A park surrounding a huge pond as a place of respite for the citizens
Formerly the outer moat for Fukuoka Castle which was built over an inlet on Hakata Bay, Ohori Park was established as a prefectural park in 1927 for the citizens of Fukuoka to use as a place of rest. Situated in the center of Fukuoka City, within its 398,000 square meters, it mostly consists of a pond which is surrounded by a strolling path that measures about 2 km, a forest for wild birds, children’s playgrounds, a Noh theater, a Japanese garden, pond islands that are joined by 4 bridges, the Ukimi-do pavilion, and a boat house. On the strolling path around the pond, there is a rubber-chip pavement and distance signs which provide an ideal environment for jogging and cycling. In addition, there are 2 playgrounds for children supplied with slides and other equipment for families to enjoy. At the adjacent Nishi Park, an area of 1300 cherry trees which has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Places for Sakura blooms every year, and in the autumn, the leaves of maple and gingko trees are beautiful. There is also a large observation plaza from where the city of Fukuoka, Hakata Bay and Shika Island can be seen.
An amusement spot where you can enjoy entertainment and culture
There are various facilities within the park. Inside the 12000㎡ Japanese garden, a waterfall and artificial hill surround a large pond, and there is a dry landscape garden and a teahouse built in the sukiya style. Each of these places are connected by a path which winds around the pond making it easy to take a nice walk, and with the large variety of trees and plants, you can enjoy the different expressions throughout the four seasons. The Fukuoka Art Museum has over 14,000 artifacts including tea ceremony utensils (some of which have become Important Cultural Properties), Buddhist art, antique works, and works by world-regarded masters such as Dali, Miro & Chagall along with creations by Kyushu-born artists such as Seiki Kuroda, Shigeru Aoki and Hanjiro Sakamoto. On the Noh stage, the traditional Japanese dramatic form of Noh is performed, so it is worth checking out since tickets can be purchased online in advance. The boathouse area is a hit with the young people as it is filled with stylish cafes and restaurants. With rowboat rentals, it is also a spot that is popular with families.