Discover Fukuoka: 31 Must-See Sights and Must-Try Foods in Hakata

Hakata has lots to see, and you can enjoy sightseeing and great food year-round.
If you can choose when to visit, go in April–May or September–November. There’s less rain and the temperatures are comfortable.
Hakata’s three big festivals are held in May and September. If your timing lines up, join in.

Hakata is served by Fukuoka Airport, and the Shinkansen stops at Hakata Station. It’s easy to reach from Japan and overseas.
By plane, it’s Approx 2 hours from Tokyo and Approx 1 hour from Osaka, so you can get here quickly from major cities.
Fukuoka Airport has international flights, so you can arrive from Taipei in under 3 hours.

Ohori Park sits in central Fukuoka, just two stops from Tenjin Station.
The large pond at its heart fills the space with nature, and locals love it as a place to relax.
The pond covers more than half of the park’s 39.8 ha and was used as the outer moat when Nagamasa Kuroda built Fukuoka Castle.
In the middle of the pond are the Nakanoshima islands, linked by four bridges. You can cross the pond via these bridges.

Kushida Shrine is said to have been founded in the Nara period and is known as the main guardian shrine of Hakata. Locals affectionately call it “Okushida-san.”
Every July, the famous “Hakata Gion Yamakasa” festival is held here, marking the start of summer in Hakata. You can see the impressive “Kazariyamakasa” floats on the shrine grounds all year round, except in June.
There’s also the Hakata History Museum on the grounds. Here, you can view valuable historical items from Hakata, like a seal letter left by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and old masks from the Muromachi period’s Matsubayashi festival.

Fukuoka Tower was built as a monument for the 1989 Asia-Pacific Expo (also known as Yokatopia). It’s a landmark of Fukuoka City.
Standing 234 meters tall, it boasts the highest seaside tower in Japan. From the top-floor observation deck, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Fukuoka City.

Built by Kuroda Yoshitaka (Kanbei) and his son Nagamasa over seven years from 1601.
It was the seat of the Kuroda lords of the Fukuoka Domain throughout the Edo period, and is also known as Maizuru Castle.
It was one of Kyushu’s largest, with foundations for large, medium, and small keeps and 47 turrets.

Opened in 1989, Marine World Uminonakamichi is an aquarium themed on the “Sea of Kyushu,” showcasing approx 350 species and approx 30,000 creatures.
A major renewal in 2017 replaced 90% of the tanks, including a 7 m-deep open-ocean tank.
The seas of Kyushu are now recreated more realistically, letting you observe marine life in a setting closer to nature.

Tochoji Temple in Hakata, Fukuoka, is said to be the first Shingon temple founded by the revered monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) after returning from training in Tang China.
Its formal name is Tocho-mitsu-ji, named to mean “may esoteric Buddhism be passed on long in the East.”
The highlight is the wooden Great Buddha known as the Fukuoka Daibutsu. At 10.8 m tall—linked to the 108 earthly desires—it is among the largest seated wooden statues in Japan.

Opened in July 2020 next to the PayPay Dome. From the first floor to the rooftop, the whole building is packed with entertainment.
The highlights are the rooftop “Zekkei Three Brothers” presented by SMBC Nikko Securities. “SubeZO,” a 100 m tube slide that shoots you down along the building’s facade from 40 m up, and “TsuriZO,” a single-rider hanging rail coaster 60 m above ground, both deliver big thrills.

A zoo and botanical garden inside Minami Park, which makes use of the city’s hills.
The zoo area is in the park’s center and the botanical garden to the south, linked by a footbridge.
The zoo has North, South, and Asian Tropical Valley zones, and keeps and exhibits approx 100 animal species.

In foodie city Hakata, the Nakasu yataigai offers especially deep, local dining experiences.
Enjoy ramen, skewers, and Oden (Japanese hot pot dish) with drinks. Neon lights reflect on the Naka River that runs through Nakasu, Kyushu’s biggest entertainment district, and food stalls line the riverbank in a stunning row.
Just strolling lets you feel the city’s energy.

A national government park in Higashi Ward, Fukuoka. Its vast, sea-ringed grounds span approx 350 hectares, with rich nature and flowers blooming year-round.
There are play areas for toddlers and the Animal Forest where you can meet animals. It’s popular with families.

Located across from Kushida Shrine, famed for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, this museum lets you experience nostalgic Hakata life and culture, from festivals to traditional crafts.
It consists of three buildings: an exhibition hall, a machiya house, and a gift shop.
The shop sells Hakata sweets, traditional crafts, and original goods.

The Hakata Bay waterfront lined with landmarks like Fukuoka Tower and the PayPay Dome has a modern vibe.
Here, Seaside Momochi Beach Park is a man-made beach stretching approx 1.5 km along Momochihama.
The beach is wide and clean, hard to believe it’s in the city. Swim, or enjoy beach volleyball and beach soccer.

