Places to visit in Fukuoka

Fukuoka is the largest city on the Japanese island of Kyushu and ranks in the top ten of cities with the highest population throughout the country and because of this there's always something to keep people entertained.

Located to the mainland in Asia the city is nearer to Seoul than it is to Tokyo and as a harbour city it contains important trade links and influences from its history of working with different nationalities. Since 1889 it has been a combination of two different cities as Hakata and the Fukuoka castle town were joined to become just Fukuoka. A reminder of Hakata still remains as a central district and the major railway station are named after the city.

The following list is a run down of the best places to visit on a trip to the city which incorporate a bit of something for everyone whether you're interested in food, culture or even the best place to shop.

Ruins of Fukuoka Castle
Constructed in the early 17th century Fukuoka Castle was made to protect the people while Japan was at war internally and the country was split into independent states. Its construction was ordered by Kuroda Nagamasa of Chikuzen who was the region's first feudal lord.

Today all that remains of the castle is a turret and one gate but what's left still has a presence and as it was built high up on the hill side there are good views over the city. The previous moats of the castle were later put to good use and have been used to build Ohori Park.

Ohori Park
Ohori Park, also known as Ohori Koen, is a great place to escape to if you want tranquillity and the city crowds get a bit too much. It's found in the centre of the city and is close to the Fukuoka Castle ruins so is a good place to visit after a trip there. In the middle of the park is a large pond and a path encircles it that runs for about two kilometres. So if you just want to stroll and take in the surrounding nature or get up for an early morning run this is the ideal place to do it.

Shofukuji Temple
Another important site for anyone that's interested in history and religion as the Zen temple is thought to be the first of its kind in Japan. A priest called Eisai had built the temple after learning about Zen Buddhism in China and had come back to Japan to develop the sect called Rinzai Zen. Originally built in 1195 the beautiful buildings made from wood have had to be rebuilt many times however as fires have destroyed several sections.

Yatai
Not actually a place but the name for the food stalls that are assembled outside, the yatai areas are found all over the city and are a great place to eat. The districts with the widest selection of places to choose from are Tenjin and Nakagawa and here the stalls sell some typical dishes that should definitely be tried. To start with yakitori are chicken skewers that have been grilled and are simply delicious. Afterwards oden is a hot pot which is equally good, or if you want to eat like a local order a bowl of the Hakata Ramen which is thin ramen noodles served in a soup made with pork bone called tonkotsu.

Canal City
This is a huge shopping complex spread over five floors which funnily enough has a canal through the middle and is also home to a host of entertainment. The shops feature the major Japanese and international brands along with a few niche stores and in total there are around 250 shops, restaurants and cafes as well as cinemas, a gaming center and two Fukuoka hotels.

About the Author

Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Fukuoka Hotels content.