One of Japan’s largest cities, Fukuoka is the administrative, economic and cultural centre of Kyushu Island and one of the country’s most progressive cities. Located in Hakata Bay, Fukuoka is divided in two by the Naka River, Hakata (the oldest eastern part of the city) serving as an important port and shopping centre.
The once fortified city became more important in the 17th century and, after its merger with Hakata in 1889, became an important cultural centre. Nowadays, Fukuoka is a top tourist destination that houses many museums, art galleries and theatres, as well as excellent restaurants.
Fukuoka Castle
Sometimes also known as Maizuru Castle and Seki Castle, Fukuoka-jō is a fine example of the kind of sumptuous residence perched very much appreciated by the ruling elite of the country in the seventeenth century. There remains only a small fraction of the once massive complex of the original castle (it is thought to cover an area of about 47,000 square meters) perched at the top of a high stone foundation overlooking the Naka River. Highlights of the visit include the discovery of a number of doors, turrets and towers of the original castle in the vast castle park (a large part is now part of Maizuru Park). It is also fun to explore the ruins of an even older guest house once used for visiting diplomats, the only one of its kind in Japan.
A good time to visit is the first week of April during the Sakura festival of Fukuoka Castle. This event is famous throughout the country for the flowering of more than 1,000 cherry trees. And if time permits, make sure you come back to visit the castle and its park after dark, the illuminations are spectacular.
Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine
One of the oldest sites of this type in Kyushu, the Sumiyoshi-jinja Shrine is, like its counterpart in Osaka, dedicated to the protective deities of sailors, the last of a series of such shrines that sailors visited before they sailed. The main hall, which was rebuilt in its current classical style in 1623, is particularly impressive. Other strengths include a number of important national treasures, including an ancient sword and a copper axe, as well as ancient manuscripts and documents dating back to the Middle Ages. From the sanctuary, which is surrounded by Japanese cedars and camphor trees, one has a beautiful view of the Naka River. Make sure you have enough time to explore the adjacent Sumiyoshi Park.
If you can, try to make your visit coincide with one of the traditional theatrical representations of the sanctuary. The festival in October, which includes demonstrations of Sumo struggle, is also interesting.
Kyushu National Museum
Opened in 2005, the Kyūshū National Museum (Kyūshū Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) made headlines not only for its award-winning architectural design, but also as Japan’s first new national museum to be opened in more than 100 years. Built to house a large collection of art and artifacts of historical significance related to the island’s rich history, this state-of-the-art facility can easily occupy visitors for most of the day. Highlights include exhibitions of prehistoric relics, as well as exhibitions of the long history of the importance of the island as a commercial link between Japan and China and neighbouring Korea. A number of important national treasures are also exhibited, including 15th-century art works by the famous Japanese artist Masanobu Kano, as well as numerous documents and manuscripts of historical importance.
The entrance costs Yens for permanent collections, additional costs for temporary exhibitions. The combined 1000 yen ticket gives access to the permanent exhibition, the treasure room and the Kanko History Museum at the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.
Kushida-jinja
One of Japan’s most famous Shinto shrines, Kushida-jinja was founded in 757 AD and contains many unique features, including the Eto Eho Ban, a large illustrated record depicting the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac and the 4 cardinal directions. If you look up when you walk through the door, you will see a marker indicating the lucky direction of the year and a gingko that would be over 1,000 years old. The sanctuary is also famous for hosting the Hakata Gion Yamakasa every July. This spectacular two-week festival focuses on prayers for good health and prosperity and includes an elaborate race involving teams carrying heavy wooden tanks from the temple to various parts of the city. Other interesting temples are Shōfuku-ji temple, Japan’s oldest Zen temple founded in 1195, and Tochoji temple, founded in 806 AD and known for having the largest wooden statue in Japan. Other strengths include the graves of the Kuroda clan lords, who have been local feudal lords since 1600.
