Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train
Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train: The Mojiko Retro Tourist Train Line runs just over two kilometers from near Mojiko Station in Mojiko to Mekari Park.
Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train (Sea Breeze) 門司港レトロ観光列車 トロッコ【潮風号】／北九州銀行レトロライン
Shiokaze, "Sea Breeze", a scenic train ride along the Kyushu side of the narrow Kanmon Straits that separates Kyushu from Honshu
The ticket office for the Retro Line scenic train in front of the Kyushu Railway History Museum in Mojiko
The Mojiko Retro Tourist Train Line runs a tad over two kilometers from near Mojiko Station in Mojiko to Mekari Park.
It was a goods branch line that connected the main line with a small port on the other side of the headland, but closed in 2005.
The two kilometer section re-opened running a small tourist train along this scenic stretch of coast along the Kanmon Straits separating Kyushu and Honshu.
Shiokaze (Sea Breeze) scenic train with panoramic windows
Approaching Norfolk Square Station on the scenic Retro Line in Mojiko
Starting Station
The starting station and ticket office is located between the Kyushu Railway History Museum and Mojiko Station, the terminus of the Kagoshima Line.
The first stop is Idemitsu Bijitsukan, right in the heart of the main tourist area known as Mojiko Retro.
The next stop is Norfolk Square, a small harbor just before where the train line heads into a tunnel through the headland. The last stop is Kanmonkaikyo Mekari. The journey time is a mere ten minutes.
Illuminated ceiling as the train passes through the tunnel
An historic electric locomotive on display in Mekari Park. Attached to the train is a railway carriage operating as a cafe
Train Layout
The train consists of two carriages with wooden seats and large windows that open.
The ceilings are decorated with marine and local scenery designs. The train is powered by a pair of small diesel shunting engines at either end. As the train passes through the tunnel illuminations cover the ceilings.
A path follows the train line for much of the way and so it is possible to take the train in one direction and walk back the other.
Right next to the end station is Mekari Park with a play area for kids, several type of outdoor swimming pools, and of course great sea views.
Several places offer snacks and drinks but the most interesting is in on old railway buffet car connected to an electric locomotive. Beer is also served here.
As you round the headland along the coast road you come into sight of the Kaimonkyo Suspension Bridge looming ahead.
Just on the left is the entrance to the Kanmon pedestrian tunnel that passes under the water across to Shimonoseki on the other side.
The channel narrows to about 700 meters at this point and the undersea tunnel is less than 800 meters to walk. A special Clover ticket can be bought which gives you the Sea Breeze train ride, entrance to the tunnel, the bus from the tunnel in Shimonoseki to the ferry port and then the ferry back to Mojiko.
Mount Hinoyama, a popular scenic spot near Shimonoseki, viewed from the coast path around the headland near Mekari Park
Kanmonkyo Suspension Bridge spanning the straits between Honshu and Kyushu
Mekari Shrine
Just before you pass under the bridge you reach Mekari Shrine, the northernmost shrine in Kyushu. According to the shrine's history it was founded about 1800 years ago. Not surprisingly is now associated with safety on sea journeys.
Mekari means "cutting seaweed" and refers to a unique ceremony that takes place before sunrise on New Year's Day when seaweed is cut from the seashore in front of the shrine and offered to the gods at the shrine.
Seaweed is associated with longevity and seaweed was sent from here to the Imperial Court in Kyoto in the early 8th century.
The shrine is a great spot to sit a while and watch the ships and boats passing by. This is a very busy channel, being the shortest route between Tokyo and Osaka to Korea and China, consequently ships and boats of all sizes and types pass through in both directions.
Being a narrow entrance between the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea the currents top speed is eight kilometers an hour.
Mekari Shrine, northernmost shrine in all of Kyushu
Banana Men, mascots for a local souvenir shop in Mojiko Retro
Kanmonkyo Suspension Bridge
The path now takes you beneath the impressive Kanmonkyo Suspension Bridge, opened in 1973.
It is still listed among the 50 biggest suspension bridges in the world. Its total length is a little over one kilometer, and the central span is 712 meters.
The channel opens up a little from here with the distinctive Kaikyo Yume Tower clearly visible on the Shimonoseki side and Mojiko on the Kyushu side.
After passing Norfolk Square and the small fishing ports you start to enter Mojiko and the busier tourist areas known as Mojiko Retro.
Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train
1-Chome-7 Nishikaigan
Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi
Fukuoka 801-0841
Tel: 093 331 1065
The train operates on weekends and holidays from March 17th to November 25th as well as every day during the spring and summer school holidays and also Golden Week.
The one way fare is 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children. An all day ticket costs just 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Timetable available at the company website (in Japanese).
Popular restaurant onboard a replica paddle steamer in Mojiko Retro
Kitakyushu Access - Getting To Kitakyushu
Air
Kitakyushu Airport is a new airport built on an an artificial island and is unusual in that it operates 24 hours a day. Several airlines run scheduled flights to and from Tokyo Haneda Airport, but Fukuoka Airport is less than 30 minutes away by train and has flights from many more domestic and international airports.
South side of Kokura Station
Train
Kokura Station is the first station of the Sanyo Shinkansen in Kyushu and all trains stop here. It takes less than 5 hours from Tokyo, 3 hours from Nagoya, and a little over 2 hours from Osaka. The newly opened Kyushu Shinkansen connects to Kumamoto in less than an hour and Kagoshima in just over 100 minutes. From Kokura take the Sonic Limited express to Kunisaki, Oita & Beppu. Mojiko is 12-13 minutes by train (270 yen) from Kokura on the Kagoshima Line.
The Sanyo Line runs a fast shuttle to and from Shimonoseki. The Kagoshima Line and the Nippo Line connect to all areas of Kyushu. Within Kitakyushu the Monorail runs about 9km from Kokura Station to Kokura Minami.
Sonic Express from Hakata & Kokura stations at Kitsuki Station
Ferry
Kitakyushu is served by several long distance domestic car ferries. A daily ferry from Tokyo stops at Tokushima on Shikoku, There are several ferries from Osaka and one from Kobe, and a direct ferry from Matsuyama on Shikoku. There are also small passenger ferries across the narrow straits to Shimonoseki and also to some smaller nearby islands. There is a high-speed speed ferry to Ulsan in Korea.
