Wandering about the venerable shrines and temples that line the streets and purveying the stores that throng busy shopping arcades, travelers can feel the city’s love for festivals in the air. The area is an ever evolving mosaic of both modern charm and stately traditional beauty.

Hakata, ever changing, awaits both your discovery and rediscovery. Let’s check it out!

On March 27th, 2023 the subway Nanakuma Line was extended, with the new Kushida Shrine station connecting the Hakata and Tenjin Minami stations (a distance of 1.4 km).

The design of the station logo incorporates elements of both the shrine’s Gingko tree leaf as well as the rope used by participants in the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival which has deep affinities with the shrine. The station’s positioning underground places it between the Nakasu Kawabata area as well as Hakata station area, making its practicality second to none. In addition, its location makes it just a hop and a skip away from the Canal City Hakata shopping center.

The flooring of the ticket gates and the boarding platforms both are modeled after the stone-paved approach to Kushida Shrine itself, and on the first floor concourse area there is a stirring depiction of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival on the wall. Add to this the tasteful use of wood in the station design and the many traditional Hakata handicrafts that are on display, this space possesses a sense of warm nostalgia.

Kushida Shrine Station

Address: Gion-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-715-7800
URL: https://subway.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/eki/stations/kushida.php

Known affectionately as [O-Kushida-san] by the Hakata locals, this shrine is said to have been built in the year 757, has the longest history of all the area’s patron deities.

The current main hall was erected in year 1587 by shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a donation and concurrent with reconstruction efforts in the Hakata area. With the enshrined deities Amaterasu-no-Mikoto (the Grand Shrine), Oobanushi-no-Mikoto (Kushida Shrine) and Susanoo-no-Mikoto (Gion Shrine), the shrine is a deeply revered place of religious significance said to possess the power to stave off old age and to promote success in business. Due to this long history, Hakata natives often consider Kushida Shrine to be the nucleus of Hakata’s folk practices and traditions.

As the shrine is also where the Summer festival “Hakata Gion Yamakasa” is dedicated, within the shrine grounds there is a year round (excluding June) stunning 13 meter tall kazariyama float installation.

Kushida Shrine

Address: 1-41 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-291-2951
Opening hours：Main Shrine 4:00-22:00 Reception of red seals 9:00-17:00
Closed: No holidays
URL: https://www.hakatayamakasa.com/61866.html

Wrapped in the plump mochi, a delectable yellow anko bean paste… The fluffy and mellow flavor of the famous [Tsuru-no-Ko] confection has been a mainstay in the Hakata area since the opening of this store in 1905. Ishimura Manseido is located right next to the finish line for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa race, so in July of 2021 the store was renovated with a new philosophy: “To communicate Hakata’s culture with sweets, and to help contribute to the new and lively city atmosphere”.

In order to capture the local Hakata vibe, the store was built so that customers could view the Oiyama timekeeping station used during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival year round, and in the part of the store known as the [Mujaki na Ma], there is plenty of memorabilia and history related to both the store and Hakata around it for you to peruse.

In the store’s workshop area the store provides you the opportunity to watch the artisans make the Tsuru-noko-noko candy (750 yen) and then buy them as they are made. The fluffy and plump texture of the fresh marshmallow is irresistible and limited to this flagship store.

Ishimura Manseido Head Office

Address: 2-1 Suzaki-machi Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-291-1592
Business hours: 10:00-19:00
Closed: 3rd Wednesday of the month
URL: https://www.ishimura.co.jp/honten/

Hotel Torifito provides guests with 3 distinct types of rooms that are designed to showcase different aspects of Hakata.

The {Yamakasa x Kaze} rooms feature photos taken by the sole official photographer of the Yamakasa festival, with the active nature of the races interweaving with the tranquility of the ceremonies performed in the shrine to create an atmosphere unique to Hakata. The [Hakata-ori x Sakura] rooms combines the refinement of the Hakata-ori textile with the traditional scenery of blooming cherry blossoms in a modern arrangement, giving off of an aura of Japanese hospitality. Finally, the [Hakata Magemono x Wakaba] room allows light to gently filter into the room, providing guests a place to heal, refresh, and become eager to tackle the day ahead of them.

As for the dining options, items are arranged buffet-style with the food leaning into Hakata’s reputation as a “Culinary Metropolis”. Over 70 meals and dessert options are available for you to choose from, with many represent the various famous foods in Kyushu’s prefectures. That’s not to mention the opportunity to eat using Kyushu’s special ceramicware. Once you’re done eating and would like to relax, we then recommend that you head on over to the popular in-house public bath, which has a painting display created by a bathhouse painter, said to be one of only 3 in Japan.

