Yame Tea in the Landscape and Everyday Life
Yame City lies in the southeast of Fukuoka Prefecture and is known for its local green tea, Yame tea. The Yame Central Grand Tea Garden, also known as the “Green Carpet,” covers about 70 hectares of expansive tea fields. Its spectacular views make it a popular place for cycling. In Yame, you can also taste and pick tea and experience how it is made. Here, tea is not just a local product, but also a crop and a craft.
The Kyushu Olle Yame Course winds over gentle ridges through hilly terrain and extensive tea plantations. The route brings together two defining elements of Yame’s landscape: its rolling terrain and tea fields. For those interested in walking and hiking, it offers a different perspective on the area than viewing the tea fields by bicycle.
Shrines and Cultural History
In Dazaifu, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning. It has a history spanning 1,100 years. The grounds are home to about 6,000 white- and red-blossoming plum trees representing around 200 varieties. Its dedication, long history and variety of trees make the shrine a place where different aspects of cultural heritage come together.
The Kyushu National Museum adds a broad historical perspective: its exhibits trace the development of Japanese culture from the Paleolithic period to the end of the Tokugawa period. In Dazaifu, the view thus extends from the history of a single shrine to a chronological account of Japan’s cultural history.
Munakata Taisha refers to three shrines dedicated to the three Munakata goddesses: Okitsu-gu is on Okinoshima Island, Nakatsu-gu is on Oshima Island, and Hetsu-gu is on the mainland of Kyushu. The Shinpo-kan treasure hall of Munakata Taisha is located on the grounds of Hetsu-gu. It preserves and displays about 80,000 sacred treasures designated as National Treasures of Japan.
The Miare Festival is a sea ritual held as part of Munakata Taisha’s autumn festival, which takes place from October 1 to 3. About 300 fishing boats parade between Oshima and the mainland to welcome the goddesses. The ritual, the shrine and the connection between island and mainland form a distinct cultural focus.
Island Trails, Water and the Seasons
The Kyushu Olle Munakata/Oshima Course is on Oshima, the largest island in Fukuoka Prefecture. It can be reached from Konominato Ferry Terminal by a ferry ride of about 20 minutes. Oshima consists mostly of mountains, forests and unspoiled nature, and is surrounded by the sea. Unlike the hilly tea fields of the Yame course, the island landscape frames the route on Oshima.
The Fureai-no-sato area around Shiraito Waterfall in Itoshima has a teahouse that is open year-round, a waterwheel and an observation deck. In Yanagawa, meanwhile, rides in kotatsu-bune boats are available in winter; seasonal availability may vary. These two examples show how varied an outing in the prefecture can be—from a facility by a waterfall to a seasonal boating option.
Ceramics, Architecture and Regional Cuisine
Koishiwara-yaki is a folk pottery tradition with a history of more than 350 years and was the first Japanese craft to be designated a traditional craft. At the Koishiwara Ceramics Museum, you can learn about the history of this pottery, see profiles of 44 kilns and view new and classic ceramic works; there is also a pottery workshop. A visit combines the long history of ceramics with practical insights into different kilns and works.
The Mojiko Retro district in Kitakyushu is also steeped in history: its historic buildings were constructed between the Meiji and early Showa periods. Another regional story leads to Kurume City. According to one theory, Kyushu tonkotsu ramen originated there; it is prepared with medium-thickness noodles. The qualified account of its origins and the detail about the noodle shape give the dish a clearly defined character.
Planning Your Trip
Fukuoka City is the prefecture’s main transport hub. Trains, buses and ferries connect it to other parts of the prefecture and to other regions of Kyushu. The prefecture also has several stations on the JR Kyushu Shinkansen. When choosing a hotel, you can first decide which interests matter most for your trip—such as tea and cycling, shrines and collections, ceramics or island nature—and then factor transport information into your plans.
Discover more destinations: Fukuoka, Nakama, Kitakyushu, Dazaifu, OgĹŤri, Kurume, Munakata, Miyawaka, Yukuhashi, ĹŚkawa, Miyako District, Chikushino, Tagawa District, Kasuya District, Asakura, ĹŚnojĹŤ, Yanagawa, Hisayama, Itoshima, Iizuka, NĹŤgata, Kurate, Chikujo, Ukiha, Yame
For the full travel guide: Japan.
