This article will introduce several spots good not only for swimming but for their excellent views and even the availability of relaxing cafés by the water. We hope you will find your perfect beach among these options!

Table of contents

 

• A beach you can head for whenever the mood strikes you: Seaside Momochi Seaside Park
• Perfect for a seaside drive: Shikanoshima Swimming Beach
• Pristine blue waters and a beautiful seaside: Kitazaki・Futamigaura area
• A tropical getaway near the city: Nokonoshima Swimming Beach (Nokonoshima Camp Town)
• Clear and brilliant waters: Gebagahama Beach
• A Martian beach landscape: Nata Coast
• A hidden sand beach with limpid blue waters: Shiraishi Beach
• Beautifully picturesque: Shingu Beach
• So beautiful, you’ll want to move there: Keya Beach

A beach you can head for whenever the mood strikes you: Seaside Momochi Seaside Park

The Seaside Momochi Seaside Park is located just 25 minutes away from the city center by subway or car and is perfect for those looking for a beach that is both safe and well-maintained. 

The east side of the park is called the Jigyohama area, and often hosts exciting music festivals and other events during the summer. On the other side, the neighboring Momochihama beach area is one of the most popular spots in the city for beach sports like beach volleyball and more. In the middle of the beach (Marizon) there is a wedding venue as well as plenty of restaurants, helping bring together urban conveniences with the openness and freedom of a seaside beach. With Fukuoka Tower and the Mizuho PayPay Dome both close by, this beach is very convenient for a variety of reasons.

📍Address: 2-chome, Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City (Momochihama District)[MAP]
Access:
By car: Take the Urban Expressway from Hakata Station and exit at the Momochi Ramp (approx. 20 minutes).
By bus: Take the Nishitetsu Bus from Hakata Station (approx. 25 minutes) and get off at the Fukuoka Tower South Exit (in front of the TNC Broadcasting Hall).
Official Website

Perfect for a seaside drive: Shikanoshima Swimming Beach

The small island of Shikanoshima sits in Hakata Bay, joined to the mainland by a thin sandbar. When approaching the island by car, the strip of land called Uminonakamichi expands ahead while the waters of the Genkai Sea and Hakata Bay provide excellent seaside views from either side. Taking in the scenery is deeply refreshing and sure to get everyone in the beachgoing mood!

Located next to the entrance to the island by this route is Shikanoshima’s main swimming beach. Beachside homes line the coast, and the waves make it a popular surfing spot as well. Even when strapped for time, the drive out to the island itself makes the visit well worth it. 

📍Address: Shikanoshima, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
Access: 
By car: Approximately 30 minutes from the Fukuoka Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway, and approximately 30 minutes from the Koga Interchange.
By train or bus: Take the Nishitetsu Bus from Saitozaki Station (JR Kashii Line) for about 10 minutes, and get off at Shikanoshima.
By boat: Approximately 30 minutes by municipal ferry from Hakata Pier (Bayside Place Hakata); approximately 1 minute on foot from the Shikanoshima Ferry Terminal.

Pristine blue waters and a beautiful seaside: Kitazaki・Futamigaura area

Kitazaki and Futamigaura are located along the verdant coastline of the Itoshima peninsula. Photo spots and stylish cafés dot this seaside area which is notable for its beautiful blue waters. Perfect for fishing and marine sports, there are several fishing harbors as well, giving the area a reputation for fresh, delicious seafood. 

📍Address: Nishinoura, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City  [MAP]
Access:
By bus: Take the “West Coast Liner” express bus from Hakata or Tenjin; the ride takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour. Timetable
Take the Showa Bus Nishinoura Line and get off at Zauo Honten-mae; The Palm Tree Swing depicted above can be found there. 
Related Pages
*Note: 
Swimming is not permitted.

A tropical getaway near the city: Nokonoshima Swimming Beach (Nokonoshima Camp Town)

Located on Nokonoshima Island just 10 minutes away from Meinohama by ferry, this is a popular beach with a distinctive tropical vibe. The white sand beach is surrounded by palm trees, and thanks to the relatively mild waters of Hakata Bay one can bring children along with peace of mind. From the middle of July until the end of September the sea house and swimming beach are both open! You can enjoy a wide variety of activities including banana boating and beach volleyball, and with reservations can even do a bit of beachside barbecuing. The perfect place to make summery memories!

