Fukuoka, capital of Fukuoka Prefecture, sits on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island. It’s known for ancient temples, beaches and modern shopping malls, including Canal City. Maizuru Park contains ruins of 17th-century Fukuoka Castle. The central Hakata district contains Tocho-ji Temple, home to a 10m wooden Buddha and the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, with displays on daily life in the Meiji and Taisho eras.

The seaside Momochi area features the 234m-tall Fukuoka Tower, interactive robots and displays at Robosquare, and the Fukuoka City Museum, which chronicles the history of the city. The Fukuoka Asian Art Museum exhibits modern and contemporary Asian art. Notable religious sites include Shōfuku-ji Temple, founded in 1195, and Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka’s oldest Shinto temple. Reachable by ferry, Nokonoshima Island has parks and a swimming beach. The city is also renowned for ramen noodle soup, sold at yatai street stalls.

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