Fukuoka City Museum

福岡市博物館

See Japan's famous gold seal, a national treasure, in person

⚠ Closed Mondays

Hours

9:30am–5:30pm (last entry 5pm). Closed Mondays (next weekday if a holiday) and 28 Dec–4 Jan

Tickets

Permanent exhibition: adults ¥200, high school/university ¥150, junior high and under free; special exhibitions extra

Address

3-1-1 Momochihama, Sawara Ward, south of Fukuoka Tower

The star here is a gold seal about the size of a fingertip. It's the national treasure said to have been given by a Chinese emperor to a king of Wa around the 1st century, and it's so much smaller than you expect that everyone lingers at the glass. The permanent galleries run through Fukuoka's story, from ancient ties with the mainland to merchant Hakata and the Yamakasa festival. The broad plaza and pond out front are a pleasant spot, and Fukuoka Tower is 10 minutes' walk away: museum by day, tower by evening. The permanent exhibition costs just ¥200.