Fukuoka Things to Do

Canal City is described as a 'city within a city'. The complex is a shopping and entertainment complex, and includes shops, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, two hotels and a canal, which runs through the centre and occasionally has a good 'dancing fountain' show.
(See photo)
The 5th floor houses Ramen Stadium, well worth visiting to try the local noodle speciality

Fukuoka Dome is a huge stadium located next to Fukuoka Tower on the waterfront. It is home to the Daiei Hawks, one of Japan's best Baseball teams.

It is possible to visit the dome anytime although definately better for a game! I don't like baseball but I went once just to soak up the atmosphere.

The dome itself is as much an attraction as the pro-team it houses. It was the first ever retractable roof arena ever built in Japan. The dome is also used for other sporting and cultural events (concerts) throughout the year.

I personally would opt for the tour to Dazaifu, even if it is further from the port and getting there will be somewhat more time consuming. However, the Tenmangu Shrine is one of the most important historically in Japan, although the building itself is not really impressive. On the other hand, the Kyushu National Museum is housed in a stunning modern building with nice collections related to Japanese history, culture and crafts. I imagine the tour will also include a visit to the Komyozenji Temple, as it is really close to those attractions, and its zen rock and moss garden is really beautiful.

The Yusentei Garden is a nice Japanese garden, but there are many others which are larger and more interesting. The same goes for the Kushida Shrine. They might be of interest to you if you have not visited other Japanese Gardens or shrines, though. I have not been to the Hkata Machiya Folk Museum.

Enjoy your trip.

2 more images

The Marine World Uminonakamichi is located on a narrow strip of land on the northern suburb of Fukuoka. There are daily performances by trained seals and dolphins which attract large crowds especially on weekends. The aquarium is home to 20,000 marine organisms of 350 species. In the panoramic water tank, which is one of the largest in the world, swim sharks that measure up to 3 meters in length.

This is a trendy area with restaurants and shops. The wharf is a terminal for ferries to and from Shikanoshima Island and other islands in Hakata Bay. Bay cruises as well as the ferry to Uminonakamichi Sea World depart from here.

2 more images

Nakasu is the largest entertainment and night life area in Kyushu. Located along the banks of the Nakagawa River, the district is full of restaurants, pubs, hostess bars, strip shows and karaoke lounges. Yatai stalls line the bank of the Nakagawa River at night.

This museum gives a good visual recap of the history of Kyushu Island. There are presentations going back to the paleolithic times, up to the invasions of the Mongols, on through to near-present times. There are audio guides available in a few languages that are free (yes, free). No photos are allowed inside the halls.

The admission for the general displays is 420 yen (adult).
The admission for the 'special display' & the general hall is 1300 yen (adult).
Students get ~50% discount.

Open 9:30~17:00
Closed Mondays.

Cosmopolitan city of Hakata is a major international arrival point (Fukuoka Airport), and the terminus for the Shinkansen (bullet train ) line from Tokyo and for the ferry from Korea.
Before 1889, Hakata was an independent town to the northeast of Fukuoka. Hakata, which was closer to the sea, housed the city's merchants, while Fukuoka housed the samurai. When the two cities merged, the samurai coerced the merchants into naming the combined city "Fukuoka".
Hakata is the traditional center for the manufacture of Hakata Ningyô, which are traditional Japanese dolls that are famous throughout Japan.