Historic Site: The Blast Furnace That Supported the City of Steel, Yawata
About this spot
Just a short walk from the Museum of Life and Rocks, this historic site plaza preserves the memory of Yawata, once called "the City of Steel." The Higashida First Blast Furnace, which once supported steel production in this area, stands preserved in its original reddish-brown form, allowing close-up viewing. The scale of the furnace that produced steel and the network of pipes leading to it is awe-inspiring—a place where you can feel in your bones the origins of Kitakyushu as a center of manufacturing. Standing here after tracing the history of the earth and life at the museum, you begin to see the accumulated depth of time as people created steel and built a city. Admission is free, and it's conveniently located between the museum and the outlet, making it easy to visit casually.
Tips
As it's an outdoor plaza, bring a hat and water on sunny days. It's positioned between the museum and the outlet, so you can easily incorporate it into your route without detours. The furnace is even more massive up close, so try taking photos from a bit of a distance if you want to capture the whole structure.
Best time to visit
Plan for approximately 30 minutes. The blast furnace stands most photogenic during daytime against a blue sky.
Access & map
〒805-0071 Higashida 2-chome 3-3, Yawata East Ward, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Higashida First Blast Furnace
Model course featuring this spot
Yawata: A Journey Through Dinosaurs and Mountain Panoramas at the Museum of Life and Sarakura Mountain
Fukuoka
Explore features & model courses
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