Japan (Lonely Planet, 11th Edition) - Chris Rowthorn [532]
The Hakata-za Theatre (263-5858; www.hakataza.co.jp, in Japanese; Riverain Centre Bldg, 3-1 Shimokawabata-machi) is one of Japan’s finest kabuki (stylised Japanese theatre) stages, but also holds concerts and Japanese versions of Broadway musicals. Click here.
HAKATA MACHIYA FURUSATO-KAN
This small folk museum (281-7761; www.hakatamachiya.com, in Japanese; 6-10 Reisen-machi; admission ¥200; 10am-5.30pm, closed 29-31 Dec) opposite Kushida Shrine re-creates a late-Meiji-era Hakata village. The replica buildings house historical photos and displays of traditional Hakata culture, including recordings of impenetrable Hakata-ben (dialect).
FUKUOKA REKISHI NO MACHI KOTTŌ-MURA
This rustic historical village & antiques cooperative (806-0505; 439-120 Tokunaga, Nishi-ku; admission free; 10am-6pm, closed Mon; JR Chikuhi line from Tenjin to Kyūdai-gakkentoshi) gathers over 30 working potters, weavers and paper-makers to exhibit and sell their wares. It’s out of the way, but a nice diversion with bargains to be found. It’s a 15-minute cab ride from Kyūdai-gakkentoshi Station.
SHRINES & TEMPLES
Tōchō-ji has the largest wooden Buddha in Japan and some impressively carved Kannon (goddess of mercy) statues.
Shōfuku-ji is a Zen temple founded in 1195 by Eisai, who introduced Zen and tea to Japan.
Kushida-jinja home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, has float displays and a local history museum (291-2951; 1-41 Kami-kawabata; admission ¥300; 10am-4.30pm).
Sumiyoshi-jinja (262-6665; 2-10-7 Sumiyoshi, Hakata) is said to be the original of the Sumiyoshi Taisha shrines in Japan. On its north side is Rakusuien (admission ¥100; 9am-4.30pm, closed Tue), a pretty garden and tea house built by a Meiji-era merchant. You can participate in an outdoor tea ceremony here.
FUKUOKA-JŌ & ŌHORI-KŌEN
Only the walls of Fukuoka-jō remain in what is now Maizuru-kōen, but the castle’s hilltop site provides good views of the city.
Ōhori-kōen, adjacent to the castle grounds, has a traditionally styled Japanese garden, Nihon-teien (741-8377; admission ¥240; 9am-4.45pm Sep-May, closed Mon, to 5.45pm, Jun-Aug, closed Mon).
Nearby, the Fukuoka Art Museum (714-6051; www.fukuoka-art-museum.jp/english; 1-6 Ōhori-kōen, Chūō-ku; admission ¥200; 9.30am-5pm Sep-May, closed Mon, 9.30am-7pm Tue-Sat, to 5pm Sun Jul & Aug) has ancient pottery and Buddhist guardians on one floor, works by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí upstairs, and an interior garden to help soften the transition.
MOMOCHI DISTRICT
West of the city you’ll find the 234m-tall Fukuoka Tower (823-0234; www.fukuokatower.co.jp/english/index.html; 2-3-26 Momochi-hama, Sawara-ku; admission ¥800; 9.30am-10pm Apr-Sep, to 9pm Oct-Mar). At 120m, the classy Sky Lounge Refuge (833-8255) cafe is a great place to soak in the views, especially from dusk.
The Fukuoka City Museum (845-5011; http://museum.city.fukuoka.jp/english/index_e.html; 3-1-1 Momochi-hama, Sawara-ku; admission ¥200; 9.30am-5pm, closed Mon) displays artefacts of local history and culture, the pride of the museum being an ancient golden snake seal with an inscription proving Japan’s historic ties to China.
HAWKS TOWN
This seaside entertainment & shopping complex (www.hawkstown.com/eng/index.html) is built on reclaimed land near Momochi-kōen. It’s home to the luxury JAL Resort Sea Hawk Hotel and the giant Yahoo! Japan Dome. Hawks Town is less than 1km northwest of Tōjin-machi Station. Frequent direct buses go to Yahoo! Dome from Tenjin bus station (about 15 minutes).
OFFSHORE ISLANDS
Often overlooked, pretty Nokonoshima () has a swimming beach and camping ground at the northern end of the island and fields of wildflowers. Buses 300 and 301 depart frequently from Nishitetsu Tenjin bus centre (¥360, 20 minutes). Ferries depart from Meinohama Municipal Ferry Port, west of the city centre near Meinohama Station (¥220, 10 minutes).
Ferries to delightfully rural Shikanoshima (), where fresh seafood restaurants line the harbourside streets, depart hourly (¥650, 33 minutes) from Bayside Place, along with seasonal