As you all know, I was placed in Fukuoka Prefecture as a JET ALT for my cultural exchange assignment in Japan. And out of all the cities I could have ended up in, I got Kurume and I couldn’t be happier.
If you’re reading this because you’re considering the JET Programme yourself, you might also want to check out my guide on How to Apply for the JET Programme as a Filipino. I walk you through the application process and some of the things I learned along the way. And if you’re already dreaming about what comes after that application, well, here’s a little glimpse into the city that became my home.
Kurume is not the city everyone talks about when they think of Kyushu, but I actually love that. It feels like a place I get to discover for myself selfishly and now, I get to share it with you.
As a JET ALT living and working in Kurume, I actually made this 1-day itinerary not only to share with you travellers, but also as something I can come back to someday as a little memory of my life in Kurume. When you live abroad, there are moments when homesickness quietly catches up with you. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to deal with it is to get out of the house, go somewhere new, discover a place you haven’t seen before, say a little prayer, enjoy a good meal, and simply allow yourself to be present in where you are.
These places and activities in Kurume give me a little bit of everything. There’s art, nature, birds, good food, and finally, a quiet moment at the temple. For me, exploring a new country is really about creating memories that slowly make a place feel a little more like home.
So, if you ever find yourself scrolling through blogs at 1 in the morning, wondering where to go next, or you’ve simply stumbled upon this post by chance, I hope this gives you an idea. Here’s how I’d spend a perfect day exploring my Kurume.
A Little A Bit About Kurume
Kurume is about 30 to 40 minutes south of Fukuoka City by train, but it’s not usually on the typical tourist itinerary. But spend a day here and I think you’ll be surprised. With a population of around 300,000, it is the third-largest city in Fukuoka Prefecture, after Fukuoka and Kitakyushu.
Well, an interesting trivia for you, Kurume is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. The pork-bone ramen we know today is said to have originated here in 1937, before spreading throughout Japan and eventually around the world.
If you love fruits you’re in for a treat because Kurume is known for producing blueberries, grapes, strawberries, persimmons, pears, and figs, with fruit-picking experiences available around the city.
Kurume is also one of Japan’s major sake-producing areas. The city’s location near the Chikugo River, fertile land, and abundant water helped create a long tradition of sake brewing. This is actually one part of Kurume I have yet to explore myself. I haven’t had the chance to discover the city’s sake offerings or visit any of its breweries yet. So, consider this one still on my Kurume bucket list! I’m looking forward to exploring this side of the city and, of course, sharing what I discover with you along the way.
Kurume is home to Kurume Kasuri, a traditional indigo-dyed cotton textile developed during the Edo period and designated a National Important Intangible Cultural Asset.
As you can see, my city has a lot to offer travellers!
Getting Here
You’ve got two options. One is the JR Kurume Station and this is easy to reach by Shinkansen or the JR Kagoshima Main Line from Hakata. This will take somewhere between 17 and 35 minutes depending on the train. The other one is via the Nishitetsu Kurume Station, about 30 minutes from Tenjin.
For this itinerary, we’re starting and ending at Nishitetsu Kurume Train and Bus Station because it’s the hub I use most and most familiar with and it makes hopping on local buses to the parks super easy.
My Suggested Itinerary: A Day of Art, Walk, Flavor, & Worship
I want you to have a relaxed but varied Kurume morning so I recommend this itinerary. You can start with a little art and culture, take a leisurely walk through the park, meet some feathered friends at the Bird Center, and then stop for a satisfying Japanese lunch. You can round off your morning or transition into the afternoon with a peaceful visit to a nearby temple. It’s a relaxed mix of culture, nature, food, and a little bit of spirituality.
Morning: Ishibashi Cultural Center and Kurume City Art Museum
I like to ease into the day here at the Ishibashi Cultural Center and I think you will too. I actually went here on my first Saturday upon arriving to Kurume. It was hot and humid, but that did not stop me from wandering around the garden. I love the sight of flowers and this place has a collection of roses. I was told to come and visit again in autumn, because they hold the Rose Festival then, and it’s said to be an even lovelier sight.
The Ishibashi Cultural Center was donated to the city back in 1956 by Shojiro Ishibashi, the Kurume-born founder of Bridgestone. He had this aim of enriching the cultural life and happiness of people in his hometown and Ishibashi’s philosophy is represented by the message “For the welfare and happiness of all mankind” and it’s actually placed there in front of the garden. Isn’t that lovely?
Having spent almost an hour here, I can say that this makes it a genuinely peaceful place to be in with a cold bottled drink in hand. It’s a space where you can enjoy culture, nature, and community life together.
After walking around the garden and pond, the next stop I recommend is inside the Kurume City Art Museum. It’s tucked within the same complex. It’s a lovely, unhurried gallery space showcasing works connected to Kyushu and the local area. I must say it’s a nice, quiet way to spend part of your morning before the day picks up pace.
The displays I saw when I went there were photography shots and what I really enjoyed was seeing how photographers use different angles, composition, and creative ideas to tell a story through a photo. It’s a great place to get inspired and see photography from a different perspective. So if you love taking photos and want to explore more creative ways of seeing things, add this to your list.
The museum is open every day from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, except on Mondays. A little tip from me is you can walk the garden for free even if you skip the museum and there’s a small memorial hall if you want a bit of the city’s history along the way.
For a tourist, I think this combination of Ishibashi Cultural Center and Kurume City Art Museum is what makes this stop worthwhile. You can take a leisurely walk, enjoy the flowers and greenery, appreciate some Japanese and regional art, and simply have a quieter part of your itinerary. It’s also a great place to visit if you want to experience a side of Kurume beyond food and temples.
Late Morning: Central Park & Kurume Bird Center
From the Ishibashi Cultural Center, make your way to Central Park. This is one of my favorite pockets of the city because it has a nice combination of nature, sports, culture, and community.
It is more than just a garden. It has sports facilities like a track and field area, baseball field, and tennis courts, as well as Kurume Arena, martial arts facilities, a public pool, the Kurume Bird Center, the Fukuoka Prefectural Youth Science Museum, and large lawns and gardens where people can relax and enjoy the outdoors. It is suitable for a peaceful walk, family outings, photography, enjoying flowers, exercising, or simply relaxing on the lawn. Its location also makes it relatively convenient being about a 15-minute walk from Nishitetsu Kurume Station.
The first time I visited this park, I felt happy, but at the same time, a little sad. I was happy because I was enjoying such a beautiful, peaceful space. But I also found myself thinking, “I wish we had more places like this in the Philippines.”
My favorite spot here is the Fountain of Love and this was created by sculptor Toyofuku Tomonori. What makes this fountain fascinating is that it wasn’t simply designed to look beautiful. The arrangement of the stones and the movement of the water were carefully calculated to work together. I found that little detail quite interesting because it made me look at the fountain differently. Japanese really take their design seriously. There is both art and careful planning behind what appears to be a simple flow of water.
And I was lucky enough to witness the water flowing from the top during my visit! The fountain operates only at certain times and I happened to catch it from 12 noon to 1 p.m. It was such a simple but lovely moment and somehow made this my favorite area in the park.
And after enjoying the park, get a closer look at some beautiful birds and wildlife. I was brought here by my senpai who lives in our apartment and I definitely did not regret coming. It’s a particularly nice stop if you simply love birds. And if you’re lucky enough to visit on a warm Sunday like I did, you might even find yourself enjoying the African penguins, flamingos, and a few adorable fowls despite the heat! It was actually my first time seeing flamingos up close and I was surprised by just how beautiful they are. At just ¥300 for admission, Kurume Bird Center is an easy and affordable addition to your Kurume day.
Lunch at Teishokuye Hyakusai Shun
After all that walking and sightseeing, it’s time for lunch! Conveniently located on the ground floor of Nishitetsu Kurume Station, you’ll find a variety of restaurants to choose from. But if you’re looking for a place I personally recommend, try Teishokuya Hyakusai Shun.
This has become one of my favorite places for a satisfying Japanese meal. If you’re not sure what to order, I recommend trying their sukiyaki, katsunabe, or one of their lunch sets. The portions are satisfying, the meals are comforting, and best of all, it’s right at the station.
