Enjoy Kitakyushu’s nightlife with kakuuchi sake, hidden back-alley dining, and Mojiko’s retro charm.

Buzzed and Blissful: Nightlife Stroll in Mojiko

A glass of sake placed on a wooden box with plates of food in the background.

As twilight falls and the crowds thin, Mojiko transforms into a playground for those seeking authentic Kitakyushu culture. Begin with kakuuchi—the unique tradition of drinking sake inside a liquor shop—then slip into a beloved back-alley A Japanese gastropub where a warm-hearted hostess serves up seasonal dishes. Conclude the night with the architectural elegance of Mojiko Station, a Neo-Renaissance treasure.

Duration : 3 hours

Transportation : Walking

📍Places to visit on this course

  1. Uozumi Saketen (Kakuuchi)

  2. Kazaguruma

  3. JR Mojiko Station

🚩START!

JR Mojiko Station

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On foot (7 minutes)

1. Uozumi Saketen (Kakuuchi)

Discover Kitakyushu’s unique “kakuuchi” drinking culture

A Japanese storefront illuminated by warm yellow light displaying beverage cases and potted plants outside. The sign reads '魚住' (Uozumi) and there are stacked crates and bottles visible inside the shop.

Kakuuchi refers to drinking alcohol at a corner of a liquor shop, a practice that took root during the Meiji era when workers at the Yahata Steel Works sought places to drink day or night. Founded in 1929, Uozumi Liquor Shop is a classic example, where sake is poured to the brim for a glass. Pair it with simple snacks like cheese sticks or nostalgic dagashi treats.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (3 minutes)

A beloved back-alley famous store with nationwide fans

2. Kazaguruma

A woman in a white traditional dress preparing fresh fish, vegetables, and herbs behind a counter at a market or restaurant.

Since 1984, this cozy restaurant has drawn locals and business travelers alike. Run by a hostess who has loved entertaining with food since childhood. The menu is exclusively an omakase course. Fresh seafood displayed at the counter can also be prepared to your liking. A true hidden gem of Mojiko’s nightlife.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (5 minutes)

A Neo-Renaissance station, Japan’s first Important Cultural Property railway terminal

3. JR Mojiko Station

Historic train station building illuminated at dusk with a mountain backdrop and partly cloudy sky.

Originally built in 1914, Mojiko Station is Japan’s first railway station designated as an Important Cultural Property. After six and a half years of restoration, it was returned in 2019 to its original Taisho-era elegance. The two-story wooden structure features symmetrical Neo-Renaissance architecture. Inside, highlights include the “Zero-Mile Marker” marking Kyushu’s railway starting point and the “Lucky Water Basin” that survived wartime metal requisition.

📍 Basic Info

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JR Mojiko Station

🏁GOAL!