Fukuoka

ACROS rooftop garden

The ACROS building has a terraced roof that merges with the park and contains some 35,000 plants representing 76 species. It is 809 steps to the top. Just east of ACROS is the former Prefectural Guest House, featuring turn-of-the-century architecture.

09:00-18:00 (March-October), 09:00-17:00 (November-February)·Free

Amu plaza Hakata

アミュプラザ博多

It is an integrated shopping mall in Hakata. There are various brands and there are also many good restaurants.

10:00 ~ 20:00

Asian Art Museum

This gallery hosts temporary exhibitions from Kyushu and all around Asia. It has a good shop.

Atago Shrine

愛宕神社

A hidden gem near the Muromi Subway Station, with a superb view of the city and Hakata Bay from a hilltop. You can also see many storks that fly by and nest in the area. Walk west from the subway station across the Muromi Bridge until you see the Atago torii gate with the stairs heading up. Alternatively there is a side road you can walk up if you don't like stairs.

Bar Bliss

Bar/restaurant is a great place to meet interesting locals, variety of shochus and a wide range of western style foods. Guinness is served on tap. Eclectic mix of local Fukuokans.

11:00-00:00 (19:00-02:00 closed Sun)

Bayside Place Hakata Pier

For a view of the bay, check out the Bayside Place Hakata Pier:a marine terminal for the regular service ferries for Tsushima Island and Hakata Bay cruise boats. The terminal building has an 8-m-tall aquarium, with 6,000 fish.

Canal City

This uniquely designed mall houses a wide range of stores, but is somewhat faded with the main action having moved to the new malls attached to Hakata Station. Nevertheless, it includes clothing stores, restaurants, rare character shops - including a Studio Ghibli goods shop - and even a well-appointed theatre. If you have time, be sure to catch one of the hourly fountain shows held in the centre of the bowl-shaped complex. There are also lots of food stores, including the 'Ramen Stadium' with several ramen outlets, but the quality is mediocre.

Fukuoka Art Museum

This art gallery has an excellent permanent collection, and hosts temporary exhibitions.

Fukuoka Castle ruins

The foundations of Fukuoka Castle and part of its moat are all that remains of the original complex. Work is underway to rebuild part of the castle to show what it looked like. The ruins give a good feel for the scale of the original castle though, and form an attractive park. Additionally, you may drop by the Fukuoka Castle Ruins Visitor Center to rent a tablet PC providing an augmented reality visualization of what the castle used to look like as you walk around the park. Visitors who ascend the steps towards the top are rewarded with excellent views of the city, including of the lake in Ohori Park (which in the past used to extend to and surround the castle).

Fukuoka City Museum

福岡市博物館

Permanent exhibition of city history and changing temporary exhibitions.

Tue-Sun 09:30-17:30·¥200 adults / 150 high schoolers / free for children

Fukuoka City Science Museum

福岡市科学館

Cotains Robosquare on its 5th floor. You can see and play with different kinds of robots and watch some of the engineers at work. Despite the imposing sounding name, Robosquare is one medium sized-room with a few robotics exhibits and some toy robots and is primarily aimed at children. Some English explanations are now available.

Free but ¥510 adults/ 310 high schoolers / 200 children each for 5F exhibition room and 6F planetarium

Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks baseball

Winning the Japan Series seven times between 2011 and 2020, the Hawks was undoubtedly Japan's strongest team in the 2010s. Check out a baseball game at the Fukuoka PayPay Dome, which is about 15 min walking distance from Tōjinmachi subway station. Ticket prices vary by day, but you can get an outfield unreserved seat from ¥1,000.

Fukuoka Tower

福岡タワー

The triangular reflective tower has magnificent views of the city and Hakata Bay from its 123-meter-high observation deck. (The whole tower is 234 m; the remaining 111 m is a television mast.) In Christmas and the Star Festival (Tanabata) on July 7, this tower is decorated. During the rest of the year the view is best at night time. This is an iconic symbol of Fukuoka. There is a restaurant which commands a ¥300 sitting fee in addition to the meal. The menu is limited and the food is mediocre at best.

