Since its opening in 2002, the Kitakyushu Environment Museum has been a place for environmental studies and activities, attracting many visitors from both in and outside the city.
The museum is designed for enjoying, through seeing and touching, learning about eco-friendly activities in our daily lives, public and private efforts to preserve the environment, and the history of overcoming pollution and global environmental problems.
It aims to encourage people to think for themselves about an ideal vision for Kitakyushu City as a "SDGs Future City" and having learned about its history, to take action.
Three Functions
Environmental Study Center
The museum can be used for learning about the environment in school or community education classes.
The museum helps to foster environmental leaders who can identify facts, learn, make decisions, and take action for the environment to solve current environmental problems.
Environmental Event Center
The museum offers a variety of events and workshops designed for people of all ages. In particular, it provides a wide range of hands-on programs for preschool and elementary school children, enabling them to learn about environmental issues through interactive experiences.
Environmental Activity Center
The museum can be used for gatherings and meetings by various NPOs and civic groups engaged in environmental activities.
Exhibitions
Prologue
Geography of Kitakyushu City
Located into the north of Fukuoka Prefecture and serving as an entrance into Kyushu, Kitakyushu City boasts a rich natural environment facing the Japan Sea (Hibikinada) to the north and the Seto Inland Sea (Suonada) to the east.
Learn about the bountiful nature of the city through pictures and videos.
Zone 1
History of Kitakyushu City
Kitakyushu had flourished since ancient times, leveraging its geographical advantages as a transportation hub in Kyushu and as a center of coal production. In 1901, the government-run Yawata Steel Works was established in Yahata, and greatly contributed to the modernization and industrialization of Japan.
Here, you'll find exhibits of industry and academic history, and materials such as coal and iron ore that werte actually used, as well as industrial products. In addition, world heritage sites in Kitakyushu City are introduced through videos.
Zone 2
History of Overcoming Pollution
This zone introduces the history of overcoming pollution in Kitakyushu City, which was once considered impossible.
As the city developed into a center of manufacturing, citizens faced various pollution problems.
Here, a history of solving these problems and restoring the rich natural environment through cooperation is presented.
Zone 3
Carbon Neutrality and Daily Lives
A zone where visitors can see, play, and learn about carbon neutrality and climate change.
The exhibitions challenge visitors to think about what each of us can do to take action for the future of the earth.
Zone 4
Resource Recycling
Here, visitors can learn about the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and the concept of resource recycling. The methods of separating waste in Kitakyushu City and eco-friendly products are also presented here. The zone also explains the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) in an easy-to-understand manner.
Zone 5
Kitakyushu city and SDGs Future City
This zone introduces environmental actions by Kitakyushu City, environmental activities by citizens, organizations, companies, and schools, new energies, and more in detail using photo panels.