Nakasu-Kawabata Area
This area gives off a sense of Fukuoka’s history as a point of origin for culture and information, and is home to the Kushida Shrine that has supported Hakata’s traditional culture, as well as Canal City, an entertainment complex that transmits the latest trends. Stroll along Hakata’s oldest shopping district while experiencing the charm of Fukuoka’s unique mixture of the old and the new.
Taking a stroll in a shopping district that retains the atmosphere of olden days when it flourished as a street of merchants allows you to fully experience Fukuoka’s mix of the old and the new.
CANAL CITY HAKATA
This commercial complex is built around an artificial canal and consists of hotels, theater, movie theater, shops, restaurants, specialty stores and showrooms. Besides the fountain show and other events held every day, you will never have a chance of getting bored with shopping, gourmet and various other features here! Canal City Hakata attracts a lot of tourists from abroad as one of the most popular tourist spots in Fukuoka.
- Address
- 1-2, Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
Kushida Shrine
This grand tutelary shrine of Hakata is widely known and people warmly refer to it as “Okushida-san.”
It is dedicated to the gods of Ohatanushi-no-mikoto, Amaterasu-omikami and Susanowo-no-mikoto. According to tradition, in 757, when Emperor Koken was in the reign and Tairano Kiyomori designated Hakata port as a base of Japan-China trade, the shrine was built on the emperor’s order to share a god with Kushida shrine of Ise province (the present Mie prefecture).
In 1585 during the Hakata restoration, Toyotomi Hideyoshi contributed to rebuild the current main building of the shrine.
Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, widely known as a summer feature of Hakata, is dedicated to this shrine.
- Address
- 1-41, Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
Hakata Machiya Folk Museum
If you come to Hakata, why not learning about Hakata culture? This museum shows the old daily life and culture of Fukuoka city in Meiji and Taisho period, focusing especially on urban houses of that period. It is located across from the Kushida-shrine. The exhibition hall features the local tradition of Hakata Gion Yamakasa and such. You can also enjoy Hakata dialect lecture or take a look at a miniature town representing good-old days of Hakata. A demonstration of traditional hand crafting is also on exhibition here.
- Address
- 6-10, Reisen-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
Kawabata Shopping Arcade
Hakata’s oldest shopping street has about 130 shops lining a 400-meter long arcade. This is the standard Hakata walking course, featuring gift shops selling traditional Hakata ningyo dolls and other items, shops specialized in Yamakasa goods, stores that offer products from the Genkai-nada sea, and ramen shops. On Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and other days when special events are held, you can enjoy tasty Kawabata zenzai (redbean soup with mochi) at the arcade's event space. Get there early, because they sell out by 5:00pm!
- Address
- 10, Kamikawabatai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
HAKATA RIVERAIN MALL by TAKASHIMAYA
Hakata Riverain is an entertainment spot located on Hakata River, which runs through the city. On its site of 22,000 square meters, you can see a variety of facilities themed on culture and relaxation; theater, art museum, restaurants, shopping and accommodation. It is conveniently situated in the heart of Hakata and directly accessible from Nakasu-Kawabata subway station.
- Address
- 3-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
You can enjoy looking at contemporary art works from all Asia here at Hakata Riverain! The museum exhibits 2,900 art pieces collected from 23 different countries and regions in Asia. Not only exhibitions but also workshops by the artists invited from Asian countries are held. The souvenir shop at the museum carries a variety of original goods, exhibition related books, attractive Asian accessories and furnishing products.
- Address
- Riverain Center bldg. 7 & 8F, 3-1, Shimo Kawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information
Hakata Traditional Craft and Design Museum
Hakata Traditional Craft Center exhibits the most famous traditional crafts of Fukuoka including Hakataori textile and Hakata dolls. It opened in spring of 2011 as a new tourist spot where you can learn about the culture of Fukuoka.
Hakataori textile and Hakata dolls are the most famous traditional crafts of Fukuoka.
Hakataori textile is especially famous for the one called “Goshokukenjo,” which is colored purple, blue, red, yellow, or mazarine. In the Edo Period, it was chosen by the lord of Kuroda Clan as one of the tribute articles presented to the central government. Hakata dolls are said to have been created by the order of Kuroda Nagamasa, who gathered many doll makers after he took over reign of the Fukuoka area.
Fukuoka also has various other traditional crafts such as Hakata magemono (woodenware), Hakata koma (toy top), and Hakata hariko (paper doll), Hakata Basami (scissors), Chikuzen Hakata Ya (arrows), and Multi-Glass .There are many arts and crafts that created Fukuoka and Hakata for what it is now.
What is the most noteworthy about traditional crafts is the skill of the craft masters! Today we can appreciate the traditional beauty thanks to their efforts to preserve the old traditions and skills. You can get close to such wonderful mastership at Hakata Traditional Craft Center.
- Address
- Fukuoka City Museum (3-1-1 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, FukuokaCity)
- Details
- YokaNavi Spot Information