A short jaunt from the city proper, Fukuoka’s eastern and western coasts offer amazing opportunities to stroll, cycle, and dive, or relax at a cafe or bar. Enjoy quiet beaches, breathtaking sunsets, local cuisine, and relaxing island escapes, all within easy access from the city.

On the west side, Futamigaura and Imazu are excellent locales for glamping, fishing, or seaside dining, and can be reached by bus, car, or bicycle. West Coast Liner buses go direct from Tenjin and Hakata, and local buses depart from Imajuku Station or Kyudai-gakkentoshi Station in Fukuoka’s Nishi Ward. Shops around these stations and along the west coast also offer bicycle rentals.

Known for the two “wedded rocks” that jut out from the sea and symbolize conjugal bliss, Futamigaura provides a picturesque backdrop for a leisurely coastal excursion. Sakurai Futamigaura is a scenic shoreline locale where the white torii of a nearby shrine frames the wedded rocks.

Wedded rocks, called meoto iwa, have spiritual significance in Shintoism and are usually joined by a heavy rope called a shimenawa, which marks the site as the dwelling of a deity. On the summer solstice, the sun descends in the very center of the Sakurai Futamigaura wedded rocks and creates an unforgettable image. The site is administered by Sakurai Shrine, located just a few minutes away by car, an elegant Shinto place of worship that dates from 1632.

Futamigaura has several seaside restaurants where you can enjoy a pleasant lunch or relaxing dinner. Splendid views of the sunset are part of the charm at Hideout Cafe, which offers hot dogs, seafood rice gratin, and baskets of fries. For a slightly more relaxed dining experience, Itoshima Sabo serves food with locally sourced ingredients and has views of the water.

Heading westward from Fukuoka, you’ll find a number of scenic spots where you can gaze out onto Imazu Bay and Hakata Bay and enjoy the charming coastal panorama while learning about regional history. Atop Mt. Bishamon, an observation deck offers a stunning view of the sea from a height of 177 meters. Elsewhere in Imazu, the Genko Borui fortification is an impressive 2.5-kilometer long stonework that is a legacy of the Kamakura shogunate’s defense preparations against the attempted Mongol invasions of the late thirteenth century.

For fishing enthusiasts, Umizura Park is available year-round for a leisurely day on the pier.
Jackets and fishing equipment can be rented here; between March and October, you can also visit
the “barbecue plaza” where you can enjoy food-included barbecue packages.

Accommodation options on the west coast include Karadomari Village, an expansive glamping
facility featuring a private beach, a complimentary teepee bar for guests, and a Finnish-style tent
sauna. With toilets and hot showers accessible on-site, the campground is the perfect place to
unwind and sleep beneath the stars.

Shikanoshima and Nokonoshima are two islands off the east coast of Fukuoka and are a mustvisit destination for those who love the outdoors. Connected to mainland Kyushu by a sandbank, Shikanoshima is accessible by car, train, bus, and ferry and has plenty of attractions to fill the day. Nokonoshima is known for its beautiful fields of flowers and breathtaking ocean vistas. The island is a ten-minute ride from Meinohama Ferry Terminal in Fukuoka.

With a coastal perimeter of just twelve kilometers, Shikanoshima can be circumnavigated by bicycle in about an hour. The cycling course is suitable for beginners and advanced cyclists and has rest areas with racks, air pumps, and repair tools along the course. You can rent bikes from Shikashima Cycle near the island ferry terminal.

Convenient bike racks around the island allow cyclists to take breaks and enjoy the local sights, beginning with Shikaumi Shrine near the ferry terminal. Located atop a small hill by the coast, the shrine is dedicated to Watatsumi Sanshin, a deity that protects the sea, guarantees the safety of those who traverse it, and brings blessings from the tide.

Another popular spot is Shiomi Park, with a spectacular panorama of Hakata Bay, the sandbank connecting Shikanoshima to the mainland, and downtown Fukuoka visible from atop its observation deck.

For a change of pace, visit Katsuma Beach on the northern tip of the island. This beautiful stretch of shoreline is fringed by pine groves. Alternatively, check out the underwater environment on a diving tour. Dive points include Akase, Kurose, or Shirase, along the eastern coast of Shikanoshima.

Nokonoshima is similar in size to Shikanoshima. One of the main draws here is Nokonoshima Island Park, where different types of flowers color the landscape in gold and pink through the seasons: rapeseed blossoms in the spring, sunflowers in the summer, cosmos in the autumn, and daffodils in the winter. For the full island experience, visitors can stay in one of a limited number of cottages in the park.

Between May and September, you can also stay right on the beach at Nokonoshima Camp Village, a tropical paradise of white sand and palm trees. Popular activities here include barbecues, swimming, banana boats, and beach volleyball.