Imagine walking through a stunning field of colorful flowers overlooking an endless stretch of serene blue waters, the fresh scent of pine trees in the air. That is what awaits you at Nokonoshima Island Park in Fukuoka, Japan, the most scenic park I have ever visited. It was opened to the public in 1969 by Kosaku Kubota, who wanted people to enjoy the natural scenery around them. Everywhere you turn, there are gorgeous vistas, many of which extend to views of Hakata Bay.
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Getting There
To get to Nokonoshima Island Park, I boarded a ferry at the Meinohama Ferry Terminal in Fukuoka City. After about a 10-minute pleasant cruise, I disembarked at the Nokonoshima Ferry Terminal and hopped on the Nishitetsu bus for a 13-minute ride that dropped passengers off at the park’s entrance. Transportation fees and schedules are available on the Nokonoshima Island Park website. As of this writing (2018), admission is 1200 yen for adults; discounted tickets are available for children.
The Great Lawn & Panorama Flower Garden
Passing through the entrance, I was immediately taken aback by the breathtaking vistas and expansive gardens. My first stop was the Great Lawn, which was full of guests picnicking and laying on the grass, enjoying the sunny weather. Kids were playing at a unique looking wooden playground nearby. There was a beautiful wedding photo shoot being held, which apparently is a common occurrence. No surprise there – what a fantastic backdrop the park provides.
The Great Lawn connected to my favorite area: the Panorama Flower Garden. It certainly lived up to its name – when I visited in October, thousands of cosmos flowers were in bloom, painting the area in a sea of light pinks and magentas. The vista stretched all the way down to the beautiful blues of Hakata Bay. Be sure to check out the park’s blooming schedule before you visit. Depending on the time of year, you may see poppies in spring, sunflowers in summer, cosmos in autumn, and camellia sasanqua in winter.
Bordering the lawn are little cottages available for overnight lodging rentals. I did not stay in one, but I can imagine it would be lovely to wake up in the morning to incredible garden and bay views!
Shops, Museums, & Dining
Down the path were several shops and museums. I peeked inside the Warabekan art gallery, which displayed the works of painter Isao Nishijima, including his illustrations on the interior sliding doors.
Then it was on to exploring a very cool reconstruction of a traditional Japanese home. After seeing so many pictures of old Japanese hearths, it was great to see one in person.
In a neighboring building was a lovely display of diverse pottery wares. As it turns out, the park offers pottery workshops for an added fee. I did not participate in one, but by the looks of the pottery on display, the teachers were very skilled!
Right in the same area were a few restaurants and cafés. For lunch, I slurped some delicious udon noodles at Kochan Udon.
North & West Gardens
Then it was time for more flowers! To the north of the garden, red, pink, and yellow dahlias were in bloom overlooking the water; to the west, more cosmos.
A few visitors were enjoying the scenery while playing the island’s special sport, nokonokoball. Lots of benches were scattered around the area so visitors could sit underneath the shade of the trees to relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Gift Shop
Back at the entrance/exit was a gift shop selling souvenirs and local goods like honey, fruit juice, and wine. I saw a grove of fresh citrus fruits on one of the paths, so my guess it that the fruit grown on the property is used in these products. If you want to pick up something for your friends and family before heading back to the city, this is a good place to browse.
Getting Back to Fukuoka City
After spending several hours soaking up the sunshine and spectacular nature, it was time to head back to Fukuoka City. While I waited for the ferry, I enjoyed the nice views of Fukuoka’s Momochi area from across the bay at the Nokonoshima Ferry Terminal.
Final Thoughts
If you are in Fukuoka and you are a nature lover like I am, this is a fantastic day trip to make. Take a break from the fast-paced city life and dedicate two or three hours (or more!) to take in all of the beautiful sights Nokonoshima Island Park has to offer.
(All photos taken by Clara Juliette)
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Clara hopes to share her love of exploring cultures and inspire others through the power of storytelling. In addition to writing and travel, she loves psychology, nature, green tea, and cats.