Woman hand pinching noodle in Ramen Pork Bone Soup (Tonkotsu Ramen) with Chashu Pork, Scallion, Sprout, Corn, Dried Seaweed and boiled egg served in black bowl.

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Fukuoka

Sunny, friendly Fukuoka (福岡) is Kyūshū's largest city and Japan's eighth-largest population centre. It's made up of two former towns: the castle town of Fukuoka on the west bank of the Naka-gawa and the merchant town of Hakata on the east bank. Although the two towns merged in 1889 as Fukuoka, the name Hakata is still widely in use (for instance, it's Fukuoka Airport but Hakata Station) and a cultural touchpoint.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan

    Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan

    Fukuoka

    Spread over three machiya (traditional Japanese townhouses), this folk museum re-creates a Hakata nagare (neighbourhood unit) from the late Meiji era…

  • Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

    Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

    Fukuoka

    On the upper floors of the Hakata Riverain mall, this large museum houses the world-renowned Asia Gallery, and additional galleries for special…

  • Yanagabashi Market

    Yanagabashi Market

    Fukuoka

    Although it doesn't compare in scale or offerings to larger food markets in Japan, Yanagibashi presents the opportunity to browse for fresh fish, seafood,…

  • Fukuoka-jō & Ōhori-kōen

    Fukuoka-jō & Ōhori-kōen

    Fukuoka

    Only the walls of Fukuoka-jō (Fukuoka Castle) remain, but the castle's hilltop site (Maizuru-kōen) provides good panoramas of the city and great views of…

  • Ōhori-kōen Japanese Garden

    Ōhori-kōen Japanese Garden

    Fukuoka

    Set within the expansive grounds of Ōhori-kōen, adjacent to the remains of Fukuoka's once-grand castle, this traditional (though constructed in 1984) 12…

  • Nokonoshima

    Nokonoshima

    Fukuoka

    A 15-minute ferry ride from Fukuoka, pretty Nokonoshima mixes natural and artificial parks. The latter, popular Island Park, has a swimming beach,…

  • Rakusuien

    Rakusuien

    Fukuoka

    This small but pretty garden and teahouse was built by a Meiji-era merchant in 1906 and offers a couple of paths, a rushing waterfall and tea ceremony. In…

  • Shikanoshima

    Shikanoshima

    Fukuoka

    Delightfully rural, this island has fresh-seafood restaurants that line the harbour-side streets. Ferries depart hourly (¥670, 33 minutes) from Bayside…

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