Seaside Momochi – A Complete Guide to Fukuoka’s Seaside Getaway
Fukuoka (福岡) features a variety of relaxing destinations; one such being Seaside Momochi (シーサイドももち). While Japanese cities aren’t exactly known for their beaches, Fukuoka is one exception and it is not just the beach, but also for its beautiful coastline sceneries. The site was once developed by the local authorities in order to host the Asia-Pacific Exposition Exhibition happened in 1989. Local authorities proceeded with the project to develop one of Japan’s largest man-made beaches.
And the result is a stunningly beautiful waterfront area; featuring a variety of attractions including a beach area, museums, libraries and an observatory tower. Today, I shall introduce one of Fukuoka’s attractive sites for stunning ocean sceneries.
- Firstly, check out these local attractions nearby before heading towards the seaside.
- Afterwards, be sure to look out for Seaside Momochi’s iconic landmark, the Fukuoka Tower.
- Head towards the beautiful beachside of Fukuoka to enjoy the ocean view and the gentle sea breeze.
- Check out the nearby stadium; known for its unique one-of-a-kind architecture in Japan.
Table of Contents
Seaside Momochi's Courtyard
Before we head towards Seaside Momochi, let’s visit the courtyard surrounding the beach. I took the subway during my first visit, and disembark at Nishijin station (西新駅). Afterwards, it was a good 15 minutes walk through the narrow streets of Fukuoka; passing by restaurants, grocery stores and a morning market before reaching the courtyard. The courtyard itself is rather spacious, and the lack of crowd certainly helps in enjoying the moment at a relaxing pace.
There are several attraction to look out too. One such attraction is the Fukuoka City Museum (福岡市博物館); which is hard to miss with its huge signboard (see below picture). The museum itself features a variety of historical materials and artefacts that are closely related to Fukuoka.
The most significant one is the King of Na gold seal (漢委奴国王印); passed down by Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty in China to Japan in AD 57; symbolising Japan’s status as a vassal state of China at that time. There are even detailed exhibits of the Kuroda clan (黒田氏); the former ruling clan of Fukuoka that also founded the once magnificent Fukuoka Castle (福岡城).
Book lovers shouldn’t miss out on the neighbouring public library as it features over 2 million titles of books and films (including both local and international); making this one of Japan’s largest libraries. There even have a mini movie hall called Ciné-là; whereby they will occasionally showcase local and international movies for public viewing.
Fukuoka Tower
As we arrive at Seaside Momochi, the one structure that you can’t miss is the towering Fukuoka Tower (福岡タワー). At 234 metres, this remarkable tower is the tallest seaside building in Fukuoka. The building itself took 14 years to complete and features a rather unique architecture. It is designed as a triangular cross-section while being covered by over 8,000 half-mirrors; earning it the nickname if “Mirror Sail”. And because of its height and unique architecture, it is often featured as the poster boy for Seaside Momochi.
For a the movie-goers as well as Godzilla fans, this tower made its appearance in the 1994 film “Godzilla vs SpaceGodzilla (ゴジラVSスペースゴジラ)”. You can catch the scene of it in this video; credits to Youtube user Bastizilla.
Now back to reality; there are 3 observation decks in the building, with the highest being at 123 metres. Entrance fee for each pax is 800 Yen (500 yen for elementary and high school students and 200 yen for infants above 4 years old). The view from atop is undeniably impressive; featuring a stunning panoramic view of the city together with the surrounding ocean. Locals however prefer to visit the deck at night when the floor lights up together with the surrounding city lights. The result is an impressive light show; whereby the floor lights synergises beautifully with the surrounding city lights to give an impression that you are travelling across the galaxy.
Momochihama Beach
The other highlight of Seaside Momochi is none other than the Momochihama Beach (百道浜); an artificial beach that stretches 1 km across the bay. Despite being an artificial beach, the area remains a popular hangout spot among local beachgoers; especially among those who simply enjoy lazing around and swimming in the ocean. In fact, there were quite a few Koreans when I visited there; met a couple of young Korean ladies who even requested me to help them take a picture.
And then, there is an attractive wharf in the centre of the beach called Marizon (マリゾン). There are seafood restaurants, surf shops as well as a mini wedding chapel where wedding ceremonies are often held. The architecture of the buildings here do give off an European vibe to it; making this place a romantic spot for local couples to hang out.
Aside from that, there are also ferry services from the wharf to the nearby Uminonakamichi Seaside Park (海の中道海浜公園). Price is 1,100 Yen per pax and the ride itself takes around 20 minutes. If you love flowers, this is a place not to be missed as it features a variety of display of gorgeous flowers throughout the 4 seasons (including the likes of cherry blossoms, roses, hydrangeas and even more). Check out here for the ferry schedules as well as the flower calendar of the park prior to your visit.
