ChaCha Town is Kokura’s entertainment shopping district; comprising clothing stores, restaurants, theaters, arcades, and a big Ferris wheel!
In the center of Kitakyushu’s northernmost town of Kokura, there is a small but memorable little village known as ChaCha Town.
Whether you’re looking for a feed, clothes, jewelry, or simply want to be entertained, ChaCha Town has everything you desire in one place!
ChaCha Town’s Ferris Wheel Lights The Night
The beautiful lights of ChaCha Town’s infamous Ferris wheel can be seen from a mile away!
At night, it does an amazing job of attracting street wanderers like myself, as I had no prior knowledge of this destination.
You can reach ChaCha Town in just 10 minutes on foot from Kokura station.
I’m not a huge fan of Ferris wheels, but I know there’s usually something interesting to see in the surrounding area wherever there is one.
Awesome Shopping Complex
ChaCha Town offers a multi-level shopping complex which includes supermarkets, clothing stores, restaurants, and cafes. There are stairs, escalators, and elevators that can take you up and down the complex, making it easily accessible for everyone!
There is plenty to see here at ChaCha Town, especially for shopaholics! From Japanese clothing stores like Right-On to iconic retail stores like Daiso, you can come here for all your shopping needs.
Catch A Movie!
In my home country Australia, I’d be lucky to see more than five movies at the cinema in an entire year.
However, cinemas in Japan just hits different, and I’ve already found myself there on several occasions in the last month alone!
Indeed, it all comes down to the snack bar, which is absolutely impeccable here in Japan.
From the sheer variety of unique popcorn flavors like soy butter and caramel, to the fried chicken, wedges, bubble tea, chocolate puffs, and churros, it’s an absolute snack buffet of epic proportions!
During my stay at Kitakyushu, ChaCha Town’s United Cinemas on the top floor kept my movie needs satisfied!
Grab A Feed At Hama Sushi! (Or McDonald’s)
There’s a fair bit of restaurants to choose from at ChaCha Town, whether you’re craving eastern or western cuisine.
I recently wrote an article on Hama Sushi and what a wonderful experience I had there.
You can find this amazing conveyor-belt sushi restaurant right at the entrance of ChaCha Town (you won’t miss it!).
There’s also a good old McDonald’s restaurant on the bottom floor in the courtyard, again, you won’t miss it!
In addition to restaurants and cafes, there are a few food stalls that sell delicious street food like fried chicken and takoyaki (octopus dumplings).
If You’re Lucky, See A Live Performance!
The “if you’re lucky” part is important here, because I had no idea about this scheduled performance at ChaCha Town which seemed to draw in quite the crowd.
It seemed to be a music and dance performance of some sort with what I can only guess to be an island “Hawaii-style” performance. Perhaps it was a traditional dance custom to Kyushu Island, who knows?
Regardless, it was great to come out of my Hama Sushi feed to see this performance popping off. As someone who lives on a budget, I always appreciate the free experiences in life.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!