A 3 hour trip on the Shinkansen south gets you to the very tidy and well laid out city of Kokura.

We took the monorail to the Tanga Market and then walked over the bridge to the Castle, Yasaka Shrine and the Riverwalk.

The Old and New – Kokura Castle and in the background some of the  fabulous buildings on the River Walk

Yasaka Shrine

Takoyaki (octopus balls)