Hello.
We are Nogi and Kana, owners of Itoshima Guesthouse Kotonoha.
We show 10 attractions which make you enjoy Itoshima.
目次
- 1.Convenient location
- 2. Rich nature
- 3. Convenient transportation access
- 4. Famous Gastronomy
- 5. Crafts Town Itoshima
- 6. Deep history
- 7.One of the best hot springs in Japan!
- 8. Kyushu University Ito Campus
- 9. Friendly Itoshima people
- 10.Summary of Itoshima Recommended Sightseeing Information
- Itoshima attractions map
1.Convenient location
Itoshima is located right next to Fukuoka city and next to the border of Saga prefecture.
It is very convenient location, because it takes 30 to 40 minutes from Fukuoka Airport and JR Hakata Station by train without transfer.
2. Rich nature
1st Itoshima attracition is the rich nature.
We have beautiful sea and mountains.
Both are so close.
Beautiful sea
Speaking of Itoshima’s image, it is “sea” after all.
You can enjoy swimming, marine sports, fishing and etc.
These are very popular in Fukuoka.
Depending on the depth and the location, the sea color varies. It shows a clear blue, emerald color shine, or a deep bluish luster.
Especially, the setting sun across the Itoshima sea is exceptional.
Let’s enjoy the sea in Itoshima.
Playable mountain
The southern part of Itoshima is the boundary with Saga prefecture, and mountains around the height of 1000m range.
You can enjoy “cool” Shiraito Fall.
You can also enjoy Forest adventure Itoshima.
3. Convenient transportation access
Itoshima has excellent traffic access.
From Fukuoka Airport in the center of Fukuoka City or JR Hakata Station of the Shinkansen, you can reach Itoshima in 30-40 minutes by direct train.
Please refer to the following link for details.
Please get on the train for “Chikuzen-Maebaru” or “Nishi-Karatsu” to come to Itoshima.
If you want to visit Itoshima by bus, please refer to the bus schedule and route map below.
Itoshima bus timetable and route map
4. Famous Gastronomy
The purpose of tourists who come to Itoshima is “Itoshima’s food“, also known as the “Itoshima brand“.
It is a “treasure trove of ingredients” where the owners and chefs of top restaurants in Tokyo and Osaka come to visit for inspection.
Local production & consumption of meat, fish, vegetables
Many restaurants in Itoshima aim for “Local production & consumption“.
Producers make delicious vegetables and livestock products, thinking of the safety and the taste the best.
Fishing is also prosperous because Itoshima faces the Genkai-nada ocean which is one of the most famous fishing grounds in Japan.
You can enjoy fresh “Sasimi” and “Sushi” here every time.
The catch of the natural red snapper, called the “King of Fish”, is the highest in Japan for the seventh consecutive year (2012-2018).
You can’t miss it!
【美味しい糸島ディナー】糸島・前原（まえばる）のおすすめ飲食店リスト！
Wonderful atmosphere cafes
One of the best images of Itoshima is “Wonderful atmosphere cafes“.
While enjoying the blue ocean, having delicious coffee and local meal is a healing time for you.
The cafes are dotted in Itoshima, and unique owners are waiting for you.
But in the past there was no cafe at all…
In the 1990’s, a surfer who fell in love with Itoshima’s sea opened the cafe “Sunset” to create a place to work on Itoshima. It called a reputation, and “graduates” also opened cafes in Itoshima.
Then Itoshima became a “town of cafe“.
Please enjoy the cafes with warm hospitality!
Fresh foodstuffs at many farmers’ markets!
You can buy fresh foodstuff from farmers, livestock farmers and fresh fishes at many “farmers’ markets” in Itoshima.
The most famous one is “Ito Saisai“.
The sales are the best in Japan.
Fresh foodstuffs are delivered every morning by more than 1,500 registered farmers.
If you like shopping, you will get excited the foodstuffs, processed goods and flowers.
We will introduce other farmers’ markets.
- “Nigiyaka na Haru” A poultry farmer owns it, and there are many organic products.
- “Itoaguri” complex facility of organic farmers’ market, restaurant and cafe, renovated the soy sauce factory
- “Shima no Shiki” Fishers’ market and Seafood bowl restaurant
- “Fuku Fuku no Sato” Farmers’ market in Nijo area.canola flower in spring is famous
- “Himeshima ferry port farmers’ market” Small but organic farmers’ market
Let’s find your favorite farmers’ market in Itoshima!
Traditional food cultures
In Itoshima there are soy sauce factories, sake brewery, salt factory and etc. that produce by traditional manufacturing method.
Soy sauce is made with only soybeans, wheat, and salt.
It takes over two and a half years.
This is “true” soy sauce.
Like Kitai soy sauce factory, there are only about 10 soy sauce factories in Japan, keeping traditional method to use cedar barrels for aging.
