Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is an all-round great venue for pure leisure-ing. Bike through the vast gardens of the park passing brightly colored buildings, poke around the amusement park attractions or have an outdoor picnic with friends and family – this is wholesome fun at its family-friendly best.

As the park is built on a strip of land that connects the Genkai Sea and Hakata Bay, its name literally translates to “The Road that Runs through the Ocean”.

The park, which is divided into multiple sections, can be easily navigated by biking through its grounds. Full-day bicycle rentals are available for 500 yen. Alternatively, you can buy a full-day pass for the train that runs throughout the park grounds for 500 yen. Be aware that purchasing a ticket for one ride on the train will cost you 300 yen.

Have fun at the retro amusement park. Photo by Tzuhsun Hsu.

It wouldn’t be Japan without a bit of flower viewing; head to the Flower Museum and the Rose Garden to experience Fukuoka’s flora.

The Flower Museum is an open-concept museum that allows visitors to take in the sights and smells of the seasonal flowers as well as a selection of herbs, while the Rose Garden, at its peak, is home to over 1,500 rose bushes of different species. From the beginning of May to mid-June and from mid-October to mid-November, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!

The park also houses a small zoo home to flamingos, Bolivian squirrel monkeys, and over 40 other species. Anyone who’s always wanted a guinea pig, make sure to visit the Animal Petting Farm from 10:20 to 15:00. During peak periods, from 10:00 until 16:00 at the Petting Animal Garden, you may also get a chance to pet the zoo’s goats, tortoises, miniature pigs, and more. (Check the website calendar before you go.)

Visit Marine World Uminonakamichi to see some of Kyushu’s diverse marine life. Photo by Takashi Yamaoku.

The park also offers visitors a chance to visit the Marine World Uminonakamichi, which is situated across the train tracks outside of Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. Here, marine species from all over Kyushu can be viewed. Dolphin and sea lion shows are held daily at the pool and offer a splendid view of the Hakata Bay.

End your visit to the park with a leisurely stroll through the Wonder World amusement park, or take a dip in the Sunshine Pool, the largest pool complex in western Japan.