View source for Kitakyushu Monorail

{{Infobox Public transit
|name=Kitakyushu Monorail
|image= Kitakyushu monorail.jpg
|imagesize=250px
|locale=[[Kitakyushu, Japan]]
|transit_type=straddle-beam [[monorail]]
|system_length=8.8 kilometres
|began_operation=January 9, 1985
|lines=1
|stations=13
|ridership=31,700
|operator=Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd.
|}}
The '''Kitakyushu monorail''' is a [[monorail]] in [[Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka]], Japan, run by the  Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd. (北九州高速鉄道株式会社, ''Kitakyūshū Kōsoku Tetsudō Kabushiki gaisha'', literally "Kitakyūshū High Speed Railway Co. Ltd.").

The '''Kokura Line''' (小倉線 ''Kokura sen'') is currently the only line. It runs the 8.8 km (5.5 mi) between [[Kokura station]] and Kikugaoka station in [[Kokura Minami ward]] in about 18 minutes. It was opened on January 9, 1985 between the station now called Heiwadori and Kikugaoka, and extended about 300 metres (1000 ft) to Kokura station from Heiwadori on April 1, 1998. 

The monorail is owned by the city of Kitakyushu, and did not begin to make a profit until the extension to Kokura station was completed. This had been resisted by the businesses in Uomachi shopping district who feared they would lose customers, but that did not happen.

Once a year there are beer parties and wine parties held on the monorail, bookings made in advance.

There is apparently no plan to build a new line or extend the existing one at this time.

== Stations ==
*[[Kokura Station]] - north terminus
*[[Heiwadori Station]]
*[[Tanga Station]]
*[[Kawaraguchi Mihagino Station]]
*[[Katano Station]]
*[[Jōno Station (Kitakyushu Monorail)|Jono Station]]
*[[Kitagata Station (Fukuoka)|Kitagata Station]]
*[[Keibajomae Station]] - for [[Kokura Racecourse]] and the [[University of Kitakyushu]]
*[[Moritsune Station]]
*[[Tokuriki Kodanmae Station]]
*[[Tokuriki Arashiyamaguchi Station]]
*[[Shii Station (Kitakyushu Monorail)|Shii Station]]
*[[Kikugaoka Station]] - south terminus

== See also ==
*[[monorails in Japan]]
*[[Monorail]]
*[[New Kitakyushu Airport]]
*[[List of rapid transit systems]]

== External links ==
{{commonscat|Kitakyushu Monorail}}
*[http://www.kitakyushu-monorail.co.jp/ Kitakyushu monorail] (Official page in Japanese)
*[http://www.cityrailtransit.com/maps/kitakyushu_map.htm Map of the Kitakyushu Monorail]

{{Fukuoka transit}}

[[Category:Monorails in Japan]]
[[Category:Kitakyūshū]]
[[Category:ALWEG people movers]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1985]]

{{Japan-rail-line-stub}}

[[de:Einschienenbahn Kitakyūshū]]
[[ja:北九州高速鉄道小倉線]]