Nanzoin Temple, Miyajidake Shrine & Itoshima tour from Hakata

See four sacred sites and a forest that looks straight out of anime, all in one day from the city.

A full-day guided tour departing Hakata Station visits Nanzoin Temple (home to one of the world's largest reclining bronze Buddhas), Miyajidake Shrine (famous for its massive sacred rope and alignment with the sunset), Itoshima's Totoro Forest, and Sakurai Futamigaura's iconic married rocks. The tour includes admission to Nanzoin Temple, a self-guided walk through Yamaya's mentaiko factory with lunch, and an English or Japanese-speaking guide in an air-conditioned vehicle. Minimum 15 participants required. The tour may be cancelled if that threshold is not met seven days before departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Fukuoka and Itoshima highlights

• Visit Nanzoin Temple and reclining Buddha
• Tour Yamaya Mentaiko Factory and lunch
• Explore Miyajidake Shrine and Path of Light
• Stroll through Totoro Forest
• See Sakurai Futamigaura married rocks and sunset

The experience

Nanzoin Temple anchors the morning. The reclining bronze Buddha here is 41 meters long, 11 meters high, and weighs roughly 300 tons: completed in 1995 and set in a serene mountain landscape outside Fukuoka City. After the temple, you move to Yamaya Factory Terrace for a self-guided tour of how mentaiko (spicy cod roe) is made: you'll walk the open factory floor and watch the cleaning, sorting, and marinating process unfold under automation, all in Fukuoka's signature 168-hour sake-and-chili sauce. Lunch is included here, and afterward you can browse the marketplace for mentaiko-flavored snacks and local goods you won't find elsewhere.

The afternoon shifts to Miyajidake Shrine in Fukutsu City, a Shinto shrine that draws over 2 million visitors a year. Its defining feature is the massive sacred straw rope and the stone staircase approach that extends straight toward the sea. Twice yearly (around February 20th and October 20th) the setting sun aligns perfectly with this pathway, creating what the shrine calls the "Path of Light." Even outside those dates, the view down the approach is dramatic. From there, the tour moves to Itoshima, where Totoro Forest (part of the Genkai Quasi-National Park) offers the woodland atmosphere the Japanese anime made famous, and Sakurai Futamigaura closes the day with its iconic married rocks and sunset views before the return to Hakata Station.

The tour runs 10 hours total, though much of that is travel time between sites. You'll be in a shared vehicle with other guests (either a small or large bus depending on final headcount), and guided throughout in English or Japanese. Dress code applies at Nanzoin Temple: avoid exposed midriffs, miniskirts, short shorts, camisoles, and cosplay. Schedule and timing can shift if traffic or other factors intervene, which may shorten time at individual stops.

What’s included

• Nanzoin Temple admission.
• English or Japanese-speaking guide throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle with other guests.
• self-guided mentaiko factory tour at Yamaya Factory Terrace.
• lunch at the factory.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by H.I.S.Co., Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit four sites across Fukuoka and Itoshima in one day via shared coach. The fixed 10-hour itinerary with set stops means you follow the group's pace rather than linger where you choose.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How large is the bronze Buddha at Nanzoin Temple?

Nanzoin Temple's reclining Buddha is 41 meters long, 11 meters high, and weighs approximately 300 tons. It was completed in 1995 and sits in a serene mountain setting near Fukuoka City.

What happens at the mentaiko factory, and is lunch included?

Yamaya Factory Terrace offers a self-guided walkthrough of the factory floor where you watch the cleaning, sorting, and marinating of spicy cod roe in a secret 168-hour sake-and-chili sauce. Lunch is included, and you can browse the marketplace afterward for mentaiko-flavored snacks and local products.

When does the sunset align with Miyajidake Shrine's approach to the sea?

Miyajidake Shrine's setting sun aligns perfectly with the stone staircase approach twice a year, around February 20th and October 20th, creating a golden pathway to the sea. Outside those dates, the view down the approach is still dramatic.

What is Totoro Forest, and where is it?

Totoro Forest, officially part of the Genkai Quasi-National Park on Itoshima, is a natural woodland area that has become popular because it resembles the magical forest setting in the famous Japanese anime.

What should I wear to Nanzoin Temple?

Dress appropriately for the temple: avoid exposed midriffs, miniskirts, short shorts, camisoles, and cosplay. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the temple grounds and the various shrine approaches.