If you want to escape the bustling Hakata city center quickly, Rakusuien (楽水園) at the back of Sumiyoshi Shrine is the perfect place for a short break. The small garden is like an oasis in the city, allowing you to slow down and appreciate the beauty of nature. From mid-November to early December, the garden will be covered with the stunning bright fall colors!
Rakusuien’s History
Rakusuien was a part of the rich Hakata merchant Shimozawa Zenemon Chikamasa’s (澤善右衛門親正) villa, completed in 1906 and later donated to the city. In 1995, the city renovated the villa and opened it as a place for the locals to enjoy the Japanese tea ceremony.
Enjoying Tea at Rakusuien
Rakusui is the alias of Chikamasa. Tea ceremonies and practices are regularly held in the garden’s tea room, Rakusui-an (楽水庵).
As for tourists, we can quietly relax whilst sipping a cup of freshly made matcha green tea and consuming a piece of traditional sweet in the room covered by tatami mats. At the same time, we can adore the Japanese garden in front of us.
The cost of the matcha set is 500 yen.
The garden is covered by gorgeous light green moss. The multi-tiered waterfall and the koi fish are also some of the highlights of this lovely garden.
The fish will most likely swim towards you if they sense your presence. What they are after is, of course, some fish feed, which the garden is selling.
On a rainy day, the traditional garden water feature, Suikinkutsu (水琴窟), will produce some clear echo water sounds from the rain drops. If it isn’t a rainy day during your visit, you are welcome to use the ladle (located at the water fountain) to pull some water down the little hall.
Hakata-bei Wall (博多塀)
Another thing that you will want to pay attention to is the earthen walls. The style is called Hakata-bei. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi took down Kyūshū in the late 16th century, Hakata was revived by using the stones and tiles from the buildings that were burnt down during the civil war. The walls made from these recycled materials are called Hakata-bei.
Apart from Rakusuien, Hakata-bei can also be seen in a couple of shrines and temples in Hakata (Kushida Shrine and Shōfuku-ji for example).
The Flower Calendar in Rakusuien
- Early spring: Cherry blossom
- Early summer: Iris
- Mid-November to early December: Fall foliage (the season usually peaks from the end of November)
Rakusuien’s Opening Hours, Admission Fee, and Access Information
- Rakusuien is open from 9 am to 5 pm daily except Tuesdays and from the 29th of December to the 1st of January.
- If Tuesday is a public holiday, it will close the next business day.
- The admission fee is
- 100 yen for senior high school students and above
- 50 yen for elementary and junior high school students
- From Hakata Station (博多駅), it is around a 10-minute walk.
- If you take the loop bus, get off at TVQ-mae (ＴＶＱ前). From the garden, it is a 2-minute walk. Otherwise, get off at Echimae Yonchō-me (駅前４丁目) or Sumiyoshi (住吉), which is a 7-minute walk away from the garden.
Tip: If you have a Fukuoka City Visitor’s Guide or FUKUOKA TOURIST PASS, you will get 20% off the admission fee.
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!
- Sumiyoshi Shrine and Hakata Shopping Tour
- Historical Hakata Tour
- Private Tour Guide Fukuoka with a Local: Kickstart your Trip, Personalized
- Port Pick-up: Fukuoka City Tour with Licensed Guide and a Vehicle
- Photoshoot Experience for Couples, Families, & Travel in Fukuoka
- Hakata Alleyway Tour
Discover More Attractions Around Hakata Station
Want to find out more interesting attractions 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!
