There are plenty of picturesque, local attractions in Fukuoka Prefecture. So why not take a drive to the outskirts of the city and let time pass by slowly, as you look out the car window and to the idyllic landscape it has to offer?
【A SIMPLE, SUGGESTED ROUTE】
ONGA RIVER PUMPING STATION
10 kilometers from the mouth of the Onga River lies this watershed and pumping station, part of the Yawata Steel Work’s facilities. It is also one of the structures included in Japan’s historical Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining Heritage Sites. The facility was built in 1910 and continues to be in operation up to this day; in 2015 it was registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site.
NOGATA CITY COAL MEMORIAL MUSEUM
This structure is a museum that aims to impart the important historical contribution of the Chikuho Region in the advancement of coal mining in Japan. Located outside the museum are steam locomotives and a drilling machine used for mining coal. A tunnel used for mine rescue practice is also in the area.
OLD DEN’EMON ITO RESIDENCE
This mansion is the former home of the then-called King of Coal Mining of Chikuho, Den’emon Ito, and of his once-spouse, the famous poet Byakuren Yanagihara. The vast estate, said to have been built starting from the Meiji Era until its completion during the early Showa Era, boasts of a grand mansion and a large garden that extends throughout the area. From the sitting room with a mantlepiece and sparkling stained glass art noveau interior, to the hallway laid with tatami mats, the artistic elements of the residence are a must-see.
KYUSHU APPLE VILLAGE
On the hillside of Mt. Umami lies an orchard that spans around 22 hectares where you can see 6 small establishments, all run by locals, that specialise in growing pears and apples. Cultivated using organic fertilizer and grown with minimal pesticide use, pears of 6 different kinds (from the regular pear, to the kousui, etc), as well as 6 different types of apples (including the tsugaru), all of them fresh and delicious, can be found here in abundance. The area is open to tourists from late August until late November, with apple-picking season starting from early September.
NANZOUIN TEMPLE
The main temple of the Sasaguri Shikoku hallowed grounds, where around 1.2 million people visit every year. It boasts of the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue, a Reclining Buddha or Buddha in Nirvana that stands at 11 meters high and 41 meters wide.
