What are the pros and cons of living in Kitakyushu (Japan)?

Rent is not as bad as in other bigger cities like Tokyo or Osaka. Costs of many items are the same though or a bit lower.

One big plus is that it has its own airport, so you can easily fly to Tokyo and then back home or to somewhere else for vacation. Another good point is it is farther south, so you don't see such extremes in the winter.

That said, it is a very industrial city - there is not much to see and do there. The longer you stay, the more boring it will get for you. There is both Shimonoseki and Fukuoka City, both close by and with more interesting places, but that begs the question of why you don't just live there. Also, Kitakyushu is an amalgamation of several smaller cities 50 years ago, so it is very wide - much more inconvenient for public transport, cost, and time.

But if you want to explore what there is around you to compare, try:

Kitakyushu:

http://www.kcta.or.jp/english/

Fukuoka City:

http://www.tinyurl.com/see-fukuoka

Shimonoseki:

http://www.city.shimonoseki.yamaguchi.jp/seisaku/k...