This time we will be providing a sample itinerary for the charming Kitazaki and Futamigaura region. With its rich, unspoiled nature, there is ample opportunity to get away from the clamor of the big city. 

9:38 - Hakata Bus Terminal

No transfer necessary! [West Coast Liner]

To begin, we will first be assembling at the Hakata Bus Terminal, where our ride to the Kitazaki and Futamigaura area will set off from. There are many options for getting to Itoshima, but the [Itoshima Peninsula 1-day Free Pass] provided by Showa Bus allows riders unlimited use of the buses in Itoshima (including the highway bus that takes riders there from Hakata). Getting to your destination from Hakata or Tenjin is a breeze!

It takes the West Coast Liner roughly 60 minutes to arrive in Itoshima, and during that time you can take in the excellent views of the coastline as the bus makes its way to its destination. 

*More information on the West Coast Liner service can be found here.*
 

Bus Ride Duration – 60 minutes

10:37 Itoshima Pensinula Kitazaki Farmnic

Learn about sustainable farming practices and try harvesting crops!

The first spot on our tour of the area is [Itoshima Peninsula Kitazaki Farmnic] sustainable agricultural activity spot. As it is close to the Fukuoka City Sea Fishing Park as well as the Karatomari Ebisu Oyster Hut there’s an atmosphere that calls to mind not only farmland, but the fresh catch of the sea as well. The farm makes their own fertilizer from used coffee beans as well as other plant waste, and guests can come and try harvesting some of the vegetables here in this farm located next to the sea. 

With their farming methods the soil is soft and fertile, and there are usually 10-20 different seasonal crops growing at any given time. If you take a bite of one of their vegetables the juiciness might cause you to pause for a moment, the interplay of sweet and bitter flavors and the lingering taste of sea water remaining on your tongue. At [Itoshima Peninsula Kitazaki Farmnic] you can experience the joy of the harvest directly. 

Information on Kitazaki Farmnic Tour here
Information on Rural Walk here

*A Small Aside* Itoshima Beach Cycle

If you’re going to be getting around the Kitazaki area we recommend renting a bike to get around. At [Itoshima Beach Cycle] one can rent a stylish [Beach Cruiser] bike that is popular with Californian surfers. By riding a bicycle instead of taking the bus, you can experience the nature of Itoshima in a wholly different way. 

Information on Beach Cycle here

Bus Ride Duration – 5 minutes

13:00 MOON MOON MOON Café 

[Itoshima x Taiwan] a café with a resort feel!

Our second stop and lunch stop is [MOON MOON MOON Café], located close to the Obaru Swimming Beaches. The interior of the store is charming, made to resemble a beach resort in Taiwan, and the expansive windows frame the deep blue of the nearby sea, creating a lasting impression. With a desire to showcase the quality of local produce, their menu makes ample use of ingredients grown in Itoshima and on Kyushu, their thoroughgoing meticulousness extending even to the condiments they use. Pork sourced from Itoshima features in their [Black Pepper Mochi] and in their [Braised Pork Rice], and lemons from the area are used to make their popular [Itoshima Lemon Tea Soda]. Their menu also includes plenty of Taiwanese sweets, making it easy to lose track of time watching the waves as you enjoy your dessert.

Bus Ride Duration – 13 minutes

16:15 PALM BEACH THE GARDENS & HEY&Ho.

A unique general store and other popular specialty stores

Getting to our next destination takes a little over 10 minutes by bus. [HEY&Ho.], our next destination, is one of several stores close to Futamigaura that form the resort mall [PALM BEACH THE GARDENS]. The well-known Hasami-ware ceramic producer [Maruhiro] opened the store as a sister location in 2015. There are a wide variety of ceramic products on display, from simple and modern designs to more eccentric shapes, and some thematic pieces that are meant to serve as wake-up calls to the environmental problems we now face. Popular Fukuoka based illustrator NONCHELEE sells art goods here, with there being something for everybody to enjoy on offer. Normally Hasami-ware is hard to find outside of Nagasaki, so we definitely recommend paying this store a visit if you’re curious to find out more about Japanese crafts. 

Walking Duration – 4 minutes

17:00 Itoshima Sabo (Itoshima Teahouse) 

Take a breather as you wait for the sunset!

Located four minutes away by foot from [PALM BEACH GARDENS]. Here, you head to the [Itoshima Sabo], or Itoshima Teahouse, which features a spectacular view of the sea. The sister location to the popular [Shirogane Sabo] located in Fukuoka City’s Chuo ward, the interior is spacious, with the nice breeze running through the first floor terrace seating and the excellent view of the sea from the second floor helping you to decompress after a day filled with activities. 

Now, while it is a bit early, since there’s time before the sunset we decided to help ourselves to dinner. We recommend the local specialty: the [Nishiura Mentaiko Pasta] which is a pasta dish that uses their “Evening Glow Mentaiko” that is made in the nearby Nishiura Fishing Harbor without the use of artificial coloring. If you aren’t in the mood for dinner, the pancakes made with Fukuoka sourced wheat are a delicious treat, and beyond that a great deal of the food here is made with ingredients from the prefecture. With that, enjoy your meal, and relax until the sunset. 

Walking Duration – 5 minutes

18:30 Futamigaura Beach

Witness the beautiful evening sun as it sets beneath the waves

Finally, we conclude this trip to the Itoshima Peninsula with a visit to the famous [Futamigaura], located conveniently just in front of Itoshima Sabo. Selected as both one of [Japan’s 100 Best Seasides] and [Japan’s 100 Best Sunsets], Futamigaura is a place where you can enjoy the setting of the sun in a beautiful setting. In the middle of the bay sits what are considered to be the symbols of Futamigaura: the white tori gates and the two wedded rocks, or [Meotoiwa]. During the period of the summer solstice, the view of the sun setting in between the Meotoiwa is spectacular, and visitors regularly flock here to catch a view of the mystical sight. The ephemeral beauty of the scenery makes it a popular spot for couples. 

In Summary

In this edition we introduced the charming nature and atmosphere of the Itoshima Peninsula’s Kitazaki and Futamigaura area. Moving about in the verdant nature and gazing out upon the blue waters and listening to the waves crash down upon the beach will hopefully refresh you in both mind and body. We hope that some of the ways we provided in this article will give you inspiration for your very own Itoshima outing.