Fukuoka: Iizuka Station (福岡県: 飯塚駅) – Japan Walking Tour
Upon arriving in Kyushu, my first stop was Iizuka City, once the heart of the Chikuho Coalfield. The area around Iizuka Station is currently undergoing massive redevelopment, and the scale of the project reflects a city mid-transformation.
A short walk from the station reveals a grand, ornate shopping arcade that echoes its history as a prosperous post station along the Nagasaki Kaido. However, the many “For Sale” and “For Lease” signs on the shutters offer a stark reminder of changing times. Wandering through the heavy-roofed arcade and the adjacent entertainment district after sunset, I found myself immersed in a quiet reflection on the city’s former glory and the inevitable passage of time.