Library Owl

Sakura (Cherry blossoms) at Tochoji Temple (東長寺)

The group tour that my mum and I signed up for have a 4-hour window before heading for the departing flight. Our starting point was at Tenjin. Mum and I took the subway to Gion for some cultural and historical exploration.

Trip Route: Tenjin Station (天神駅) → Gion Station (祇園駅) → Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社) → Hakata Machiya Folk Museum (博多町家故鄉館)→ Hakata Traditional Craft Center (博多傳統工藝館) → Tochoji Temple (東長寺) → Gion Station → Tenjin Station

在較大的地圖上查看Fukuoka 2012-04-03

Actually it took me like 6 hours, surfing the internet and hand-drawing maps to my notebook at the hotel we stayed the night before. Plan A was to take the subway to Gion, and visit the nearby temples, shrines, craft center and museum. Plan B was to visit the Acros Fukuoka (福岡阿庫羅斯), central park, Fukuoka Akarenga Cultural Center (赤煉瓦文化館), and Suikyo Tenmangu Shrine (水鏡天滿宮) if it was raining cats and dogs.

在較大的地圖上查看Fukuoka 2012-04-03 Plan B

Great phraise to Fukuoka/Hakata Tourist Information Site (http://yokanavi.com/tw), which provides abundant information on Fukuoka culture and have great trip recommendations. 

Other free references that are really useful for me, and personally regarded as something worth acquiring at Fukuoka Airport:

1. Now Map: provide a detailed multi-lingual map for Tenjin and Gion Area.

http://fukuoka-now.com/

2. Fukuoka City Visitor's Guide: provide detailed multi-lingual information concerning sightseeing, foods, and culture.

http://welcome-fukuoka.or.jp/digiBook-e/index.html

東長寺

@Gion Station #1 Exit (福岡市博多區御供所町2-4)

屬真言宗九州教，相傳由弘法大師創建於806A.D.

供奉有平安時期以單一木材雕刻而成的千手觀音像

日本一大佛/福岡大佛，建於1988A.D.

六角堂，1842年由商人募款，請伊藤平左衛門設計建造， 目前僅每月的28日會開放內部供人參訪

 五重塔

櫛田神社

10 minutes walk from Gion Station #3 Exit (福岡市博多區上川端町1-41）

為博多總鎮守

有一株夫妻銀杏

並陳設據說為抵抗蒙古大軍入侵後，從海中撈上來的石製蒙古船錨

展示有博多祗園山笠（裝飾山車）

本殿旁有延年益壽的神水[親身經歷：又鹹又苦]

There's an interesting activity going on in Spring and Summer 2012, called Hakata Walk.

http://www.yokanavi.com/eg/newsinfodetail/index/444

I did get a lovely map/brochure at 櫛田神社.

博多傳統工藝館 (2011年開館)

http://hakata-dentou-kougeikan.jp

@櫛田神社旁 (福岡市博多區上川端町6-1）

免費參觀，Wed休館，開放時間10AM-6PM

（內部不能攝影／拍照）

展示有當代工藝師的博多織、博多人偶、博多曲物、博多獨樂、博多張子、博多剪刀和高取燒陶等

參觀者可利用館內陳設的電腦，播放關於這些工藝品的歷史、製作過程等影片

Personally, I think it's worth a visit if one like to watch videos and take in something educational. Besides, it's free. 

博多町家故鄉館

http://www.hakatamachiya.com/index.html

@櫛田神社對面（福岡市博多區冷泉町6-10）

開放時間10AM-6PM

門票200日元

展示有大正、明治時期博多生活模型並有傳統工藝師傅現場展演

其建物是將早期町家的房屋遷至現址重建而成

If one is looking for suveniours that have some Hakata traditional crafts in them, Hakata Machiya Folk Museum is the place to visit. Besides, if one would like to see craft men working in a real environment instead of on screen, this is the place to visit. Mum and I encountered an old gentleman working as volunteer there. He came to Taiwan years ago to purchase pineapple cans for sale in Japan. To be honest, he is speaking Japanese really fast, and I can't really understand half of it.