Top 10 Tourist Attractions & Best Things to Do in Hakata, Fukuoka

Hakata is an especially popular sightseeing holiday destination in Kyushu. If you come to Hakata in the Fukuoka city, you don’t want to miss any nice places to enjoy, do you? Here we go.

1. Umi-no-nakamichi-kaihin Park

photo by debbiemoktzyo   /   embedded from Instagram

You can see a lot of species of fish, starting with the powerful dolphin and the sea-lion’s show at the Umin-no-nakamichi-kaihin park aquarium.

Hakata is close to the sea which has the Tsushima warm current, so there is the exhibition hall which shows the environment of the Japan Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk which also has the Tsushima warm current.

You can also observe the land animals and the sight of flowers spreading out wide. If you are active, you can enjoy some sports and if you are food lover, you can enjoy BBQ in the park. Strolling on the path in the flower-bed sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

2. Fukuoka Tower

The Fukuoka Tower which is famous as a land mark tower has a stimulating appearance with half-mirrors. From the 123m tall observation deck, you can see clear across the Hakata Bay and the suburbs of the Floating Land. The view of Hakata is spectacular.

As the Tower is open even at night, please enjoy not only the beautiful view during the daytime but also the twinkling night view of Hakata as well. It is just the right place for young couples and married couples. It is the tallest seaside tower in Japan.

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3. Ohori Park

The Ohori Park is located in the center of the Fukuoka city. The Park was created around the huge pond which used to be the outer moat of the Fukuoka Castle. It has an outstanding Japanese garden and more than 3,000 azaleas. You can enjoy the very beautiful tranquil Japanese scenery.

The circumference of the pond is 2km and people enjoy strolling around on the promenade surrounded by the close nature. You can also enjoy the Noh-theater and the Art Museum.

At this pond, you can see unusual wild birds and you can enjoy yourself by rowing a boat. During the busy sightseeing in a big city, this place will give you a very relaxing precious time.

4. Marizon

Marizon is in the beautiful sea of Hakata. The romantic houses which appear in the fairy-world are very popular. The white sandy beach which spreads in front of you and the beautiful coastal line of the Hakata Bay are really impressive.

On the area which is protruding into the sea, there are many restaurants and cafes. You can spend a memorable time, having a delicious meal. Of course, visiting there in the daytime is wonderful, but at sunset time, it is highly recommended.

The sinking sun behind the Hakata Bay is truly worth watching. You can have a very romantic moment there! It has a pier for the high-speed boat bound for the Umi-no-nakamichi-kaihin Park.

5. Kushida Shrine

The Kushida Shrine is the local deity in Hakata which has a long history. The famous festival, the Hakata-dontaku and other various festivals are conducted to enshrine the Kushida Shrine.

The Hakataites call it “O-kushida-san” as its nickname and it has been close to the hearts of Hakataites for a long time. It is well-known as the marriage-match-maker, so young couples can’t miss it!

 
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6. Tenjin Underground Shopping Mall

photo by divina_torayachain   /   embedded from Instagram

It is called an underground shopping mall, but it appears as if one whole town is in there. And this shopping mall is on the main street of the town. The locals call it “Tenchika” which means the underground of the Tenjin town. The stone passage gives you the same image as some streets in Europe.

The fashion shops, the miscellaneous shops and gourmet shops are lining up one after another. This place can’t be ignored for shopping in Fukuoka city. Just walking and browsing are still enjoyable. All the buildings in the surroundings are connected to this street. It is very handy to drop in to.

7. Suikyo Tenmangu Shrine

photo by hiroshibrown   /   embedded from Instagram

This Shrine is dedicated to the deity of learning. It is associated with a very intelligent person, Michizane Sugawara. A long time ago, when Michizane was relegated to Dazaifu from Kyoto, he was in despair over his haggered appearance which was reflected in the water.

This Shrine was constructed associated with this story and it was originally called, “Suikyo Tenjin”. Tenjin indicates Michizane Sugawara. Then this neighborhood came to be called “Tenjin”. It is a very vintage shrine.

Michizane Sugawara has been called “a God of learning”. During the entrance examination season, the shrine is bustling with people.

It is the spot where you can learn about central Hakata, Tenjin. Near the Shrine, there is an alley, called “Suikyo Tenmangu Yokocho” where the many less known shops are side by side. You may find your favorite souvenir there.

8. Canal City Hakata

photo by uijinew   /   embedded from Instagram

It is a Canal City which is a representative shopping mall in Hakata. It is just the right place for buying souvenirs as well as eating out.

To your surprise, in the middle of the mall, a Canal is flowing and you can see it down below from the upper floor of the mall. Some events are held all the time, so you can enjoy spending your time there at any time.

Also, as there is a theater and a cinema there, there is no problem even on a rainy day to enjoy yourself. It is a paradise for shopping lovers!

9. Fukuoka City Zoo

photo by tatlanta_   /   embedded from Instagram

This Zoo has been breeding 160 species of lovely animals. In the huge site, they have been growing 1,200 species of plants. The greenhouse in the botanical garden is considered to be No. 1 in Asia. You can’t see the Zoo and the botanical garden just in one day. There is too much!

There are quite a few rare animals and plants and it has been cherished as a precious place. The admission fee is reasonable and the access is good, so it is a highly recommended spot for a family with children. You may increase the names of animals seen on your list.

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10. Marinoa City Fukuoka

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The Marinoa City Fukuoka is located in the Bay-side area and it is the land mark of the area. It has various types of shop and the big Ferris wheel 60m above the sea level.

It consists of the biggest outlet mall in Kyushu, the famous brand shops, the restaurants which offer delicious foods and a lot of amusement facilities in which you can enjoy yourself all day long.

This is the place which both adults and children can enjoy. So, it is highly recommended for families with children as well as couples. Especially for people who love shopping, this can’t be missed! Have you taken a note of the name of the place in your diary? It’s Marinoa City!

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Please enjoy the tourist attractions in Hakata!

What was your impression about the places in Hakata? There are so many interesting spots to visit that you may be excited by just making an itinerary. Many people’s interests tend to go to Yatai(stalls), but actually Hakata offers various attractive spots to get to know. You won’t get bored but will be rather busy visiting many places.