A Seaside Walking Tour through Wakamatsu’s Elegant Industrial Heritage

Wakato Bridge & Retro-Photogenic Architecture Tour

A historic building with a turret, red brick and stone details, situated on a street corner. A red suspension bridge is visible in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Since the Meiji era, Wakamatsu thrived as Japan’s leading coal export port. Today, it invites visitors to stroll through time along the scenic Wakato Bridge and Wakamatsu South Seaside Street—known as “Wakamatsu Bund.” This compact walking course offers a perfect blend of photogenic retro architecture, waterfront charm, and historical ambiance, all within easy reach.

Duration : Half Day

Transportation : walking

📍Places to visit on this course

  1. Wakato Bridge

  2. Wakachiku Museum

  3. Ueno Building / Former Furukawa Mining Wakamatsu Building

  4. Mitsubaya Sake Shop

  5. Ryotei Kinnabe

🚩START!

JR Wakamatsu Station

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On foot (15 minutes)

1. Wakato Bridge

A striking crimson bridge connecting Wakamatsu and Tobata across Dokai Bay

Red suspension bridge over water with clouds and blue sky, cityscape and hills in the background.

Completed in 1962, the Wakato Bridge is a landmark of Kitakyushu and Japan's first long suspension bridge, and was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 2022. The deep red bridge over Dokai Bay is a nice accent to the harbor scenery, and looking up at the bridge from the “Wakato Ferry” is also recommended.

📍 Basic Info

  • Address : Kawashiro 1, Tobata-ku (starting point) – Honmachi 3, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu City (ending point)

  • Phone : 093-582-2274 (Road Maintenance Division, Kitakyushu City Construction Bureau)

  • Wakato Bridge relevant page

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On foot (1 minutes)

Was Dokai Bay once a river? Dive into Wakamatsu’s industrial story

2. Wakachiku Museum

Exhibit with historical photographs and models display in a museum.

Before exploring the town, learn about its fascinating history at this privately operated museum inside the offices of Wakachiku Construction Co., established in 1890 to develop the Dokai Bay area for coal export. Free to enter, the museum offers an engaging look at the city’s industrial heritage through photos, videos, dioramas, and artifacts.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (3 minutes)

3. Ueno Building & Former Furukawa Mining Wakamatsu Building

Retro photo spots along the seaside street

A historic building with a tall, round tower and ornate architectural details, adjacent to a modern white building, with the red bridge in the background across the river under a clear blue sky.

Wakamatsu South Seaside Street is lined with vintage Western-style buildings still in active use. The photogenic “Ueno Building,” built in 1913 as the Mitsubishi Partnership's Wakamatsu branch, now houses cafés and shops (call in advance for large group visits). A short walk away stands the 1919 Former Furukawa Mining Building, with its distinctive red brick and rooftop tower.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (4 minutes)

4. Mitsubaya Sake Shop

Discover locally crafted sake, tea, and citrus-based treats

Display of various bottles of fruit beverages, jars of jam, and packaged goods on a round table in a store. Shelves of sake bottles are in the background.

Tucked on a quiet street just off the coast, this long-standing sake shop is beloved by locals. It offers a unique selection of original liquors and teas made with produce from contracted farms in Wakamatsu—such as mandarin oranges, lemons, and melons. This charming store also sells plum wine, jams, and flavored teas.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (7 minutes)

5. Ryotei Kinnabe

Conclude your walk with refined beef hot pot in a historic setting

Traditional Japanese wooden building with a yellow and black exterior wall, wooden balcony, and tiled roof, surrounded by trees.

End your stroll with a luxurious meal at this hidden ryotei, established in the Meiji era. Once frequented by notable figures, it still serves the beloved gyunabe (beef hot pot) as well as seasonal lunch kaiseki (from 4,500 yen, tax and service excluded). The refined ambiance remains unchanged for over a century—step inside for a taste of elegance and tradition.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (8 minutes)

JR Wakamatsu Station

🏁GOAL!

  • A museum exhibit with black and white historic photographs on the walls, a central red presentation area with a screen, and brown benches for seating.

  • Red suspension bridge over a body of water with a paved walkway, palm trees, and city buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.

  • Interior view of a multi-story building with wooden railings, staircase, and a skylight ceiling.

  • A historic brick and concrete building with two rounded towers and tall green windows, against a bright blue sky with some clouds.