Approximate reading time: 7-10 minutes

Introduction

In the southernmost region of Japan lies Fukuoka, a city often overlooked by tourists coming to visit the country. While Fukuoka may not draw as big a crowd compared to more popular spots like Tokyo or Osaka, its unassuming charm is part of what makes it feel so special. The city has something for everyone with its rich history, access to the sea and mountains, and, for us foodies, we thoroughly enjoyed the street food culture here.

Watch this and explore with us, our first trip just with our baby girl.

Fukuoka is particularly memorable for us as this was our first trip together with our baby girl, Tokyo, just as a family of three! If anything, the more laid-back feel of the city allowed us to be fully present as a family and take in all the sights at our own pace.

Pro-tip: If you’re interested in catching the cherry blossom season in Japan, you might want to consider visiting Fukuoka. We came here towards the end of March and had such a pleasant experience getting around despite coming at a peak travel period. No need to make your way through crowds here just to get a good photo!

If you’re up for a more chill destination or just a different side of Japan, check out our guide to Fukuoka below. We promise that this small city has plenty to offer.

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12 Things to Do in Fukuoka

Explore Ohori Park + Fukuoka Art Museum

Once served as part of the moat system of the neighboring Fukuoka Castle during the Edo period, Ohori Park flaunts a large scenic pond at its center. The spacious public park spans over 80 acres and features beautiful greenery and a peaceful walking path. Ohori Park is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in the spring.

Taking the time to visit a local park has become a staple of ours whenever we come to Japan. Touring around major cities can often times be stressful, so it’s always nice to have a quick break from the hustle and bustle.

Adjacent to Ohori Park is Maizuru Park, where you will be able to see the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. For a small fee, you may also visit the Ohori Park Japanese Garden (250 yen) and Fukuoka Art Museum (200 yen), located on the eastern side of the pond. So you could easily spend a few hours here in Ohori Park!

Fukuoka Japan family travel vlog! - (+ How to travel with a baby)

Ohori Park is a few steps from Ohori Koen Station (10 minutes, 260 yen from Hakata Station).

Take on New Heights at Fukuoka Tower

As the tallest seaside tower in Japan, the Fukuoka Tower is not to be missed. Fukuoka Tower stands on the shore of Hakata Bay, offering 360° panoramic views of the city from above. Its proximity to the sea offers a more cinematic photo op compared to the concrete scene from Shibuya Sky in Tokyo.

It’s highly recommended to come to Fukuoka Tower at sunset as the view of the horizon from the top is phenomenal. Tickets to the observatory deck can be purchased at the door, but if you want to skip the line, you may purchase them in advance.

VISIT FUKUOKA TOWER HERE

The best way to get to Fukuoka Tower is via bus. You may take bus #306 from Hakata Station or bus #302 from Tenjin Station.

Pay a Visit to Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine is regarded by locals as the temple guardian of Fukuoka. Dating back to the 8th century, it is among the city’s oldest and most important Shinto shrines. There is a fountain surrounded by three cranes next to the shrine that, according to legend, grants longevity and eternal youth when drunk from.

If ever you make your trip in July, you might be lucky enough to catch the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, a festival that marks the beginning of summer. Neighborhoods of the Hakata district race each other while carrying decorated 5-meter tall floats along a 5 km course through the city. We highly encourage trying to time your trip with a local festival, especially since festivals are also a big part of our culture back home in the Philippines. It’s such a one-of-a-kind experience, and it’s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a country’s rich heritage!

You may visit Kushida Shrine as part of a guided walking tour, where you’ll also visit the previously mentioned Ohori Park and Fukuoka Tower.

Eat Like the Locals at a Yatai

The beating heart of every city is closely tied to its food scene. While Fukuoka is known for being more laid-back, the city comes alive at night when the yatai food stalls open. These yatai stalls line the banks of the Nakasu River, running as late as 2 am. Imagine enjoying some freshly grilled yakitori and a steaming bowl of ramen, paired with a cold bottle of Asahi beer, right by the water – we can’t picture a more perfect way to cap off your night in the city!

See the blog at Avelovinit’s YouTube channel : Yatai

Seating only 6-8 diners per stall, it’s an intimate dining experience for sure and one that is uniquely Fukuokan. The vendors at these stalls are very friendly, chatting with both of us (and Tokyo) when we went despite the language barrier. It made the warm meal feel all the more homey. It was even Tokyo’s first time trying ramen! So take it from her, she was a big fan.

