Mekari Park

Overview

Mekari Park is an urban park of about 37.1 hectares in the Mekari district of Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Set within the Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea) National Park, it is laid out around Kojosan (elev. 175 m), the hill that holds the ruins of Moji Castle. With sweeping views of the Kanmon Strait and a location close to the Mojiko Retro district, it is one of Kitakyushu's signature sightseeing spots.

Highlights

• ●About 37.1-hectare urban park overlooking the Kanmon Strait
• ●Kojosan (elev. 175 m) holding the ruins of Moji Castle
• ●Mekari Shrine, known for its seaside rituals
• ●Part of the scenic Setonaikai National Park

History

Kojosan, embraced by the park, preserves the ruins of Moji Castle, which once guarded this strategic point on the Kanmon Strait, a reminder of how vital the area long was to sea routes. The grounds also hold Mekari Shrine, known for its seaside rites, making this both a scenic natural site and a place where history and faith have accumulated. From the days of the former Moji City to today's Kitakyushu, it has been cherished as a representative scenic spot.

Map

33.9583, 130.9686 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from the Mojiko Retro district to Mekari Park
2. 2Climb Kojosan for the Moji Castle ruins and strait views
3. 3Visit Mekari Shrine to touch its seaside faith
4. 4Take in passing ships and the far shore along the strait

Did you know?

💡 The name Mekari is said to derive from a ritual of harvesting wakame seaweed, a rite still carried on at the park's Mekari Shrine. The place name itself conveys how deeply this land has been bound up with the sea.

Nearby spots