Itoshima attractions

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Hello.
We are Nogi and Kana, owners of Itoshima Guesthouse Kotonoha.
We show 10 attractions which make you enjoy Itoshima.

1.Convenient location

Itoshima is located right next to Fukuoka city and next to the border of Saga prefecture.

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Location of Itoshima

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

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Itoshima sea from Mt.Hiyama

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.

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Senset@Keya no Oto

Let’s enjoy the sea in Itoshima.

Playable mountain

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Sefuri mountain system

The southern part of Itoshima is the boundary with Saga prefecture, and mountains around the height of 1000m range.

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Shiraito Fall

You can enjoy “cool” Shiraito Fall.

shiraitotaki - 2 糸島夏の定番!マイナスイオンがいっぱいの「白糸の滝」

You can also enjoy Forest adventure Itoshima.

forestadventure-13 「フォレストアドベンチャー糸島」大人が子供にかえる場所!

3. Convenient transportation access

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How to access Itoshima by train

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.

Access

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

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Delicious Japanese lunch at “Kozainomori restaurant”

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.

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Sushi lunch at “Shimizu”

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!

糸島ディナー 【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“.

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Cafe Current
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London Bus Cafe

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!

おすすめカフェ 【糸島エリア別】福岡・糸島おすすめのカフェ30選!

Fresh foodstuffs at many farmers’ markets!

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Ito Saisai

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.

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.

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Kitai soy sauce factory

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.

kitai - 4 2年半もかけて、杉樽で熟成させる本物の醤油「北伊醤油」

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Mataichi no Shio
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Mataichi no Shio

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.

mataichi - 2 Hand made salt factory “Mataichi no Shio”

We introduce other traditional factories.

Only in Winter! Oyster BBQ houses

Speaking of winter in Itoshima, it is “Oyster BBQ houses“.

An oyster BBQ house

The season is roughly from November to March.
You can enjoy the fresh oysters in BBQ style!
Oysters are cultivated just off the harbors.

Very fresh oyster!!!

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.

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Ideyasai

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

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Kokonoki

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.

Coconoki - 1 地域のクラフト作家を支える「糸島くらし × ここのき」

Galleries directly managed by artisans

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Ken Gama

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.

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Itoshima Craft Festival
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Products

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.

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The beautiful autumn leaves of Sennyoji temple
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Sakurai Daijingu shrine

Sakurai Shrine, by its name, is also a sacred place for Japanese idol “Arashi” fans, and young worshipers are continual.

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Sacred stone “Kamiishi”

One of the most popular tourist spots recently is the tour of megaliths.
Sacred stone “Kamiishi” is really huge!

kamiari - 11 鬼滅の刃で人気!糸島「神在神社の神石(しんせき)」

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.

Kirara no Yu

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.

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Kyushu Univ. Ito campus(photo by Kyushu University facebook

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.

AHO(エイホー)” Students work in a share kitchen.

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!

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“Itokai” exchange meeting between locals and migrants

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.

itoshimabreakfast - 1 6 recommended breakfasts in Itoshima, Fukuoka!

おすすめカフェ 【糸島エリア別】福岡・糸島おすすめのカフェ30選!

糸島ディナー 【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!

二見ヶ浦 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!

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