Kokura-Kita-ku, Kokura-Minami-ku, Moji-ku, Tobata-ku, Wakamatsu-ku
Area Leader: Sarah Saeed
Hello! I’m Sarah and I’m from London. I’ve been living in Fukuoka since the end of August 2022. Whilst it took me a while to get use to inaka life, and away from a hustle and bustle of the city, Kitakyushu is starting to feel like home. But the bugs.....don't get me started on the bugs. Before Japan, I was studying for my undergraduate degree and working part-time as a web developer for the university I attended. Now, I work at two SHS in the Keichiku area which are…challenging to say the least. But hey, if you aren't uncomfortable, then you aren't growing!
One of my hobbies is reading – some of my favourite books are ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ by Khaled Hosseini, ‘Crying in H Mart’ by Michelle Zauner, and ‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee. I also LOVE stationary! I have a few penpals that I write to when I have time, so I love shopping around for cute things to decorate my letters with. When I’m not working, reading, or collecting and hoarding stationary, you may find me hanging around Kokura or going to the city.
Please introduce your area
There are 15 JETs living in Kitakyushu East which is made up of: Kokura-Kita-ku, Kokura-Minami-ku, Moji-ku, Tobata-ku, and Wakamatsu-ku. We aren’t all ALTs or belong to the same BOE so there is a real mix of us!
What is your area famous for?
The most famous places in Kitakyushu East is Kokura and Mojiko. Kokura is well-known for it's beautiful historic castle, it's bustling night life, and variety of restaurants. It's a very convenient place to shop and get your daily essentials, especially since it has great transportation links. Furthermore, Kokura has it's own Shinkansen station which you can take to get to Hakata in under 20 minutes or you could go a bit further to mainland Japan. Another thing that Kokura is known for is its food. You may be familiar with Tonkotsu ramen which is famous in Fukuoka, however, Kokura also has it's own take on Tonkotsu ramen (which some could argue is better).
Another area that is famous in Kitakyushu East is Mojiko. Mojiko used to be known for being the ‘port’ of Japan due to its international trading. If you’re ever in the area you should check out ‘Mojiko Retro’ which is a recreation of the town in the 20th century. Mojiko also has it's own popular local food, Yaki curry, which is a baked curry! If you're there, I highly recommend trying it out.
If you have questions about Kitakyushu East and would like to contact Sarah click here to send an email to the Area Leader Liaison.