Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyūshū

Wakamatsu ward (若松区 -ku) is one of the wards of Kitakyushu city. It has an area of 67.86 km² and a population of about 88,594 (national census, 2000).

Important facilities include: Green Park, Ecotown recycling area, Gakuen Toshi academic area, and Hibiki container terminal (opened on April 1, 2005). A new underwater tunnel is being constructed in 2005-6 between Tobata and Wakamatsu wards to link the Hibiki container terminal with Kokura.

Green Park

Green Park is a large green area which includes a tropical house with rare plants, fish and birds; a herb garden; a rose garden (rare in Japan); a children's play area; a Japanese garden; a wallaby enclosure and boating facilities. It is not particularly well-known outside Kitakyushu. Sometimes indoor and open-air concerts are staged. There is also an observation tower.

Wind Farm

There is a wind farm on the coast, harnessing windpower for electricity.There is no particular controversy about the sightliness or otherwise of this wind farm, as in some other countries. It is far from the scenic areas, and on windy reclaimed land.

Beaches

The beaches are small but pleasant. A larger one is at Ashiya-machi to the West, beyond the city limits of Kitakyushu. Bathing is limited in Japan to the summer months.

Culture

The writer Hino Ashihei was born in Wakamatsu and his birthhouse can be visited.

ee also

Other wards of Kitakyushu
*Kokura Kita
*Kokura Minami
*Moji
*Tobata
*Yahata Higashi
*Yahata Nishi

External links

* [http://www.city.kitakyushu.jp/~wakamatu/ Wakamatsu ward office] (Japanese)
* [http://www.kpfmmf.jp/green/ Green Park] - Official Page (Japanese)
* [http://www.kyutech.ac.jp/english/wakamatsu/index.html Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT) Wakamatsu campus] is in the Gakuen Toshi Academic zone.
* [http://www.fukuokahistory.com/live/content/articles/21/ Hino Ashihei]
* [http://www.freetube.us.tc/index.php?channel=Kitakyushu Live Webcam] feed of a train prefecture in the Wakamatsu-ku ward of Kitakyushu.