Fukuoka is home to many of Japan’s famous festivals, including Hakata Gion Yamakasa and Hakata Dontaku Port Festival, which are always the source of much excitement. There are historical buildings such as Dazaifu Tenmangu and Kushida Shrine, and fascinating museums like the Fukuoka City Museum, where the King of Na Gold Seal, one of Japan’s designated National Treasures, is stored.
And that’s just to name a few. There are so many more must-see spots in the Fukuoka area. Explore Karatsu, Japan’s top spot for ceramics, or Nokonoshima island, where you can chill on beautiful beaches. Yanagawa is also a must-visit, as it offers an authentic old-fashioned riverside journey.
Good for: History, Single, Group
Kushida-jinja Shrine is a 5-minute walk from JR Hakata Station. The shrine, also known as Kushida-san, has gained strong faith among local people as a central place to pray for local gods (Sochinju). Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an annual festival that takes place from 1st to 15th July. The Oiyama, a race between the districts, starts from this shrine on the morning of the 15th, the last day of the festival, which is the highlight of the whole event. This a dedicatory Shinto ritual, in which men wearing happi (straight-sleeved coats) carry a large float (‘Kakiyama’ in Japanese) and race through the city of Hakata. This brave and powerful performance has been inducted into UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage list.
Balcony tickets, which allow you to watch the climax of the festival, often get sold out as soon as they are released every year. For almost the whole year, a Yamakasa with gorgeous decorations is on display in the precinct of Kushida-jinja Shrine, so you can enjoy the atmosphere of this festival at any time.
Location: 1-41 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0026, Japan
Open: 1st–15th July from 9 am to 5 pm
Hakata Gion Yamakasa of Kushida-jinja Shrine
Popular festival with a long history
Good for: History, Single, Group
Hakata Dontaku Port Festival is one of the most crowded festivals in Japan. Held every year during Japan’s Golden Week on 3rd and 4th May, the event welcomes as many as 2 million spectators each year. Dontaku is said to have originated from the word zondag (Dutch for Sunday).
The Dontaku festival was started in an attempt to revive an old event called Hakata Matsubayashi, which was banned during the Meiji era. The event, which sees participants walking around the city while dancing with rice paddles, is featured on TV every year. Hakata Dontaku is attended by international and local celebs, so the best way to enjoy it properly is by reserving balcony seats.
Open: 3rd–4th May
Interact with Japanese history
Good for: Adventure, Single, Group
Fukuoka City Museum is an excellent place to learn about the history of Fukuoka, which used to serve as a gateway for interaction with continental Asia, and the lives of people in Fukuoka. It has a permanent exhibition room divided into 11 sections, one of its most important exhibits is the King of Na gold seal.
At Mitaiken Labo, a hands-on facility in the Fukuoka City Museum, have your picture taken while wearing traditional costumes, play historic Asian games and musical instruments. Fukuoka City Museum is easy to access by bus from Subway Nishijin Station or Fujisaki Station.
Location: 3 Chome-1-1 Momochihama, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka, 814-0001, Japan
Open: Tuesday–Sunday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (Closed Monday)
Phone: +81 92-845-5011
Fukuoka City Museum
An exploration of modern Asian art
Good for: Single, Group
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum is a unique and somewhat rare landmark, as it exclusively collects and exhibits modern Asian art. The museum has a collection of about 2,700 pieces from 22 countries and regions across Asia.
The museum has attracted significant attention for initiatives, such as inviting artists from Asian countries to hold workshops, or by allowing such artists to stay as resident artists and engage in their creative activities on-site. There is a small but stylish cafe that’s well worth a stop if you have some spare time. The Fukuoka Asian Art Museum can be easily accessed by subway (Nakasu-Kawabata Station) or bus (Kawabata-machi /Hakataza-mae bus stop).
