Kitakyushu Monorail
The Kitakyushu Monorail is a monorail system in the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, operated by Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd..
The Kokura Line is the only line. It runs the 8.8 km between Kokura station and Kikugaoka station in Kokura Minami ward in about 18 minutes. It was opened on January 9, 1985, between the station now called Heiwadori and Kikugaoka, and extended about 300 metres to Kokura station from Heiwadori on April 1, 1998.
The monorail is owned by the city of Kitakyushu, and did not begin to make a profit until the extension to Kokura station was completed. This had been resisted by the businesses in Uomachi shopping district who feared they would lose customers, but that did not happen.
Once a year, there are beer parties and wine parties held on the monorail, bookings made in advance. Santa Claus boards the train on December 24.Stations
- Kokura Station - north terminus
- Heiwadori Station
- Tanga Station
- Kawaraguchi Mihagino Station
- Katano Station
- Jono Station
- Kitagata Station
- Keibajomae Station - for Kokura Racecourse and the University of Kitakyushu
- Moritsune Station
- Tokuriki Kodanmae Station
- Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station
- Shii Station
- Kikugaoka Station - south terminus
