Attraction

Shofukuji Temple

Hakata-ku, Fukuoka

Overview

Founded in 1195 by Eisai on his return from Song China, this is Japan's first Zen (Rinzai) temple. Eisai also brought back tea seeds, fathering Japanese tea culture; the gate bears retired Emperor Go-Toba's inscription naming it Japan's first Zen temple. Buildings are closed to entry, but the grounds are free to wander — stone-walled lanes and old pines improbably hushed for the city center. With Tochoji, it anchors Hakata's old temple quarter.

💰 Tickets

Free.

🎟️ Check ticket prices →

Opening Hours

Grounds freely open (daylight hours recommended)

🚇 Getting there

5 minutes from Gion subway station; 12 from Hakata Station on foot.

⏱️ How long to visit

About 30 minutes.

🌅 Best time to visit

Quietest in early morning — fold into a temple walk with Tochoji and Kushida Shrine.

Travel Tips

Interiors are closed, so treat it as a quiet stroll. The mossy stone-walled lane is the photo spot.

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🇰🇷 Tips for Korean Travelers

Practical info for Korean travelers heading to Fukuoka, Japan from Seoul (ICN).

Korean Passport · Visa

Check visa rules for Japan on the Korean MOFA travel advisory site before flying — visa-free, visa-on-arrival or e-visa rules change often. Keep at least 6 months of passport validity.

Flight from Incheon (ICN)

Compare direct and connecting flights from Incheon (ICN) to Fukuoka on Skyscanner or Google Flights. Early-morning departures from Korea are usually the cheapest option.

KRW ↔ Local Currency

Check the live FX widget above for the latest KRW rate. Korean travel cards like Travel Wallet, Hana EZ and Toss FX offer free local ATM withdrawals and competitive rates.

Korean Community · Korean Food

Many cities have an active Korean community in Fukuoka with Korean restaurants, mini-marts, and Korean-speaking guides. Search Naver Cafe or KakaoTalk open chats for "Fukuoka 한인" before you go.

Attractions near Shofukuji Temple

Tap a pin on the map to jump to that attraction.

religion

Tochoji Temple (Fukuoka Daibutsu)

A Shingon temple founded by Kobo Daishi, home to the Fukuoka Daibutsu — one of Japan's largest wooden seated Buddhas at 10.8m.

📍 352m away

religion

Kushida Shrine

Hakata's guardian shrine and home of July's Gion Yamakasa festival, with a 10m+ decorated float on year-round display.

📍 638m away

Museum

Fukuoka Asian Art Museum

The world's only museum systematically collecting modern and contemporary Asian art — a rainy-day savior in Hakata.

📍 862m away

shops

Canal City Hakata

A canal runs through this mega shopping complex, with hourly fountain shows and evening 3D projection mapping.

📍 941m away

foods

Nakasu Yatai Street

Riverside rows of yatai food stalls — ramen, yakitori and oden shoulder-to-shoulder, the symbol of Fukuoka's night culture.

📍 956m away

shops

Tenjin

Kyushu's biggest downtown — department stores, an underground mall and the Daimyo backstreets in one walkable core.

📍 1.4km away

religion

Sumiyoshi Shrine Fukuoka

Reputedly the oldest of Japan's 2,000+ Sumiyoshi shrines, with a power-deity statue said to grant strength to matched palms.

📍 1.5km away

foods

Yanagibashi Market

A century-old market called 'Hakata's Kitchen', its lane packed with fresh seafood and mentaiko shops.

📍 1.9km away

Castle

Fukuoka Castle Ruins (Maizuru Park)

The stone ramparts and turrets of what was Kyushu's largest castle, now a park blanketed by 1,000 cherry trees each spring.

📍 3.3km away

Garden

Ohori Park

A downtown lake park built around Fukuoka Castle's old moat, with a beloved 2km loop path circling the water.

📍 3.7km away

Tower

Fukuoka Tower

At 234m Japan's tallest seaside tower, sheathed in 8,000 half-mirror panels with sweeping Hakata Bay views.

📍 5.8km away

Beach

Momochi Seaside Park

A man-made white-sand beach below Fukuoka Tower, famous for sunsets and the Marizon wedding hall on the water.

📍 6.2km away

Garden

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

A vast national park on a sandbar between two seas — seasonal flower fields, cycling routes and a petting zoo fill a whole day.

📍 8.7km away

Museum

Marine World Uminonakamichi

An aquarium themed on Kyushu's seas — dolphin shows against a real ocean backdrop and a shark-filled open-sea tank.

📍 9.2km away

Nature

Nokonoshima Island Park

A flower park on a small Hakata Bay island, where rapeseed and cosmos fields overlook the sea and the city skyline.

📍 10.0km away

religion

Dazaifu Tenmangu

Head shrine of Japan's Tenmangu shrines, dedicated to the deity of learning — the top day-trip from Fukuoka.

📍 14.1km away

Museum

Kyushu National Museum

Japan's fourth national museum, themed on Asian cultural exchange, housed in a striking wave-shaped glass hall.

📍 14.9km away

Things to Do in Fukuoka

food

Nakasu Yatai Hopping

Hop two or three riverside stalls for ramen, yakitori and oden — Fukuoka's definitive night out. Cash essential.

Price JPY 1,500-2,500 per stallDuration 1.5-2 hours

🎟️ Check prices & book →

Culture

Dazaifu Day Trip

A half-day by train from Tenjin: Dazaifu Tenmangu, the Kyushu National Museum and the mochi-lined approach.

Price About JPY 800 round-trip rail + admissionsDuration Half a day (4-5 hours)

🎟️ Check prices & book →

leisure

Nakasu River Cruise

Glide the Naka River at night as yatai lanterns and neon shimmer across the water.

Price Around JPY 1,000Duration About 30 minutes

🎟️ Check prices & book →

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