Location: 7/8F Riverain-Center Building, 3-1 Shimokawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka 812-0027, Japan
Open: Friday–Saturday from 9.30 am to 8 pm, Sunday–Tuesday & Thursday from 9.30 am to 6 pm (Closed Wednesday)
Phone: +81 92-263-1100
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
Beautiful park perched between 2 seas
Good for: Adventure, Single, Group
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a large national park located in a spacious sandbank area between 2 seas, around a 5-minute walk from JR Uminonakamichi Station. This 300-hectare park has beautiful seasonal flowers blooming year-round, making it an excellent spot for hiking and picnics.
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is famous for its 1.5 million Nemophila flowers, which cover the hill in light blue. The best time to visit is from mid- to late-April. The park is too big to cover in a day, so it’s a good idea to explore it on a rental bicycle. During Christmas time, thousands of candles light up the park, creating a fantastic atmosphere.
Location: 18-25 Saitozaki, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka, 811-0321, Japan
Open: March, June, July & September: Wednesday–Monday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (Closed Tuesday) April, May, August & October: daily from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, November to February: Wednesday–Monday from 9.30 am to 5 pm (Closed Tuesday)
Phone: +81 92-603-1111
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
Spectacular shrine with incredible blossoming trees
Good for: History, Single, Group
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, deity of learning, is said to be one of the places with the most powerful spiritual energy in the Fukuoka area. As the grand head shrine of all the Tenmangu shrines in the country, it’s packed with worshipers during the New Year’s holidays and the entrance exam season.
Prefer to visit the shrine in a serene atmosphere? Your best bet is to go early in the morning. Famous as a plum-blossom viewing spot, the precinct of Dazaifu Tenmangu has about 6,000 plum trees of 200 different varieties, best from late-January to early-March. The shrine is beautiful throughout the year, thanks to its grand camphor trees, cherry blossoms, irises, chrysanthemums, and autumn leaves.
Location: 4 Chome-7-1 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117, Japan
Open: December to March: Daily from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm, April, May & September to November: Daily from 6.30 am to 7 pm, June to August: Daily from 6.30 am to 7.30 pm
Dazaifu Tenmangu
Beautiful island paradise
Good for: Adventure, Single, Group
Nokonoshima is a small island that’s accessible via a short ferry ride from central Fukuoka. With a circumference of about 1.2 km, blooming flowers, and beautiful beaches, this peaceful tourist resort is referred to as “Hawaii in Fukuoka”.
You can stay overnight in Nokonoshima Island Park, where various colorful flowers bloom throughout the year. Check out canola flowers and cherry blossoms in spring, sunflowers and bougainvilleas in summer, cosmos and dahlias in autumn, and sasanqua camellias and daffodils in winter. If you want to play on the seashore, head to the palm-lined Nokonoshima Camp Village and Beach. You can enjoy barbecues and camping on the beach from May to September.
Location: Noko, Nishi Ward, Fukuoka, 819-0012, Japan
Nokonoshima Island
A relaxing trip downstream
Good for: Adventure, Single, Group
Yanagawa is a castle town at the mouth of the Chikugo River. In this district, river cruising is a beloved activity. Enjoy an on-the-water stroll on a donko-bune (small boat) operated by a boatman with a single bamboo pole. Watch out when the boat passes under a bridge, as you’ll have to duck. Some boatmen may give performances, like jumping onto the bridge when the boat passes under or entertaining you with singing.
River cruises depart frequently, so no reservations needed, and last about an hour. Yanagawa is less than an hour’s drive from the center of Fukuoka. If you take a train, we recommend the limited express Nishitetsu train from Tenjin Station to Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station.
Location: Mitsuhashimachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka 832-0822, Japan
Home of incredible pottery
Good for: Couples, History, Group
Karatsu is famous as the birthplace of Karatsu wares. It was also a castle town of the former Karatsu Domain, which prospered through trade with continental Asia. Many of the area’s well-preserved buildings are the works of local designer Kingo Tatasuno. Must-sees include the Former Karatsu Bank Headquarters and the Former Takatori Residence, owned by a successful coal baron in the Meiji period.
One of the best things to do in Karatsu is visit the pottery workshops. The simple and elegant Karatsu ware is still being produced by about 70 potteries. Karatsu is within a 1.5-hour-long train ride from JR Hakata Station.
Location: Karatsu, Saga, Japan
Karatsu
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