Hostels in Kitakyushu, Japan

The city of Kitakyushu (Kokura), Japan, is located in Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu Island. This island is the southernmost of the four main Japanese islands. Mountains, very fertile valleys, and some wide plains characterize Kyushu. Kitakyushu is situated in the north of the island and was founded in the early sixties, merging five smaller municipalities. The second atomic bomb was intended to hit Kitakyushu but bad weather diverted the attack to Nagasaki. Nowadays, the city is home for around one million people. Kitakyushu has the reputation of being just an industrial city; this is only true for some parts of the coastline. Numerous sights such as Kokura Castle and regional festivals are worthwhile to visit.

The climate in the region is subtropical and humid. In winter, the temperatures rarely drop below zero degrees Celsius. Daily maximum temperatures around ten degrees Celsius are usual. In summer, between July and August, the average maximum temperature hover around thirty degrees Celsius. You can expect days with precipitation all year round; on average, it rains ten days per month.

If you want to stay in the city, numerous hotels, guesthouses, and hostels in Kitakyushu (Kokura), Japan welcome you. However, the number of Kitakyushu (Kokura), Japan hostels is limited, so if you have a tight budget, try to plan ahead and book your Kitakyushu (Kokura), Japan hostel in advance to save up some money. Generally, the accommodations, including the Kitakyushu (Kokura), Japan hostels and guesthouses, are clean and mostly have a high standard. Free Wi-Fi is self-evident.

Kokura Castle was built by the Japanese samurai warrior Hosokawa Tadaoki in the seventeenth century. Unfortunately, the complex was destroyed in the nineteenth century by fire. The castle you can visit now is a reconstruction from the mid-twentieth century. However, traditional architecture of the castle provides an interesting visual contrast to the neighbouring districts with modern architecture and shopping centres.

The most popular festival here is Tobata Gion Yamagasa. It is held for three days before and after the fourth Saturday of July. The focus of the festival is on the parading of the Yamagasa (very large floats). During the festival in the night-time, the floats are entirely transformed into pyramids of light.