5 days in Fukuoka

Day by day

1. Day 1: Kushida Shrine and Tocho-ji

   Kushida Shrine, Tocho-ji and Shofuku-ji, then Yatai food stalls in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kushida Shrine

      Look up at the zodiac wheel above the gate and the huge float on display, then walk to Canal City or the old temples nearby. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Tocho-ji

      Walk the short pitch-dark tunnel behind the Buddha with one hand on the wall, as visitors are asked to do. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hakata ramen

      Ramen shops around Hakata Station and Nagahama, yatai stalls and the Ramen Stadium in Canal City.

   4. Afternoon

      Shofuku-ji

      Combine it with Tocho-ji and Jotenji on a morning walk of the old temple quarter from Gion station. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Yatai food stalls

      Go early in the evening to get seats, order a drink plus one or two dishes per stall, and move on to try several.

2. Day 2: Ohori Park and Fukuoka Castle ruins

   Ohori Park, Fukuoka Castle ruins and Fukuoka Art Museum, then Fukuoka Tower in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ohori Park

      Walk across the island bridges in the middle of the lake, then visit the Japanese garden on the south side. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Fukuoka Castle ruins

      Climb to the keep foundation for the city view, and stop at the Korokan museum, which shows the remains of an ancient diplomatic guesthouse. (1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mentaiko

      Specialist shops at Hakata Station, Yanagibashi market and restaurants serving mentaiko set breakfasts.

   4. Afternoon

      Fukuoka Art Museum

      Stop at the museum café's terrace overlooking Ohori Park's lake. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Fukuoka Tower

      Go up just before sunset, then walk to the Momochi seaside beach as the tower lights come on.

3. Day 3: Canal City Hakata and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

   Canal City Hakata, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum and Yanagibashi Rengo Market, then SoftBank Hawks baseball game in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Canal City Hakata

      Catch an evening fountain show in the central canal, then compare bowls at the Ramen Stadium. (2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

      Check the resident artists' open studio on the same floor, which visitors can sometimes visit for free. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Motsunabe

      Motsunabe restaurants across Hakata and Tenjin; usually for two or more people.

   4. Afternoon

      Yanagibashi Rengo Market

      Go in the morning, when stalls are fully stocked and the seafood-bowl counters are open. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. Evening

      SoftBank Hawks baseball game

      Buy tickets ahead for weekend games and stay for the post-game fireworks or light show on some nights.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Dazaifu

   About 30–45 minutes by train each way. Getting there: Nishitetsu train from Tenjin via Futsukaichi.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Dazaifu

      About 30–45 minutes by train (Nishitetsu train from Tenjin via Futsukaichi); about 16 km.

   2. Day

      Dazaifu

      Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine, dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, is visited by students praying for exam success and is surrounded by thousands of plum trees. Best for first-timers, culture and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Fukuoka

      Dinner: try Mizutaki.

5. Day 5: Hakata Machiya Folk Museum and Marine World Uminonakamichi

   Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, Marine World Uminonakamichi and Nokonoshima Island Park, then Nakasu in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hakata Machiya Folk Museum

      Pair it with Kushida Shrine across the street for an hour on old Hakata. (45 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Marine World Uminonakamichi

      Take the ferry from the Bayside Place pier for a scenic crossing instead of the train. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mizutaki

      Specialist mizutaki restaurants in Hakata and Nakasu; book at weekends.

   4. Afternoon

      Nokonoshima Island Park

      Time your visit for spring or the autumn cosmos, and check the bus connection from the ferry pier to the park. (Half a day, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Nakasu

      Neon-lit streets of bars, izakaya and karaoke, plus the riverside yatai.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for SoftBank Hawks baseball game before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Hakata Station keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Daimyo and Akasaka ($$$) suits couples, shopping and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–26 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Fukuoka
• 2 days in Fukuoka
• 3 days in Fukuoka

Questions travellers ask