Fukuoka Paypay Dome
And if you are a fan of baseball, check out the nearby Fukuoka PayPay Dome (福岡ペイペイドーム) which is just 15 minutes walk away from Seaside Momochi. This is one of the only two stadiums in Japan with a retractable roof; the other being Es Con Field Hokkaido that was just opened in 2023. It also holds the record of having the largest geodesic dome in the world (with a diameter of 216m).
Additionally, it is also the home stadium of Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (福岡ソフトバンクホークス); the only official baseball team in the island of Kyushu. This is evident with the sheer presence of the striking posters of the baseball players hanging around the complex. The whole area here is the Hawks Town Entertainment complex and as for how the stadium got its name “PayPay”, it is due to the fact that the electronic payment system PayPay is currently being owned 50% by Softbank (ソフトバンク) itself.
On normal days like this when there are no events, the complex is free from crowd; making it a lovely place to take a stroll. The stadium itself is just right next to the Hilton hotel and there is a Family Mart convenient store too. My personal favourite part is crossing the bridge from the beach area to get to here. The design of the bridge has an European vintage feel to it and it is also a wonderful spot to snap some lovely pictures of the stadium and the surrounding buildings from afar (especially during the evening).
How to Get There
By Train
For those taking the subway like myself, the cost for one-way from both Hakata Station (博多駅) and Tenjin Station (天神駅) to Nishijin Station (西新駅) is 260 Yen. The journey itself takes around 13 minutes from Hakata Station (7 minutes from Tenjin Station). Afterwards, we need to walk for another 15 minutes. Head out via exit no 1 and walk along Ms. Sazae Street (サザエさん 通り). Upon reaching the intersection at Yokatopia-dori (よかトピア通り), turn left and walk for a few minutes and the courtyard area will be on the right side.
And if you are planning to travel across multiple cities in Kyushu including Fukuoka itself, I would suggest the JR Kyushu Rail Pass. It is a convenient all-you-can-ride pass that allows you to ride across various JR train lines within the island of Kyushu (where Fukuoka is based at). In fact, some of my friends utilised the pass to travel across various cities throughout the island, including Fukuoka itself. For those wanting to explore the major cities around the island in a convenient and efficient way, consider getting the JR Kyushu Rail Pass.
By Bus
- Buses offer a more direct approach to the seaside area. From Hakata Bus Terminal (博多バスターミナル), head towards bus stop no. 6 and board the Nishitetsu Bus (西鉄バス) route 306. The journey takes around 25 minutes and the station to disembark is Fukuoka Tower Minamiguchi (福岡タワー南口).
- Alternatively, board the Nishitetsu Bus from bus stop 1A in Tenjin Express Bus Terminal (天神高速バスターミナル前) via route W1 or 302. The journey takes about 20 minutes and the stop to disembark at is Fukuoka Tower (福岡タワー).
- If you are planning to commute throughout Fukuoka via bus, consider getting yourself a Nimoca Card. All you need to do is to top-up the card, and just tag on when boarding a bus, or even taking the local subway rides. A very convenient as it saves you the hassle of grabbing your wallet just to pay for buses and subways. Get your card here for a more convenient journey.
By Car
For those who are driving, Seaside Momochi features several parking lots around the Fukuoka Tower. Rates start at 300 Yen for the first 2 hours and 100 Yen for each subsequent 30 minutes. Driving is an alternate option for those seeking to explore the countryside and attractions that are hard to reach via public transportations.
In fact, a friend of mine used Tocoo; Japan’s leading rental car website which is reliable and provides a wide selection of cars, ranging from small economical cars to the larger family cars. Tocoo offers comprehensive and elaborate guides especially for those who are going to drive for the first time in Japan. Click here to embark on a wonderful journey of driving through the countryside of Japan.
Overall Thoughts
If you are looking for a fresh change from the usual concrete jungle and city parks, Seaside Momochi is a wonderful option to consider. It offers a breath of fresh air from the hustle and bustle of Fukuoka and a chance to stroll along the ocean and enjoy the gentle sea breeze.
Also, if you love to discover more hidden gems within Japan, be sure to subscribe as I will be sharing more fascinating gems of Japan in the near future.
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2 Comments
Travel buddies Petra and Bernie
Great article love how you introduce hidden gems in your articles! Keep it up! Travel buddies Bernie & Petra
Yentravelsjapan
Thank you so much Bernie and Petra for your continuous support =D