Ohori Park

Known as one of the best places in Fukuoka to get away from the energy of the city, Ohori Park is lovely for a leisurely walk with friends and family.

The walking path that surrounds its central pond is just over two kilometres long, making it a very reasonable distance to cover. If you’re not up for walking, there are swan boats and canoes available for you to rent so you can cruise around the lake at your leisure.

“Ohori” is the Japanese word for moat; it’s certainly a fitting name for the park given its pond’s history as an integral part of the Fukuoka Castle’s moat system. Kuroda Nagamasa, once the presiding feudal lord over the prefecture, chose to integrate the pond into the system after reclaiming the northern half of a cove facing Hakata Bay. It was built between 1926 and 1929, modelled after the garden style of China’s West Lake

Nearby is the Ohori Park Japanese Garden for those who are interested in seeing what a traditional Japanese garden looks like. Although it charges a small admission fee (no admission fee is required for entry into Ohori Park itself), it’s well worth the visit as Gokoku Shrine is also conveniently located across the street.

Ohori Park is conveniently situated near the Fukuoka Art Museum, known for its permanent exhibition of Buddhist statues and its extensive collection of modern artwork. It’s also adjacent to Maizuru Park where the Fukuoka Castle Ruins lie.