Mojiko Station, a station with a Starbucks with a Taisho era atmosphere

JR Mojiko Station is the starting point of the Kyushu Railway (JR Kyushu) Kagoshima Main Line in Moji-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Mojiko Station building was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1988, so Kitakyushu City has been developed a tourist area called Mojiko Retro, which also utilizes historical buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the area surrounding Mojiko Station.

JR Mojiko Station opened in 1891 (Meiji 24) as Moji Station (hereinafter referred to as former Moji Station), the starting station of the former Kyushu Railway. (The former Kyushu Railway was nationalized in 1907.) The former Moji Station was built near the Kyushu Railway History Museum, about 200 meters away from the current Mojiko Station, but as the Mojiko area has developed, in 1914 (Taisho 3), the former Moji Station was moved to its current location. In 1942 (Showa 17), when the Kanmon Railway Tunnel opened, the connecting station became Dairi Station, so Dairi Station was renamed Moji Station, and the former Moji Station was renamed Mojiko Station.

The historic Mojiko Station building has been remodeled over its long use, and its appearance has been changing. Due to its age, conservation and repair work began in 2012. At the same time, a detailed survey of Mojiko Station revealed its history, and it was decided to restore the station to its Taisho era (1912-1926) appearance. Restoration work was completed in 2019. Mojiko Station is a symmetrical two-story wooden building built in 1914 (Taisho 3). The exterior walls are coated with mortar to give it a stone-clad look, and the roof is covered with natural stone slabs, making it a Neo-Renaissance building. The entrance of the building is a station building with a design inspired by the “門(gate)” of Mojiko. Mojiko is written 門司港 in Chinese characters. In the Taisho era, Japan National Railways station buildings were graded from first to fifth class, and Mojiko Station was a first-class station. Other than Mojiko Station, Tokyo Station is the only other first-class station in existence, and Tokyo Station is also designated as a National Important Cultural Property (2003).

From the Meiji era to the early Showa era (until 1960), railroad cars were classified from first to third class. The “former first and second-class waiting rooms” were used by passengers boarding first and second-class cars. The former first and second-class waiting room has a mantelpiece, varnished oregon pine woodwork, and walls are decorated with black plaster. In addition, mirror above the mantelpiece also retains a Taisho era advertisement for the former Mikado Shokudo Restaurant, which was once located on the second floor, giving visitors a sense of history. Currently used as the Midori-no-madoguchi (Tickets Office) and tourist information counter, it provides travel information at a counter with an elegant atmosphere that matches the atmosphere of the “former first and second-class waiting rooms.”

The former third-class waiting room is used to house the coffee chain Starbucks. Inside the store, visitors can take a break with a cup of coffee in a space that preserves the atmosphere of the station, with the logos of previous generations of Starbucks Coffee on display and tables made from railroad rails.

Various historical assets remain in the station, including the washroom, hand basin, and waterworks that have been in use since the opening of the former Moji Station. The Chozubachi in the first-floor restroom is a bronze hand basin, and is called the “Lucky Chozubachi” because it was spared the wartime offerings of metal. There also remains a drinking place in front of the toilets called “Kaerimizu.” After the war, repatriates from the continent who alight at Moji port were relieved when they drank this water, hence the name “Kaerimizu.”

On the station platform of Mojiko Station, directly in front of the ticket gate, there is a “0 Mile Monument” marking the starting point of the Kagoshima Main Line. Nearby is a bell that was used as a departure bell when the current station building was opened in 1914, and was brushed up and installed as a “Departure Bell” to bless travelers’ departure. 9:00 to 18:00 only, tourists are free to ring it.

The Taisho era-inspired station attendant uniform is an original worn only at Mojiko Station. The hat with three lines is the stationmaster.

Access to JR Mojiko Station

It takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Haneda Airport (Tokyo) to Kitakyushu Airport. Approximately 35 minutes by Nishitetsu bus from Kitakyushu Airport to JR Kokura Station.

It takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes by Sanyo Shinkansen from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Kokura Station.

Take the Kagoshima Main Line (bound for Mojiko Station) from JR Kokura Station to JR Mojiko Station for about 15 minutes and get off at JR Mojiko Station.