Here are 10 things to do in Fukuoka (Hakata and Itoshima).

Kushida Shrine

It is said that the shrine was founded in the first year of the Tenpyo-hoji era (757) during the reign of Empress Koken, through the solicitation of Kushida Shrine in Matsusaka, Ise. The deities enshrined are Owatatsumi-no-Mikoto (Kushida-gu), Amaterasu-Omikami (Ojin-gu), and Susanoo-no-Mikoto (Gion-gu). The main shrine building was constructed in 1587 when Toyotomi Hideyoshi was rebuilding Hakata. As Unohi sumo was popular at this shrine, many famous sumo wrestlers, including Asashoryu, have donated many stones that they have lifted to show off their strength. You can lift the test stone, so please give it a try.

Nakasu food stalls

Nakasu in Hakata is Kyushu's largest entertainment district. The Nakasu Yatai District, a Hakata specialty, comes to life as dusk approaches. Fukuoka's yatai (food stalls) have their own unique food stall culture and are set up in fixed locations. There are also popular restaurants serving oden, motsunabe, yakitori, and Hakata ramen. It is also a place for tourists and locals to socialize after work.

Ohori Park

The highlight of the garden is the stroll-style garden with its artificial hills, forests and ponds, which was established in 1984 as a cultural heritage site for the prefecture to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ohori Park. The garden features a large pond and artificial hill pond garden as the main garden, as well as a water flow, a dry landscape garden, large and small waterfalls, a teahouse built in the Sukiya style, and an open-air garden, and you can explore the garden by walking along the garden paths. You can also take a boat ride or take a break at the cafe.

Fukuoka Castle Ruins

It is said that Nagamasa Kuroda built the castle over a period of seven years starting in 1601. Although the existence of the castle tower is unknown, it was a famous castle with a castle tower base and 50 turrets. After the Meiji Restoration, most of the buildings were demolished or sold off, but the stone walls and layout remain as they were at the time, and it has been designated as a national historic site. This "light-up" is held by setting up a temporary structure that resembles a castle tower in a castle that does not have one, creating a rare and fantastical sight. It is also a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and the cherry blossoms are very beautiful.

Port of Hakata

Hakata Port Tower is 100 meters tall, and you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama from the observation deck 70 meters above ground. Bayside Place Hakata is a waterfront complex that hosts various events throughout the year, such as cherry blossoms in the spring, fireworks and beer gardens in the summer, Halloween in the fall, and illuminations at oyster huts in the winter. At night, it is lit up, creating a romantic atmosphere with the port and cityscape, creating a very beautiful sight.

Sakurai Shrine (Great Underwater Torii Gate)

It was built in the early Edo period by Kuroda Tadayuki, the second feudal lord of the Fukuoka domain. The main hall was built in 1632 and features vividly colored carvings. The torii gate at Futamigaura is considered a sacred place on the shrine grounds. The contrast between the white torii gate and the blue of the sea is very beautiful.

It is known as Futamigaura of the Sunset, and the beauty of the sunsets there is truly breathtaking.

Shiraito Falls

The famous Shiraito Falls is located at an altitude of 530m on the middle slope of Mt. Hagane. It is a waterfall that literally flows like a white thread down the rock face (a drop of about 24m). Shiraito Falls is also a place where you can enjoy flowers, water, the seasons, and nature. From mid-June to early July, about 5,000 hydrangeas (100,000 plants) bloom in full glory.

Meoto Iwa

The sacred "Meoto Iwa" rocks, floating about 150m offshore, are also called Suzume Iwa. The rock on the right (male rock) is 11.8m high, and the rock on the left (female rock) is 11.2m high (granodiorite). The large rope that connects the two rocks is 30m long, 50cm in diameter, and weighs about 1 ton. Every year from late April to early May, the parishioners, clad in happi coats, replace the rope. Around the summer solstice, the sun sets in the middle of the Meoto Iwa rocks, making for a very beautiful and photogenic sight.

Sumiyoshi Shrine

It is said to be the oldest of the 2,129 Sumiyoshi shrines in Japan, and is one of the "Three Great Sumiyoshi Shrines of Japan" along with Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka and Sumiyoshi Shrine in Yamaguchi. It was founded over 1,800 years ago, and the current "main hall" was built in 1623 by Kuroda Nagamasa, the first feudal lord of Chikuzen Fukuoka. The main hall of Sumiyoshi Shrine, designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, was built in the oldest architectural style in Japan, Sumiyoshi-zukuri. The "Ancient Sumo Wrestler Statues" are brave and worth seeing. Nearby, we recommend the Fukuoka specialty "Motsunabe" at Suehiroya Motsunabe Haruyoshi Branch, and the Fukuoka specialty "Torikawa" at Torikawa Takaraya.

Tochoji Temple

Nankakusan Tochoji Temple, the first temple built in Japan by Kukai (Kobo Daishi), is a temple built to pray for the long-lasting spread of esoteric Buddhism to the east. It features a five-story pagoda made entirely of cypress, a Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva statue designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, and the Fukuoka Great Buddha, one of the largest wooden seated statues in Japan. The wooden Great Buddha is 10.8m tall, a reference to the number 108 of human earthly desires, and behind it are enshrined an astounding 5,000 small Buddhas. There is also a tour of hell and paradise set up on a pedestal, which is definitely worth experiencing.

summary

We have introduced "10 things to do in Fukuoka (Hakata and Itoshima)". Hakata city, which is close to the airport, has many shrines and temples and is a place that is quintessentially Japanese. The illuminations at the "Fukuoka Castle Ruins" are rare nationwide, and the castle tower itself is illuminated, so be sure to check it out. There are also beautiful natural sites such as the "Underwater Torii" and "Shiraito Falls", which are very photogenic. In addition to the restaurants we have introduced, Fukuoka has many other delicious gourmet foods that you should definitely try.

<Gourmet food introduced this time>

• Recommended dish: Motsunabe

• Location: Suehiroya Motsunabe Haruyoshi store

• Address: RAGAZZA 1F, 3-16-41 Haruyoshi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

• Recommended dish: Chicken skin

• Store: Torikawa Takaya

• Address: 1F Gentile Tenjin II, 2-13-4 Haruyoshi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture