The following contents are based on the printed publication “Explore Itoshima”, published by Itoshima City in March 2019 and made in cooperation with Kyushu University students. For the most part, the text and photos are the same as in the printed publication.
Time Bistro and Café
Time Café allows you to fill in your stomach with its delicious food while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the sea and have a pleasant time in the nice atmosphere. They serve mainly French style with delicate design and color. Most importantly, the flavor will make you long for some more.
• 4423-7 Shima-sakurai, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: Breakfast 8:30~10:00, Lunch 11:00~15:00, Café 15:00~17:00, Dinner 18:00~20:30
• Closed: Thu.
• 092-332-8607
• Web: https://www.bistrocafe-time.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BistroCafe-TIME-1421758748094160/
London Bus Café
London Bus Café is a popular stopover for gelato made of milk sourced in Sasebo. This café is located right next to the beach, where you can enjoy the ocean front view from inside the old London buses. The place tends to be very crowded on weekends and parking is very limited.
• 2289-6 Shima-nogita, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00
• Closed: Sunset (19:00)
• 080-5268-6610
• Web: https://www.facebook.com/itoshima.londonbuscafe/
Bakery Restaurant Current
Current is a beautifully designed rustic restaurant located by the beach. Enjoy the tranquil sea view and sound of waves while enjoying your breakfast or lunch. During the winter, the wood fireplace will warm you up and create a cozy environment to relax in. Current serves western food using mainly local ingredients and sells delicious baked goods.
• 2290 Shima-nogita, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 8:00~19:00 (L.O.: 18:00)
• Closed: Wed. and 1st Tue.
• 092-330-5789
• Web: https://www.bakeryrestaurantcurrent-2007.com/
Beach Café Sunset
As the name suggests, Sunset is a perfect spot to watch the sundown in the relaxing sea breeze. It also serves authentic Itoshima gourmet including cocktails, beverages and dishes freshly made with ingredients from Itoshima. A lovely place to have an unforgettable memory with a reasonable price!
• 284 Nishinoura, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~21:00 (L.O.: 20:00)
• Closed: Thu. and 3rd Wed.
• 092-809-2937 (Sunset)
• Web: https://www.beachcafesunset-1990.com/
Honey Coffee
Honey Café is famous for its specialty coffee, which customers enjoy for its unique taste. They only sell and use beans which have passed their quality control assessment, such as acidity, transparency in the mouth, textures and flavor characteristics. They also serve delicious side dishes and other coffee flavors to choose from.
• 2186-1 Shima-nogita, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~17:00 (Mar. ~ Sep.: ~18:00 ) *depends on the season
• 092-327-2567
• Web: https://www.facebook.com/hinodeyask8
Dover
Since 2009, Dover has been delivering customers diverse art merchandises, which are sold in a beautiful vintage wooden and garden-like house. Many unique goods are gathered in one beautifully decorated gallery such as changing seasonal goods, fragrances, breads and more. Dover’s special leathery bags and shoes are also one of the visitors’ favorites.
• 4656-3 Shima-sakurai, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~17:00
• 092-327-3895
• Web: https://www.facebook.com/DoverItoshima/
• They have an art school as well, so please visit www.doverartschool.com
Palm Beach The Gardens
Palm Beach The Gardens is a row of shops right next to the famous Futamigaura Beach which consists of a gelato shop, a pottery shop, a souvenir shop, a local product market, a cafe and restaurants. It is highly recommended to enjoy the gelato and the sea view while listening to the soothing sound of the sea.
• 285 Nishiura, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~21:00
• 092-809-1660
• Web: http://pb-gardens.com/
Petani Coffee
“Petani Coffee” is a unique coffee shop, which has eleven varieties of carefully roasted selected special beans. The ambience is amazing and gives a really cozy and coffee shop feeling. Stop by, relax and enjoy a cup of warm “Petani” Coffee.
• 47-1 Shima-hatsu, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: Mon. ~ Fri. 12:00~19:00, Sat., Sun. & hol. 10:00~19:00
• Closed: Tue.
• 092-332-8454
• Web: http://petanicoffee.com/
Nigiyakana Haru
Nigiyakana Haru has a grocery store where they sell fresh organic food they get from the surrounding farms in Itoshima. Apart from having the best organic products, it is also an ideal place for a BBQ. Their special egg donburi or egg rice is worth a try.
• 5250-1 Shima-sakurai, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 9:30~17:00
• Closed: New Year’s Eve
• 092-329-4800
• Web: http://natural-egg.co.jp/top_spring/
Itoshima Oen Plaza
Itoshima Oen Plaza, translated into Itoshima Support Plaza, is home to about 80 artists around Itoshima where they sell various unique handmade products in one big place. They sell products such as clothes, pottery, bags and local jewelries with different prices which are affordable as souvenirs.
• 30 Shima-hatsu, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~18:00
• Closed: Mon. (open if hol. and closed the next day) and 4th Tue.
• 092-334-2066
• Web: https://ja-jp.facebook.com/Itoshima.ouenpuraza/
• Mail: itopla.info@gmail.com
Sakurai Shrine
Sakurai Shrine was established in 1632 by the 2nd lord of Chikuzen, Tadayuki Kuroda, as a school for Shinto priest. This historical site is a precious Muromachi Era shrine architecture heritage and is the only branch of “Ise Shrine”, which is one of the two most important shrines in Japan. It is the best place in to feel the tranquility in Itoshima.
• 4227 Shima-sakurai, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• 092-327-0317
• Web: http://sakuraijinja.com/
• Access: 10 min. on foot from the Showa Bus (Nogita Line) “Sakurai” stop or JR Chikuzen-Maebaru Station
Sakurai Futamigaura
Futamigaura is one of the Japan’s best places to view the sunset where you can see and feel the wonderful nature of Itoshima as the sun sets. There are two big rocks standing in the middle of the sea about 150 meters away from the beachfront. They are also known as the “couple rocks” and are noted for their scenic beauty.