¥1000

Gion

This area has several historical shrines and Buddhist temples, including:

Hakata City

Another large shopping area is the Hakata Station area. It includes over 230 shops, restaurant floor, and roof observation deck. With regards to gift-giving, if you're pressed for time, take a quick look around the craft and boutique stores in Hakata Station before leaving. Many carry the white clay Hakata dolls that are unique to Fukuoka. Prices range from under ¥1,000. Prices comparable to those found in Tenjin.

Hakata Port Tower

It has an observatory 70 m above the ground, allowing for a great view of the port and the streets of Fukuoka.

Happy Cock

Ignore the suggestive name; this is a popular crowded spot for locals and gaijin alike. The British expat owner is very friendly.

All drinks ¥500; all-you-can-drink or all-you-can-eat-and-drink specials available early evenings and some nights ¥2500-3000

Hitokuchi Gyoza Taketora

It is a restaurant that specializes in alcohol snacks such as Japanese gyoza dumplings and gopchang.

Closed · opens 5 pm

Ichiran

一蘭

A well known ramen chain, dedicated solely to perfecting tonkotsu. Buy a ticket from the vending machine outside (just hit the big top button) and take a seat at the counter. Each seat has a curtain in front and dividers on the side, so nothing distracts you from the noodle experience that awaits. Cellphones, children or conversation are not allowed. Hand over your ticket, receive a questionnaire on how you like your noodles (available in English at some outlets), and choose the middle option (基本 kihon, or "standard") for everything. In under a minute, a bowl of noodles will appear. If you want more noodles or an egg, press the button and ask for kaedama or tamago respectively.

24 hr, 365 days·¥650

Ichiran Ramen Museum

Ichiran no Mori

Ichiran is one of the largest chains of Hakata ramen restaurants, with locations all across Japan and in several other countries. At this factory, you can learn about the ramen-making process and view their factory where they make noodles. At the end is a small restaurant with a weekly special dish. The museum is entirely in Japanese.

Daily 10:00-21:00

Kabuki theatre

Hakata-za

An experience worth checking out. Check times and prices at the Hakata-za near Nakasu. If you don't want to stay for the whole show, or don't have so much money to spend, you can watch part of a show for about ¥800; see here for details. Half price student/young (~25) adult tickets may be available day of performance to be released 20 minutes prior to the show; see here for details.

Kego Koen

The park behind Solaria Plaza, Kego Koen, is a great place to go to experience Tenjin's youth culture and do some people watching. Don't be surprised if some of these kids try to approach you for a bit of random conversation.

Konoha Mall Hashimoto

木の葉モール橋本

While perhaps not worth a special trip all the way there, it's worth a look if you happen to be anywhere near the area.

Kushida Shrine

The 8th-century Kushida Shrine is starting point for the annual Gion-Yamakasa Festival.

Maizuru Park

舞鶴公園

Maizuru park includes the ruins of Fukuoka Castle (福岡城, Fukuoka-jō). Also inside the park, you will find the ruins of the Korokan (鴻臚館), a reception hall built around 1,200 years ago.

Marine World Uminonakamichi

マリンワールド海の中道

It is an aquarium and you can watch shows of various marine life, and there are also various hands-on activities, such as feeding dolphins. There is also a park outside the aquarium.

Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 09:30-17:30·2500¥

Menya Ishi

麺屋 いしヰ

This is a udon restaurant located around Hakata Station. It is famous for its udon and pollack udon.

08:00 ~ 16:00·1000 ~ 2000¥ Per person

Momochihama

A stretch of beach where visitors can enjoy a bit of swimming and sun. While the water isn't as clean as the waters further west and east in Fukuoka, you can still take a refreshing dip. There are a few lovely patio restaurants and bars which are an ideal location to watch the sun set. The area behind the Seahawk Hotel is good. It's less crowded during the summer.

Morris' Black Sheep British Pub

Does Happy hour from 17:00-19:00. Guinness, Old speckled Hen ¥590 a pint, and cocktails are half price. Fish and chips. Around the corner from the KFC on Nishidori. Open from 17:00. One of four Morris pubs in the same part of town.

Nagahama

Famous for Hakata's Nagahama ramen, with stalls (yatai) that get set up daily to handle the locals who are proud of their ramen. You will most likely smell it before you see it, and if you want a true Fukuoka experience is definitely worth a look if not a full meal.