Sights and landmarks in Fukuoka

Sights and landmarks in Fukuoka

1. See

   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

2. See

   Asian Art Museum

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

3. See

   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.

4. See

   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.

5. See

   Fukuoka Art Museum

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

6. See

   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).

7. See

   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

8. See

   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

9. See

   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

10. See

    Gion

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

11. See

    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.

12. See

    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

13. See

    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.

14. See

    Kushida Shrine

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

15. See

    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.

16. See

    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¥

17. See

    Nakasu

    This area is next to Tenjin and is Fukuoka's red-light district, with over 3500 restaurants, as well as ramen stalls (yatai), shopping, pubs, hostess bars, rooftop beer gardens in summer, one surviving movie theater, and sex trade. The neon lights on the Naka River are famous with over 60,000 visitors a day, and it has the busiest street in Kyushu.

18. See

    Nishi Park

    西公園

    A hilltop park with quiet walking trails, a shrine, an ocean and city view, and in springtime with over 3000 cherry trees is one of the finest places to see cherry blossoms in Kyushu.

19. See

    Ohori Park

    Tourists visiting Fukuoka should not miss this beautiful park located 2 stops west of Tenjin on the subway. The park has a 2 km jogging track that is popular with locals throughout the year. Also, next to Ohori Park is Maizuru park, featuring the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and a good view of the city.

20. See

    Ohori Park Japanese Garden

    大濠公園日本庭園

    This beautiful, small Japanese garden is right next to Ohori Park.

    Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00, closed Mondays and Dec 29 - Jan 3·¥190 (foreign visitors)

21. See

    Machiya Folk Museum

    博多町屋ふるさと館

    gives you a glimpse of the Hakata way of life.

    Daily except 4th Mon of each month 10:00-18:00·¥200

22. See

    Shōfuku-ji

    Japan's first Zen temple.

23. See

    Tōchō-ji

    It has a 10.8-m wooden Great Buddha.

    Free entry; ¥100 to see the Buddha

24. See Not mapped

    ACROS observation deck

    A observation deck with good views over Fukuoka.

    Weekends and public holidays only, 10:00-16:00·Free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Fukuoka (CC BY-SA 4.0).