• Shima-sakurai, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Free admission
• Free parking available
• Access: approx. 30 min. on foot from Showa Bus (Nogita Line) “Imuta” stop.
Totouya (Pottery Shop)
Totouya is a pottery shop, selling various kinds of pretty products like plate, vessel and bowl. In this shop, special and delicate designs are found and the fact that you can make one by yourself is very attractive. The owner will kindly offer you some help for sure! Come and make some exclusive souvenirs!
• 1373-3 Shima-kishi, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~17:00
• Closed: Tue. and Wed.
• 092-332-8449
• The price of hand making experience is ¥1500 ~ ¥2500 which differs based on what you make.
• Web: https://totouya.shopinfo.jp/
Ka-la-ku (Handmade Soap)
Despite it being located in a remote area without access by buses and trains, the customers visit here not only from the locals but from all over Japan. The shop always uses high-quality olive oil as its main ingredient and carefully selected other natural ingredients are combined together. “Kalaku” is waiting for you!
• 3728-6 Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~17:00
• Closed: Wed. and Thu.
• 092-328-1345
• Web: http://www.ka-la-ku.com/
Tak Cheese Factory
Tak, meaning ‘Thank you’ in Danish is brought from Itoshima’s fresh dairy products which is processed and handmade by Mr. Akira Katayama, which became an award-winning natural cheese. Mr. Katayama specializes in pressed cheese from low-fat-milk into semi-hard type and fresh cheese such as Kohaku, which is best consumed with beer or wine.
• 63-10 Shima-kishi, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~17:00 on Fri. Sat. and 1st, 3rd and 5th Sun.
• 092-328-1076
• Web: https://www.itoshima-cheese-tak.com/
Keya Club Chikuzen Kai (Japanese Style Hotel)
This Japanese styled inn is located just a short drive away from some of the most popular attractions in Itoshima. A transparent blue sea is just around the corner which is suitable for surfing and swimming. This inn serves Japanese food including freshly caught seafood and also offers barbecue. The rooms are nice and cozy at an affordable price!
• 890 Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• 092-328-2301
• Shuttle bus is available upon request.
• Web: http://chikuzenkai.com/
Trattoria Giro (Italian Restaurant)
Trattoria Giro is an Italian restaurant located on the seaside serving Italian cuisine using Itoshima’s ingredients. The restaurant does not have a fixed menu and instead varies it based on the ingredients purchased on each day. You can taste different dishes every time you come. But the number of seats is limited so make sure you reserve in advance!
• 3-3 Shima-kishi, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:30~15:00, 17:30~22:00
• Closed: Mon.
• 092-328-0525
• Web: http://trattoria-giro.jp/
Kobo Tottan
Kobo Tottan is a traditional style salt factory with its long history. Besides its delicious salt “Mataichi no shio”, they offer boiled eggs and one of the best salted caramel pudding in Itoshima! It is a perfect place to learn about their salt production and relax in the soothing sea breeze.
• 3757 Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~17:00
• Closed: Bad weather, year-end and new-year holidays
• 092-330-8732 (Kisetsuya)
• Web: http://mataichi.info/
Kishi Oyster Huts
One of the most popular things to do in Japan during winter is to BBQ oysters. In Kishi Oyster Huts, there are 10 oyster huts to choose from where you can BBQ some of the Itoshima’s freshest seafood. One kilogram of fresh oysters is only ¥1000! It is definitely worth it.
• 778-5 Shima-kishi, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: 10:00~17:00
• Closed: Year-end and new-year holidays
• Each hut has its own number
• Access: Ride the Showa Bus from JR Chikuzen-Maebaru station (¥200 one way) and get off at the Showa Bus “Kishi” stop.
Keya no Oto
Keya no Oto is the largest basaltic cave of Japan located in the west of Itoshima. The cave is 90m in depth, 2 to 10m in width and 8m in height from the sea level. The view of the cave is spectacular and you can pay a visit by riding on a boat from the local harbor. You can also see this place from the summit of Mt. Tateishi. Be prepared to leave with some unforgettable memories!
• Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• 092-322-2098 (Itoshima Tourism Association)
• Access: 30 min. bus ride from JR Chikuzen-Maebaru Station, get off at the Showa Bus “Keya” stop. Parking lots also available.
• Web: http://www.itoshima-kanko.net/cat/keya_no_oto/
Keya no Oto Round Tour Boat
The boat to Keya no Oto only operates between April and November where it starts from Keya Fishing Port. The visitors can view the beauty of the nature from the destination of the boat, where the cavern ceiling resembles a hornet’s nest. The whole journey to the cave takes about 25 minutes. But remember, the boat may not operate if it is too windy or rainy!
• 677 Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Open: Mon. ~ Fri. every 45 mins between 9:30~12:30 and 13:30~16:30, Sat. & Sun. every 30 mins between 9:30~12:30 and 13:30~16:30
• Closed: during winter
• 092-328-2012
• Cost: adult ¥800, child ¥400
• Web: http://www.keyaotokankousha.jp/
Mt. Tateishi
Mt. Tateishi is only 210m high, but a key hiking destination for visitors where you can see the breathtaking view from the summit of the mountain. During winter, you can enjoy oysters after hiking and during summer, you can relax on the beach or visit another mountain.
• Shima-keya, Itoshima City, Fukuoka
• Access: 30 min. bus ride from JR Chikuzen-Maebaru Station, get off at the Showa Bus “Keya” stop. Enjoy a 30 min. hike to the summit.
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