Mojiko & Kitakyushu 14th,
Japan 2017-2018

Waking up early in the morning assures a quiet and tranquil journey. My first destination today is Mojiko Retro (門司港レトロ]).

"The Mojiko Retro district is a restored reproduction of the district around the port in olden times.  In this district, various buildings have been preserved and are open to visitors, including the iconic Mojiko Station, former Moji Mitsui Club, where Einstein stayed, and former Kyushu Railway Headquarters (currently Kyushu Railway History Museum)."

I starred the Moji Castle Ruins in the map for a possible visit. I start my ascension to the small mountain where the castle sits at its top. When I get to the top I am slightly disappointed, there are not much of a ruin of castle and the most notorious view is a big stone marking the site. But the sightseeing going up to the top is worth the effort. I get great views of the city and the surrounding forest.

While I am going up thru an empty road and after crossing below concrete bridges I see two figures coming in my direction. At first, I wonder if I should be worried. As soon as they get close, I see two old Japanese men that seem to come from a shrine. I politely salute them as we cross, they are probably even more worried to see a tall bearded tourist in such an empty place. They return the greeting and we all smile as we continue our walk. I think that hiking etiquette, to acknowledge and greet fellow hikers, is a good ruleset to follow everywhere.

After a short train trip, I am in Kitakyushu. I still have time to visit the city. I enter the castle and a the manga museum. I also visit several statues dedicated to the Space Pirate Captain Harlock by Leiji Matsumoto.

Before going back to the hotel, I pass by the Tanga market and buy something to eat. It is delicious.