Post in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan

I'm doing a two week tour of Kyushu with my 82yo mother. She travelled Japan with my brother when he was a university student in the 90's in Tokyo and has been wanting to come back ever since. I've been to Japan many times myself and once finished a hitchhiking and CS'ing trip of Japan with my son in Kumamoto. He's now also a university student in Tokyo and will be accompanying my mother and me for the first week but by the time we get to Kitakyushu, he'll be with my inlaws for X'mas in the US. My mom, Sigrun, and I will be staying in a hostel in Kitakyushu (near the Tanga market) so we're covered on accomodation but we would love to meet up with any English or German speaking people or families in Kitakyushu or Shimonoseki for coffee, food or activities...We are arriving on Dec 30th and leave very early on Jan 2nd. Will there be new year's fireworks in the straits? Happy to join group activities as well. My mother is very active and happy to go out as well. Ping me! :-)