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2 cities
Province · Kyushu
Fukuoka
The yatai stalls and Hakata ramen, the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, the Itoshima coast, the canals of Yanagawa and the old port of Moji.
In the photo: Mojiko Station, in Fukuoka.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The province
Get to know Fukuoka
Fukuoka lies in northern Kyushu, facing the Genkai Sea, closer to South Korea than to Tokyo. For centuries it was the gateway from the continent into Japan. The city of Fukuoka, which brings together the former Hakata and Fukuoka, is the largest in Kyushu, and the airport is just minutes from the center.
At night, yatai stalls set up on the sidewalks of Nakasu and Tenjin, with counters for a few people, serving ramen, skewers and oden. Hakata ramen has a white pork-bone broth and thin noodles, and mentaiko, seasoned cod roe, is the most common souvenir. The Kushida Shrine holds the Hakata Gion Yamakasa in July, a race with floats carried by teams. Ohori Park has a large central lake.
In Dazaifu, about 40 minutes away, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, revered as the deity of studies, and has thousands of plum trees. The street leading to the shrine sells umegae mochi, a grilled rice cake. Nearby is the Kyushu National Museum. In Yanagawa, boatmen ply the canals, and eel is served steamed.
To the west, Itoshima has beaches and the white torii of Sakurai Futamigaura in the sea. In Kitakyushu, Mojiko preserves brick buildings from the old port, and the Kawachi wisteria tunnel blooms in spring. Off the Munakata coast, the island of Okinoshima, where landing is not allowed, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site along with the Munakata shrines.
Destinations
1 destination in Fukuoka
Cities
2 cities in Fukuoka in the guide
Fukuoka
Capital
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture and the largest city on Kyushu, formed by the old port of Hakata and the castle town. Kushida Shrine, in the heart of Hakata, Ohori Park next to the castle ruins, and Fukuoka Tower on the Momochi waterfront are the main stops, with yatai stalls at night. The Itoshima peninsula to the west has beaches and the sea gate at Futamigaura.
Fukuoka
Dazaifu
Dazaifu is a city about 16 km from Fukuoka that for centuries was the administrative and military center of Kyushu. Today it is known for Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to the deity of learning, with more than six thousand plum trees, and the Kyushu National Museum, about Japan’s cultural exchanges with Asia. The approach street to the shrine sells umegae-mochi, a traditional sweet.
When to go
The plum trees of Dazaifu bloom between February and March. The Kawachi wisterias bloom from late April to mid-May, and advance booking is necessary. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa runs from July 1 to 15, with the main race in the early hours on the last day. July and August are humid. Winters are not very cold, and the yatai stalls operate year-round except in heavy rain.
Getting there
Fukuoka Airport (FUK) is about a 5-minute subway ride from Hakata Station and receives flights from various Asian cities. The Sanyo Shinkansen connects Shin-Osaka to Hakata in about 2½ hours and to Tokyo in about 5 hours; the Kyushu Shinkansen continues to Kumamoto and Kagoshima. Fast ferries connect Hakata to Busan, South Korea. Dazaifu is about 40 minutes by the Nishitetsu railway.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Fukuoka
How do Fukuoka’s yatai stalls work?
The stalls open in the early evening and close after midnight, with counter seating for around ten people. Each has its own handwritten menu. You are expected to order at least one dish and one drink per person, and you shouldn’t stay long if there’s a line.
How do you get from Fukuoka to Dazaifu?
By the Nishitetsu railway from Tenjin Station, with a transfer at Futsukaichi, in about 40 minutes. There are also direct buses from Hakata Station.
Can you visit the island of Okinoshima?
No. Okinoshima is sacred and closed to visitors. In Munakata, Hetsu-gu Shrine and, on Oshima Island, Nakatsu-gu accept visitors, and from Oshima you can view Okinoshima on clear days.
How many days should you allocate for Fukuoka?
Two days let you see the center, the yatai stalls, Ohori Park and Dazaifu. With a third day you can visit Itoshima, Yanagawa or Kitakyushu.
Beyond the guide
