Moji Port in the northeast of Fukuoka Prefecture flourishes as a leading international port town in Japan before the Second World War.

Present Moji Port area used to be no more than a small village of the salt industry and coastal fishery till the mid-19th century.  But it drastically changed to a great port town in line with a national policy to raise international port towns late in the 19th century.  Following the establishment of the Moji customs in 1885, those who were working for international trades like trading companies and shipping companies gathered here from all over the country.  It came to the zenith of prosperity as a base of sea transport together with Yokohama and Kobe early in the 20th century.  In those years, some parts of East Asia were Japan’s territory, so Moji was ideally located in terms of the distance to these remote territories.  After the Second World War, however, Japan lost these territories in East Asia.  In other words, Moji’s geographical advantage as an important trading port with those remote territories rapidly went out.  Although Moji isn’t a big port town anymore, the locals strive to make the most of many surviving buildings to revive the old port town.  It has become one of the leading sightseeing tour spots in Kyushu thanks to their efforts.  The first photo shows the facade of JR Mojiko Station being still active, followed by the former branch building of Osaka Shosen Kaisha (present O.S.K. Lines) and the former building of the Moji customs.

http://tour-guide-japan.jp/