Fukuoka City Museum

This museum has special exhibition rooms and two types of permanent exhibition rooms: one introducing Fukuoka’s history of international exchange and four for classified exhibitions. The exhibits include the Gold Seal a national treasure, (presented from the Han Dynasty Emperor to Japanese Na King), and artifacts excavated from the Korokan Ruins.

Fukuoka Tower

This 234 meter high structure covered with 8,000 two way mirrors is the tallest seaside tower in Japan. The 360 degree panoramic view of the city and Hakata Bay from the observation room at a height of 123 meters is breathtaking.

OhoriPark/ Japanese Garden

The lake in this park used to be a part of Fukuoka Castle by Kuroda Nagamasa, the feudal lord of the region. This Ohori Park, rich in greenery and encircling a lake two kilometers in circumference, is now an oasis for city residents who enjoy boating, bird watching and other activities.

Ruins of Fukuoka Castle

Nagamasa Kuroda started work on the castle in 1601 and the construction continued seven years. The ruins of what is also known as Maizuru Castle are now a public park and a well-known destination for cherry and Japanese plum blossom viewing.

Korokan Historical Museum

Korokan was an official guest house established in the heian period and served as a center for international exchanges. A replica of the lodging house and excavated china are among exhibits at this museum.

Yanagibashi Market

A market that opened in early Showa era, which is known as the “kitchen of Hakata”, since many pro chefs and citizens come to find fresh and seasonal foods. You can hear the Hakata people’s lively voices with their accent.

Yusentei Garden

Built by Tsugutaka Kuroda, the 6th lord of Chikuzen Kuroda Clan, this villa features an admirable Japanese garden designed around a pond that changes color and mood with each season. A tea ceremony room is available by reservation for a fee.

Kanzanso

Traditional Japanese Restaurant on top of the small hill in the middle of Fukuoka. You can enjoy Japanese Kaiseki overlooking the beautiful scenery of Fukuoka City.

Itazuke Ruins Yayoi-kan Museum

Here stand the ruins of a settlement where rice farming in Japan started. Outside the museum, pit dwellings of the village have been restored. By the surrounding moat, you can learn hands-on how to plant rice and built a fire.

Fukuoka City Archeology Center

Artifacts and records from city ruins are stocked, classified, and made available for public viewing. You can also find exhibits detailing methods for discovering and excavating ruins. Archaeology lectures are offered.

Kanenokuma Ruins

These are the ruins of a cemetery from the early to the late Yayoi period, which are designated as a national historic site situated in a park of historic interest.

Ishikura Brewery

This is the only Japanese sake brewery in the city. A video demonstrating the ways sake is made is presented in Japanese, English and Korean. You can taste sake and have lunch in the brewery.

Tochoji Temple

The oldest Buddist temple in Japan of the Singon sect, founded by Kobo Daishi, otherwise known as Kukai. The temple hosts the wooden “God of mercy with 1,000 hands,” which is designated a nationally important cultural property, and the largest wooden statue of Buddha in Japan.

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum

This museum is a restored Hakata townhouse (machiya) and recreates Hakata town during the Meiji and Taisho eras (around the turn of the 20th cent.). The lifestyle and culture of Hakata in the early 20th century is introduced and there are daily demonstrations of traditionalcraftwork such as Hakata-ori textiles and Hakata dolls.

Rakusuien Park

A Japanese garden and a tea room in a serene atmosphere. The park was developed on the site of a Meiji era (late 19th century) villa belonging to a well-to-do Hakata merchant.

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata, with a canal running through its center, is a commercial complex that houses hotels, theatre, cinema complex, specialty shops, restaurants, and more. This is one of the highly popular spots in Hakata.

Kushida Shrine

The shrine is believed to have been built in 757 and is home to the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, one of the city’s main events held annually in July. One of the decorative floats of Gion Yamakasa Festival is displayed.

Home of the Hakata Doll Chikuzen Mimasu

You can view part of the Hakata Doll making and actually experience painting on a doll. Many different types of Hakata dolls are displayed.

