Discover Kitakyushu’s manufacturing spirit through museums, maps, local dining, and a dazzling factory night cruise.

Industrial Heritage & Night Cruise Tour

Exhibition display of various ceramic and industrial products in glass cases, with informational posters about Japanese companies and industries in the background.

Kitakyushu is known as Japan’s “city of manufacturing,” playing a central role in the nation’s modernization. This course takes you through fascinating museums that highlight innovations from daily life to world maps, followed by dinner at a lively shopping complex, and concludes with a breathtaking night cruise among the city’s illuminated factories.

Duration : Half Day

Transportation : Car and walking

📍Places to visit on this course

  1. TOTO Museum

  2. Zenrin Museum

  3. Riverwalk Kitakyushu

  4. Factory Night Cruise

🚩START!

Kitakyushu Urban Expressway – Murasakigawa IC

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By car (4 minutes)

1. TOTO Museum

Uncover the surprising history of Japan’s toilets

Modern white building with curved balconies and glass windows, with a parking lot and landscaped greenery in the foreground.

Founded in 1917, TOTO opened this museum in Kokura in 2015 to mark its centennial. Visitors can explore how Japan’s water and sanitation culture evolved, from the nation’s first domestically produced flush toilet to today’s cutting-edge designs. Displays and films highlight both the craftsmanship and the company’s commitment to innovation.

📍 Basic Info

  • Address : 2-1-1 Nakajima, Kokurakita-Ku, Kitakyushu City Within the TOTO Headquarters and Kokura First Factory premises

  • Phone : 093-951-2534

  • TOTO Museum Official website

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By car (8 minutes)

Tracing history through maps—fascinating and unexpected

2. Zenrin Museum

Skyline of modern buildings in an urban area, including Zenrin Museum building, NHK building, and other high-rise structures, with a partly cloudy sky overhead.

This exhibition introduces the evolution and history of maps, featuring Western-made maps of Japan created from the 16th to the 19th century, as well as a full-scale display of Inō Tadataka's Inō Chūzu. By revealing the stories and cultures behind maps, the exhibits draw you into their unique appeal.

📍 Basic Info

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On foot (within the facility)

3. Riverwalk Kitakyushu

Shopping, dining, and local gourmet in one place

Modern cityscape with colorful architectural buildings, including yellow, red, and beige structures, among trees, with a blue sky background.

This multi-purpose complex houses shops, restaurants, and a cinema. For dining, the 1st floor offers cafés, while the 4th floor features “Taberiba Restaurant” and “Taberiba Garden” with around ten eateries. From casual bites to local specialties, Riverwalk provides plenty of choices to suit your taste and mood.

📍 Basic Info

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By car (8 minutes)

4. Night View Sightseeing Regular Cruise

Night view of an industrial refinery on the water, illuminated by bright lights, with a boat in the foreground and a large structure with red and white pipes in the background.

Marvel at Kitakyushu’s world-class factory nightscape

As the birthplace of Japan’s steel industry, Kitakyushu offers an extraordinary view of its industrial heritage illuminated at night. On this guided cruise through Dokai Bay, you’ll pass blast furnaces, chimneys, and steelworks glowing like a scene from science fiction. Sailing under the Wakato Bridge adds a touch of adventure.

📍 Basic Info

  • Address : 3-9-1 Asano, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City (Kokura Port: Ferry Terminal for Aoshima and Umashima)

  • Phone : 093-331-0222

  • Kanmon Ferry Official website

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By car (5 minutes)

Kitakyushu Urban Expressway – Kokura Station North IC

🏁GOAL!