Hist ory
The origin of Uomachi

Kokura started out as a castle town when Kokura Castle
was built under the orders of Tadaoki Hosokawa in 1602.
Kokura developed into a regional political and commercial
center after Tadazane Ogasawara took over power in 1632.
Uomachi has been serving as the town s commercial hub
ever since.
Uomachi literally means fish town and, as the namesuggests, it was a fish market in the 17th century. This isreflected in the names of surrounding places, such as
Sendomachi (Boatmens Town) and Sembamachi (Shipyard sTown).

Omiyage

Welc ome toDrawstring bags

UOMACHI GINTENGAI

Gofukuten

ガイドマップTanga M arket

K atsuyama P ark

Haori coat(for kids)

ガイドマップGintengai is a 130 meter-long shopping arcade, the first inJapan to spread across a public road. In Japanese, gin means
silver, ten is a ceiling, and gai a town. The name waschosen from among around 6,000 candidates in the hope that
it would develop into a shining town with a silver ceiling .
Now, you will find many shopping arcades named Gintengai
across the nation.

2019

Winners of the "Gold Award"
in the 1st SDGs Creative Award !
Feel free to watch the award
winning PR video Before learning here.

15min

K okur a Castl e
10 min

JRRIVERWALK
Kokura Castle

KyomachiUomachi

Kitakyushu City Hall
Katsuyama Park

Train

Tanga
MarketCOLET

Heiwa
dori Sta.

A three-day festival is held
annually either side of the third
Saturday of July.
The photo shows a float
produced by Uomachi Gintengai.

23 Himiko●JR Kokura Sta.

UOMACHIGINTENGAIThe Kokura Gion Taiko (Drum) Festival isone of three major Gion festivals held inKokura Castle
Japan and Kokura s most well-known event.
This summer festival started in 1618 as a means to pray forpeace and safety, in the hope of making Kokura a prosperous
castle town. The main attraction is the unique Kokura style ofrhythmical drumming called ryomen uchi (beating bothsides of the Taiko drum), which ischaracterized by the lively sound of
the drum s kan (high note) anddoro (low note) and people
shouting Aayassa! Yareyare! tothe drumbeats.

Ceramics/Japanese sundries

Nishi-Kokura Sta.

Izutsuya

Kokura Gion Taiko Festival

CHaCHaTown

Komemachi

Kajimachi

SakaimachiKokura
Showakan

Konyamachi

KnivesWatches

７ Hoseki, Tokei, Megane Nakano●Pruning shears
Buddhistornaments

TraditionalJapanesehousehold hardware
Knives/scissors/pots

６ Kuraichimonji●Tea leaves

3 min. walk from JR Kokura Sta. (South Exit)
7 min. walk from JR Nishi-Kokura Sta.

Monorail

７Plates

10 minAccess ( Ar e a I n fo r ma tio n )National Important Intangible Cultural Property Designation

Aya

Riv er w alk

Monorail

We declared that UOMACHI GINTENGAI aims to become thefirst SDG s (Sustainable Development Goal s)
shopping street in Japan .

15min

5min

Murasakigawa Riverssa!

2 018

Obi sashes

Japanese sundries
24 Marusan●GUIDE MAP

The origin of Gintengai Shopping ArcadeKimono
Japanese goods
18 Erifuku●Buddhistaltar fittings

19 Nogami Shinbutsuguten●Incense

1 min. walk from Heiwa-dori Sta.

Bus

1 min. walk from “Uomachi” bus stop
1 min. walk from “Heiwa-dori” bus stopCar

5 min. drive from Kokura-kita Exit/Otemachi Exit
* Please use the Crossroad Parking.

http://www.uomachi.or.jp/
Published by: Uomachi Shopping District Promotion Association
Cooperation: Kitakyushu City

Inquiries: TEL : 093-521-6801 〈Revised August, 2019〉

2 F Uomachi Kaikan Bldg, 3-1-15 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City 802-0006

Candles

Firestone

STUDIO GHIBLI goods
８ Donguri●Kyowakoku

Authentic tea

Japanese tea/matcha

Tea utensils

13 Tsujiri Chaho●Uomachi Gintengai is filled with specialist stores.
You are sure to find what you are looking for!