Enjoy Summer in Fukuoka with These Recommended Spots!
Summer is finally here, and we want to help make it as memorable as possible! Fukuoka is home to plenty of places where you can enjoy nature, summer festivals, and places to cool off. To make your visit as fulfilling as possible, here are some of the best spots in the city!
Table of Contents
・Enjoy the great outdoors
・Fun at the summer festival
・Cool off at Fukuoka’s Japanese gardens
・Beat the heat in the city’s museums
・Go yatai hopping at night!
1.Spots where you can enjoy the great outdoors
Fukuoka is conveniently situated close to both mountains and sea, making it easy to plan natural outings. Enjoy the gentle sea breeze at Shikanoshima and Nokonoshima islands or set up camp at ABURAYAMA FUKUOKA to refresh both body and spirit!
ABURAYAMA FUKUOKA
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ABURYAMA FUKUOKA opened on Mt. Aburayama in the spring of 2023 and features a wide variety of outdoor activities for guests to enjoy. From the top of the mountain, you can take in a breathtaking view of Fukuoka expanding below, and the cool breeze that runs through the campgrounds makes it the perfect place to recharge.
This year there are plans to set up a large ‘adventure pool’ on the premises.
With restaurants and cafes also available, we can easily recommend ABURYAMA FUKUOKA to everyone.
・Address:
Ranch side: 710-2 Kashihara, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City
Forest side: 855-4, Hibaru, Minami-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:00 - 18:00
・Official website
Shikanoshima Island
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To get to Shikanoshima we recommend taking the ferry from Bayside Place Hakata, a 30-minute boat ride. Summer is the perfect time to travel by boat after all! The island’s roads are perfect for cycling, so we recommend making a loop of the island by bike. Make sure to try the delectable seafood on the island including turban shell rice bowls and other delicacies. The view of The Bay of Hakata from the historical Golden Seal Park is also not to be missed!
・Address: Shikanoshima, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City
・Access: Take the ferry from Hakata Wharf via municipal ferry and get off at Shikanoshima
Nokonoshima Island
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Located in Fukuoka’s western Nishi-ku ward, Nokonoshima is known for its stunning vistas of flowers. From the Meinohama ferry port it takes roughly 10 minutes to get to the island. On the northern face of the island is the 150,000 square meter Nokonoshima Island Park, which is covered in different flowers all year round! The summer is the perfect time to use the beaches, hold a barbecue, and go camping. There is even a small zoo on the island with different animals, making it perfect for a family outing.
・Address: Nokonoshima, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City
・Access: Take the municipal ferry from the Nishi-ku Meinohama Ferry Port for about 10 minutes
>>Official Nokonoshima Island Park website
Umi-no-Nakamichi Seaside Park
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On July 5th (Saturday), one of the largest leisure pools in west Japan, the Sunshine Pool, will open here! Starting with flowing pools there are six unique different pools that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you get tuckered out from swimming, head over to the roofed relaxation spot or beneath a nearby tree to relax.
There is also a day camp spot you can come to empty handed, and even spots for barbecuing, ensuring a day’s worth of fun to be had.
・Address: 18-25 Saitozaki, Oaza, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City
・Park hours:
March 1st ~ October 31st: 9:30 ~ 17:30
November 1st ~ Last day of February: 9:30 ~ 17:00
Pool day park hours: 9:00 ~ 18:30
>>Sunshine pool website
>>Official website
Nogouchi Gorge Nature Trail
To feel the cool breeze of Fukuoka’s forests in summer, there’s no better place than Nogouchi Gorge! The lushly green trail winds about a flowing stream before ending at the Teinotaki Waterfall, for an altogether 40-minute roundtrip hike. This is a popular place to beat the heat!
2. Fun at the summer festival
The Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival is one of Fukuoka’s most famous and has served as the city’s representative summer festival for 770 years. Every year in July the stunning kazariyama floats begin to appear throughout the city, and on the 15th of July it all culminates in oiyama, a vigorous competition between Hakata’s neighborhoods, as they compete to see who can race their float fastest.
Hakata Gion Yamakasa
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If there’s anything that says summer in Fukuoka, it’s Hakata Gion Yamakasa!
This votive ritual has been held at Kushida Shrine from July 1st until July 15th for over 700 years. The alleged origins of the festival reach back to 1241, when a plague had broken out in Hakata. The founder of Jotenji Temple, Seiichi Kokushi, was rushed about on top of an offertory rack and sprinkled holy water about the town to pray for the plague’s dispersal, which evolved into the tradition of carrying floats about the neighborhood (this is just one of many theories however).
The more tranquil viewing of the enormous kazariyama is contrasted by the fierce and lively scenery of the kakiyamakasa, which involves large floats being raced throughout the city. The rushing pace of the yamakasa and manly voices of the bearers of the floats makes this one of the most unique and fascinating festivals in Fukuoka. Not only locals, but plenty of visitors from outside of the city also make their way to Fukuoka just to catch a glimpse!
Hakata Gion Yamakasa Schedule
Unveiling of the stationary kazariyama floats: from July 1st until July 15th, 00:00
Oshioitori by the district in charge: Evening of July 1st
Oshioitori all other districts: Evening of July 9th
Nagaregaki: Evening of July 10th
Asayamakasa: Early morning of July 11th
Tanagaregaki: Evening of July 11th
Oiyamakasa Narashi: July 12th from 15:59
Shudan Yamamise: July 13th from 15:30
Nagaregaki: Evening of July 14th
Oiyama (main race): July 15th from 4:59 in the morning.
