Itozu Minami Kodan is about 10 minutes by bike from Kanada Kodan, where Kokura Kita-ku meets Yahata Higashi-ku. The apartment building is quite new, and stands on a hill with views over Kokura - it's mostly occupied by families. It's on the number 1 bus route from Kokura (20 minutes) to Yahata (20 minutes) and Kurosaki. Bus number 22, which goes from Mihagino towards Kurosaki, also goes through Itozu. The buses are frequent and reliable, and it costs ¥250 to get to Kokura.

Itozu is a quiet residential area, but it's also the location of Itozu Zoo and Amusement Park (5 minutes walk) and, a little further on (15 minutes), there's a very pleasant green area, comprising Chuo Park, the Kitakyushu General Gymnasium, and Konpira-san, a small mountain with wooded walks and good views towards Tobata. It's also not too far from access to Mount Sarakura, and the Kawachi Reservoir area.

5 minutes walk:
Nishitetsu Store:  a big western-style supermarket, which also contains a bakery, coffee shop, dry cleaners, health and beauty shop, and film-processing shop.
Sun Live:  supermarket with household appliances and film processing.
Sakura Liquor Store.
Sushi shop.
Pontsuku Japanese sweet store - good for those omiyage.
Diving School - goodness knows why!
Various other smaller stores, including cleaners, liquor store etc, and the usual array of vending machines.

10-15 minutes walk:
Mister Donut.
McDonalds.
Volks restaurant.
Royal Host restaurant.
Hamakatsu tonkatsu restaurant (I think).
Video store.
Haagen Dazs store.
Big sporting goods store.
ATM cash machines.

There are many more shops and restaurants in Shimo-Itozu (15 minutes walk towards Kokura) and Showa-machi (15 minutes walk towards Yahata), where there's also a branch of Fukuoka bank, and a hospital with an English-speaking doctor. There's a popular internet café towards Minami Kokura Station (about 10 minutes by bike, or take the number 22 bus).

Apartment details:
The Itozu Kodan apartments are a bit smaller than some others in the city, but they're well-maintained, nicely fitted-out and modern, with running hot water throughout. The building is clean and seems to be mercifully free of nasty pests. The apartment is warm in winter, and easy to keep cool in summer. Living here could also be a good way to improve your Japanese, as there aren't many gaikokujin around!