Rakusuien

Nestled quietly in a corner of the office district near Hakata Station, this Japanese garden stands on the site of a villa built in 1906 by Shimozawa Zenemon Chikamasa, a Hakata merchant who contributed to the development of Fukuoka and Hakata. After serving as an inn post-war, the site was redeveloped into a garden by the city of Fukuoka in 1995.

In front of the tea house stretches a pond-centered stroll garden, allowing visitors to enjoy lush scenery as they walk. Seasonal flora like weeping cherry trees in spring and maple trees in autumn mark the changing seasons, offering a profound beauty regardless of the visit time. Despite its central urban location, the garden is enveloped in silence, creating an atmosphere where time seems to stand still.

"Rakusuian," a replica of Zenemon's tea house, features a series of connected rooms capable of hosting large tea ceremonies. The garden includes a plaza suitable for outdoor tea ceremonies. On days without scheduled tea ceremonies, tea service is offered in "Rakusuian," where visitors can enjoy matcha while admiring the beautiful garden.