Hakata Machiya Folk Museum
Located in one of the few buildings in the city dating from the late 19th and early 20th century Meiji era, the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum is located in the Hakata district of Fukuoka. In addition to its numerous exhibitions of local crafts, this attraction offers tourists a unique overview of Japanese culture and traditions. Not only can visitors observe these artisans at work, but they can also participate and gain a direct experience of ancient art forms such as calligraphy and l-origami. Also fun, especially for children, is the possibility to dress with traditional Japanese outfits and masks and participate in a variety of ceremonies such as tea service. The museum also houses a number of exhibitions relating to the many important festivals in Hakata, as well as a model of the house of a typical merchant family. Free entrance to Machiya hall and souvenir shop. Access to the exhibition hall: 200 yen. Some activities and services involve additional costs.
Dazaifu Tenman-gū
Dazaifu Tenman-gū, dedicated to the god of education, is another well-known sanctuary of Fukuoka. Spread over 3,000 acres, it is also one of the largest in the city. It is particularly popular with students who want to take exams, which you will often see here buy small wooden prayer tablets to deposit at the sanctuary. The most important of its many structures is the Honden, or main sanctuary. This structure dates back to the year 905 and has been replaced several times over the centuries, the current structure dating back to 1591. The site is also remarkable for its many small shrines as well as the Treasure where many of its most important relics are preserved.
The place planted with 6000 plum trees is beautiful when flowering. Admission is free but access to the Kanto History Museum is fee-free. A ticket combined with 1000 yen also gives to the Treasure Hall and the permanent exhibition of the Kyushu National Museum.
Ohori Park
Fukuoka has a number of large public parks worth exploring. One of the most popular is the town of Hori-Kōen, a designated place of picturesque beauty a few minutes walk from the city centre. Taking its name from the great artificial lake, once the moat of Fukuoka Castle, this magnificent water park was created in 1929 and is a pleasure to explore. Highlights include a trail that goes around the lake, beautiful traditional Japanese gardens, beautiful cherry blossoms every spring, and a number of bridges and walks leading over the water to picturesque islands. It is a special pleasure to visit at night, when the driveways and numerous pagodas and pavilions of the park are illuminated. If you can, try to plan your visit for the spectacular fireworks that take place in August.
Another green space to explore is Maizuru Park. As part of the former Fukuoka Castle Park, this popular park houses several sports facilities and an art museum.
Nanzoin Temple and reclining Buddha
Only 15 kilometers east of Fukuoka is the Nanzoin temple. One of the most visited (and most important) Buddhist shrines in the prefecture, it attracts more than one million pilgrims and visitors every year. The great attraction here is undoubtedly the massive bronze statue of the lying Buddha (Nehanzo or Shaka Nehan), erected in 1995 and considered the largest bronze statue in the world (if the statue of Liberty in New York was laid next door, the Buddha would be longer). As interesting as the temple and statue is the pleasant walk to the site along a shady hillside path from the picturesque village of Sasaguri, a clearly marked and remarkable route for its many small Buddha statues, as well as its streams, bridges and gardens. The famous wooden Buddha of Tōchō-ji, the oldest Shingon temple in Kyushu (founded in 806 AD), also deserves a visit. Both temples are particularly popular to visit when the surrounding hills are stained with red and orange.
To Fukuoka
Tokyo and Fukuoka (Hakata station) are connected by Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. The one-way journey by direct Nozomi train takes five hours and costs approximately 23,000 yen. Holders of the Japan Rail Pass cannot use the Nozomi trains and must use the Hikari and Sakura trains. This adds about one hour to the total journey time and requires a transfer to Shin-Osaka station.
Tokyo-Fukuoka is one of the busiest air routes in the world with dozens of departures per day, operated by JAL, ANA, Starflyer, Skymark, Peach and Jetstar Japan. Flight time is about 110 minutes. Most flights depart from Haneda Airport in Tokyo, but some flights depart from Narita Airport. Fukuoka Airport is the most easily accessible airport in Japan, just five minutes by metro from the city’s main train station, Hakata Train Station.
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