>>Hakata Gion Yamakasa official website
3. Cool off at Fukuoka’s Japanese garden
Why not forget the heat of summer amidst the tranquility of a traditional Japanese-style garden? Walking around these little oases of green is highly relaxing and provides some solace from the hot weather. Take a breather from it all while gazing out at these beautiful vistas!
Yusentei Park
Historically, Yusentei is the first garden to feature a path around a central pond in Fukuoka City.
Approximately 10,000 square meters in area, the park features vegetation that reflects all four seasons, and delicately showcases the elegant essential beauty of Japanese garden design. Once you’ve had your fill of walking about the premises, you can head over to the large main hall that faces onto the pond and purchase a cup of matcha for a moment of sublime relaxation.
・Address: 1-46, Yusentei, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00
Official site
Located in the Josui area to the south of the main downtown area of Tenjin, Shofuen is beloved as a place where one can appreciate the typical characteristics of Japanese gardens. The garden was once the site of the former residence of department store Fukuoka Tamaya’s founder Tanaka Maruzen Hachio, now repurposed as a place for the general public. The much beloved tearoom has been preserved in virtually the same condition as when he used it. It’s the perfect retreat for hot summer days.
・Address: 3-28, Hirao, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00
Ohori Park Japanese Garden
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Directly adjacent to Ohori Park, the Ohori Park Japanese Garden covers an area of 12,000 square meters and forms an excellent complement to the main park. Built in the hill-and-pond gardening style. it incorporates both traditional and modern gardening techniques. There are over 40 species and roughly 25,000 individual plants in the garden, allowing visitors to enjoy lush greenery right in the middle of the city.
・Address: 2-7, Ohori Park, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours:
From May to September: 9:00 ~ 18:00 (Last entry is at 17:45)
From October to April: 9:00 ~ 17:00 (Last entry is at 16:45)
Rakusuien
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A Japanese-style garden located in Sumiyoshi Shrine in the city’s Hakata ward. This beautiful Japanese garden was created by renovating a villa built by a Hakata merchant during the Meiji period into a tea ceremony building and restoring the tea room of that time, “Rakusuian.” Its location and surrounding nature allow one to enjoy the gentle scent of the seasonal greenery and pond that waft throughout the premises.
・Address: 2-10-7, Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
・Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00
4. Beat the heat in the city’s museums
When it comes to beating the heat, what better way to do so than indoors? By visiting the city’s museums you’ll not only be able to cool off, but also learn about the history of Fukuoka and gaze at beautiful artwork while you’re at it.
Fukuoka Art Museum
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A museum truly deserving of its status as a city-level art museum, the Fukuoka Art Museum is conveniently located close to the center of Fukuoka, and features a unique modern design conceived by famed Japanese architect Maegawa Kunio.
Home to 16,000 pieces of art, the spacious layout makes the museum easy and pleasant to navigate. While the art is certainly the main attraction, the building is enjoyable in its own right.
・Address: 1-6, Ohori Park, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:30 ~ 17:30
However, from July to October, hours are changed to 9:30 ~ 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
・Holidays: Mondays/End of year holidays
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
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An art museum where you can encounter art from all around Asia! Cutting edge exhibits and a comfortable interior make this the perfect place to cool off on hot summer days.
With a collection of over 5,000 pieces, 23 different Asian countries are represented in a diverse display of the art and culture of those regions. It’s the perfect place to do a bit of multicultural learning.
・Address: 7F and 8F of the Riverain Center Building, 3-1 Shimokawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:30 ~ 18:00 (Friday・Saturday until 20:00)
・Holidays: Wednesdays・December 26th ~ January 1st (If Wednesday coincides with a holiday the museum remains open on that day, with the holiday falling on the following normal weekday)
Fukuoka City Museum
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▲photo: Fukuoka City Museum
For those seeking to learn more about the history and culture of Fukuoka City, check out the Fukuoka City Museum!
From ancient archaeological artifacts to more modern items, there is plenty to see and learn from at the city museum. The famed Golden Seal is available as part of a permanent installation. Also known as the King of Na Gold Seal, this object has the unique distinction of being the first mention of Japan as a nation, making it an incredibly important object in Japanese history, and proof of the region’s diplomatic importance in the past.
・Address: 3-1-1, Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City
・Hours: 9:30 ~ 17:30 (last entry at 17:00)
・Holidays: Monday・December 28th until January 5th (If Monday coincides with a holiday the museum remains open on that day, with the holiday falling on the following normal weekday)
>>官方網站
teamLab Forest Fukuoka - SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd.
teamLab (Rapidly Rotating Bouncing Spheres in the Caterpillar House) ©teamLab
teamLab (Graffiti Nature in a Beating Valley - Symbiotic Lives, A Whole Year per Year, Red List) ©teamLab
Experience a world of mysterious lights and sounds at teamLab Forest - SBI SECURITIES Co., Ltd. Interactive exhibits created out cutting edge technology allow you to become part of the art itself! Full of photo-worthy spots, you’ll be taking out your phone to snap the perfect picture before you know it. Suited for both children and adults!
・Address: BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA 5F, 2-2-6 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
・Hours:
Weekdays: 11:00 ~ 19:00
Weekends and Holidays: 10:00 ~ 19:00
5. Go yatai hopping at night!
At night, yatai, or portable food stalls, begin to pop up on curbs and streets throughout the city, bringing smiling faces and delicious scents with them. A spot of conversation with complete strangers and a bite of delectable cuisine are the perfect way to enjoy your night out in summer. Get your fill of food and warm local vibes at the yatai!
