Sakura season is expected to arrive earlier than ever, and one of the cities in Japan that will first witness the blooming of the iconic cherry blossoms is Fukuoka in the north of Kyushu Island.
A fantastic spring destination, Fukuoka is a place teeming with history, culture, gastronomic delights (it’s the birthplace of the tonkotsu ramen!), and breathtaking sights that look especially beautiful once the sakura trees go full-on pink!
With the peak of the blooming season coinciding with the Philippine Holy Week holidays this year, you might want to consider flying into this underrated city for a springtime escape unlike any other.
In this post, we pulled up a list of the most postcard-perfect cherry blossom viewing or “hanami” spots in Fukuoka that you should definitely add to your itinerary:
Maizuru Park
This park surrounding the ruins of Fukuoka Castle is arguably the best sakura spot in the entire city. Here, an estimated 1,000 flowering Japanese cherry trees across 19 species are planted, treating guests to clouds of delicate pink during sakura season. On your visit, head on over to the main citadel or honmaru, which serves as the observation platform, to catch panoramic views of the entire area.
How to get there: Take the subway to Ohori Koen (Park) or Akasaka Station. Maizuru Park is about a 10-minute walk south of the exit.
Tickets: Entry to Maizuru Park is free! However, in the evening, some sections of the park may require tickets for the spring illumination event. Tickets to these sections usually cost around 400 JPY per area or 1,000 JPY for all areas. For more information, visit the official tourist website of Fukuoka City at gofukuoka.jp.
Operating hours: Maizuru Park is open 24/7.
Minami Park
Sitting on a lush hilly area, Minami Park offers a quiet respite from all the action going on in the city center. Just like Maizuru Park, this peaceful sakura viewing spot has about 1,000 cherry trees dotting the entire park. Picnicking is allowed, and a great spot to spread out a mat and enjoy some sakura mochi or strawberry daifuku under the cherry trees is at the flower viewing plaza.
Also home to the Fukuoka City Zoological and Botanical Garden, Minami Park regularly welcomes visitors to explore the region’s unique flora and fauna.
How to get there: Take the subway to Yakuinodori Station on the Nanakuma line and take Exit 2. The park is about a 15-minute walk away.
Tickets: Entry to Minami Park is free. However, in the evening, some sections of the park may require tickets for the spring illumination event. Tickets to these sections usually cost around 400 JPY per area or 1,000 JPY for all areas. For more information, visit the official tourist website of Fukuoka City at gofukuoka.jp.
Operating hours: Minami Park is open 24/7. The zoo, however, is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Last entry is at 4:30 PM.
Nishi Park
More than 1,300 cherry blossom trees come in full bloom at Nishi Park—a well-loved recreation area close to the heart of Fukuoka City that also offers spectacular views of Hakata Bay, Shikanoshima Island, and Nokonoshima Island.
If you are up for a light hike, make your way to the top of the hill, where you will find Terumo Shrine, which enshrines father-and-son military commanders Josui Kuroda, the founder of the Fukuoka Domain, and Nagamasa Kuroda, Fukuoka’s first lord.
How to get there: The easiest way to get to Nishi Park is by taking the Nishitetsu bus to the Nishikoen stop. The park is a 10-minute walk away from the bus stop. Alternatively, you can take the subway train to Ohori Park Station, and take a 15-minute walk to the park.
Tickets: Admission fees are not required when visiting Nishi Park.
Operating hours: Nishi Park is open 24/7.
Aburayama Shimin no Mori (Aburayama Citizen’s Forest)
Is nature-tripping on your list of springtime activities? If it is, then an excellent place to go for an excursion is Aburayama Shimin no Mori or Fukuoka’s Natural Observation Woods.
This 93-plus-hectare forest on the slopes of Mount Abura boasts over 2,000 flowering cherry trees that make for a stunning sight along with the rich foliage of trees that have gone verdant for the season. For uninterrupted views of Fukuoka City, look for the observation platform, where camping grounds are also located.
How to get there: Take Nishitetsu buses of No. 13 lines from the Tenjin stop and alight at the Aburayama-danchi stop. From this stop, the forest is an hour away on foot.
***If you are visiting between the months of March and September, temporary buses might be available at the Fukudai Seimon Mae stop on weekends and holidays.
Tickets: Admission fees are not required when visiting Aburayama Shimin no Mori.
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Atago Shrine
With a history dating back to the year 72, Fukuoka’s Atago Shrine is the oldest shrine in the city. Nestled in the midst of more than 2,000 sakura trees at the top of a 68-meter hill known as Mount Atago, this shrine draws in visitors, who believe that a pilgrimage to the site will bring them luck and good fortune in many aspects of life.
In spring, many varieties of cherry trees bloom throughout the season, which allows for a relatively long viewing period. Sakura season kicks off with the early bloomers called “kawazu-zakura” in February and ends with the display of “yae-zakura” or double-flowered cherry blossoms towards mid-April.
How to get there: If you are taking the subway, take the train to Muromi Station. The shrine is a 13-minute walk from the exit. If you are taking the bus, hop on Bus No. 9 to Nishitetsu Bus Atagoshita stop and take an 8-minute walk to the shrine.
Tickets: Admission fees are not required when visiting Atago Shrine.
Operating hours: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
Another cherry blossom spot tucked away from central Fukuoka is Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. This expansive park that measures some four kilometers from end to end is situated on a narrow peninsula across the bay.
As Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is way too huge to explore on foot, visitors are advised to rent a bicycle (from 500 JPY for three hours) to go around the area. In spring, bike lanes are lined with fully bloomed cherry trees, making for an ideal romantic setting. If biking is not your thing, you can hop on the sightseeing bus, which costs 200 JPY per ride. A day pass is also available for 300 JPY, offering better value.
How to get there: From Hakata Station on the JR Kagoshima Line, make your way to Kashii Station and transfer to the JR Kashii Line to Uminonakamichi Station. The entrance of the park is right outside the station’s exit. You may also take a ferry ride from Momochi Seaside Park. Ferries depart every two hours.
Tickets: The admission fee to enter Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is currently priced at 450 JPY.
Operating Hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (March to October); 9:30 AM to 5:00 (November to February)
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***Featured image by Nichika Yoshida on Unsplash
