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Nokonoshima Island (½ day)

Nokonoshima Island is located in the middle of Hakata Bay. It is rich in nature and has several beautiful walking and cycling tracks. There is a walking track around the island, which can be done in about four to five hours. Cycling takes less time but on one side of the island the roads are quite steep. The island is known for its seasonal flowers and great views on Fukuoka’s skyline on a clear day.

From Meinohama Passenger Terminal a ferry departs to the island every hour. The ride only takes 10 minutes. A ticket costs 460 Yen roundtrip for a person and 240 Yen for a bicycle.

You can go to Meinohama Passenger Terminal from downtown Tenjin by bus 300, 301, 302 or 304 and get off at Noko Tosenba. From there you need to walk to the Ferry terminal.

If you like to go around the island on a bicycle you could rent a Seaside Bike from various locations for only 100 Yen per hour, which can be paid by credit card. There are two good locations at approximately 15 minutes cycling from the ferry terminal at Fukuoka Tower and underneath the Hilton Hotel Sea Hawk. More information about the Seaside bike rental can be found here. From downtown Tenjin you can take bus W1 to one of these locations.

Ohori Park (1-2 hrs)

Ohori Park is a lovely oasis in Fukuoka where you can enjoy walking, jogging, cycling, boating and other relaxing activities like picnicking.

You can observe carps in the pond and wild birds up close or make a ride in a swan boat. These boats are available from March to October.

The entrance to the park is free. The nearest subway station is Ohorikoen and the nearest bus stop is Nishitetsu Ohorikoen.

Japanese Garden (1 hr)

At the south end of the pond in Ohori Park, next to the Fukuoka Art Museum, you should visit the Japanese Garden, which was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ohori Park as a cultural facility to long preserve Japanese tradition by Fukuoka Prefecture. The garden was completed five years after the construction began in 1979.

The spectacular garden is designed in the Kaiyu style, which follows the traditional Japanes garden-making techniques while combining some modern features.

The garden is open daily (except Mondays) from 9 am to 5 pm. The entrance fee is 240 Yen.

Fukuoka Castle Ruins (1-2 hrs)

Fukuoka Castle, also known as Maizuru Castle, was built and resided by the first feudal lord of the Fukuokan clan, Kuroda Nagamasa, over seven years from 1601. There is no castle left, but in Maizuru Park, next to Ohori Park, you will find the castle ruins.

From the base of the main tower you get great views on the city and the park.

A great period to go there is during Fukuoka Castle Cherry Blossom Festival. From March 18 to April 4 the Maizuru park will be lit up in the evening. Let the whimsical scene of the cherry blossoms and the Castle unfold before your eyes.

The entrance to the ruins is free. By bus you can go to ‘Nishitetsu Jonai Bijutsukan Higashi-guchi’ bus stop, or go to Ohorikoen subway station and walk through Ohori park.

Fukuoka Tower (1-2 hrs)

With 234 metres, Fukuoka Tower is the highest seaside tower in Japan. From the observation deck at 123 metres you can get a stunning 360-degree panoramic view on the city and its surroundings. The tower is located along Momochi Marizon, the manmade beach.

The normal ticket for the observation desk is 800 Yen, but there is a special price for foreigners: 640 Yen. You can go there by bus from downtown. Take bus W1 from stop 1A at Tenjin station 1st floor. A ticket costs 230 Yen (cash) and the driving time is 15 minutes.

Fukuoka Art Museum (2 hrs)

The Fukuoka Art Museum displays a wide variety of its collection including works of Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Shigeru Aoki and Hanjiro Sakamoto. It also has eastern antiques, tea utensils and Buddhist art in its collection.

The entrance fee is only 200 Yen. The opening hours are from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm and the museum is closed on Mondays except when it is a public holiday. Ohorikoen is the nearest subway station and then you have to walk through Ohori park. By bus you can go to ‘Nishitetsu Jonai Bijutsukan Higashi-guchi’ bus stop.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine (½-1 day)

Dazaifu is a small, quiet village on the outskirts of Fukuoka It is perfect for a day trip or a half-day trip. There are a number of temples and shrines, the most famous of which is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, a Shinto shrine, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, known as the god of learning. This is the place for Japanese students to pray for good exam results. The temple is open every day from 6:30 am to 7 pm. The entrance to the shrine is free.

There is also the Kyushu National museum where you can see the formation of Japanese culture in a context of Asian history. This museum is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm (except Mondays) and costs 400 yen per person.

Besides a visit to the shrine and the museum you should stroll through the small streets of this old touristy village and try some Japanese delicacies. Dazaifu is a place where you can expect to see people in traditional Japanese clothes.

Best way to go to Dazaifu is by train. From Tenjin (downtown) Nishitetsu train station you take an express train to Futsuka-ichi. There you change trains to Dazaifu (2 more stops). It is easy, the train destinations are mentioned in English and the ticket vending machines have an English option as well. A single train ticket costs 400 yen and the travel time is approximately 25 minutes. From the train station in Dazaifu the temple is in walking distance.

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Language of the world

Of course you like to speak a few words of the local language onboard the plane or at your destination. Here you find some simple basics of the main language spoken in Fukuoka.