  Things to See
Dazaifu
This city was the outpost of the imperial court in Kyushu and was founded in 664. It played an important part in Japan's early history for many centuries. The Dazaifu Tenman-gu shrine, Kanzeon-ji temple (whose tower bell is a National Treasure), and the beautiful garden of Kyomyozen-ji are worth visiting.
Gardens and Temple Precincts
The important historical role of this area and of Hakata as a major and strategic port resulted in some exceptional examples of beautifully landscaped temple precincts and gardens. Shofuku-ji temple and the Yusentei Garden, both in Fukuoka, the pagoda of Buzen Kokubun-ji temple(Toyotsu Town), Gyorakuen Garden (Kawasaki Town), and Shotoen Garden (Yanagawa) are famous examples.
Asakura Triple Water Wheels (Asakura Town)
A wonderful anachronism kept in good repair, a reminder of what irrigation means.
River punts at Yanagawa (Yanagawa)
A trip through lovely canals and waterways and, in season, spectacular iris gardens.
Space World (Kitakyushu)
A theme park with a "spacious" slant. A simulated NASA astronaut training course attracts many visitors, young and otherwise.
 Crafts
Textiles
• Hakato-ori (Fukuoka) — Finely woven, sturdy silk fabric known for its striped patterns.
• Kurume-gasuri (Kurume) — Cotton ikat textiles, usually a white figure on an indigo ground, but often with color highlights in red or green. Once ubiquitous as farm wear for women, but now considered old fashioned and has been replaced by drab and colorless khaki and gray fabrics. Still available in kimono shops.
Ceramics
• Agano Ware (Akaike) — A fine stoneware tradition (focused on tea ceremony ware) started by Korean potters brought back to Japan after the abortive attempts of warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi to conquer the Korean peninsula in the 1590s.
• Koishiwara Ware (Koishiwara) — A folk pottery famous for its poured and splashed glaze decoration.
• Jojima Onigawara (Kurume) — Modeled roof tile ridge finials in the form of "devil" masks and other shapes.
• Hakata Figurines (Fukuoka) — Finely crafted pottery figurines (SEE STORY 1), once a folk tradition, now an art form, with a history of 400 years.
Yame Stone Lanterns (Yame)
Stone garden lanterns and other ornaments.
Yame Washi (Yame)
One of the important traditions of handmade paper in Kyushu.
 Festivals
| Jan. 7 | Tamataregu-no-Oniyo (Kurume)
A fire festival held at Kurume's Dauzen-ji temple. |
| Jan. 20 | Kowahamai (Setaka Town)
Performance at the Tenman-gu shrine of ancient court music and dances. |
| Mar., 1st Sun. | Kyokusui-no-Utage (Dazaifu)
Grand spring festival featuring aristocratic pursuits and amusements of the Heian Period (794-1185). |
| Apr., 3rd weekend | Agano Ware Fair (Akaike Town)
Sale of this beautiful ceramic ware in the town where it is produced. |
| May 3 | Hakata Dontaku (Fukuoka)
The port festival of Hakata and one of the great festivals of Kyushu. |
| Jul. 1-15 | Hakata Gion Yamagasa (Fukuoka)
Lots of noise and huge floats (SEE STORY 2). |
| Jul., 3rd weekend | Kokura Gion Drums (Kitakyushu)
A drum festival with lots of drumming (SEE STORY 2). |
autumnal equinox
(3 days) | Toro Puppet Plays (Yame)
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| Dec., 1st Sun. | Fukuoka International Marathon (Fukuoka)
Run, run run run run run run. And bring granny to help. | | 