Nakanishi Hakata-ori Factory

You can view the process of weaving the Hakata- ori (Famous traditional hand-woven fabric handed down from the Edo period.)

Fukuoka Kanko Kaikan Hakata

It includes Hakata’s specialty restaurant, souvenir shop, and a place to experience pickling the Karashi mentaiko (Cod Roe in chili.), a very popular food of Fukuoka.

Koishiwarayaki Ceramics Museum

1 hour from Fukuoka city center within nature filled town of Koishiwara. You can view their exhibitions and actually experience making ceramics.

Kanzeonji Temple

The temple was regarded as one of the core temples in Kyushu when completed in 746. Located here is the country’s oldest temple bell, which has been designated as a national treasure or important cultural property of Japan along with about 20 statues of the Buddha dating back 800 to 1000 years.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dedicated to Michizane Sugawara, the God of Learning, this shrine has the main hall, the sacred Tobiume (legendary plum tree), and the treasure hall. While going to the shrine, there are many souvenir shops, restaurants, and traditional crafts shops along the street, which is fun to look at.

Komyozenji Temple

This zen temple was founded in 1273, and is well known in particular for its rhododendrons and autumn leaves, and is the only temple in Kyushu that has karesansui (dry landscape) stone gardens.

Kyushu National Museum

It is a extremely unique museum focusing on the history of exchange between Japan and other parts of Asia. It is the country’s fourth national museum which opened in 2005.

Shotoen (Ohanatei)

The Villa of Tachibana Feudal Lord’s Wife with pond and pine trees that are 280 years old. It is now known as “Ohanatei” garden

River Cruise (Kawakudari)

Cruise on a poled boat down the river, which is the major attraction of this old castle town. Passengers can enjoy the view of red brick warehouses of the early 20th century and traditional Japanese style storehouses. Peach tree blossoms, willow leaves, irises and cosmoses please the visitors on boats.

Unagi no Seiromushi (Steamed Eel)

Steamed eel is the local specialty food of Yanagawa. It is steamed rice and broiled eel with sugar and soy sauce, topped with a thinly and finely sliced omelet. It is a very popular dish among locals and visitors.

Pottery Kilns & Arita Porcelain Wholesale Area

Visit the pottery kiln and the wholesale area where 25 porcelain shops open along the street in the area. You can buy good quality Arita porcelains.

Imari

Imari ceramics are also another famous pottery, where painting is done on white ceramic. Expensive good quality Imari ceramics were handed to Daimyo, Shogun (warriors) and to the Emperor of the period.
Those techniques are handed down to the present pottery makers.

Peace Park

The statue’s right hand pointing upward depicts the threat of the atomic bomb, the left hand stretching horizontally symbolizes eternal world peace, and closed eyelids express the consolation for the war dead.

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Numerous pictures, reconstructions and remnants of the disaster caused by an atomic bomb tell the truth about the devastation and the misery of the war, and appeal to realize a peaceful world without nuclear weapons.

Glover Garden

The former house of British merchant Thomas Glover and other 19th century buildings are preserved in this spacious hillside garden overlooking Nagasaki Harbor.

Yufuin

One of the popular hot springs in Japan. You can relax in the Japanese style town and see the green scenery of nature.

Beppu

Beppu is also a very famous hot spring town and known for the Jigoku Meguri (Hell). Many foreigners come to relax in this hotspring.

Usuki Stone Buddha

A fascinating old town, Usuki is also home to a mysterious series of more than 60 Buddhist images that were carved into a cliff face about 800 years ago.

Kumamoto Castle

The enormous Kumamoto Castle is one of the three most famous castles in Japan along with Osaka Castle and Nagoya Castle. Designed by Lord Kiyomasa Kato, it features unique stone walls called Musha-gaeshi, a device invented to prevent ninjas or other enemies from invading.

Mt. Aso

Mt. Aso is the world’s largest compound volcano, with a huge crater basin 18km from east to west and 24km from north to south, from the center of which five peaks called the Aso gogaku soar up toward the sky. Mt. Nakadake is still an active volcano, and you maybe able to see the red hot bottom of the crater or even the pools of boiling lava.