Fukuoka is the largest city on the southern island of Kyushu and is a hub for travel to Beppu, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Nagasaki. The main train station, Hakata, is the final stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen line connecting Fukuoka with Osaka in 2 1/2 hours and Tokyo in 5 hours. The international airport is centrally located and can be reached in only 5 minutes from Hakata Station.
The city offers a Tourist City Pass for 820 yen, which includes unlimited use of subway, trains, and buses for the day.
7 Things to Do in Fukuoka, Japan for Travel
Photo by Laurenz Bobke / CC BY-NC-ND
2. Canal City
Canal City is a large shopping complex with a canal running through the middle. The complex has over 250 stores, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and entertainment.
On the top floor is Ramen Stadium featuring different kinds of ramen all over Japan, including the famous Hakata Ramen.
Canal City is a 15-minute walk from Hakata Station and is open everyday from 10:00 am-9:00 pm.
3. Yatai
Fukuoka is famous for Yatai, open-air food stalls on the side of the street. There are more than 150 in Fukuoka city, mainly in the Tenjin and Nakasu areas.
You can find various dishes, such as ramen, oden, yakitori, tempura, and even western foods.
The Nakasu area has around 20 street stalls lining the Naka River. They are open from 6:00 pm-2:00 am and are about a 10-minute walk from Nakasu Kawabata Station, Minami Tenjin Station, or Canal City.
4. Shofuku-ji Temple
Shofuku-ji was the first Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1195. Although Japan already practiced Buddhism, the Zen teachings promoted meditation and discipline in order to reach enlightenment.
The temple grounds are free to explore and are a 5-minute walk from Gion Subway Station (1 minute from Hakata Station).
5. Ohori Park
Ohori Park has a large lake with a 2 km walking path all around. The picturesque walking path is popular with walkers, joggers, and cyclists.
The park is free to enter, but the traditional Japanese garden is 240 yen, open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm (closed Mondays).
Next to Ohori Park is Maizuru Park with ruins of the Fukuoka Castle, a popular spot in the spring for cherry blossoms.
The park is about a 7-minute walk from Ohorikoen Subway Station (10 minutes from Hakata Station).
6. Momochi District
The Momochi District is a new area along Hakata Bay with modern buildings, beaches, museums, shopping, and dining.
Momochi Seaside Park has a beach for swimming and beach sports; and a shopping mall.
In front of the park is Fukuoka Tower standing at 234 meters. It has a three-story observation deck at 123 meters offering views of the city and is open everyday from 9:30 am-10:00 pm (admission 800 yen).
The park is about a 20-minute walk from Nishijin Subway Station (12 minutes from Hakata Station).
7. Umi-no-Nakamichi Seaside Park
Umi-no-Nakamichi is a 4 km park with beautiful open spaces, flower gardens, playgrounds, cycling trails, and over 2,000 cherry trees. The park is open from 9:30 am-5:30 pm and costs 410 yen.
Near the park is Marine World, an aquarium featuring sea life around Kyushu island (admission is 2,160 yen).
The park is accessible via JR Uminonakamichi Station (35 minutes from Hakata Station) or via ferry from Momochi Seaside Park (20 minutes).
Top photo credit: ©JNTO
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