From the Edo period (1603-1868), Imari City had flourished as a port for exporting Imari ware and Arita ware. White-walled earthenware storehouses still remain on the streets of the city, evoking the atmosphere of the time. It is also an enjoyable area to stroll around and admire at the Imari ware dolls and artistic installations set up in the shopping streets and at the foot of bridges. Visit the Imari Nabeshima Gallery (admission is free) to learn more about Imari ware.

The Imari Gyu no Jubako Gozen (multi-tier lunch box set of Imari beef) is a luxurious local gourmet meal. Japanese cuisine, including A4 grade or higher kuroge wagyu beef from Imari, is served in a multi-tiered lunch box made from Imari ware. Restaurants in Imari offer menus that highlight their individual strengths and characteristics. Advance reservations need to be made at some restaurants, so please inquire in advance.

This is a historic pottery production area that is also known as Hiyo no Sato (Village of Secret Kilns). It housed the official kilns of the Nabeshima family of the Saga domain, which produced high-quality Imari ware. The quaint townscape, with its white-walled workshops and cobbled streets, make one feel as if they have traveled back in time. Each pottery has beautiful porcelain on display for sale, and the charm of Imari ware comes through even as you stroll around the town.

This famous hot spring, which boasts a history of over 1,300 years, is a simple alkaline spring that is gentle on the skin. It is known as a “beauty bath” and is said to be effective in relieving fatigue as well. Behind the distinctive red gate of Takeo Onsen Romon is a public bathhouse that is enveloped in a nostalgic atmosphere.

Yoko Museum holds special theme-based exhibitions that feature antique Chinese ceramics, jade, and other works of art. Enjoy beautiful seasonal scenery in the adjacent Japanese Garden Keishu-En, with its large pond and rock garden. It is a charming spot where you can enjoy the beauty of both art and nature at the same time, within a quiet and tranquil atmosphere.

At Yoko Museum and Japanese Garden Keishu-En, you can participate in a program to create accessories such as earrings, pierced earrings, and hair bands using the shards from pottery with characteristics that vary depending on the pottery maker. The original accessories you create from your chosen pottery pieces make a perfect memento for yourself.

This is a park that preserves and makes use of the ruins of the Yoshinogari Site, the largest ring-moated settlement from the Yayoi period (B.C. 300 – A.D. 300) in Japan. It has 98 reconstructed buildings, including pit dwellings, raised-floor warehouses and watchtowers, which were inhabited by people at the time. In the exhibition room, you can see the earthenware and tools that have been excavated. Hands-on programs such as fire-building and making magatama (comma-shaped beaded jewelry) are also popular among visitors.

This luxurious kaiseki (traditional Japanese multi-course meal) is centered around Kanzaki somen (thin noodles), a traditional noodle from Kanzaki City that has been around for about 390 years, along with other local seasonal ingredients. The few traditional Japanese restaurants in the city that offer this meal have their own unique menus that reflect the restaurant's own particular tastes.
*Available for lunch only; advance reservations are required.

This accommodation is housed in a renovated kominka (old private house) in Yame, so you can immerse yourself in the comforting atmosphere of a traditional Japanese house. We recommend taking a walk in the surrounding area, marked by white-walled streets that have retained the atmosphere of a bygone era, as well as tea plantations that can only be found here, one of the leading tea-producing regions in Japan.

There are exhibits to give you greater insight into the history of Yame tea and traditional production methods, as well as a wide range of hands-on activities for experiencing the skills of artisans, such as making hand-rolled green tea and tasting the matcha tea that you have ground yourself.
You can enjoy a variety of Japanese tea-themed cuisine, including Yame's Dento Hon Gyokuro “Gokujyo Shizuku" tea, chasoba (buckwheat noodles infused with green tea), gyokuro curry, and matcha ice cream.

At the café next to the direct retail store of Yame Miryokuen, be sure to try the limited-quantity lunch menu, which is a set meal of chasoba, jidori onigiri (rice balls with local chicken), and a small side dish. The staff, including members who are certified Nihoncha (Japanese tea) advisors, are on hand to help customers choose from a selection of carefully chosen Yame teas, as well as traditional sweets made with matcha powder.

Yame Tesuki Washi (handmade Japanese paper from Yame) has the longest history and tradition in Kyushu. Watch a demonstration of how it is made, and try making your own washi and creating postcards, bookmarks, and paper fans from it.
The Yame Tourist Local Products Center Tokimeki is located nearby. Local specialties are available here, so you can buy gifts and mementos that are unique to Yame.

The green tea plantations that spread out over the hillside at an altitude of about 150 m, coupled with the beautiful mountain range in the distance, creates a magnificent view. Yame tea, a top quality Japanese tea, is cultivated here.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of the tea plantations from the observation point, making it a popular photo spot.

This is a cafe located at the observation point of the Yame Central Grand Tea Plantation. It serves sencha tea brewed in a teapot with tea leaves harvested locally, as well as matcha frappes, matcha lattes, and matcha soft-serve ice cream. Take a break with some Yame tea while taking in the view of the vast fields of tea!

Enjoy Fukuoka's gourmet food to your heart's content, including Hakata ramen, which is characterized by its rich pork bone broth and thin noodles, the tender motsunabe (hot pot of beef or pork offal and vegetables), mizutaki (chicken hot pot) packed with the umami of chicken, and fresh goma saba (mackerel seasoned with soy sauce-based sesame sauce). We also recommend wandering around the food stalls.

This is a park with a large pond that was created by developing an inlet, originally used as an outer moat for Fukuoka Castle. There is a walking path around the pond extending for about 2 km, as well as a forest for wild birds, so you can enjoy strolling around and enjoying the seasonal scenery.

This art museum is located in Ohori Park, and displays valuable works of art such as paintings, sculptures, and ceramics from Japan and overseas within the modern building. In particular, it has a famous collection of contemporary art by Dali and Warhol, as well as Japanese Buddhist art. There is also a cafe and museum shop inside the museum, so you can take a break in between art appreciation.

Parts of the stone walls and gates of Fukuoka Castle, which was built over 400 years ago, still remain within Ohori Park. Around 1,000 cherry trees bloom in spring, making it a popular spot for admiring the beautiful flowers. From the observation deck, you can look out across the whole of Fukuoka City.

Hakata udon is characterized by its soft, chewy noodles and elegant-tasting broth. Popular toppings include goboten (deep-fried burdock) and maruten (fried fish cake). WEST, Sukesan Udon and Makino Udon are the three leading udon restaurants that have long been well-loved by the locals. 

Traditional Japanese townhouses, known as machiya, have a narrow frontage and a long depth. These have been recreated in the museum so visitors can see how the townsfolk of Hakata lived in the olden days. The museum also introduces traditional crafts such as Hakata-ori (traditional Hakata textile) and Hakata ningyo (traditional Japanese clay dolls). Why not try your hand at painting under the guidance of a traditional craftsman to create a memento for your trip? 

Decorative floats from the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival are on display all year round at this plaza, which is only open on weekends and during events. Try the Kawabata Zenzai, a local specialty that is said to be the sweetest in Japan and consisting of two pieces of grilled mochi placed on top of the zenzai.
On weekdays, be sure to visit Nakasu Zenzai (closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and national holidays), which is located at the end of the Kawabata Shopping Arcade.