Over the last decade, Fukuoka has become a rising star among Japanese cities. With its daring modern architecture, evolving culinary scene, brash nightlife and cosmopolitan vibe, the city is a beacon for contemporary Japanese culture. Take a private Fukuoka tour and discover the many urban charms of this vibrant city.

Experience cutting edge artists at the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum; for more traditional works, visit the City Art Museum, where you can see 10th century Buddhist sculptures and ancient pottery. If you're interested in fashion, your guide will happily point out Fukuoka's hippest boutiques. If you are in search of Old Japan, your guide can find quiet Japanese gardens, still tucked away in the hidden corners of this modern city. The top of the soaring Fukuoka Tower offers a great view, especially at dusk as the city transforms into a sea of lights.

Your guide is happy to customize a private Fukuoka tour that reflects your unique travel interests in their hometown.

Fukuoka

Welcome to Fukuoka. During this amazing full day tour, you will see essential popular sights and experience the best parts of the city in a chartered vehicle.

Dazaifu Temmangu Shinto Shrine is famous as the most powerful learning god in Japan. Aside from the prayer, I would like you to take a deep breath. There are more than 1000 year old camphor trees. Walk on the three bridges over a pond , representing the past, the present and the future respectively.

After blessed by the learning god, it's lunch time. Why don't you try Hakata Ramen noodles? Fun to order the noodle texture by saying "Kata" or "Yawa", meaning firm or soft. Of course there is middle, " Futsuu".

Afternoon tea at Yusentei, samurai tea house. In the tatami matted room is served maccha and sweet. Just listen to the sounds of birds and waterfall and forget about the busy life outside.

Lastly back to the modern city for shopping. You will return to the port with full of local memories of Fukuoka.

Dazaifu, Samurai teahouse and modern city

Fukuoka Full Day Shore Excursion

7 Hour Your First Fukuoka Full Day Tour with a national licensed guide!

Is this your first visit to Fukuoka?
If yes, this tour is perfect for you.

Hakata area had been a gate of Japan since ancient times and there are many old temples and shrines which founded more than 1000 years ago. Walk around old temple & Shrine areas to feel the history of Hakata.

After lunch, we take a train to the historical shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine.
It is dedicated to the god of education, Michizane who was a politician and scholar in the 9th century in Kyoto. He was falsely accused and exiled from Kyoto to Dazaifu.
Why did people revere him as the god of education?
Let's find out answers while walking an awe-inspiring shrine with me.

After visiting the main hall, you can enjoy window shopping and local sweets 'Umegae mochi'.

*Note: From March 2023, it will take about three years to renovate the main hall at Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine. In the meantime, we'll visit the temporary hall.
*You can pay Nishitetsu train ticket with a contactless credit card (Visa, JCB, American Express, Diners Club).

Beautiful red torii gate tunnel at Kushida shrine.

Giant decorative float of GION YAMAKASA festival!

Recling Buddha, the world biggest bronze, Nanzoin Temple

Customizable Tour!

Your First Fukuoka Full Day Tour with a National Licensed Guide!

Yanagawa Boat Ride 6-hour Tour from Fukuoka

If you'd like to spend a peaceful day in a very Japanese way, this tour is perfect for you.

Yanagawa city is located 60 kilometer south of Fukuoka city. Fifty-minute local train ride takes you to the beautiful and peaceful old castle town.

The main attraction of this city is one-hour boat ride. The boat slowly goes through the moat and the boatman explains popular sightseeing spots on the way while skillfully rowing the boat.
Steamed eels seasoned with soy-sauce is a must-eat.

After the boat-riding, you can stroll around the area, stopping by souvenir shops or café.

Sagemon decorations displayed only during the Girls' festival in March

Suitengu Shrine dedicated to the God of Water

Peaceful boat ride tour

You will visit highlights of Fukuoka just in 6 hours by using a private mini van.
Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine enshrines Sugawara Michizane who was born early 10th century and was a child prodigy. After his death, he was believed to be the first human being to be a deity, the deity of education. Now many people visit the shrine wishing for their academic achievement. There are many shrines related to Michizane, but the shrine is the head of the shrine of education!
Tochoji Temple was originally established 801 by Kukai who is a founder of Singo Sect or esoteric Buddhism. Later it was burned down and the current one was restored in late 20th century. You can see a huge wooden sitting Buddhist statue in the main hall.

