Hello! I’m Hitapapa and I love Mojiko retro.
This time, we came to the Former Moji Customs House, located in Mojiko Retro in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
This red brick building was constructed in 1912 (Meiji 45).
It played an important role in Mojiko Port, a trading port that flourished during the Meiji and Taisho periods, and operated as a customs office until the early Showa period.
The beautiful red bricks are full of nostalgia and history!
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The building circled in the marker is the former Moji Customs Office.
Located in Mojiko Retro, it is surrounded by the sea and offers spectacular views!
Right next to the old Moji Customs House is the sea, and there is the drawbridge, a famous Mojiko Retro landmark .
The drawbridge rises just enough to allow a boat to pass, and then lowers again when the boat has finished passing.
This time the drawbridge was raised at the perfect time!
Across the sea you can see Honshu and Yamaguchi Prefecture!
The Former Moji Customs House is a charming tourist spot built of red brick in this port town on the straits.
Now, let me introduce you to the former Moji Customs House.
We will introduce you to the Former Moji Customs House, a massive red brick building that remains from the Meiji era.
Basic Information
<Former Moji Customs House>
[Address] 1-24 Higashiko-cho, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka
(about 11 minutes walk from JR Mojiko Station)
[Opening hours] 9:00-17:00
[Closed days] None
[Fee] Free
[Parking] None (there are many paid parking lots nearby)
[Telephone number] 093-321-4151 (Mojiko Retro General Information)
[Official website] https://mojiko-retoro9.jp/spot/former_moji_customs_bldg/
Exterior
Made of red brick, it exudes the romance of the Meiji and Taisho eras.
It feels so heavy!
The Kanmon Strait is right next to it, and many large ships pass through, creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
Full of Meiji and Taisho era romance and nostalgia
The opening hours are long, from 9:00 to 17:00, and admission is free, which is great.
There are plenty of sofas, so it’s perfect for a short break.
Go inside
1st floor
The heavy planking, exposed red brick, and beautiful wooden ceiling will make you say “Wow!” the moment you step inside.
In fact, even the tourists were saying “Wow!” out loud.
The atrium is open from the first floor to the ceiling, creating a relaxing and spacious space.
The red bricks from the Meiji period are left exposed .
You can feel the history.
The red bricks from the Meiji era are still there!
The ceiling is full of warmth from the wood.
It feels like you’re in a big red brick cottage.
It’s a very pleasant and relaxing space.
On the first floor of the former Moji Customs House is a modern and stylish fruit parfait shop called “Moon de Retro.”
“Mooon de Retro” is a shop run by a fruit store in Moji Ward, and its seasonal fruit parfaits are delicious.
The incredibly photogenic fruit parfaits are very popular among girls.
(Mooon de Retro official website : https://www.ff-mooon.com/ )
It is a space with a modern feel that blends the nostalgia of the Meiji and Taisho eras with a modern fruit shop.
The smell of fruit wafting through the customs area makes you feel great!
This delicious parfait, made with an abundance of seasonal fruits, is photogenic and well worth trying.
Old documents from the 7th year of the Meiji era are on display.
Is this a document from when Moji Customs was established?
At the end of the document there are the signatures of “Ito Hirobumi” and “Okuma Shigenobu”.
This is a historical document that gives us an idea of the prosperity of Mojiko Port at that time.
Documents signed by “Hirobumi Ito” and “Shigenobu Okuma” remain.
Second floor
Here, the entire wall is covered with red bricks.
It’s a breathtaking sight.
The red bricks have been repaired so that they do not collapse, and the framework of the building itself appears to have been restored in a way that does not put stress on the red bricks.
The red brick walls are a sight to behold.
You can actually touch the exposed red bricks with your hands.
If you look closely, you can see that the bricks are joined together by plastering them with a kind of soil to form a single wall.
Old buildings were built like this
It’s moving to think that it was built from red bricks.
You can touch the red brick walls with your hands.
This is an open space from the first floor to the ceiling.
The red brick atrium with a blue ceiling allows you to see the blue sky, which is extremely emotional!
There’s a lot of sunlight coming in and it’s very bright.
There are several rest areas on the second floor.
The rest area, surrounded by red brick walls, is an incredibly calming and dignified space.
There are lots of sofas so it’s a good place to take a break.
This room displays a classic piece of art called “Ladybug Bench.”
About half of the walls of this room remain made of the original red bricks, and the other half was remodeled in a red brick style during restoration.
3rd floor (observation deck)
Following the red brick walls, we head up to the observation deck on the third floor!
In the exposed red brick walls, you can see iron bars that are thought to be from the time.
It’s amazing that such a stately red brick structure has still remained.
The observation deck on the third floor is a small space, but it
is surrounded by dilapidated, historic red brick walls, giving it an incredible sense of grandeur!
This is the view from the observation deck on the third floor.
You can even see the drawbridge right next to it!
The Kanmon Strait is right in front of you, and on the other side of the sea is Honshu and Yamaguchi Prefecture!
On a sunny day, the blue sky and blue sea are truly beautiful.
Although it is not shown in the photo, there are many large ships and tankers passing by, giving you the feeling of a seaside town.
From the observation deck you can see a magnificent view of the Kanmon Strait, Kanmon Bridge, and even Yamaguchi Prefecture!
The Former Moji Customs House is a must-see spot for retro sightseeing in Mojiko
Mojiko Retro is home to many historical buildings from the Meiji and Taisho periods. Among them, the Old Moji Customs House is a must-see spot for any Mojiko Retro tour , where you can get a feel for the prosperity of Mojiko at the time and even touch the exposed red bricks from that time !
The opening hours are long, from 9:00 to 17:00, and admission is free .
There is also a rest area, so if you get tired of sightseeing, we recommend taking a break at the Former Moji Customs House.
There is also a fruit parfait shop called “Mohn de Retro” run by a fruit shop in Moji, and their photogenic fruit parfaits are very popular among girls.
Directly to the side is the Kanmon Strait and the nostalgic red brick “Former Moji Customs House.”
If you are touring Mojiko Retro, be sure to stop by the Former Moji Customs House.
I hope the above information is of some help.
Be sure to visit the Former Moji Customs House!
See you soon!
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