Hakata Shore Excursion: Customized Car Tour, Licensed Guide

oday, it is mainly the ruins of stone walls, moat and gates. However, the panoramic view of Fukuoka city from Fukusaki Hill is pretty amazing. The best time to visit in order to admire the full beauty of the castle ruins is during the Sakura Festival.

counterpart in Osaka, dedicated to the protective divinities of seafarers, the last of a series of such shrines sailors would visit before heading out to sea. Particularly impressive is the Main Hall, rebuilt in its current classical style in 1623, along with a number of important national treasures, most notably an ancient sword and a copper axe, along with old manuscripts and documents dating back to the Middle Ages. From the shrine, which is surrounded by a large grove of Japanese cedars and camphor trees, are fine views over the River Naka. Be sure to allow plenty of time to also explore the adjacent Sumiyoshi Park.

n interactive museum where you can learn about Kyushu’s history while having fun at the different exhibitions. You can dress up in traditional costumes of the different countries that Japan had international relations with in the olden days, as well as play various traditional games and instruments while learning about them. The Kyushu National Museum is a fantastic place for families, especially those with children, to visit!

was founded in AD 757 and contains many unique features, including exquisite carvings of the Chinese zodiac and a gingko tree said to be more than 1,000 years old. The shrine is also famous for hosting the Hakata Gion Yamakasa each July, a spectacular two-week festival focusing on prayers for good health and prosperity that includes an elaborate race involving teams carrying heavy wooden floats from the temple to various locations around the city.

It is dedicated to a famous monk called Kobo-Daishi (Kukai 空海). This is one of the oldest temples in Japan that Kobo-Daishi set up.

Yatai can generally seat about seven or eight people and provide an atmospheric outdoor environment to enjoy various foods that are generally simple and filling. There are dozens of yatai scattered across Fukuoka, but the best place to find them is on the southern end of Nakasu Island. Located in the middle of the city, Nakasu Island has a long row of around 20 yatai that are attractively situated along the water.

ng, family oriented public park located on a narrow peninsula across the bay from central Fukuoka. The park is made up of several different areas including flower gardens, playgrounds, an amusement park with ferris wheel, sports fields, a water park, a zoo and large open spaces and lawns perfect for picnicking.

There is a walking path around the circumference of the pond that is just a little over two kilometers long and is popular for jogging, walking pets and leisurely strolls by the water. Ohori is Japanese for moat, and the pond at the center of the park once served as part of the moat system of the neighboring Fukuoka Castle. The park was constructed between 1926 and 1929 and designed after the classical garden style of the West Lake in China. There are three islands in the middle of the pond that are connected to the mainland and each other by elegant stone bridges.

It was founded in 1195 by the priest Eisai, who introduced the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism from China into Japan. Although the temple buildings cannot be entered, visitors can walk through Shofukuji's attractive temple grounds and observe the buildings from outside. Before Zen's introduction to Japan, Buddhism has already had a long history in Japan dating back to the 500s. The new teachings of Zen, which Eisai amassed during his travels in China, promoted meditation and discipline as the means to enlightenment and became very popular with the samurai class, which was exerting political power through the shogunate government based in Kamakura.

The area was originally developed as the site of the 1989 Asia Pacific Expo and was designed with attractive, modern features such as wide, tree lined streets, futuristic buildings, public parks and no phone or electricity lines above ground.

Attractions include about 250 shops, cafes and restaurants, a theater, game center, cinemas, two hotels and a canal running through the complex. Visitors, who are planning on shopping, will likely be able to find something of interest in one of Canal City's many stores, whether it be in a shop unique to Japan or a branch of an international company. There is also a wide variety of restaurants, offering Japanese and international food, that generally have reasonably priced menus. The fifth floor consists of the "Ramen Stadium", which has eight ramen shops with noodle dishes from across Japan, including the local specialty Hakata Ramen.

The park is made up of a beautiful garden which is built in the traditional style as well as an ornate pond and this is a great place to come if you want to get out of the crush of the city. You can also see a slice of Fukuoka as it would have been in the days of old.

The original was destroyed when it was set on fire during the Mongolian invasion of Fukuoka in 1274 but it was then rebuilt and has been standing in this spot ever since. Some of the sights to look out for here include a stone anchor that would have been used by Mongolian ships and a statue of Nichiren, a prominent Buddhist scholar in Fukuoka who foresaw the Mongolian invasion.

The tower soars to a height of some 234 meters and from here you can look out over the glittering city below. One of the good things about the tower is that it is lit up at night and it is also one of the national symbols of the city, so it is well worth a visit when you are in town. Another highlight here is the fact that the tower has a restaurant at the top so you can have lunch or dinner and enjoy the views below.

The nature-rich city is best known for its amazing sunset at the Sakurai Futamigaura area. A Meotoiwa - Two stacks of rocks symbolising husband and wife - is located offshore from Sakurai Futamigaura, which provides a great touch to the amazing sunset. Apart from that, a huge Torii gate (Torii gates serve as a boundary between God and humans) is also located along the coast, which photographers will definitely love.

At the Dazaifu Government Remains, you will be able to witness the former governmental grounds where buildings used to stand. Located near the Dazaifu Government Remains is a museum where you can learn more about Fukuoka’s history, and this is a great place for Japanese history lovers to explore.

The shrine is located on a hillside which means that you can also take in sweeping vistas from here all over the city and across to Hakata Bay and you will also be able to see the nesting storks for which this area is famous. As you approach the shrine you can take in the torii gate which welcomes you and then walk up the stairs to get to the main shrine area. This shrine is a little off the beaten track compared to other sites in the city but it is more than worth the effort to get here for the views and a glimpse of some of the religious history of the city.

ze people - the sakura flowers in spring are especially beautiful. *The Yanagawa river rafting is not included in the tour

hmongers line the market which sells fresh products. There are also shops selling fruits and tofu, as well as cafés and bakery where you can purchase finger food while exploring the market. You can also step into the restaurants to enjoy a fantastic seafood Donburi (a type of Japanese rice bowl dish) which includes ingredients such as fresh squids and salmon sashimi.

s most visited (and most important) Buddhist shrines, attracting more than a million pilgrims and visitors annually. The big draw here is undoubtedly the massive bronze statue of the Reclining Buddha, erected in 1995 and said to be the largest bronze statue in the world (if the statue of Liberty in New York were laid down beside it, the Buddha would be longer). As interesting as the temple and statue is the pleasant walk to the site along a shady hillside trail from the quaint village of Sasaguri, a route that is clearly marked and notable for its many smaller statues of Buddha, as well as its picturesque streams, bridges, and gardens. Also worth a visit is the famous wooden Buddha at Tōchō-ji, the oldest Shingon temple in Kyushu (it was founded in AD 806).

a, where visitors can experience the traditional lifestyle and history of the local area. The museum is set in restored machiya townhouses, offering an authentic glimpse into everyday life in old Hakata. Exhibits introduce local crafts, household tools, and seasonal customs, as well as the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival. Visitors can also watch traditional craft demonstrations, making the museum an enjoyable and educational stop for those interested in Hakata’s culture and heritage.