Monji is located in the northernmost part of Kyushu. Facing the Kanmon Strait, it is a city that is the gateway to Kyushu. Across the Kaimon Strait is Shimonoseki facing Monji. It is connected by the Kanmon Tunnel and the Kanmon Bridge. Since Monji Port was designated as a special export port of the country in 1889 (Meiji 22), financial institutions and trading companies have advanced and developed. In 1899 (Meiji 32), the city was incorporated as the city of Monji, but in 1963 (Showa 38) the city of Kitakyushu was established and became the district of Monji. Recently, the old buildings that remain in the Monji Port area have become popular as tourist spots. I would like to introduce the situation of Monji centering on Monji Port Station, which was the foundation of the development of the town of Monji.

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Monjiminato Station area

The area around JR Monji Port Station was designated as a special export port in the Meiji period, so it was a place where finance, trading companies, and shipping companies gathered and prospered. Time has descended, and there are still many buildings that retain the remnants of the past, and it is becoming popular with tourists as the Monji Port Retro District. This is a modern high-rise apartment building designed by Kisho Kurokawa in the Monji Port Retro District and the International Friendship Memorial Library.

There is an observation room on the 31st floor of this high-rise condominium "Monji Port Retro Hymat", so I went there. You can enjoy the view of the Kanmon Strait from a height of 103m. It is a view of the Kanmon Bridge and Mount Kojo over the Kanmon Strait on the north side of Monji Port.

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Kanmon Strait

It is a strait connecting the Japan Sea Echo Bund and the Seto Inland Sea Perimeter Defense Bund, and the width is only 650 m at the narrowest point. The difference in tides is severe, and it is said that it will be as .8m as 3 on the Zhou Bund side. Funajima, known for the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro in 1612 (Keicho 17) and the Battle of Iwaizumi, also looked small before the city of Shimonoseki.

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Monji Port Retro District

• Old Monji Customs Office Building A Renaissance-style red brick building that was used as the Moji Customs Office Building

  

• Monji Port Retro Sightseeing Train 2.1km sightseeing route from in front of Kyushu Railway Memorial Hall to Kanmon Kaikyo Mekari Station

  

• Former Monji Mitsui Club A building that was used as a social club of the Mitsui & Co. Monji Branch

  

• Former Osaka Merchant Marine Building A restored building of Osaka Merchant Marine Monji Port Branch