You can find yatai in other Japanese cities, but Fukuoka has the most, with about 150 clustered in different districts. If you’d like to take in more of Fukuoka’s night scene, you might be interested in a night tour that takes you through Fukuoka Tower, Yatai hopping, and a river cruise.

Slurp on Hakata Ramen

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of ramen in Japan? We’ll take a guess and say that it’s probably Ichiran. It’s usually at the top of everyone’s recommendations when coming to Japan, so why not go to the original branch in Fukuoka where it started? The chain restaurant began in Fukuoka in 1960 as a ramen stall out of the Hakata district.

However, Fukuoka’s history with ramen goes back way further. This was actually the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, or Hakata ramen, invented in 1937. The dish is distinctively known for its milky pork broth, cooked slowly over several hours. Oishi!

With such a lively ramen scene, there is no shortage of high-quality Hakata ramen shops in Fukuoka. Another well-known restaurant is Ippudo, which also originated here in 1985. So should you get turned away by the long line at Ichiran, like we were, have no worry as there are plenty of spots that will satisfy your cravings just the same.

Get Lost (In the Best Way) at Canal City Mall

Canal City Hakata isn’t just a mall—it’s a mini city in itself, complete with a river running through it! Canal City offers entertainment on a different scale with hundreds of shops, a 13-cinema movie theater, an arcade, and two hotels attached to the complex. You’ll probably go in to “just grab a snack” and emerge three hours later, arms full of shopping bags and a happy stomach.

Here, you’ll also find a bunch of stores dedicated to some of Japan’s most popular characters. Take your pick between Studio Ghibli, Sanrio, or the Pokémon Center for your inner child—or actual child, no judgment. Don’t miss the Ramen Stadium on the fifth floor either. It’s a collection of famous ramen shops from across Japan, so you can slurp your way through different regions without leaving the city.

Rainy day in Fukuoka? Canal City Hakata is the perfect shelter where you’ll never run out of things to do. The mall is conveniently located near Kushida Shrine Station, reachable by a short walk

Discover Dazaifu’s Spiritual Side

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Get a Taste of Kyushu’s Winter Specialty

When oyster season hits (typically from fall to spring), Fukuoka locals and seafood lovers flock to the coast of Kyushu for one thing: Oyster Huts, or kaki-goya. Winter in Japan is beautiful but the weather can be brutal for those accustomed to a more tropical climate. So what better excuse to warm up with a good meal? It’s rustic, a little messy, and 100% delicious.

While all of Japan is renowned for good seafood, oyster huts aren’t found in many places beyond Kyushu. These eateries allow you to grill fresh oysters and other seafood, often by the kilogram. There’s something cozy about being oceanside, bundled up in a jacket, and grilling your own seafood. Just make sure to pack an extra coat or you’ll smell like oysters for the rest of your trip!

It’s a bit of a drive outside of Fukuoka and the public buses around the coast don’t come very frequently, so if your itinerary is time sensitive, it’s best to rent a car or book your own private service going there. There are several main areas where the oyster huts are located: Shima-Kishi, Funakoshi, Kafuri, Fukuyoshi, and Karatomari.

Dive into the Deep at Marine World Uminonakamichi

Marine World is an underwater adventure without the need for scuba gear. Located near the beach, this aquarium offers an up-close look at the marine life of Kyushu. It’s super family-friendly and an amazing experience for kids, but honestly, is anyone ever too old to be mesmerized by glowing jellyfish?

It’s always best to have a mix of different activities on your list just to account for unpredictable weather. So on a gloomy day, we spent some time indoors here, where they house over 30,000 sea creatures. It was so special to see Tokyo’s eyes light up at all the different exhibits. We also saw some impressive tricks at the dolphin show! Tickets for Marine World can be purchased in advance.

Take the JR Kagoshima Line from Hakata Station to Kashii Station and then transfer to the JR Kashii Line to get you to Uminonakamichi Station, which will take around 30 minutes all in all. Alternatively, you can opt to take a ferry from Fukuoka Tower at Bayside Place for a quicker journey.

Cop unique pieces at secondhand stores

As fashion enthusiasts, one of our absolute musts whenever we’re in Japan is to go thrifting. All the praise for secondhand shopping here is very much deserved, as you will find the selection and discounted prices are unmatched. A popular spot for thrifting in Fukuoka is the Daimyo district, which can be compared to the Shimokitazawa of Tokyo for the same hip atmosphere.

Personally, we hit up Super 2nd Street at the Higashi Ward for this trip. In case you didn’t know, it’s part of a larger vintage thrift store chain that’s very popular across Japan. But this branch in particular is a megastore that offers a wider selection, especially for luxury pieces – much like an outlet.