You'll learn a lot about Fukuoka, and why Dazaifu is so special from a knowledgeable guide!

Fukuoka Highlights Full-day Private Tour by mini van with a licensed guide

Visit to Kushida Shrine and Tochoji Temple

This half day tour includes must see points in Hakata, old merchants' district : Shofukuji Temple, Tochoji Temple, and Kushida Shrine.

Shofukuji temple is the first Zen temple in Japan founded in 1195. When I visit this temple and walk in the large yard with many old trees, I find my mind calm down. I would like you to enjoy its quiet and solemn atmosphere.

At Tochoji temple, founded in 806, you'll be amazed to see Fukuoka Daibutsu, the biggest wooden seated Buddha in Japan.

Kushida Shrine has been a guardian shrine for local people since its foundation in 757. I visit this shrine to celebrate the growth of my child on special occasions or on a new year's day to pray for my family's health and happiness. Seasonal festivals are held at this shrine, and a 13- meter-tall magnificent festival float is displayed in the yard. Why not take a picture in front of it?

For lunch , I'd like to bring you to a good local ramen restaurant, if you like. At the end of the tour, I will see you off at your hotel

10-meter-tall Fukuoka Daibutsu: the biggest wooden Budha in Japan

Around 13-meter-tall float for Hakata Yamakasa Summer Festival

Sumo wrestlers lifted those stone to show their strength.

Foutune paper in front of alter shop in Kawabata street

Shofukuji is the oldest Zen temple in Japan

Half-Day Private Tour in Hakata

Half Day shore excursion must see tour in Fukuoka

Fukuoka is a merchant city with a lot of history.
In this tour you will learn about Fukuoka history, culture and funny facts.

We will eat some traditional Japanese sweets while walking and enjoying the perfect harmony of Fukuoka between past and present.

At Kushida Shrine we will receive prosperity in business and long life blessing. You will also have the opportunity to know deeper regarding Fukuoka history as a prosperous merchant city.

At Tochoji Temple we will visit the biggest wood carved Budha and have a look "inside the Budha", yes, we will practically enter inside the wooden statue and have a look of Japanese hell and paradise.

After a fun walking will have a break while eating Japanese snacks at the Japanese Garden Rakusuien.

The food in Fukuoka is the best and I'll pick the best restaurant according to your taste.

Get to know the history and culture of Fukuoka

Welcome to Fukuoka! It is active and cheerful, the biggest city in Kyushu. There are two names, Hakata and Fukuoka.

Hakata, the name of merchant town with the history of 2000 years. You will amaze why the historical temples and shrines coexist nicely with business buildings there. Because Kushida Shrine is the guardian for the merchants. The summer festival Yakakasa has become UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016. No Yamakasa, no Hakata is the catch phrase. I would like to share the passion with you.

Next comes samurai Fukuoka! Let's go to Ohori Park. Ohori park is the oasis for Fukuoka citizens with a big pond which was the part of Fukuoka Castle, you won't encounter any soldiers but young couples, families and marathon runners in peace. From the castle can display the Fukuoka Skyline of Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Dome baseball park. You will feel like the king of the castle.

All in all I hope the half day tour will enrich your life furthermore.

Visit both of twin cities including Fukuoka Castle

Hakata and Fukuoka Half Day Tour

Is this your first visit to Fukuoka?
If yes, this tour is perfect for you.

We take a train to Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine.
It is dedicated to the god of education, Michizane who was a politician and scholar in the 9th century in Kyoto. He was falsely accused and exiled from Kyoto to Dazaifu.
What happened to Michizane after the exile?
Why did people revere him as the god of education?
Let's find out answers while walking an awe-inspiring shrine with me.
After visiting the main hall, you can enjoy window shopping and local sweets 'Umegae mochi'.

Hakata area had been a gate of Japan since ancient times and there are many old temples and shrines which founded more than 1000 years ago. Why don't we visit one of these old temples, Kushida shrine?

*Note: From March 2023, it will take about three years to renovate the main hall at Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine. In the meantime, we'll visit the temporary hall.
*You can pay Nishitetsu train ticket with a contactless credit card (Visa, JCB, American Express, Diners Club).

Your First Fukuoka Half Day Tour with a National Licensed Guide!

