Kitakyushu’s multimodal infrastructure offers the potential to create a new logistics submarket.
Once a major industry hub in Southern Japan, Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture is experiencing renewed growth. In 2024, Kitakyushu Port and Airport handled their highest-ever annual cargo volume (Figure 1). The city is evolving further, benefiting from its geographical advantage as a gateway to Mainland Asia as well as integrated land, sea, and air transportation infrastructure.
Figure 1: Kitakyushu Airport air cargo volume and Port of Kitakyushu Ferry Cargo volume trends
Source: Kitakyushu City Port and Airport Bureau, analysed by JLL
The Greater Fukuoka logistics market has seen rental increases exceeding even those of Tokyo and Osaka over the past decade (Figure 2), with the Tosu submarket playing a pivotal role in driving this growth. The e-commerce boom and Kyushu's burgeoning semiconductor industry have helped Tosu become a crucial wide-area distribution hub for the entire Kyushu region, located at the nexus of the Kyushu and Nagasaki Expressways.
Figure 2: Rental growth trends in three major cities
Source: JLL Research 2025Q1
In contrast to Tosu, which manages land-based logistics within Kyushu, Kitakyushu is strengthening its role as both an international logistics hub and a key gateway connecting Honshu (Japan’s main island), and Kyushu. Kitakyushu leverages its well-established port capabilities. Kitakyushu Port boasts one of Japan's largest cargo handling volumes, solidifying its position in trade with Asia, particularly in the movement of raw materials and finished goods. A robust system of domestic ferry and RORO (roll-on/roll-off) lines connects the port to the key commercial centres of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. This system, specifically designed to facilitate the transport of entire truck units, gives Kitakyushu an exceptionally user-friendly domestic maritime transport environment. Consequently, logistics providers are increasingly adopting a maritime modal shift, recognising the advantages of using Kitakyushu Port as a central gateway for sea-based distribution. The improvements in the working environment, including shorter working hours for truck drivers, are further contributing, reinforcing Kitakyushu Port’s likely lead in Kyushu’s maritime transportation.
Kitakyushu’s infrastructure also provides advantages. These include a maritime airport operating 24 hours a day, one of the few railway freight terminals in Japan capable of handling 40ft containers, and a location at the junction of key highways such as the Kyushu Expressway, the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway, and the Chugoku Expressway. Plans are underway to enhance the city’s potential as a logistics hub. These include extending the runway at Kitakyushu Airport and developing a new route connecting Honshu and Kyushu, called the "Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu Road."
The limited availability of large-scale logistics facilities presented a past challenge. However, Kitakyushu is rapidly overcoming this. Tobata Logistics, a local enterprise, launched operations at the city's largest logistics facility in 2024. Moreover, Kyushu Electric Power intends to complete a modern, multi-tenant logistics complex by summer 2027, and several developers are actively investigating new logistics facility ventures in Kitakyushu City. In addition, Kitakyushu City's administrative authorities are proactively fostering the creation of a major logistics hub through their comprehensive 'Logistics Base Concept,' offering supportive measures like land acquisition assistance and development incentives, which are expected to drive substantial market expansion.
All things considered, Kitakyushu, or "Kitakyu", is positioned to emerge as a major logistics hub in the Greater Fukuoka logistics real estate market.