There are 2,129 Sumiyoshi shrines across Japan, and this is said to be the first.
It’s mentioned in the Kojiki and has over 1,800 years of history as Chikuzen’s primary shrine.
Its deities are gods of navigation and stars who appeared from the sea, and of purification, offering many blessings. The shrine also has deep ties to sumo. Before the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in autumn, the Japan Sumo Association hosts a yokozuna ring-entering ceremony here.

A relaxing green space in the Tenjin downtown area, spanning approx 31,000 sq m.
Highlights include the stately Fountain Plaza, built with stone pillars and materials from the former prefectural office. There’s also a vast Lawn Plaza for picnics and naps, and high horizontal bars you can use for hanging or pull-ups. Spend time your way.

A museum showcasing traditional crafts connected to Fukuoka and Hakata.
It presents beautiful crafts handed down by Hakata artisans from past to present through permanent and special exhibitions, workshops, and outreach events.

A quiet Japanese garden tucked into an office district near Hakata Station. It stands on the former villa site built in 1906 by Hakata merchant Shimozawa Zen’emon Chikamasa, who contributed to the city’s development.
After serving as an inn after the war, it was redeveloped as a garden by Fukuoka City in 1995.

Hakata Ikkousha is one of the most popular tonkotsu ramen chains in town.
This Main Store, the flagship among its five distinct brands, sits in front of JR Hakata Station.
Its signature is the famed “original bubble-style” broth. The fine, creamy foam comes from a house “aged double-boil” method.

This flagship inside Ichiran’s HQ is beloved in Japan and abroad, with locations in New York, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
They serve just one bowl: Natural Tonkotsu Ramen.
The soup is free of the usual porky smell, and the noodles are house-made. Since 1960 they’ve refined every detail. Enjoy a perfected classic.

Founded in 1963, Hakata Daruma Main Store carries on the founder’s hallmark flavor under the second-generation owner.
Pork bones are simmered for 16 hours in the same iron pot used since day one, with the broth built up over time.
The rich, distinctive taste is seriously addictive.

A go-to for Fukuoka’s famous Tetsunabe Gyoza, said to have started at Hakata’s food stalls.
Bite-size dumplings are arranged in concentric circles in a sizzling iron pan and cooked evenly—the original round iron-pan gyoza.
Crisp, fragrant bottoms and a burst of juicy filling. Bold yet light with chive aroma, so many say two or three servings go down easy.

A restaurant where you can savor Shoboan’s famed Agodashi Mentaiko, a Hakata staple.
Enjoy dishes that highlight mentaiko, plus home-style fare and seasonal creative Japanese plates.
Their mentaiko uses select Hokkaido cod roe, marinated in a luxurious spicy sauce with Japanese flying-fish dashi for an elegant, mellow finish.

A massive complex spanning approx 43,500 sq m with a shopping mall, cinemas, theater, amusements, and two hotels.
Its symbol is the approx 180 m canal flowing through colorful, curving buildings.
Shopping and entertainment aside, it’s fun just to hang out here.

The Tenjin area in Fukuoka’s Chuo Ward is Kyushu’s biggest downtown.
Running north–south beneath Watanabe-dori, TENJIN CHIKAGAI stretches approx 600 m from Showa-dori to Kokutai-dori.
It spans 1st to 12th Avenue with around 150 shops for fashion, food, lifestyle goods, and books.

A major station complex directly connected to JR Hakata Station.
On the west (Hakata Exit) are Amu Plaza Hakata and Hankyu; on the east (Chikushi Exit) are Hakata Deitos and Amu Est.
Amu Est’s concept is “always fun, always full of new finds,” with trend-focused fashion and goods.

A striking glass-walled design greets you.
The mood lifts even before you step inside. The glass brings natural light into the rooms for bright, open spaces.
Choose from nine room types, from 1–2 guests to family-friendly.

A city hotel directly connected to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station.
Traditional Kyushu crafts like Okawa kumiko latticework and Imari porcelain accent the rooms and public spaces for a refined stay.
All rooms feature Simmons beds for better sleep, with thoughtful bedding and interiors that create a calm retreat.

Step inside to find eleven bookcases rising to approx 8 meters.
True to its concept of “stimulating intellectual curiosity,” the lobby library holds approx 5,000 books—from seasonal themes to classics and comics—that you can read in the lounge or your room.

Made by Fukutaro, famous for mentaiko.
These crackers are kneaded with their mentaiko for a gentle kick that keeps you reaching for more.
Over 20 years on, Menbei is a Fukuoka staple, as popular as mentaiko itself.

Held every May 3–4, the Hakata Dontaku festival fills the city with crowds.
In Hakata dialect, the costumed performers parading with shamisen, flutes, and drums are called “torimon,” which inspired the name of this East-meets-West confection, Hakata Torimon.

Playful sweets that look like three Fukuoka classics—tonkotsu ramen, mentaiko rice, and motsunabe—but taste completely different.
Each is crafted with clever “ingredients” for balanced flavor and texture.