Kitakyushu General Tourist Information Center

This is a newly established tourist information center located within the public pedestrian walkway at JR Kokura Station, the gateway to Kitakyushu City.
In order to further enhance the satisfaction of tourists, including the increasing number of foreign visitors, and to promote sightseeing within the city, we have decided to close the existing information center, which is approximately 15 years old, and relocate it within the same station premises, expanding and constructing a new facility.


[Social Issues / Customer Issues / Requests]
Requests included creating a user-friendly and comfortable space for travelers, equipping the facility with hardware and software for a digital signage system with updatable content so travelers can search for tourist information themselves, setting up the facility with consideration for foreign travelers, such as installing currency exchange machines, and ensuring the information center meets the highest standard "Category 3" *2 certified by JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization) *1.


[Solution]
In addition to fulfilling the above requirements, our plan and proposal aimed to create an information center that would remain relevant even in the post-COVID era.
Based on the concept of "a gateway to Kyushu where you can experience Japan," we proposed a design that reflects the advanced nature of Kitakyushu City, a mecca for manufacturing, while also incorporating the traditional concept design of the castle town of Kokura. We also carefully selected interiors concept design to ensure a safe and clean space.
The proposed and adopted features include a contactless face-to-face system using monitors, a system that allows travelers to upload and share travel reviews on social media, and a design where the entire exterior glass wall becomes a digital signage display showcasing the attractions of Kitakyushu City at night.

concept design is innovative and characteristic of Kitakyushu City, unified in clean white, and features a glass facade that creates a bright, open, and inviting atmosphere. While harmonizing with the modern station interior, which is based on gray tones, the concept design also incorporates concept design reminiscent of Kokura weaving and other lively elements, making it a clear and functional information center.
Located at JR Kokura Station, the gateway to Kitakyushu City, this symbolic concept design conveys the charm of Kitakyushu City to both domestic and international visitors, while also raising expectations for their trip.


[Customer Feedback]
concept design of the tourist information center reflected the space the city envisioned creating, including the services it would offer, resulting in a tourist information center befitting the "gateway to Kitakyushu City."
Despite the numerous constraints of working in a train station, their rich imagination and high level of technical skill enabled them to solve many problems.
We hope that this facility will become even more useful for the many tourists who visit our city.
 

<From the Japan National Tourism Organization HP>

<Our project members>
[Development] Satoru Soeda
[Sales & Project Management] Satoru Soeda
[Planning, design, layout] Chieri Nishimura
[Production/ construction] Kazuya Higuro