Just opposite one of Hakata’s most famous shrines, Kushida Shrine, the three traditional houses built in the Meiji period (1868 – 1912) have been renovated and opened as a place to examine and even make your traditional crafts! This is the best place close to Hakata Station to get a good understanding of the local culture and Hakata citizens’ lifestyle from the Meiji to the Taisho periods.
Each of the three buildings of Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan (博多町家ふるさと館) has a theme, one to examine the structure of Machiya (tradesman’s house), another one to exhibit handicrafts and one for tourists to shop for local specialties.
Inside the Machiya (町家棟)
The entrance of the Machiya is rather narrow. But as soon as you enter the main part of the building, the space widens up all of a sudden. The interior is decorated with beautifully polished wooden pillars and intricate carvings. Walking through the corridors, the room in the middle has a ceiling as high as 9 meters! Without examining the house in detail, it won’t be hard to tell how wealthy Hakata’s tradesmen used to be.
If you come between 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm, you can also watch how silk fabric was made in Hakata. You can also make your silk fabric here!
Moreover, a traditional grocery store is reproduced on one side of the building, including the shop owner and customer dioramas. Figures of women dressed in Yukata are also placed to create the scene of the locals heading out for festivals.
Also, a classic phone will play out the recording of a conversation in the Fukuoka dialect!
If you read Japanese, you can refer to the official website HERE.
The Exhibition Building (展示棟)
If you have missed the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival in July, come to the exhibition building for the theater corner that plays a 15-minute film about the festival. The best parts of the festival have been condensed into this short film. So in a way, it is the most efficient way to experience the grand festival!
On one side of the building, dioramas are used to reproduce the festival scene. While it won’t be as exciting as the real festival, it is still really fascinating to see!
If you are interested in how different Fukuoka looks between now and the 19th century, the Fukuhaku no Machi, Ima-mukachi (福博の町“今昔”) corner has photos of Fukuoka and Hakata’s townships taken back then and photos taken recently for you to compare.
On the second floor, there is another demonstration corner. The craftsman will show you how the handicrafts sold in the souvenir buildings are made. If you come between Friday and Monday, you can see how the dolls used to decorate the Yamakasa are made.
- For more information on the demonstration for a particular day, please refer to the official event calendar HERE.
- An easy way to read it is to match up the color with the image of the handicraft underneath the calendar.
- The demonstration time is also marked on the calendar (usually from 10 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 4 pm).
Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan Museum’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan is open from 10 am to 6 pm.
- The last admission is at 5:30 pm.
- In July and August, the museum is open from 9 am.
- The museum is closed on the 4th Monday of each month and from the 29th to the 31st of December.
- If Monday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day.
- The admission Fee is 200 yen for senior high school students and above.
- If you plan to take a bus, get off at Canal City Hakata-mae (キャナルシティ博多前). It is then a 3-minute walk.
- From Hakata Station (博多駅), it is around a 15-minute walk.
- From Fukuoka Subway’s Gion Station’s (祇園駅) exit no. 2 or Nakasu-kawabata Station (中洲川端駅), it is around a 5-minute walk.
Tip: If you understand Japanese, you can participate in the free 60-minute guided tour showing you Hakata’s temples and shrines. Please be at Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan Museum by 2 pm. If you read Japanese, HERE is the official website for the free tour.
Explore Hakata With a Guided Tour or Hire a Photographer
If you prefer a guide to introduce you to the charms of Hakata, how about joining one of the below tours? You can also hire a photographer for a private photoshoot session!
- Hakata Cycling Tour
- Private Fukuoka Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% Personalised
- Fukuoka Full-Day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
- 1-Day Hakata Walking Tour
- Fukuoka History Buddhism And Gastronomy Tour
- Port Pick-up: Fukuoka City Tour with Licensed Guide and a Vehicle
- 1 Hour Private Photoshoot in Hakata
Tip: Refer to HERE if you want to rent a Kimono when you are in Hakata!
Discover More Attractions Around Hakata Station
Want to find out more interesting attractions that you might be interested in or delicious restaurants to treat yourself to around Hakata Station?
Refer to our article on Hakata, where we have attractions such as a rooftop shrine or a gorgeous Japanese garden for a brief break!
Discover Other Attractions in the Wider Fukuoka City
If you have more time to spend in Fukuoka, the city has a couple more awesome destinations that might interest you, including islands with vast, stunning flower fields.
For more information, please refer to our article on Fukuoka City!