“Mataichi no Shio” is a salt factory.
The owner was a cooker and thought that there was no good salt.
Then he started to make salt.
Three-dimensional salt field with bamboos assembled is so unique.
There is also a famous “salt pudding“, so let’s try.
Hand made salt factory “Mataichi no Shio”
We introduce other traditional factories.
- Soy sauce—“Mitsuru soy sauce factory“, “Kanoo soy sauce factory“
- Sake—“Shiraito-shuzo“, “Hamachi shuzo（Suginoya）“
Only in Winter! Oyster BBQ houses
Speaking of winter in Itoshima, it is “Oyster BBQ houses“.
The season is roughly from November to March.
You can enjoy the fresh oysters in BBQ style!
Oysters are cultivated just off the harbors.
It’s so yummy!!!
Please refer to the info of oyster BBQ houses.
Farmers of specialty
Local farmers made “Itoshima brand” by the efforts for a long time.
Here, flat land is small, so it is not suitable for mass production of small varieties.
So they have been working on “small production of many varieties” .
It fits perfectly with the concept of “Local production & consumption“
Recently the new young farmers from outside of Itoshima settled down and made farming here as following.
You can buy their organic products in some farmers market in Itoshima.
5. Crafts Town Itoshima
As of 2020, over 130 artisans & artists live in Itoshima.
They make ceramic arts, woodworking, glasses, clothing, accessories and etc.
Many people have moved to Itoshima, and the first wave goes back to the 1980s.
You can buy their works at some specialty shops, or galleries directly managed by artisans.
Specialty shops
Kokonoki handles works of over 70 artisans in Itoshima.
In the same place, there is a coffee roaster & cafe : Tana cafe.
You can enjoy shopping with good coffee flavor.
Galleries directly managed by artisans
Some artisans have their own galleries.
Itoshima Tourism Association in front of JR Chikuzen-Maebaru station has pamphlets of Itoshima artisans’ galleries.
So please refer to it.
Please note that galleries are sometimes closed due to their circumstances, so be sure to call to them before you go.
Itoshima Craft Festival
“Itoshima Craft Festival” is a big event where the workshops dotted in Itoshima gather at once, once a year.
It is held in Semtember or October every year.
60 to 70 artisans turn into sellers only for a few days.
6. Deep history
Over 2000 years ago, Chinese official paper said Itoshima area had prosperity as the base of diplomacy, trade and military affairs in Japan.
The country was called “Ito koku“.
Yes, we have a much deeper history than Kyoto or Nara.
A lot of advanced cultures and tools of Asian continent first came to Itoshima in Japan.
You can find many ruins and ancient tombs in Itoshima.
There are also many historical temples and shrines.
Sakurai Shrine, by its name, is also a sacred place for Japanese idol “Arashi” fans, and young worshipers are continual.
One of the most popular tourist spots recently is the tour of megaliths.
Sacred stone “Kamiishi” is really huge!
Please come back to History Walking around Itoshima at ease.
7.One of the best hot springs in Japan!
In both summer and winter, people often say, “We want to go to a hot spring in Itoshima!”
Our recommendation is Kirara no Yu.
It is a natural hot spring boasting one of the highest radon content in Japan.
Whenever we go, we just get warm and hard to cool down!
Ideal for refreshing.
It is a place just away from JR Chikuzen Fukae Station, and has a lot of parking lots.
8. Kyushu University Ito Campus
One of the leading national universities in Japan: Kyushu University has a large campus in Itoshima.
It is one of the largest academic research cities where 20,000 students (including 2000 international students) study.
the students are involved in community development.
You may have a good time with the unique students.
9. Friendly Itoshima people
Itoshima’s greatest attraction is “people“.
There are many people who say that at cafes and restaurants the owners and shopkeepers have healed their minds, as they talked casually, or behaved friendly.
Since Itoshima has a history of interaction with the continent, there is still a culture of welcoming people!
The area around JR Chikuzen-maebaru Station where our guesthouse is located is a downtown area, and interesting people come from all over Itoshima.
Monthly exchange event “Itokai” is held, and there are also restaurants and Izakaya with counters that make it easy to make friends.
Please enjoy talking in Itoshima!
10.Summary of Itoshima Recommended Sightseeing Information
The following is a list of useful Itoshima recommended sightseeing information.
Please refer to it.
6 recommended breakfasts in Itoshima, Fukuoka!
【美味しい糸島ディナー】糸島・前原（まえばる）のおすすめ飲食店リスト！
The 11 Most Instagrammable Places in ITOSHIMA,Fukuoka!
Itoshima bus timetable and route map
Itoshima attractions map
Itoshima is not enough in one day, so sightseeing with stay is recommended.
Our customers have often said, “One day is not enough!“
Click here for reservation of our accommodation
↓ ↓