NOTE: The menu availability may change based on the seasonality of ingredients.

Hotel Torifito Hakata Gion

Address: 8-24 Reisen-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-283-7060
URL: https://torifito.jp/hakatagion/

In Japanese culture, “mizuhiki” refers to the string that is used to decorate giftwrapping, envelopes, and Japanese New Year ornaments and based on its color or manner of tying is often said to have the power to purify and repel evil. Among the modern mizuhiki makers, Hakata Mizuhiki is attracting attention for its philosophy of creating mizuhiki that ties people together, with their eye-catching combination of traditional designs with modern touches becoming the main star of any gift.

In the modern storefront which sits in the Hakata Old Town, mizuhiki for daily use such as ribbons meant to garnish wine and bottles of Japanese sake, chopstick holders, and straps are arranged alongside larger and bolder creations meant to accentuate and lend a sense of presence to the interior of a room. They could make for the perfect souvenir or present to those at home.

Hakata Mizuhiki - Nagasawa Yuino Shop

Address: 13-231 Kamigofukumachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-271-0813
Business hours: 10:00-18:00, Sundays and holidays - 17:00
Closed: Monday
URL: https://www.instagram.com/hakatamizuhiki/?utm_medium

Next to Canal City there is a unique flower and bonsai shop. In this store you can enjoy gazing upon unique bonsai and flower arrangements all while enjoying a drink at the café and bar.

The bonsai and flowers that are on display are available for purchase, but the store is also able to take requests to make new and original arrangements for you. There is even a bonsai and flower arrangement class for those interested!

At the café and bar, you can expect to find an original blend coffee (600 yen) as well as tea sourced from Tsuwano in Shimane prefecture known as Zara tea in their non-caffeinated and organic Bon(sai) tea (450 yen), a Yame Matcha affogato (800 yen), and their homemade 1 year plum wines that marinated in spirits such as brandy, white liquor, and whisky (1100 yen).

Scapes (Flower & Bonsai Café & Bar)

Address: 2-15-4 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-282-0878
Business hours: 11:00 - 24:00, on Sundays until 20:00
Closed: Not set
URL: https://www.instagram.com/__scapes__/

This café is a unique complex of interior design, DIY, and hamburgers produced by Tomoyasu Seisakusho (headquartered in Osaka), which develops diversified businesses including interior and exterior design sales under the unifying slogan "Playing with Life”.

In the first floor of the retro building in Reisen-machi where the store is located you will find stylish furnishings, tile seals, wallpaper, paint, iron parts, and different sorts of curtains on display. If any of these catch your fancy you can even purchase them!

Once you’ve worked up an appetite head over to the café space where you will then find a wide variety of expertly crafted hamburgers. On the menu there are plenty of bites to choose from, including vegan options and chopped salad bowls, smoothies, baked sweets, coffee and even craft beer and alcoholic options. There is also a terrace space perfect for those wanting to take a little break. For those on the go there is even a take-out menu!

Tomoyasu Seisakusho and Hamburgers

Address: 101 Marujin Building, 8-17 Reisen-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092 273 0120
Business hours: 11:00-22:00, Sundays - 20:00 [take-out] 11:00-21:30, Sundays - 19:30
Closed: 1st Monday of the month
URL: https://tomoyasucafe.com/hakata/

Roughly one minute away from the Kushida Shrine station exit, this new hotel opened on April 12th, 2023.

The hotel was developed in line with the concept “Your home away from home”, a hotel where you can make new discoveries and feel a sense of excitement in the air. In line with this concept on the 1st and 2nd floors you will find the community space area in which you can get work done, enjoy a spot of coffee, cultural activities, and even have a few drinks at the standing bar all while interacting with the locals. Visitors and those on business trips can even use the area as a working space or lounge.

Breakfast is buffet style with plenty of local vegetables under the sustainable theme of local production for local consumption. The large public bath with a half-open-air bath is equipped with a powder corner with a full range of amenities. In addition, the guest rooms are equipped with a washer/dryer, microwave oven, and mini-kitchen, and the many different room types, including "triple" and "fourth" rooms, can meet a variety of needs.

Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Hakata Gion Kushida Shrine Station
Address: 6-30 Gion-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
TEL: 092-235-5050
URL: https://nnr-h.com/croom/hakatagion/

*Business hours may be subject to change due to measures against the new coronavirus. Please check each store's website or SNS.
*Prices are subject to change without notice*.