Nakasu to Shofuku-ji, Fukuoka: free self-guided walking tour
Quick answer. A free self-guided walking tour from Nakasu to Shofuku-ji in Fukuoka: 4 stops, about 3.1 km, about 40 minutes of walking plus about 23 minutes of listening. Start on Nakasu, the island between the Naka and Hakata rivers where samurai Fukuoka met merchant Hakata; its yatai food stalls open in the evening. Walk south to Sumiyoshi Shrine, the foremost shrine of old Chikuzen Province, whose main hall was rebuilt in 1623. Head north to Kushida Shrine, guardian of Hakata, where a Yamakasa festival float stands all year except June. Finish at Shofuku-ji, completed in 1204 by the monk Eisai as Japan’s first Zen temple.
- Stops:
- 4
- Distance:
- about 3.1 km
- Walking:
- about 40 min
- Listening:
- about 23 min
Two ways to do this walk
Fukuoka with Mappu
Walk Mode, in the free Mappu app
It knows where you are, tells you about everything you pass between the stops, answers your questions and keeps you on the route. Your phone stays in your pocket.
A 2-hour live walk, €4.99.
50 credits from the Starter pack. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Self-guided audio walk. No guide accompanies you. Not affiliated with the sites.
Free: the audio guides
Listen to each stop’s audio guide in your browser and find your own way between the stops.
Walking directions in Google MapsNakasu to Shofuku-ji, Fukuoka: how long does the walk take?
About 63 minutes in all: about 40 minutes on foot over about 3.1 km, plus about 23 minutes of audio at the 4 stops. Time inside the sites is extra.
Nakasu to Shofuku-ji, Fukuoka: in what order should you visit the stops?
Follow the stops in this order: Nakasu, Sumiyoshi Shrine, Kushida Shrine, and Shofuku-ji. The longest stretch between two stops is about 1.2 km, about 17 min on foot.
Route and map
Indicative route. While you walk, watch where you're going, mind the traffic and follow local signs and rules. The map is an aid, not a safety guide. Terms
Follow Mappu’s map: the route runs along the streets from stop to stop, and the stories keep playing as you walk.
To get to the first stop, or if you’re far from the route, Google Maps has walking directions through every stop.
Stop 1
The island between the Naka and Hakata rivers, once the meeting point of samurai Fukuoka and merchant Hakata, with neon on the water and yatai stalls by night.
about 5 min of audio
Next stop: Sumiyoshi Shrine · about 1.1 km, about 15 min on foot
Stop 2
The foremost shrine of old Chikuzen Province, for the three gods who protect sailors; its plain main hall was rebuilt in 1623 by Kuroda Nagamasa.
about 6 min of audio
Next stop: Kushida Shrine · about 1.2 km, about 17 min on foot
Stop 3
The guardian shrine of Hakata, said to date from 757, home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival; a towering decorated float stands here all year except June.
about 6 min of audio
Next stop: Shofuku-ji · about 0.7 km, about 10 min on foot
Stop 4
Japan’s first Zen temple, completed in 1204 by the monk Eisai, with its gate, Buddha hall and main hall still in one straight line.
about 6 min of audio
The stop stories are AI-generated audio guides and can contain mistakes. Check opening hours and tickets on the official sites.
Planning a trip to Fukuoka?
Get your plan
Mappu sketches your days free in the chat, no account needed. Then take the full plan with you:
- Weekend trip, €9.99: Your day-by-day plan plus 2 live walks
- Save your trip’s free guides on your phone in the Mappu app: they play with no signal
Before you go
- Check opening hours, tickets and access on each site’s official page before you go.
- Distances and times are estimates: the walking route between stops, from OpenStreetMap, at 4.5 km/h. Your route on the street may differ.
More walking tours in Fukuoka
Plan more days in Fukuoka
These day-by-day Mappu itineraries include Fukuoka. The day links open the days that visit stops on this walk.
Route checked by Mappu on October 31, 2026. Stop descriptions come from each place’s published Mappu audio guide. Mappu is a Fenutech product.