So if you’re also into fashion or have been on the hunt for something designer, you might just find a gem to keep at these secondhand stores!

Explore new worlds at teamLab Forest

Fukuoka’s teamLab Forest is an interactive digital art exhibition designed by the same art collective behind the viral teamLab Planets in Tokyo. The installation is quite popular in Tokyo and typically attracts long lines, so it might be a good idea to catch it in Fukuoka instead.

You don’t just look at the art here—you are the art. The installations at teamLab Forest respond to your movements, so every step you take changes what you see and hear. The space is divided into two main zones: the “Catch and Collect Forest,” which uses augmented reality, and the “Athletics Forest,” where you climb and bounce your way through glowing environments. It's half gallery, half playground!

This is a must for your IG stories and anyone traveling with kids or friends who love a bit of magic and movement. It’s recommended to book your tickets in advance as there are limited slots per schedule.

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Go on a Day Trip

Fukuoka is the perfect launchpad for mini-adventures around Kyushu. Whether you're seeking hot springs, quaint towns, or ancient shrines, you’re spoiled for choice here!

We booked a private car service to Beppu, an onsen town that boasts the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan. Here, you can check out the Seven Hells of Beppu, which features mysterious and temperamental hot springs. These hot springs are not open for bathing, but have rather become a sort of pilgrimage route for tourists visiting the town.

Beppu’s Seven Hells await. Watch the adventure from Fukuoka now!

We also stopped by Yufuin Floral Village, which felt like a scene out of a Studio Ghibli film. Imagine charming streets lined with boutiques, cafés, and craft stores—you’ll be taking photos every few seconds with how whimsical everything looks. It’s a short walk as well to Kinrin Lake for some breathtaking nature views.

Another day trip we really enjoyed was at Daizafu for its famous Tenmangu Shrine. This was the perfect place to visit during sakura season, with such a lush garden surrounding the shrine.

Ride a Sightseeing Train

Forget the usual commute—hop on one of the region's sightseeing trains and suddenly, the journey is the destination. We took the Kanpachi Ichiroku, Kyushu’s newest sightseeing train, heading back to Fukuoka from Beppu. The five-hour ride brought us through the scenic countryside, passing rice fields and rolling mountains.

Coming here with a baby, it was nice to slow things down and just sit back as we took in the sights. It wasn’t hard for us to get comfortable on the plush sofa seats, especially with a gourmet meal included onboard. There’s also a car that serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Honestly, it’s the most relaxing way to travel.

The train also makes brief 15-minute stops at "hospitality stations" where you can interact with locals and shop for regional specialties.

This isn’t just a train ride it’s the destination. Watch the vlog now!

Quick Tips

Money

While cashless options are available in most stores in Japan, always have cash on hand since some stores (especially locally run, small businesses) do not accept card payments. We’ve found that convenience store ATMs are the next best thing for withdrawing cash if there’s no money exchange nearby.

There’s also good news for all Filipinos using GCash! You can use the app abroad to pay in Japan at a good conversion rate. Just have them scan the QR code generated using AliPay+. If you use WePay or ApplePay, you can also look for the sign first before you ask.

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Transportation cards

If you haven’t gotten yourself an ICOCA, Suica, or PasMo yet, it might be the best time to get one (affiliate). Makes traveling that much easier!

Special Tickets

Got the JR Pass? Make sure to keep it with you ALWAYS since it’s nonrefundable! If you want to know more about the Japan Rail Pass and its different alternatives, check out our article here (link to transpo article)!

Etiquette / Cultural Customs

Remember to be respectful and mindful of Japanese culture while visiting, especially at shrines and temples.

For our complete guide on proper etiquette when in Japan, read our article here!

Ready for your next adventure?

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BOOK FUKUOKA TOUR HERE

Ending notes

I hope this helped you feel excited for your Japan trip (yes, we’re already claiming it!) or you can also use it as a guide for your itinerary.

If you’re planning to stick to local travels for now, we’ve also got just the thing for you – let Dream Tours Philippines handle the planning so you can enjoy El Nido, Siargao and Boracay without the stress!

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12 Things to Do in Fukuoka

Table of contents

Introduction

Want to visit the Philippines?

Want a simple way to stay covered while traveling?

12 Things to Do in Fukuoka

Travel in Style with LEVEL8

Quick Tips

Stay connected while traveling!

Ready for your next adventure?

Ending notes

4 Day Family-Friendly Travel Guide to Fukuoka