Kokura｜RiverWalk by the Zichuan River combines art, shopping and performances

If you have been to Kokura, you will definitely be curious about the NHK building. It combines Asahi Shimbun, NHK, Kitakyushu Art Theater, galleries, department stores and markets. It was planned as a large shopping mall in 2003 to revitalize Kokura's economy. On the day of our visit, a youth street dance competition was being held in the atrium. The crowds, music, and cheers could be heard all the way to Kokura Castle. The first floor is like an extension of the shopping street, with stalls set up by local farmers, sundries and small items, and newly opened nostalgic snack shops, attracting a large number of people. The entire building uses five colors, red, yellow, white, black and brown, and combines arcs, curves and square shapes to create images of the earth, harvest and Japanese lacquerware. One of the architects is Michael Graves, a well-known American architect who also participated in the construction of Orlando Disney and won the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects. Taiwan's Museum of Prehistory was also designed by him. Kokura hopes to create another "Kitakyushu Renaissance" next to Kokura Castle through this center that combines shopping, dining, culture, education, and media. 📍Address: Muromachi, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture 803-0812 Japan 🚗10 minutes walk from JR Kokura Station; 3 minutes walk from JR Nishi-Kokura Station #MarchGoodPlaces2025