I was actually on the look out for a Sukiyaki meal and I chanced upon it here in this restaurant. Sukiyaki is a Japanese hot-pot meal where thinly sliced beef is simmered together with vegetables, tofu, mushrooms, and shirataki noodles in a sweet and savory soy-based broth. It’s so satisfying when you dip the pieces in a bowl of beaten raw egg before eating.
Katsunabe is another discovery for me. I knew about katsudon, but this was my first time having a Katsunabe meal. Katsunabe literally means “cutlet hot pot” or “cutlet in a pot.” Katsu means breaded, fried cutlet, usually pork and nabe means pot or hot-pot dish. In katsunabe, a fried pork cutlet is simmered with onions, egg, and a sweet-savory soy-based sauce. So unlike regular tonkatsu, where the cutlet stays crispy, katsunabe allows the sauce and egg to soak into the cutlet. I like it this way because it’s softer and more flavorful.
And I have to mention their melon soda with ice cream and a cherry on top! I absolutely love this sweet, fizzy, creamy, and honestly a little addictive drink. The bright green soda topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and that classic cherry is perfect. If you have a sweet tooth, I’d definitely save room for this one.
I also recommend trying one of their lunch sets. It’s great value for money and comes with a little bit of everything. It’s a good choice if you want to try several flavors in one meal. And don’t forget dessert! The mochi with red bean paste I ordered was separate from the set, but I highly recommend it. It’s filling, satisfying, and makes for a lovely sweet ending to your meal.
Early Afternoon: Daihonzan Naritasan Kurume
My next suggested stop for you is Daihonzan Naritasan Kurume. My visit here was one that’s a little more personal for me and maybe, it will be for you, too. If I may just share, I had actually promised myself that I would visit a temple or shrine within my first week in Kurume, by hook or by crook! I have this personal ritual of visiting a place of worship whenever I arrive somewhere new, as a way of pausing, giving thanks, and acknowledging the blessing of being in a new place.
As you approach it, you will be greeted by this enormous 62-meter-tall Kannon statue. You really can’t miss it! You can actually go inside and climb through the interior of the statue and enjoy the views along the way. I did it and it made the visit feel much more memorable.
And here’s something you can actually do when you visit. Downstairs inside the Kannon statue, there’s a spot where you can make a wish. You fill out two small leaf-shaped pieces of paper, write down your wish, and then make a donation. I loved this little part of the experience because it gave me a chance to pause and put my thoughts and hopes into words.
So just like I did, you can climb inside the statue, take in the experience, write down a wish, and offer a little prayer. It turns a simple sightseeing stop into something much more personal and who knows, maybe your wish will come true!
Early Evening: Late Refreshments at Kuru Meru Cafe Studio or Early Dinner at Hakata Yari Udon Restaurant
After a full day of walking, exploring, praying, and eating, I like ending the day somewhere I can simply sit down and take it all in and that’s what I would suggest you do, too. For late refreshments or an early dinner, Kurume Cafe and Hakata Yari Udon Restaurant are two options you can consider.
And if you ask me what my favorite treat at Kuru Meru is, it is the raspberry mochi with their 100% fresh-milk soft serve. I love the combination of the creamy, milky soft serve with the sweet-tart raspberry and chewy mochi was such a delightful little treat. After spending the day walking around, exploring, and taking in Kurume, this is exactly the kind of dessert you want to end with.
As for Hakata Yari Udon, well, the name itself gives you a hint about what you should order! I definitely recommend trying their Hakata Yari Udon. It’s a great way to cap your evening.
Sharing My City
And there you have it, my little way of sharing with you how you can spend a day in Kurume.
As a JET ALT, when I first arrived in Japan, Kurume was simply the city I had been assigned to. A place on a map. A name I had to learn how to pronounce and a new home I had to figure out. But little by little, through walks in the park, beautiful flowers, birds, good food, quiet prayers, unexpected discoveries, and even a favorite ice cream, the city started becoming more familiar to me.
So I’m sharing Kurume with you, not because I’ve seen everything, but because these are some of the places that are now becoming part of my own story here.
Welcome to My Kurume
I know Kurume isn’t the first name that comes up when people think of Kyushu, but I hope this gave you a little glimpse of why I’m falling for my city now. If you’re ever passing through Fukuoka Prefecture, take the detour. Come say hi to my city.
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