Itoshima is located a convenient 30-minute drive from Fukuoka's city center. This peninsula is projecting out into the Genkai Sea and is blessed with a beautiful coastline and the mountainous region Sefurisanchi in the south that spreads out between Fukuoka and Saga Prefecture. While the spot is famous for its sunsets, there are many more leisure-filled things to see and do here. It's especially full of Instagram-able photograph spots, making it immensely popular with the ladies!
Sightseeing Spots Around Itoshima's Sea
Firstly, let's take a look at some amazing sightseeing spots around Itoshima's sea and coastline.
Sakurai Futamigaura's Couple Stones
This is one of Itoshima's most famous locations. While the couple stones found in Mie Prefecture's Ise are famous for being seen at sunrise, the ones that fall into the Genkai Sea are famous for being seen at sunset. This has also been part of the Sakurai Shrine for a long time and is known as a spot of power. The location itself has been chosen as one of Japan's "Top 100 Sunsets".
Palm Beach - The Gardens
Close to the couple stones in Sakurai Futamigaura, you'll find the resort mall "Palm Beach - The Gardens" which has restaurants that use local ingredients known as "Palm Beach" as well as the Hawaiian restaurant "Surfside Cafe", the gelatine store "ALPACHINO" and many more. If you come down to the sandy beach from the mall, you'll find giant angel wings painted on the wall. If you stand in front of these wings and take a picture, the wings will seem like your own, which makes this a very popular photograph spot for visitors.
Beach Cafe Sunset
We also recommend visiting the nearby cafe "Beach Cafe Sunset" where you can look out onto the ocean while enjoying food and drinks created using local ingredients. The small wooden shack you'll find just in front of the cafe is another popular photograph spot! Make sure to take a picture before leaving.
Keya no Ohto
The next spot to ensure you check out can be found along the driving route "Sunset Road" which goes alongside the coast where you'll find "Keya no Ohto". Keya no Ohto is Japan's largest rocky cave, boasting a height of 64 meters, a depth of 90, and a breadth of 10 meters. This is one of the 3 largest rocky caves in the whole of Japan alongside Nanatsu Gama and the one found in Hyogo Prefecture's Toyooka. The hexagonal and Octagonal shaped pillars that have been carved out by the sea give off a majestic atmopshere.
In a typical year, many pleasure cruises from the nearby port go through this cave from around the middle of March to November. If you're lucky, and the sea is calm and without waves, you're able to enter the cave and see the beehive-like ceiling.
Itoshima's Mountain Sightseeing Spots
Shiraito no Taki
On the south side of Itoshima, you'll find Haganeyama and its waterfall "Shiraito no Taki" which has been chosen by Fukuoka Prefecture as a designated place of scenic beauty. The waterfall itself sees the white water running down over the rocks, creating an almost overpowering scene. Around the waterfall, you'll find various institutes such as small tea houses, observation decks, masu salmon fishing ponds, and much more.
Seasonal Spots
During May's Golden Week, the "Masu Salmon Fishing Ponds" will open, and that season's famous "Somen Nagashi" event will begin. From the end of June to the start of July, over 100,000 French Hydrangea will bloom.
How to Get to Itoshima
- By Train
・Take the Fukuoka City Subway-Kuko Line from Fukuoka Airport until Meinohama Station then debarking at Chikuhi Line "Chikuzen-Maebaru Station"
・Take the Fukuoka City Subway-Kuko Line from Hakata until Meinohama Station then debarking at Chikuhi Line "Chikuzen-Maebaru Station"
・Take the Fukuoka City Subway-Kuko Line from Tenjin until Meinohama Station then debarking at Chikuhi Line "Chikuzen-Maebaru Station" - By Bus
・Hakata - From the Hakata Bus Terminal take the Express "Itoshima go" until "Maebaru"
・Tenjin - From Tenjin 4-Chome take the Express "Itoshima go" until "Maebaru" - By Car
・Kyushu Expressway - Fukuoka highway, exit at Nishi-Kyushu Expressway "Maebaru I.C."
How did you find this article? There are many, many more spots to find in Itoshima. It's located in a convenient spot that can be accessed from many surrounding hubs and allows you to check out the beautiful ocean and many popular sightseeing locations. How about visiting Itoshima during your next trip to Japan?
＊Pictures Provided by：Itoshima Sightseeing Association
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