Heart Rock
This is a heart-shaped cliff overlooking Hyugami Dam Lake in Yame. You can see a bare heart-like shape surrounded by green trees. There is a bridge over the lake, which is a good vantage point to view the Heart Rock. A heart-shaped frame with horizontal wires is set on the rail of the bridge, on the side facing the rock, for love padlocks.

Koinoki Shrine
Koinoki Shrine is one of the shrine halls in Mizuta Tenmangu Shrine in Chikugo City. It may be the only shrine known for fostering good love relationships. Recently, it has become so popular among young people that it is no longer just a common shrine in the local district. You can see heart-shaped items (pink-colored) everywhere in the shrine, such as lucky charms and stone footsteps. It is a good place for lovers to visit. Also, Sazare Rock is there.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Koinoki Shrine https://www.mizuta-koinoki.jp/koinoki/
Sazare Rock: Sazare originally means “pebble,” but it often refers to a mass of rocks formed by pebbles solidifying over a very long time. The word is used in the lyrics of “Kimigayo,” the Japanese national anthem, implying the very long history of the country or the imperial family (depending on one’s interpretation of “Kimigayo”).

Koyama-syoryu-kannon
In English, Rising Dragon and Kannon on Mt. Koyama. It is located in Haki Town, Fukuoka, close to the border with Oita Prefecture. This Kannon is a tall statue, 28 meters in height. The body is painted dark green and pale orange. There are many small Buddha statues around it, and the area is like a temple, but it doesn’t seem to belong to any specific Buddhist sect. It can be described as a kind of small Buddhist amusement park.
More about Kannon, Click here.

Harazuru Hot Spring
Harazuru Hot Spring is the largest onsen in Fukuoka Prefecture. This onsen town is located along the mid-Chikugo River. The onsen water is alkaline, which is thought to be good for the skin, so it is called “Bijin-no-yu,” meaning “hot spring for beauty.” In summer, visitors can enjoy viewing Ukai (cormorant fishing) from a houseboat.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Harazuru Hot Spring http://www.harazuru.jp
More about Ukai , Click here. More about Onsen , Click here.

Triple Waterwheel in Asakura
This is the oldest waterwheel still in operation in Japan. Three wheels are turned by the water flow from the Horikawa Irrigation, which uses water from the Chikugo River. This automatic system of triple waterwheels was built in 1789 to irrigate the paddy fields above the water surface. It is now operated from June 17 to early October.

Ukiha Inari Shrine
This Inari shrine sits on the slope of a hill. The approach path from the foot is lined with a row of 91 red scarlet torii gates, creating an arcade-like effect. This torii path resembles that of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, a favorite among foreign tourists. This shrine is popular among the young as an Instagrammable site and a place of power.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Ukiha Inari Shrine https://ukiha-inari.jp
More about Inari Shrine , Click here.

White Wall Street in Yoshii
One street lined with white mortar walls of old-fashioned shops has preserved the traditional image of a Japanese town. It thrived commercially during the Taisho Era, and many large houses with white mortar walls were built. The Old Igura House and Kagamida House are open to the public. The former was a merchant’s house, and the latter was for public clerks. This street is worth visiting.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): https://ukihalove.jp/contents/shirakabenomachinami/

Chikugo River
The Chikugo River is the longest river in Kyushu. It is also known as “Tsukushi Jiro.” It flows from Mt. Kuju to the Ariake Sea. Several towns along the Chikugo River have legends about Kappa.
Kappa: Kappa is a water-dwelling creature from Japanese folklore. It is described as being as tall as a small child, with pointed lips, webbed hands, and a shallow hollow on the top of its head (called Sara, or “dish”). Kappa are known for their love of cucumbers. Many places in Japan have Kappa legends, and some towns along the Chikugo River are named Kappa Town to promote tourism.

Yakitori Town, Kurume
Kurume City has the highest number of yakitori shops per capita in Japan. The local government promotes Kurume as Yakitori Town. One unique ingredient in Kurume is Darumu, which is the small intestine of a pig. The word comes from a German term meaning small intestine, and medical students began using it for this type of yakitori.

Suitengu Shrine
The history of Suitengu Shrine dates back to the Genji-Heike battles in the late 12th century. The Heike family was completely overthrown in the Battle of Dannoura, where the young Emperor Antoku was held by his grandmother and thrown into the sea. One female court lady escaped and built an altar at the present site of the shrine to appease the soul of the boy emperor. This led to the shrine becoming a place to pray for child-rearing and, later, for safe childbirth. The shrine hosts an annual fireworks show at the nearby riverbank.
Japanese Official Site: Suitengu Shrine http://suitengu.net
More about Shinto Shrine , Click here.

Yame
Located in southern Fukuoka, Yame is known for producing Yame tea and traditional crafts like Buddhist altars, Japanese paper, and stone lanterns. The old district features houses using Bengara.
Bengara: Bengara is a reddish-brown pigment made from iron oxide. The name comes from Bengal, India. Yame Town promotes its old district, where some houses still use Bengara, for tourism.

Yame Big Tea Garden
From the top of this garden, you can see a green panorama of meticulously organized tea fields.

Nyoirinji Temple
Known as Frog Temple, Nyoirinji Temple in Ogori City features numerous frog statues and figurines. It also has many Buddha statues and sells various Buddhist items. In early summer, trellises with wind chimes (Furin) are hung. The temple offers a comprehensive experience of Buddhism and is like a small Buddhism theme park.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Nyoirinnji https://nyoirinji.com
More about Buddhism , Click here.

Miyahara Coal Mine
Located in Omuta City, parts of the Miyahara Coal Mine, including the brick room for a winch and the steel tower, are well preserved and open to the public. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Japanese Official Site (No English Page): Miyahara Coal Mine https://www.miike-coalmines.jp/miyanohara.html
More about Coal Mining Industry , Click here.

Akizuki Castle Ruins
Akizuki Castle was established as the Akizuki domain, a branch of the Fukuoka domain, in 1624. This was the residence of the Akizuki family, with the castle situated on a hill behind it. Several structures remain today, including moats, stone walls, and two gates: Nagaya-mon and Kuromon. These gates are designated as Prefectural Cultural Assets. The area around the castle retains the atmosphere of a traditional samurai town and is often referred to as the “Kyoto of Chikuzen” (the old name for northern Fukuoka). The entire area is designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
More about Japanese Castles , Click here.
