World by City

Heritage & monuments

Itazuke Site

Open in Maps
Itazuke Site

What it is

Itazuke Site is an excavated settlement in Hakata-ku that spans the late Jōmon through late Yayoi periods. It's known as one of the two earliest confirmed rice-paddy farming villages in Japan, alongside the Nabatake Site in Karatsu, and it also has the oldest known moated settlement layout in the country. The value here is archaeological and historical rather than visual: excavated features tied to early rice cultivation and defensive moats, protected as a National Historic Site since 1976, with the protected area expanded over time. This suits visitors interested in Japanese prehistory and the origins of wet-rice agriculture rather than those looking for a dramatic ruin.

Getting there

The site sits in Hakata-ku, within the greater Fukuoka city area, reachable from central Fukuoka by local bus or a combination of train and short walk in around 20-30 minutes. It is closer to central Fukuoka than to Fukuoka Airport (FUK), so most travellers will approach from downtown rather than straight off a flight.

Time to allow

Because much of the site consists of preserved grounds and interpretive markers rather than large standing structures, an hour or so is typically enough to walk the area and read the on-site information.

When to go

This is an open-air archaeological site, so a dry day with mild weather makes for a more comfortable visit, and spring or autumn avoids the heaviest summer humidity. It is not a major tourist draw, so crowding is not a significant concern here.

Combining with other sights

Itazuke Site is somewhat removed from Fukuoka's central temple and shrine cluster. Sumiyoshi Shrine (4.3km) is the nearest of the group, followed by Jōten-ji Temple (4.7km), Tōchō-ji Temple (4.9km), and Kushida Shrine (5km) — these four sit close together and can be combined into one loop on a day trip into central Fukuoka after visiting the archaeological site.

Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

Admission prices and opening hours change often, so we don't list them here. Check what's on sale and at what price below — booking ahead can cut the queue at some places.

GetYourGuide GetYourGuide 클룩 Klook Tiqets Tiqets KKday KKday WeGoTrip WeGoTrip

This place may not appear in the results — some sites are free to enter or sell tickets only at the gate.

Stays near Itazuke Site

Sorted by distance, walkable ones first. Distances are straight-line.

Map and place data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Itazuke Site Nearby stays

Check prices and availability on the booking sites.

Pick your dates — we'll search Fukuoka hotels for you

Choose dates and guests, and the buttons below will open search results with your criteria. Prices differ between sites, so compare before you book.

View on Compare sites 부킹닷컴 View on Booking.com 호텔스닷컴 View on Hotels.com

Hotel membership

Staying at Accor hotels often? ALL Accor+ Explorer

A paid annual membership. It includes two free nights a year across Asia-Pacific, 30% off dining and 15% off drinks, and 15% off stays at more than 4,500 hotels worldwide.

Explore the membership

Good to visit alongside

Sumiyoshi Shrine

Temples & religious sites

Sumiyoshi Shrine

Sumiyoshi Shrine, located in the Sumiyoshi area of Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, was the ichinomiya (highest-ranked shrine) of the former Chikuzen Province. Along with Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka and the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, it is counted among Japan's three great Sumiyoshi shrines. Its annual grand festival takes place on October 13.

4.3 km away
Jōten-ji Temple

Temples & religious sites

Jōten-ji Temple

Jōten-ji Temple is a Rinzai Zen temple in Fukuoka's Hakata district, completed in 1242. It was founded by the monk Enni Ben'en, who had studied in Song China, with the patronage of the Chinese merchant Xie Guoming. Rather than a flashy attraction, it's a quiet temple reflecting Hakata's historical roots, best enjoyed by taking time to appreciate its origins and atmosphere.

4.7 km away
Tōchō-ji Temple

Temples & religious sites

Tōchō-ji Temple

Tōchō-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in the Hakata district of Fukuoka. It is said to have been founded in 806 by Kūkai and is considered the oldest surviving Shingon temple in Kyushu. Rather than a flashy tourist attraction, think of it as a place to quietly take in the atmosphere of an old Buddhist temple in the heart of the Hakata streets.

4.9 km away
Kushida Shrine

Temples & religious sites

Kushida Shrine

Kushida Shrine, in Fukuoka's Hakata Ward, enshrines Amaterasu and Susanoo. Said to have been founded in 757, it is the central venue for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa, Hakata's signature summer festival. A large, elaborately decorated yamakasa float used in the festival is permanently displayed on the grounds, so visitors can see its scale and craftsmanship even outside festival season.

5.0 km away
Shōfuku-ji Temple

Temples & religious sites

Shōfuku-ji Temple

Shōfuku-ji is a temple of the Myōshin-ji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism located in Kosho-machi, Hakata, and is known as Japan's oldest Zen temple. It was founded by Eisai with the patronage of Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura shogunate, and a plaque said to be written by Yoritomo himself hangs at the temple's mountain gate.

5.0 km away
Nakasu

Shopping & districts

Nakasu

Nakasu is a long, narrow island between the Naka and Hakata rivers running through Fukuoka, and it's the city's largest nightlife district, lit up at night by bars and street food stalls (yatai) lining the riverbanks. By day it feels like an ordinary commercial area, but once the sun sets, neon signs flick on down every alley and crowds gather along the riverside food stalls, transforming the whole atmosphere.

5.2 km away