Itoshima
糸島
Fukuoka's weekend backyard getaway, with a coastal road, a white torii gate and the Wedded Rocks, seaside cafés and winter oyster huts.
Itoshima City lies on the Itoshima Peninsula, west of Fukuoka City. From Tenjin it is about a 40-minute drive. In recent years it has become an extremely popular driving destination on social media in both Japan and China, known for its 'slow life by the sea'. The core is Sakurai Futamigaura on the peninsula's north coast. Two rocks joined by a sacred shimenawa rope stand in the sea, and a white torii gate stands on the shore. Around the summer solstice the sun sets exactly between the two rocks, making this Itoshima's signature image. Along the nearby coastal road (Shima Sunset Road), cafés, burger shops, bakeries and general stores facing the sea line the route, including Palm Beach and Sunset Café. They are fully booked on weekends. Further west are Kaiya Daimon, Japan's largest basalt sea cave, which you can enter by sightseeing boat; Nijō Salt, a handmade sea salt workshop; and Shiraito Falls, where flowing somen noodles are served in summer. On the other side of the peninsula and inland is the oyster hut scene. From November to March each year, a dozen or so large sheds are set up beside the fishing port, where visitors grill freshly caught oysters and shellfish over charcoal themselves, at about 2,000 to 3,000 yen per person. It is Fukuoka's most popular winter food experience. Getting there: driving is most convenient, and you can rent a car in central Fukuoka. You can also take the JR Chikuhi Line to Chikuzen-Maebaru Station or Itoshima Kōkōmae Station and then transfer to a Showa bus or rent a bicycle, but services are infrequent. Fukuoka also runs half-day bus tours. Allow half a day to a full day. Notes: popular cafés have queues of over an hour on weekends, so weekdays are better. The coast is windy, and it gets cool at sunset. Wear clothes that can handle smoke at the oyster huts; most provide aprons. Parking near the Wedded Rocks is limited.
Opening hours
Open all day; cafés mostly 10:00–17:00; oyster hut around 10:00–16:00 from November to March
Nearby sights
- Nokonoshima Island
- Fukuoka Tower
- Fukuoka City Museum
- Seaside Momochi Beach Park
- Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka
- Ohori Park
- Fukuoka Art Museum
- Uminonakamichi Seaside Park