Fukuoka Itinerary: Ohori Park Area

1 Days

In the Ohori Park area, you will be able to enjoy history, culture, the arts, and places for relaxation that can only be found in Fukuoka. This beautiful and historic park, located a mere two-station ride from Tenjin that takes only four minutes, was once used as a moat for Fukuoka Castle. There are many recommended sightseeing spots nearby, including the Fukuoka Art Museum and Japanese gardens. This course covers the Ohori Park area, beloved by local residents as an urban oasis.

Access From Narita

  1. Day 1

      1. Fukuoka Airport → [15 Minutes By Train] → Ohori Park

      1Ohori Park

      Ohori Park is set up around the old ditch of Fukuoka Castle ruins. Adjoining it is another park called Maizuru Park that is always decorated with seasonal flowers. These two parks provide an urban oasis for the surrounding area, where people can enjoy green and water. This is a perfect area for you to feel the seasons of Fukuoka.

      1. Ohori Park → [By Foot] → Ohori Park Japanese Garden

      2Ohori Park Japanese Garden

      The Ohori Koen Japanese Garden is a beautiful oasis adjacent to the Ohori Park. Focusing on traditional beauty that makes this a truly Japanese garden, modern features are added to this wonderful combination of mountain, forestry, and waters. The man-made mountain is the perfect place to relax with the waters flowing around the large lake, the rock garden, and many tea rooms with outdoor gardens. From the dark green summer, to the red maple autumn, to the winter pines, you will enjoy all four seasons here.

      1. Ohori Park Japanese Garden → [By Foot] → Fukuoka City Art Museum

      3Fukuoka City Art Museum

      Take a stroll around Ohori Park and drop in at this museum to enjoy art. The Fukuoka City Art Museum is a simple but elegant house designed by Maekawa Kunio. Not only are the pieces of world-famous artists such as Milo, Dali and Chagall but also of Kyushu-born artists such as Shigeru Aoki, Seiji Togo and Hanjiro Sakamoto are displayed here. The museum also collects Asian antiques, important cultural assets including tea utensils and Buddhist art and they are all worth seeing!

      *Fukuoka City Art Museum will be closed from September 1st, 2016 to March, 2019 due to the renovation work.

      1. Fukuoka City Art Museum → [By Foot] → Fukuoka Castle Ruins

      4Fukuoka Castle Ruins

      Kuroda Nagamasa, the first lord of Fukuoka province, started constructing Fukuoka castle in 1601 and took 7 years to finish. The castle was a flat-land type and had around 50 observatory towers of various sizes. Among them, Tamon-yagura (designated as an important cultural property), Shiomi-yagura, Otemon, Kinen-yagura, Najima-mon are conserved today. The Wild Cyperus ohwii Kukenth is designated as a natural treasure by the prefectural government and grow in the moats around the castle ruin. There is also a tablet of Manyo poems on the castle site. The castle ruins are designated as a national historic site and it is also called “Maizuru-jo (castle)”.

      1. Fukuoka Castle Ruins → [5 Minutes By Foot] → Fukuoka Jo Mukashi Tanbo Kan

      5Fukuoka Jo Mukashi Tanbo Kan (Fukuoka Castle History Exploration Hall)

      Fukuoka Jo Mukashi Tanbo Kan (Fukuoka Castle History Exploration Hall) opened on the site of Fukuoka Castle Ruins in April, 2012. It introduces the attractive history of Fukuoka Castle which was constructed by Kuroda Josui and his son Nagamasa.

      Time-Space Virtual Movie represents the old Fukuoka Castle with computer graphics! The dynamic and realistic movie amazingly represents the stately and valiant image of Fukuoka Castle. In the movie is seen the main keep tower of Fukuoka Castle, much of which is still shrouded in mystery. Here you can stroll around the castle feeling the crossover of the old days and the present. There is a variety of castle sightseeing tour around the facility. Please check the website for further details.

      1. Fukuoka Jo Mukashi Tanbo Kan → [3 Minutes By Foot] → Korokan Historical Museum

      6Korokan Historical Museum

      “Korokan” was one of the ancient guest houses for foreign diplomats, built in Heian period (794-1185). The guest houses of the time were set up in three locations; Heiankyo (Kyoto), Namba (Osaka) and Chikushi (Fukuoka). Among them, “Korokan” of Chikushi, whose ruins today remain in in Chuo-ward, Fukuoka City, is the only one whose original location has been identified. It is said that the house had ushered the imperial embassies and missions from China (Shilla) for about 400 years from the end of 7th century to 11th.The museum exhibits remains of the building and trading items of the time. There is also a panel display of the ancient history of diplomacy.