Things to do in Fukuoka

The cosmopolitan city of Fukuoka is rapidly growing in popularity with tourists, who relish its contemporary architecture, fun nightlife and splendid food scene. Often thought of as Tokyo's laid-back cousin, its also a wonderful place to unwind around delightful historical attractions, or in tranquil natural settings.

Fukuoka has its share of traditional shrines and temples, with two of the best being the ancient Kushida Shrine and the Shofukuji Temple. The shrine dates from 757 and enshrines the Shinto deities Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Ohatanushi. Shofukuji was the first Zen Buddhist temple to be built in Japan and was completed in 1195.

Culture lovers will find good museums and galleries, including the Asian Art Museum; the best areas for fine dining and night-time fun are Nakasu, Daimyo and Tenjin. Travellers who crave peace and natural beauty in the city will enjoy strolling through Ohori Park. Centered around a large pond, the park is on the grounds of Fukuoka Castle. The beautiful Ohori Park Japanese Garden is another of the park's features.

Fukuoka is also a great base for excursions and daytrips. The ruins of the ancient city of Dazaifu are nearby and the active volcano, Mount Aso, attracts many visitors to its lush slopes. The lovely port city of Nagasaki is within easy reach. Nokonoshima Island, a beautiful scenic area where visitors can camp, hike, and swim, is another of the region's most popular attractions.

Shofukuji Temple photo

Shofukuji Temple

Founded in 1195 by the priest Eisai who introduced the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism into Japan, Shofukuji was the first Zen temple to be built in Japan. In the temple grounds are th…

Shofukuji Temple

Founded in 1195 by the priest Eisai who introduced the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism into Japan, Shofukuji was the first Zen temple to be built in Japan. In the temple grounds are the remains of two other ancient temples, as well as a number of other structures. Sadly, the ancient buildings cannot be entered but visitors can explore the lovely grounds and examine the facades. Although the temple complex is a historic and ancient site, it's not frequented by tourists and is seldom crowded. As a result, it's peaceful and serene, with its age and history almost palpable.

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum photo

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

Fukuoka's Asian Art Museum is found in the heart of the city and houses more than 1,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, prints and handcrafts. This popular modern museum of…

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

Fukuoka's Asian Art Museum is found in the heart of the city and houses more than 1,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, prints and handcrafts. This popular modern museum offers a wide array of contemporary Japanese art and art from many other Asian countries. It's fairly small but gives an impressively comprehensive overview of current trends in the region. While the permanent collection is wonderful, there are regular temporary exhibitions and special events too. The museum should appeal to those both uninitiated and well-versed in Asian art.

Website faam.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/eng/home.html

Kushida Shrine photo

Kushida Shrine

Founded in 757, Kushida is one of Fukuoka's best-known Shinto shrines. It's situated in the heart of ancient Hakata with a huge 1,000-year-old gingko tree shading its forecourt. Th…

Kushida Shrine

Founded in 757, Kushida is one of Fukuoka's best-known Shinto shrines. It's situated in the heart of ancient Hakata with a huge 1,000-year-old gingko tree shading its forecourt. The shrine honours the grand deity, Ohata Nushina-mikoto, and was built for the common people during the Heian Period.

Today it's much enjoyed by locals and visitors alike during the summer's major event, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. On the last day of the festival, the Kushida Shrine becomes the starting point for a fun run where hundreds of young men clad only in loincloths carry heavy wooden shrines through the streets along a set route, vying to clock the fastest times.

The shrine itself contains several items of interest, particularly the Eto Arrow plate bearing carvings of the Chinese zodiac and a brace of anchor stones, which were recovered from the harbour and were once attached to ships of the Mongolian invasion fleets. The Hakata Historical Museum is also situated in the shrine grounds, which are pretty and well-kept.

Dazaifu photo

Dazaifu

In the northern part of Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan lie the ruins of Dazaifu, a first-century city that was the seat of government for the island and first line of defence …

Dazaifu

In the northern part of Kyushu Island in southwestern Japan lie the ruins of Dazaifu, a first-century city that was the seat of government for the island and first line of defence against threat from East Asian nations. Dazaifu also boasts one of Japan's most important shrines, dedicated to a great scholar named Sugawara Michizane. It's now a pilgrimage site for students from all over the country, especially when examination season comes around. The ancient Komyozenji Temple is also worth a visit, mainly for the stunning gardens, which are particularly beautiful in the autumn when the leaves turn a magnificent array of colours.

Mount Aso photo

Mount Aso

The volcanic Mount Aso lies almost in the centre of Kyushu Island and is Japan's biggest active volcano. Its caldera stretches about 11 miles (18km) from east to west, and 15 miles

Mount Aso

The volcanic Mount Aso lies almost in the centre of Kyushu Island and is Japan's biggest active volcano. Its caldera stretches about 11 miles (18km) from east to west, and 15 miles (24km) from north to south, making it one of the largest in the world.

While one of its volcanic peaks (Naka) is still active and regularly emits smoke and ash, the rest of the landscape inside the caldera is beautifully green, with horses, livestock and several towns. In the city of Aso there is a museum dedicated to the volcano that is worth visiting for those interested in the region's remarkable geology. There is a cableway up to the Mount Aso crater lake that allows visitors to see the steaming turquoise water up close.

Nagasaki photo

Nagasaki

The beautifully situated port city of Nagasaki stands at the southern end of Kyushu Island. Nagasaki was open to the world for centuries between 1639 and 1859 while the rest of Jap

Nagasaki

The beautifully situated port city of Nagasaki stands at the southern end of Kyushu Island. Nagasaki was open to the world for centuries between 1639 and 1859 while the rest of Japan was secluded from foreign contact.

Exposure to foreign cultures has left the city with a sophisticated and liberal air that makes it popular with tourists, and there are many attractions in the centre and surrounding prefecture. Here visitors can enjoy Feudal castles, samurai houses and smoking volcanoes, as well as hot spring baths, rugged offshore islands and beautiful beaches.

The most important site in the city is the Peace Park, which commemorates Nagasaki's darkest hour on 9 August 1945, when a nuclear bomb was dropped over the Urakami district, killing approximately 80,000 people. A black stone column marks the blast's epicentre; travellers should also visit the Atomic Bomb Museum.