in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
Nishi Park is a large park located near the center of Fukuoka City. The park was created during the Edo period and is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing. Over 1,300 cherry blossom trees at Nishi Park bloom in the spring in the park's cherry blossom valley. There is a shrine in the park dedicated to Kuroda Nagamasa, the lord of Fukuoka city. You can see beautiful views of the city and the bay from the park as well!
My Experience
We visited the park at the beginning of April when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. The park is located right in the middle of Fukuoka city so there are many shops and restaurants outside the park. The main road leading up to the shrine was closed off for pedestrians when we visited and was lined with various food stalls. We stopped and picked up some churros! There are various paths and trails that wind through the park. We followed a short path on the side that led us to the statue of Kato Shinso, a leader in the Bakumatsu period. There were also some tables and seats underneath the cherry blossoms and people sitting and enjoying the view on the sides!
Up near the main area of the park were dozens of cherry blossom trees where most of the people were picnicking. I even saw a couple tents, so a lot of people must've been here since the morning to save spaces. This area was quite crowded but very beautiful! Further up the stairs, is the shrine. At the top of the stairs, we could see a beautiful view of Fukuoka City and the cherry blossoms! We were so lucky the weather was nice when we visited. To the right of the shrine, there was an open area people could sit and walk around with a view of the bay and cherry blossoms lining the hill. To the left of the shrine was a path that lead us down to a grassy area with even more blossoms! This was a popular picnicking spot as well and less crowded than the main area. The park itself is quite large and we spent an hour or so just walking around the front areas with the cherry blossoms.
Overall the park was a little crowded but still very beautiful and peaceful. The atmosphere was very vibrant and we enjoyed walking around seeing the nice views of the city, the bay, and the cherry blossoms! It is recognized as being one of the top 100 places in Japan to view cherry blossoms!
Official Site
Address
13 Nishikoen, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0061
Access
Ohorikoen Station - 15 minute walk
Tojimachi Station - 15 minute walk
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