📍Address: Nokonoshima, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City[MAP]
Access: Take the ferry from the Meinohama Ferry Port. It takes about 10 minutes to get to the island. Upon arrival, take the free shuttle bus from the ferry port on Nokonoshima to get to the beach in about 5 minutes. 
official website

Clear and brilliant waters: Gebagahama Beach

Located on Shikanoshima, Gebagahama Beach features clear and pristine waters and is surrounded by lush pine groves and grassy slopes, giving it a relaxed and open atmosphere. When beaches open in early July, it becomes a popular place for swimmers, families who want to go barbecue, and even fireworks viewing. 

As an added bonus, the nearby Shikaumi Shrine Okitsugu sub-shrine is located nearby on a small island that is accessible when the tide is low. Enveloped in a mystical energy this small shrine is a popular power spot. 

📍Address: Katsuma, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
Access: 10-minute walk away from the Kyukamura Shikanoshima Bus Stop

A Martian beach landscape: Nata Coast

The Nata Coastline faces onto the Genkai Sea, and in spite of its close proximity to Fukuoka City the untouched nature of the coast has an almost magical, extraterrestrial quality.  

The most notable aspect of the coast has to be the Nata Fault. Many years of erosion by the sea have resulted in the formation of a fault-like pattern between the beach and the inland. This unique and out-of-this-world natural formation makes it a popular photo spot, so strike a pose and snap a photo with it in the background!

📍Address: 1243-426 Nata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City [MAP]
Access: 10-minute walk from the JR Gannosu Station. 
Parking: None (we recommend using coin parking nearby)
*Note: Swimming is prohibited here.

A hidden sand beach with limpid blue waters: Shiraishi Beach

This beautiful white sandy beach extends for 1.6 kilometers! This sandy beach is characterized by its fine sand grains, which make a squeaking sound when you step on them, a phenomenon that locals refer to as singing sand. While the waters are beautiful in their own right, the scenery of the white sands and green pine trees are also worth mentioning. This beach is often not too crowded, making it a perfect little retreat. 

📍Address: Wata, Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture [MAP]
Access: 
By car: 20-minute drive via the Kyushu Expressway, Koga Interchange
By train or bus: Take a bus from Fukuma Station (JR) for about 20 minutes, get off at Shiohamaguchi, and walk for 15 minutes.
*The beach is currently not open for swimming. 

Beautifully picturesque: Shingu Beach

About a 50-minute drive or an hour by train from downtown Fukuoka. The white sandy beaches are a major draw!

The Genkai Sea facing Shingu Beach is one of the most scenically beautiful swimming spots in the prefecture. Featuring shallow shoals and calm waters, the seawall placed outside helps protect the beach from stronger waves, making it the perfect swimming spot. The gentle sloping shape of the beach is said to resemble the edge of a parasol, and the pine trees that extend around it for over 2 kilometers make it highly photogenic. A spot that you’ll remember fondly when thinking back to your summertime. 

📍Address: Shimofu, Shingu Town, Kasuya, Fukuoka Prefecture [MAP]
Access: 
By car: About 15 minutes from the Koga Interchange on the Kyushu Expressway.
By train: A 5-minute walk from Nishitetsu Shingu Station (Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line).

So beautiful, you’ll want to move there: Keya Beach

Located west of Fukuoka City, Itoshima is a popular area attracting an increasing number of new residents each year, as it offers a lifestyle surrounded by the ocean despite being close to the city. Among its attractions, Keya Beach is a particularly charming spot, having been selected for the Top 100 Beaches in Japan—a list certified by the Ministry of the Environment based on criteria such as water quality and natural environment. It is highly regarded for its crystal-clear waters, a gently sloping shoreline that makes for safe swimming, and a natural environment rich in attractions such as Mount Tateishi and the marine cave known as Keya no Ōmon. Stylish beach huts, palm trees, and white sandy beaches create the perfect resort atmosphere! As you gaze at the crimson sunset sinking into the sea, you’ll lose track of time, captivated by its beauty. 

📍Address: Shima-Kaya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture [MAP]
Access: 
By car: From Maebaru IC, take National Route 54 toward Keya for about 20 minutes.
By train・bus: From Chikuzen-Maebaru Station (Chikuhi Line), take the Showa Bus (bound for Keya) for about 20 minutes, get off at the Keya bus stop, and walk for 8 minutes.

 

Going to the beach is sure to fill your trip with excellent memories of summer. We hope you will enjoy the best of both worlds—city life and the ocean—an experience unique to Fukuoka, a compact city where the urban center and lush nature are located right next to each other.