Japan may be an island nation, but its major cities tend to be quite inland. That’s why Kitakyushu stands out for its seaside aesthetic.
Seaside Beauty
The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving at Kitakyushu is how the city is surrounded by vast blue ocean. As it’s along Japan’s east coast but also the most northern point of Kyushu island in Japan’s south, Kitakyushu offers very unique landscapes that combine seaside aesthetics with small bays and docking areas. I highly recommend the Mt. Komonji hike for getting a high-level view of this beautiful dynamic between ocean, city, and mountain.
Mountainous Landscapes
Given Kitakyushu’s proximity to the ocean, you tend to see the mountain ranges more close up, particularly with so many nearby islands and their mountain ranges on display. In addition, unique trees that are not so common in the Japan landscape aesthetic such as pine trees start to appear, particularly in areas close to the water. The result is a kind of hybrid aesthetic that combines a beach vibe with a tropical island feel, perhaps a little like Hawaii.
Harbourside Aesthetics
Kitakyushu is all about docks, ports, and harbors. It’s quite common to see boats and ships docked up along the ports, a common trope of Fukuoka Prefecture. Being a major point of contact between Japan and Korea’s ferry lines, it’s not surprising that there are so many docks set up throughout this region of Japan, particularly when they’re also used for supplying fish and other seafood to the area.
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