Kitakyushu (Japan Fukuoka)

Kitakyushu (Kitakyushu-shi) is a large port city in Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture (Kyushu Island). By population (around 0,95 million), Kitakyushu is ranked Prefecture's 2nd-largest (after Fukuoka City). Kitakyushu City was formed in 1963 via a merger of 5 neighboring municipalities (Moji, Kokura, Tobata, Yahata, Wakamatsu). It is located at Kyushu Island's northernmost point, being separated from Honshu Island (Shimonoseki City) by Kanmon Straits. Both cities (Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki) are interlinked via Kanmon Bridge (part of the Great Asian Highway) and Shin-Kanmon Tunnel (undersea). The Fukuoka-Kitakyushu Metropolis has a combined population of over 5,74 million.

By docking capacity, facilities and annual shipping traffic (including ferries), Port Kitakyushu (locode JPKKJ) is Kyushu Island's largest. Regularly scheduled ferries (homeported at Shin-Moji Port) link Kitakyushu City with Shimonoseki, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, also with Korea (Ulsan and Busan).

At the end of WW2 (1939-1945), in June 1944, Kitakyushu was the target for the US bombing raids. The region was also the target of the USA's nuclear bomb "Fat Man". The drop was planned for August 9, 1945, but, luckily, all the 3 attempts failed due to weather (clouds) and also smoke from Yahata (bombed by the US Airforce on Aug 8). The Fat Man bomb (weight 4670 kg) was dropped on Nagasaki City (designated as secondary target) on Aug 9th, destroying ~1/3rd of the city and killing over 40,000 (~66,000 total injured and killed).

As a tourism travel destination, Kitakyushu is well-known for its numerous seasonal festivals (matsuri), the most popular of which are held during summer - in May (Moji Minato), July (Kurosaki Gion, Tobata Gion, Kokura Gion, Wakamatsu Minato) and August (Wasshoi Hyakuman). Green Park Flea Market is held monthly (except in Aug and Dec) and houses ~200 outdoor shops.

The city is served by the international Kitakyushu Airport that links to South Korea (Incheon-Seoul, Busan, Yangyang), China (Dalian) and Taiwan (Taipei).