JA 31 Mojikō Station 門司港駅 | |||||||||||
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 Mojikō Station in June 2025 | |||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||
| Location | 1-5-31 Nishi-Kaigan, Moji-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture （北九州市門司区西海岸一丁目5-31） Japan | ||||||||||
| Operated by | .svg/1280px-JR_logo_(kyushu).svg.png){kind=logo} JR Kyushu | ||||||||||
| Line | Kagoshima Main Line | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 island platforms | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | ||||||||||
| Connections |  Heichiku via Kyushu Railway History Museum Station | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Structure type | At grade | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Station code | JA31 | ||||||||||
| Website | Official website | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Opened | 1 April 1891 (1891-04-01) | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Mojiko Station (門司港駅, Mojikō-eki) is a railway station at the northern terminus of the Kagoshima Main Line in the Moji ward of Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). Prior to the opening of the Kanmon Railway Tunnel in 1942, it served as the gateway to Kyushu island, with frequent ferry service to Shimonoseki Station on the Honshu side of the Kanmon Straits. The station building is recognised by the Japanese government as an Important Cultural Property, and is now a popular tourist attraction.
History
The station opened as the starting point for Kyushu's railway network with the name "Moji Station" on 1 April 1891, serving as the northern terminus of the Kagoshima Main Line.[1][2][3] The original station building was located to the east of the current structure, behind what is now the Moji branch of Kitakyushu Bank. Ferry service to Shimonoseki Station on the Honshu side of the Kanmon Straits began on 27 May 1901. Now linked with Honshu's railway network, the station became a hub for transport between the two islands. From October 1911, however, goods services were redirected to a new train ferry operated between Komorie Station and Shimonoseki, with Moji Station primarily relegated to passenger use.[2][3]
The current Neo-Renaissance-style station building was completed in 1914.[4] The station retained its status as the starting point for Kyushu's railway network, but when the Kanmon Railway Tunnel opened in 1942, it ceased to play any part in cross-strait transport. The nearby Dairi Station, now the focal point for connections with Honshu's San'yō Main Line, was renamed Moji Station, and this station was given its present name of "Mojikō" (門司港, lit. 'Moji Harbour').[2] During the Second World War, three people were killed in an American bombing of the station on 5 March 1945. Scars left by bomb damage were discovered during the 21st century restoration of the building.[5]
Even after the opening of the Kanmon Tunnel, Mojikō continued to serve as a hub for railway management, with the Moji Railway Administration Bureau and Japanese National Railways (JNR) Kyushu Directorate located adjacent to the station complex. With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, the station came under the control of JR Kyushu, which maintained two corporate headquarters, one at Mojikō and one in Fukuoka. The Mojikō HQ was closed in 2000, with all operations moved to the Fukuoka offices. The station, which was recognised as an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese government on 18 November 1988,[6] then became popular with tourists as part of the "Mojikō Retro" area.[2]
From 29 September 2012, the station building was closed for major restoration works. The refurbished station reopened on 10 March 2019.[7]
Facilities
The station has a "Midori no Madoguchi" staffed ticket counter.[8]
Passenger statistics
In fiscal 2024, the station was used by an average of 4,902 passengers daily (boarding passengers only), making it JR Kyushu's 43rd busiest station.[9]
Surrounding area
Mojikō Station is the gateway to the various tourist attractions and old buildings that have been preserved in the nearby area under the name "Mojikō Retro".
The Kyushu Railway History Museum is located adjacent to the station. The Mojikō Retro Scenic heritage railway line, which is operated by local railway company Heichiku, stops at the nearby Kyushu Railway History Museum Station.
Gallery
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Mojikō Station at night, March 2020
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At night, March 2020
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May 2019
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May 2019
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May 2019
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Ticket vending machines, March 2020
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Mojikō Station in January 2005, prior to its restoration
See also
References
- ^ 日本国有鉄道停車場一覧 [JNR Station Directory]. Japan: Japanese National Railways. 1985. p. 158. ISBN 4-533-00503-9.
- ^ a b c d "Mojikō-eki". Shūkan JR zen'eki zen sharyō kichi (in Japanese). No. 7. Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. 23 September 2012. pp. 4–10.
- ^ a b 九州鉄道百年祭実行委員会・百年史編纂部会, ed. (October 1988). 九州の鉄道100年記念誌 鉄輪の轟き (in Japanese) (1st ed.). JR Kyushu. pp. 52–53.
- ^ "9/29, 門司港駅,「大正駅舎」の営業を終了" [29 Sept: Mojiko Station "Taisho period building" closes]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 620. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. December 2012. p. 162.
- ^ ""国の重要文化財「門司港駅」を"完全復元"へ 1914年建設当時の姿に 宮内庁の資料が後押し"" (in Japanese). Nishinippon Shimbun. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ 九州鉄道百年祭実行委員会・百年史編纂部会, ed. (October 1988). 九州の鉄道100年記念誌 鉄輪の轟き (in Japanese) (1st ed.). JR Kyushu. p. 190.
- ^ "大正ロマン復元、ＪＲ門司港駅が全面開業 タモリさん駆け付け式典". Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 10 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ^ 駅情報 門司港駅 [Station Information: Mojiko Station] (in Japanese). Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
- ^ "駅別乗車人員上位300駅（2024年度）" (PDF) (in Japanese). JR Kyushu. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
External links
- Mojiko Station information (JR Kyushu) (in Japanese)
33°56′42″N 130°57′41″E / 33.94500°N 130.96139°E / 33.94500; 130.96139
