The Former Main Office of the Yawata Steel Works is a historical building designated as a National Important Cultural Property located in Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. Completed in 1899, it played a central role in directing the operations of the government-run Yawata Steel Works until 1922. The two-story red brick building is a modern architectural feat for its time.
In 2015, the Former Main Office was registered as a component asset of the World Heritage Site “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining.” The Former Main Office of the Yawata Steel Works is still located on the premises of the Nippon Steel Kyushu Works, and access is usually restricted so as not to interfere with the operation of the steel works.
Since 2020, restoration work on the interior has been underway, and it was opened to the public from July 22, 2023. However, it is not usually open to the public, and it seems that visits are possible only by participating in special tours or other similar events.
Instead, an observation area has been set up where you can view the exterior of the Former Main Office of the Yawata Steel Works.
The observation area is located next to the main entrance of the Former Main Office and is free to use. From the observation area, you can get a close-up view of the beautiful red brick exterior of the Former Main Office. You can also see a panoramic view of the vast grounds of the steelworks.
The observation area is used by many tourists as an alternative to the restricted access to the Former Main Office.
Access Information
Address: Oaza Okura and others, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu City
Inquiries: World Heritage Division, Policy Department, Planning and Coordination Bureau, Kitakyushu City Phone: 093-582-2922 FAX: 093-582-2176
Usage Fee: Free
Closed Days: Every Monday (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday) Year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 – January 3)
Available Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
Parking: Free: 10 standard passenger cars, 5 large (medium) buses, and 2 spaces for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. *Reservations are preferred for large (medium) bus parking.
Access Information: 10-minute walk from JR Space World Station