Kokura-kita / 小倉北

Grocery Stores

Transportation

From your area there are a few different methods of transportation.  The nearest JR train station, Jono, is located about 20 minutes walk, 10 minutes bike ride from your apartment (assuming it stays the same).  At the train station there is a bike parking lot.  Jono station is a little bit complicated, there are five tracks, you will have to figure out which one you need to take for your desired destination.  The directions are labeled in English, making it easier.  From Jono it is only ￥220 to get downtown.  (There is more information about the train on the "City Info" page).

There is a monorail that runs from Kokura station, and passes between your apartment and your school.  It is very convenient to get to and from Kokura Station, which is about 15 minutes away using the monorail.  The closest stop to the apartment and to school (about 300 m) is called Jono monorail station, which is about 3-5 minutes by bicycle from the apartment, and from which you can see your school.  Using the monorail it is ￥230 to get to Kokura Station, but if you get off at Hewadori, which is ridiculously close to the station, you can save ￥40.  The monorail is also very convenient because it comes much more frequently then the JR.

For local travel there is also the bus.  There is a bus stop just near your apartment.  From this bus stop there is apparently only one bus.  If you purchase a bus card, from the bus driver, you can save 15%.  (There is more information about the bus on the "City Info" page).

Our preferred method for local travel is bicycle.  You can get anywhere fairly quickly and easily by bike.  When you factor in waiting time you can get most places faster by bike then by bus.  Jeanette often rides her bike from Kannonji (see the map).  It takes her one hour by train to get to work, but she can be there in thirty minutes by bike.  Basically a bike cannot only save you some time, but also a lot of money.  Basic travel times by bike are; to school, about 7 minutes, to Jono Station about 10 minutes, to Kokura about 20 minutes.  Of course all these will vary for you from us.

There of course is the option of walking, which is quite suitable for school (10 - 15 minutes), or to the station (15 - 20 minutes).  Also for groceries, or other small shopping needs, walking is fine, and quite relaxing.

Shopping

I have already mentioned Daiei in the section about your school, but other than that I cannot really describe shopping nearby. I am confident, however that you should easily find whatever you need regardless of your Japanese level. Also Kokura, the city centre, will not be too far away.

Alcohol

Really all I will say is that it is Japan, you can't take two steps without finding somewhere to buy alcohol.  I don't know the area, but I would be willing to bet that there are half a dozen places to buy alcohol within a 10 minute walk.

Restaurants

We have not really eaten in the area, so unfortunately we do not have a lot of information.  The school cafeteria is know to be pretty good, so that is a start.  There is a Moss Burger across from the school, which is a Japanese fast food burger joint, a little expensive, but not too bad. I have noticed some family restaurants and various smaller restaurants around. I guess it is up to you to discover.

Green Space

"There is a nice bike/jogging/walking path along the river by the apartment that goes all the way to Kokura.  To the North East of the apartment there is a "really nice park to run/throw a football/kick a soccer ball.  It has an outside track (600 meters) made out of the cushy absorbing material.  Not really shaped like an oval, more random.  In the middle is grass, some kid's play stuff and a few trees and such." (quoted from Jeanette's predecessor, we have never been there).  This park can be seen on the map, it is the closest green area up and to the right from the apartment.

Entertainment

"There is a nice private sports club (gym) right next to the park... (the one mentioned with the 600 meter trail)... that offers swimming, aerobics, weights, golf driving cage, cardio machines, and many showers and Jacuzzi like bathtub things." (Again, Jeanette's predecessor, we have never been there).

I am sorry that we cannot be more informative, but we personally have not spent time in the area where you will be living and since we do not know exactly where you will be living, we cannot really look up any specifics.  We can tell you that you have the advantage of an easy trip to Kokura, this is where all the action is in Kitakyushu.

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