The largest city on southern Japan’s Kyushu Island, Fukuoka is a hub for both business and leisure travelers from across Asia.
By air, it’s closer to Seoul than to Tokyo, and there are frequent flights between Fukuoka and Taipei or Shanghai. But this metropolitan area of more than 5 million that faces Hakata Bay is worth more than a quick stop en route to other Asian capitals. Fukuoka not only has leafy gardens, historic shrines and a unique street food culture, but it’s also a convenient base for day trips around the region.
The city of Fukuoka is divided into two primary districts. The main train station is in Hakata, the historic central core, where the Shinkansen bullet train arrives, whisking you from Tokyo in about five hours or from Osaka in half that time. But for your Fukuoka explorations, head to Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka, which sits across the river in the Tenzin district, three subway stops or a quick cab ride from Hakata Station.
Fukuoka’s Top Attractions
After checking into this luxurious lodging, which occupies floors 18 to 24 of a contemporary tower in the Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City complex, take a short walk to Ohori Park, the city’s green heart. You can get in your morning workout, joining residents along the jogging and cycling paths that circle the pond at the park’s center, or simply enjoy a leisurely stroll. A stop in the small Japanese Garden makes a peaceful pause during your park visit.
Near the Japanese Garden, the Fukuoka Art Museum exhibits a mix of classical and contemporary artworks by Japanese and international artists. You might find sculptures of ancient deities, a colorful piece by contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama or Andy Warhol’s photo of Elvis. When you’re ready to take a break, pop into the museum’s café and second-floor restaurant overlooking the park grounds.
The ruins of Fukuoka Castle, which dates to the early 1600s, are in Maizuru Park, which borders the east side of Ohori Park. Explore what remains of the castle walls or enjoy the views of the city from the surrounding hills. In the spring, the plum and cherry trees here burst into bloom.
On the Hakata side of the river, visit Kushida Shrine, a Shinto place of worship first established in the year 757. Fukuoka’s annual summer festival, Hakata Gion Yamakasa, is held here. But if you’re not coming during the festival season, you can still admire an impressive 40-foot-tall float displayed outside the shrine. A short walk from the shrine, check out the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, which showcases modern and contemporary art from around the continent.
Fukuoka’s Unique Street Food Scene
Fukuoka is known for its yatai, food stalls that pop up every evening along the river and on sidewalks throughout town. These stalls are tiny, typically with fewer than 10 seats, and each specializes in a small menu of dishes to accompany local beer, shochu or other beverages. Fukuoka’s signature tonkotsu (or pork) ramen is an always-popular option, as is “dry ramen,” a noodle stir-fry without the soup. Other local favorites include yakitori (skewers of charcoal-grilled meats), gyoza (pan-fried dumplings) and omelets filled with mentaiko (cod roe).
There’s a cluster of lively yatai on the riverfront on Nakasu, the island that divides the Hakata and Tenzin districts. Look for yatai around the city, too; hotel concierge team members can direct you to their favorites.
Day Trips from Fukuoka
One of the Fukuoka area’s most-visited attractions is Nanzo-in Temple, in the hills east of the city, famous for its 135-foot-long statue of a reclining Buddha. Extending nearly half the length of a football field, this 300-ton landmark is one of the largest bronze pieces in the world. A direct train from Hakata Station will take you to the temple grounds in 30 minutes.
Considered among the most important of Japan’s more than 80,000 Shinto shrines, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine was built on the burial site of Sugawara Michizane, a poet and politician who lived during the 9th century. Many visitors to the shrine, which is dedicated to education, come to pray for academic success. Others partake in walks in the garden amid its 6,000 plum trees. Nearby, the modern Kyushu National Museum can tell you more about the region’s history. You can reach Dazaifu by bus, train or taxi from central Fukuoka in under an hour.
The city of Nagasaki is 90 minutes from Hakata Station by bullet train, close enough for a day trip. Any Nagasaki visit should include the sobering Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, where exhibits detail the lead-up to the United States’ 1945 bombing of the city and the effects of the explosion on Nagasaki’s residents. Take time to listen to survivors’ testimonies and to pause before the harrowing photographs of the destruction.
A short walk from the museum near the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast, Nagasaki Peace Park offers a more uplifting commemoration. Both the park and its central landmark, the 30-foot-tall Peace Statue designed by Nagasaki sculptor Seibo Kitamura, were created to reflect the city’s wish for worldwide peace.
Distinctive Experiences at The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka
The concierge team at The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka, can organize several experiences that give an insider’s look at Fukuoka and its culture. Book an expedition to explore the fields where Yame, a celebrated green tea, originates
Another experience introduces you to Arita porcelain, which has been crafted in Kyushu for hundreds of years. Made in Saga Prefecture, southwest of Fukuoka, Arita pieces feature white surfaces and indigo-blue glazes. You’ll visit Izumiyama Quarry, the source of the stone, and have the chance to commission a one-of-a-kind Arita piece.
Another option is a chef-led tour of the city’s Nagahama Fish Market, the largest commercial fish market in Kyushu. You’ll watch the morning fish auction and select freshly caught seafood to bring back for lunch at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant, Genjyu.
Even if you don’t opt for the fish market tour, book an omakase meal at Genjyu. The chefs here prepare an inventive array of sashimi, sushi and other delicately crafted dishes, and the views over the city from the chef’s counter are especially dramatic at sunset.
