2 Best Sights in Kyushu, Japan

The lake in this park was once part of an impressive moat surrounding Fukuoka's castle. A leisurely 2-km (1-mile) path follows its perimeter. In early April the pink-and-white flowers of the park's 2,600 cherry trees present a dazzling display. Within the park is the Fukuoka City Art Museum ( www.fukuoka-art-museum.jp), which houses a few notable works by Dalí, Miró, Chagall, and Warhol. It reopened after a major renewal in March 2019. Across from it is a traditional Japanese garden. Stop for a quick bite or a luxurious meal at Boathouse Ohori Park on the edge of the lake.

The monk Eisai (1141–1215) returned from a long stint in China to introduce Zen Buddhism to Japan and planted the first tea-bush seeds. Nowadays most tea is grown in other regions such as Shizuoka, but you can still buy the green tea from this region, with its legendary hue and flavor, in stores as far away as Tokyo. Eisai also established Shofukuji Temple, Japan's first Zen temple, which the inscription on the main gate by Emperor Gotoba commemorates. In Zen tradition, the grounds and structure reflect the calm, austere nature of this deeply meditative philosophy. The bronze bell in the belfry was designated an Important Cultural Property.