Spanning 1,068 meters across the Kanmon Strait, this suspension bridge links the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. When it opened in 1973, it was the longest suspension bridge in East Asia. During the tour, you’ll appreciate its grandeur from two unique vantage points: enjoy a sweeping panoramic view from a nearby observatory, and admire the bridge's impressive silhouette from the waterfront at Mekami Shrine.
Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel – Walk Beneath the Sea
Completed in 1958, the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel is a 780-meter-long undersea passage connecting Moji (Kyushu) and Shimonoseki (Honshu). This rare feat of engineering consists of two levels: an upper roadway for vehicles and a lower walkway for pedestrians. Visitors descend approximately 60 meters on the Moji side and 55 meters on the Shimonoseki side via elevators before entering the tunnel. At the midpoint, you’ll encounter the undersea border between Fukuoka and Yamaguchi Prefectures — a unique and memorable landmark that few places in the world can offer.
Mekari Shrine Official Website (Japanese)
Kanmon Strait Museum – Experience the Legacy of a Historic Waterway
The Kanmon Strait Museum offers an immersive, multi-sensory experience that explores the history, culture, and natural environment of this vital maritime region. Through engaging exhibits, films, interactive installations, and even regional food tastings, visitors can discover how this strategic strait — where the Sea of Japan meets the Seto Inland Sea — has shaped centuries of trade, travel, and cultural exchange between Japan and East Asia. Descending gradually through a striking four-story spiral atrium, the museum’s design guides you through time and geography, enriched by cutting-edge technology that lets you truly see, hear, and feel the story of the Kanmon Strait.
Kanmon Strait MuseumEco-Friendly Tour
Explore the Frontiers of Energy and Science
Please note:
This tour departs from the Kitakyushu International Conference Center and concludes at Takami
Shrine, the venue for the banquet. Please check your schedule carefully before registering.
Next-Generation Energy Park (Kitakyushu Eco-Town Center)
Once a city known for heavy industrial pollution, Kitakyushu has become a global model for environmental recovery and innovation. At the Next-Generation Energy Park, visitors can explore a wide range of energy-related facilities—from essential power infrastructure that supports daily life to cutting-edge renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, and biomass. This area stands as a powerful symbol of Kitakyushu’s ongoing journey toward a sustainable and low-carbon future.
Kitakyushu Eco-Town CenterKitakyushu City Science Museum (Located at THE OUTLETS KITAKYUSHU)
The Kitakyushu City Science Museum invites you to discover the science hidden in everyday life. Designed to spark imagination and inspire learning, the museum offers hands-on exhibits and interactive displays that make science accessible and exciting for visitors of all ages. After your visit, take time to explore THE OUTLETS KITAKYUSHU, the largest outlet mall in Kyushu. With global luxury brands, top sportswear labels, and curated Japanese boutiques, it’s a shopping experience that feels like a real-life treasure hunt.
Kitakyushu City Science Museum (Official Website)THE OUTLETS KITAKYUSHU (Official Website)
Kitakyushu Industry Tour
Discover the City’s Leading Technologies
Hiagari Wastewater Treatment Plant
Once affected by severe marine pollution, Kitakyushu has transformed into a global model for environmental restoration. Today, the Hiagari Wastewater Treatment Plant serves as an international strategic hub for water-related technologies. Visitors can explore:
- A massive diorama theater that combines city-scale models with projection mapping
- A heavy rainfall simulator that recreates extreme weather conditions (73mm/hour)
- Outdoor water treatment facilities that demonstrate real-world solutions to environmental issues
This is more than just a tour — it’s a hands-on journey into the environmental engineering excellence of Kitakyushu.
TOTO Museum
Based in Kitakyushu, TOTO Ltd. is Japan’s leading manufacturer of sanitary ware and housing equipment. Founded in 1917, before modern sewage systems were common in Japan, TOTO pioneered the production of flush toilets with a mission to improve public health and daily living standards. At the TOTO Museum, you’ll explore:
- The history of sanitation and water-use innovation in Japan
- TOTO’s ongoing dedication to design, hygiene, and sustainability
- The company’s latest technologies, which continue to redefine how we interact with water
This visit offers a rare glimpse into Japanese craftsmanship, social innovation, and the evolution of clean technology.
TOTO Museum (Official Website)
Moji Retro Tour
Step into the Industrial Past That Shaped Modern Japan
Explore the charm and legacy of Japan’s early industrial era in the Moji Port Retro District , where historic architecture, vintage technology, and hands-on experiences come together to tell the story of the nation’s transformation.
Moji Telecommunication Museum – A Time Capsule of Communication
Housed in a rare Taisho-era telecom building from 1924, this museum offers a fascinating look into the evolution of communication in Japan. The Moji Telecommunication Museum preserves and displays early telegraphs, telephones, and related equipment that supported the country’s modernization from the Meiji period onward. Even the beautifully restored building itself stands as a piece of living history.
Moji Telecommunication Museum (Official Website)Kyushu Railway History Museum – Ride Through Time
Located in the heart of the Moji Retro District, the Kyushu Railway History Museum celebrates over a century of railway heritage. Its iconic red-brick main building, constructed more than 100 years ago, features historic train carriages and a simulator where you can experience driving a train along real-life routes. Outdoors, a mini railway complete with nostalgic train cars and working signals invites visitors to operate small-scale locomotives — a popular attraction for children and railway enthusiasts alike.
Kyushu Railway History Museum (Official Website)
Kaikyo Plaza – Shop, Savor, and Explore
At the heart of Moji Retro lies Kaikyo Plaza, a lively commercial complex rich in local flavor Browse through shops offering souvenirs, crafts, and regional snacks, or visit interactive spaces such as the Glass Art Museum and Music Box Studio. Relax at scenic restaurants overlooking the Kanmon Strait, and soak in the retro elegance of a historic port town that once served as a gateway to modern Japan.
Kaikyo Plaza (Official Website)Entry
Entry for the technical tour will open in mid-June.