Nagasaki is located about 155km away from Fukuoka. The city is well known as the atomic bomb, but not only that, the city historically played a very important role. Japan took so called self-isolation policy from mid 17th - mid 19th century, and Nagasaki was the only place to open to foreign countries, such as China and Netherland. Also Nagasaki once flourished as a Christian town, but from early 17th-mid19th Japan banned Christianity. Those Christians had a harsh experience under strict restriction against Christians. You can see or visit the cites related to those history and learn what happened in Nagasaki. The nickname of the city is a "slop city", so once you are up on the hill, you can enjoy a wonderful view! At Atomic Bomb museum and the Peace Park, you'll find what actually happened in Nagasaki and hear the story of Sadako. You will leave Nagasaki with a lot of memory.

Visiting Nagasaki with a knowlegeable guide makes your trip not just visiting sightseeing spot but very special!

Full Day Private Tour to Nagasaki from Fukuoka by mini van with a licensed guide

Beppu city is known for one of the biggest hot spring places in Japan. In the old days, people could not get close to the area because of those boiling hot geysers erupting from the ground, it looked just like "Hell".
We take a limited train to go to Beppu from Fukuoka. We hire a local driver and he'll take you to spots that you don't want to miss.
In this tour, we'll visit 4 different hells and Bamboo crafts center or Monkey park, we also go to Jyumonjibaru observatory to see the beatiful view of Beppu city. For lunch you can try Jigokumushi restaurant where you choose your ingredients and cook them with natural hot spring steam comes out from the ground. 

Enjoy your day in a beautiful hot spring town and have delicious healthy food for lunch!

Beppu Hell Private Tour from Fukuoka

These two landmarks of Fukuoka city can give you a great landscape of Fukuoka city. You can enjoy commanding great views. By walking and taking bus, we can see the real life of local people.
Fukuoka city was a twin town with its eastern area being merchants' town called Hakata and its western area being samurai warriors' town called Fukuoka.
Fukuoka tower area is a new clean high-class area built around the late 1980s. On the other hand, Fukuoka castle area was built about 420 years ago. You can see the beautiful moats and castle stone walls. This castle is filled with seasonal beautiful flowers such as wisteria, cherry blossom, double-cherry blossom, lotus, peony, iris and so on.

Fukuoka PayPay Dome from Hilton Seahawk Hotel

Fukuoka PayPay Dome and Fukuoka urban highway

The new and old of Fukuoka city, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Castle

Highlights of Fukuoka city (6 hours)

Best of Fukuoka - a Half Day Private Tour by Mini-Van

Welcome to Fukuoka, I would like to show you major historical sites in a half day, using a mini-van.

First, we will visit a beautiful Japanese-style garden in "Yusentei", which used to be a Samurai house until the mid 19th century. The villa has a large banquet room facing a pond. I love drinking matcha tea there. You can meditate in the room, or walk through the garden, enjoying the moss garden. I'm sure you'll find yourself much relaxed after visiting the garden.

For lunch, why don't you try Nagahama ramen? It is local people's soul food.

In the afternoon, we'll move to Hakata district, the eastern side of Fukuoka city by car, and visit Tochoji Temple and Kushida Shrine. You shouldn't miss Fukuoka Daibutsu in Tochoji, the biggest seated wooden Buddha in Japan. Kushida Shrine has been a guardian shrine for Hakata merchants since the 8th century, and it is famous for answering prayers for a good business, happy long life and staying young.

Please bring back the best memory of Fukuoka with you!

Statue of Monk Kukai, the founder of Tochoji Temple

Traditional architectural style in Samurai era

You can drink matcha tea at the main guest room in Yusentei (optional)

Karatsu tours

Explore with 56 tours and 7 guides.

Mayumi E.

$ 317 (USD)

Kao A.

$ 369 (USD)

Asako I.

$ 299 (USD)

Kayoko W

$ 405 (USD)

Akiko K.

$ 258 (USD)

Jessica C.

$ 298 (USD)

Mayumi E.

$ 273 (USD)

Kao A.

$ 332 (USD)

Kayoko W

$ 442 (USD)

Hitomi T.

$ 302 (USD)

Asako I.

$ 199 (USD)

Akiko K.

$ 258 (USD)

Meet your local guides in Karatsu

Customize your tour