Fukuoka Trip Part 2: Walking around Ohori Park and Nakasu Area

[Introduction]

I traveled to Fukuoka, in mid December. While Fukuoka has an image of gourmet town, it has also tourist spots more than I expected. In this article, I will write about Ohori Park and Nakasu as part of Day 1. Both Ohori Park and Nakasu had photogenic spots more than expected.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Fly to Fukuoka with ANA
* Day 1: Ohori Park and Nakasu [This article]
* Day 1: Canal City Hakata (Illumination)
* Day 2: Marinoa City Fukuoka
* Day 2: Fukuoka City Museum and Momochi Seaside Park
* Day 2: Fukuoka Tower (Illumination)
* Day 3: Marine World Uminonakamichi
* Day 3: JR Hakata Station
* Day 3: JR Hakata Station (Illumination)
* Day 4: Dazaifu Tenmangu
* Day 4: Kyushu National Museum
* Day 4: Tenjin (Illumination)
* Day 5: Fukuoka Airport

[Travel Date]
2019.12.12-16

[Main Part]

Ohori Park

Following the previous post, I left some of my luggage at the hotel and started sightseeings.

To begin with, I moved from Hakata station to Ohori Park station by subway and came to Ohori Park.

There was a pond in the park with a walking path around it.

A couple.

A man who seemed to be an earnest photographer.

I was not blessed with weather at all in my previous trip to Seoul, but it seemed to be sunny this time.

This conspicuous bridge was “Ukimi-do Hall”.

I found several small birds such as ducks.

Ohori Park had a Japanese garden and I visited it though the garden required an entrance fee.

It had already passed a peak season, but I enjoyed vestiges of autumn leaves.

Well, I haven’t taken pictures of autumn foliage for years.

I think visitors can enjoy a variety of scenery by seasons.

Fukuoka Art Museum

There was “Fukuoka Art Museum” near Ohori Park and I visited the museum.

In the museum.

The art work of “Pumpkin” by Yayoi Kusama, a famous Japanese contemporary artist, was displayed outside.

Talking of Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin”, I saw other versions at Singapore and Korea. If you are interested in them, please check the following articles.

• “Revisit Singapore Part 20 (Final): Fountain of Wealth Light-up & Return Home”
• “South Korea Seoul Trip Part 15: Paradise City, the First Integrated Resort (IR) in South Korea”

Fukuoka Castle Ruins

There was also “Fukuoka Castle Ruins” near Ohori Park and I visited it as well.

Fukuoka Castle was originally built in the early 17th century and dismantled in the late 19th century. Now only a few portions remains.

The former castle tower has now turned into an observation deck and I headed to it.

I arrived at the former castle tower.

View from the observation deck.

I heard these white objects were used for light-ups in the evening, which was  produced by teamLab, a famous Japanese art group.

Nakasu

I left the Ohori Park area and moved to the Nakasu area.

I came to the Nakasu area mainly because I would like to visit “Canal City Hakata” in the evening and I will go around the area before it.

This red brick house is “Fukuoka Akarenga Cultural Center”, which was originally built in 1909 as the Kyushu branch office of Nippon Life, the largest Japanese life insurance company.

This retro building is “Kihinkan Hall”, which was developed in 1910.

The center of Nakasu is a delta area surrounded by Nakagawa River and sightseeing boats are operating.

The river, the boat and buildings in the background were harmonized.

You may want stay around the area all day.

Other snaps.

Kushida Shrine

There was “Kushida Shrine” around the area and I visited it.

“Kushida Shrine” holds several rituals such as “Hakata Gion Yamakasa” and “Hakata Okun-chi” and a decorated moving shrine was displayed in the shrine.

A sequence of Torii gates were placed.

A mother and a child over there became a good accent.

Finally, I visited the main shrine.

Then, I will move to “Canal City Hakata”.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Ohori Park and Nakasu as part of Day 1.

Ohori Park is a resting place for local people rather rather than a tourist spots. So, I didn’t see travelers so much, but I was able to go round the park in a leisurely pace and there were several photogenic spots such as “Ukimi-do Hall”. On the other hand, Nakasu has an image of an entertainment district including street stands, but I found several photo spots such as Nakagawa River with sightseeing boats and Kushida Shrine 🙂

In the next article, I will write about Canal City Hakata as part of Day 1.

[Map]

1 Ohori Park
2 Fukuoka Art Museum
3 Fukuoka Castle Ruins
4 Fukuoka Akarenga Cultural Center
5 Kihinkan Hall
6 Kushida Shrine

[Related Link]
Fukuoka City Gide “YOKA NAVI”
Fukuoka Convention & Visitors Bureau
Ohori Park
Fukuoka Art Museum

I would appreciate it if you could share my article via the following SNS buttons.