Maizuru Park covers the grounds of the former Fukuoka Castle in Chuo Ward, right next to Ohori Park. Massive stone walls, a few surviving turrets and the base of the old keep sit among lawns, sports grounds and gardens, and the park is one of the city’s top cherry blossom spots.
Entry to the park is free and it is open at all times, so it is easy to fit into a day in central Fukuoka.
Plan your visit to Maizuru Park
- Entry: free
- Park open at all times
- Allow 1–2 hours
History of Maizuru Park
Fukuoka Castle was built between 1601 and 1607 by Kuroda Nagamasa, who received the Chikuzen domain after the Battle of Sekigahara. Its huge dry-stone walls earned it the nickname “Stone Castle”, and it was one of the largest castles in Kyushu, with dozens of turrets. The castle’s outer moat survives today as the lake in Ohori Park.
Most of the buildings were removed after the Meiji Restoration, and the inner castle area became Maizuru Park. Within the park are also the excavated remains of the Korokan, a guest house for foreign envoys dating back more than 1,000 years, whose site is unique in Japan.
Attractions at Maizuru Park
- Castle stone walls: impressive walls and gates around the old enclosures.
- Keep base (Tenshudai): the foundation of the keep, with a viewing platform over the city.
- Tamon Yagura: a long turret completed in 1854, designated an Important Cultural Property.
- Korokan Exhibition Hall: displays on the ancient diplomatic guest house excavated in the park.
- Cherry blossoms: around 1,000 cherry trees bloom from late March to early April.
- Plum grove and peonies: earlier spring flowers and seasonal gardens.
Things to Do at Maizuru Park
- Climb the keep base: the view takes in Ohori Park, Tenjin and the hills behind the city.
- See the cherry blossoms: the Fukuoka Castle Sakura Festival brings evening illuminations (paid entry for some areas) and food stalls.
- Learn about the Korokan: the exhibition hall explains Fukuoka’s long history as a gateway to Asia.
- Combine with Ohori Park: walk the 2 km path around the lake next door.
Maizuru Park – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
- Park: open at all times, free
- Korokan Exhibition Hall: daytime hours, free entry
- Turrets: some, such as the Tamon Yagura, open only on certain days
- Sakura Festival illuminations: separate tickets in the evening during blossom season
The castle grounds include slopes and stone steps, so wear comfortable shoes.
How Long to Spend at Maizuru Park
Allow 1 to 2 hours for the castle ruins and Korokan, or half a day if you add Ohori Park.
How to Get There
- Subway: Kuko Line to Ohori Koen Station, then a 5 to 10-minute walk; or Akasaka Station, about 10 minutes on foot.
- Walk: about 20 to 25 minutes from Tenjin.
- Bus: Nishitetsu buses from Tenjin and Hakata Station stop along the roads around the park.
Arriving at Fukuoka Airport? Book a fixed-price airport transfer straight to your hotel.
Eateries Nearby Maizuru Park
- Ohori Park: lakeside cafes and restaurants a short walk away.
- Akasaka and Daimyo: lively neighbourhoods east of the park with plenty of restaurants and cafes.
- Tenjin: department-store food halls, ramen shops and the evening yatai stalls.
Other Attractions Nearby Maizuru Park
- Ohori Park: the lake park next door, with the Fukuoka Art Museum and a Japanese garden.
- Fukuoka Castle: our detailed guide to the castle ruins themselves.
- Fukuoka Tower: bay views at Momochi Seaside, a short bus ride west.
- Yusentei Park: a quiet feudal-era garden built by a later Kuroda lord.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in Fukuoka: Tenjin and Akasaka are within walking distance of the park.
- Get a Japan eSIM before you land, for maps and train apps.
Maizuru Park combines the stone walls of Fukuoka Castle, the unique Korokan site and some of the city’s best cherry blossoms, all free to visit in central Fukuoka.
Continue to Ohori Park next door, or read our guide to Fukuoka Castle for more on the castle’s history.