Home / Things to do in Fukuoka
Fukuoka Sightseeing: A Journey Through History
In Fukuoka, the airport is remarkably close to the city centre. From Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station is just two stops on the subway, about 5 minutes. On the very day you arrive, you can start exploring a city packed with 2,000 years of history. Here is a route for history lovers, split into a one-day course and ideas for venturing further on day two.
Labels: Factdocumented Likelysupported by most sources Legendoral tradition Urban legendlocal lore and rumour
Day 1: Walking Hakata and Fukuoka
FactIn the morning, walk north from Hakata Station to the temple quarter of Gokusho-machi, where Jotenji, Tochoji and Shofukuji stand side by side. After seeing the monument to the birthplace of udon and soba and Japan's first Zen temple, look up at the display float shown all year round at Kushida Shrine (see Jotenji, see the Yamakasa).
FactFor lunch, try Hakata ramen or udon. In the afternoon, pass through Nakasu, cross the Naka River and take the subway to Akasaka Station. See the stone walls, Tamon Turret and Shiomi Turret of the Fukuoka Castle ruins, pass by the site of the Korokan, the ancient guesthouse for foreign envoys, and stroll around Ohori Park. (As of autumn 2026, the keep base and the Korokan Site Exhibition Hall are closed for excavation and renovation.) (see Fukuoka Castle)
FactIn the late afternoon, see the National Treasure gold seal at the Fukuoka City Museum in Momochihama (check the official website for opening status before you go), or go shopping in Tenjin. In the evening, enjoy hopping from one yatai (street stall) to the next in Nakasu or Tenjin (see the Yatai).
Day 2: Venturing further
FactTo reach Dazaifu, take the Nishitetsu Tenjin Omuta Line to Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station and change to the Dazaifu Line. There is also a direct bus from Hakata Station. After Dazaifu Tenmangu and the Kyushu National Museum, go a little further to the sites of the Dazaifu Government Office and the Mizuki earthwork, where you can get a real sense of Japan's ancient line of defence (see Dazaifu Tenmangu, see Mizuki).
FactTo reach Itoshima, take the JR Chikuhi Line, which runs through from the subway's Airport Line, to stations such as Chikuzen-Maebaru. The Ito-koku History Museum is reached by bus or car from the station, and a car is the easiest way to see the Meoto-iwa (wedded rocks) at Sakurai Futamigaura (see Itoshima).
FactThe Hetsu-miya of Munakata Taisha is about 15 minutes by bus from Togo Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line. For Oshima island, take the ferry from Konominato port, where you can visit the Nakatsu-miya and the Okitsu-miya Yohaisho (a hall for worshipping Okinoshima from afar) (see Munakata Taisha).
To the islands of Hakata Bay
FactNokonoshima is about 10 minutes by city ferry from the Meinohama ferry terminal in Nishi Ward. From Nokonoshima Island Park in the north of the island, you can look out over seasonal flower fields to Hakata Bay and the Fukuoka skyline. To reach Shikanoshima, take the city ferry from Hakata Port (Bayside Place), or cross the Umi-no-Nakamichi sandbar by car or bus. Visit Kin-in Park (Gold Seal Park) and Shikaumi Shrine (see the Gold Seal).
Time your visit for a festival
FactHakata's three great festivals are the Hakata Dontaku Port Festival on 3–4 May, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa on 1–15 July, and Hojoya at Hakozaki Shrine on 12–18 September. The Yamakasa's Oiyama (the timed race) starts at 4:59 a.m. on 15 July, and some people stake out a spot along the route from the day before. Munakata Taisha's maritime procession, the "Miare Festival", is on 1 October (see Hojoya and Dontaku).
Look for this: the view from the roof of Hakata Station
On the roof of JR Hakata City is "Tsubame no Mori Hiroba", a free rooftop space with views over Hakata. Because Fukuoka Airport is so close to the city, central Fukuoka has height limits on buildings, which gives it an unusual skyline with few towers reaching for the sky. The sight of planes coming in to land, passing just above the buildings, is something you only get in Fukuoka.
Main sources: Official guides of Fukuoka City Subway, Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu) and JR Kyushu / Fukuoka City "Yokanavi" tourist information / Tourist information from Dazaifu City, Itoshima City and Munakata City / Fukuoka City Ferry guide