Yusentei Park

Yusentei Park is a traditional Japanese garden located in Fukuoka City, built in 1754 by the sixth lord of the Fukuoka Domain, Kuroda Tsugutaka. The park's name, meaning "continuing spring garden," reflects the design philosophy of maintaining beauty throughout all seasons. This historic garden served as a villa retreat for the Kuroda clan and stands as one of Fukuoka's most important cultural heritage sites.

The garden exemplifies classical Japanese landscape design principles, featuring a central pond with carefully positioned stones, walking paths that reveal different perspectives at every turn, and a traditional tea house where visitors can experience an authentic tea ceremony. The meticulously maintained grounds showcase seasonal transformations, from cherry blossoms in spring to vibrant maple foliage in autumn, with the garden's pond serving as a mirror to reflect these natural changes. The tea house, Shoseikaku, offers visitors the opportunity to participate in traditional tea ceremonies while overlooking the tranquil water garden.

Visitors can stroll along the circular path surrounding the pond, which takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete at a leisurely pace. The garden's compact size of approximately 12,000 square meters makes it easily navigable while maintaining an atmosphere of peaceful seclusion within the urban environment. Photography enthusiasts find the garden particularly rewarding, as the classical composition of rocks, water, bridges, and vegetation creates picture-perfect scenes from multiple vantage points.

Yusentei Park is located in the Jonan ward of Fukuoka City, approximately 4 kilometers south of Hakata Station. Visitors can reach the park by taking the Nishitetsu bus from Hakata Station or Tenjin, getting off at the Yusentei-Iriguchi stop, followed by a short walk. Alternatively, the nearest subway station is Sakurazaka Station on the Nanakuma Line, requiring about a 15-minute walk to the garden entrance. Admission costs ¥200 for adults and ¥100 for children, with the tea ceremony experience available for an additional fee of approximately ¥300 to ¥500 depending on the season and offerings.