Kurume is a beautiful Japanese town located in the southwestern part of the Fukuoka prefecture, placed on the Chikushi Plain and surrounded by the Minou Mountain Range. It is an excellent destination to explore Japanese culture in a laidback atmosphere. The JR Kagoshima Main Line makes reaching the city easy, and the Tenjin Omuta Line provides another option for travelers.
When in Kurume, you will find the temples to have the greatest draw on tourists. An area forming a temple town is where to find some of the top attractions as well as the locals’ place of prayer and worship. Suiten-gu Shrine can be found here and is where many come to honor the God of Water and the God for Easy Childbirth. Not far from here is the
Bairin-ji Temple, which boasts a small orchard of plum trees that make for a beautiful view in the spring. The
Naritisan Temple boasts the city’s largest feature. Standing at 62 meters tall, the Jibo Kannon Statue is a site that you can basically see whether you visit the temple or not, but a visit would allow a climb to the top for great views of the city. More views can be captured from the top of the city hall. The
Ishibashi Museum of Art makes for an excellent day out and is located next to a traditional koi pond. Kurume is well-known for its Kurume-gasuri, a Japanese textile, and its city flower – the Kurume azalea – is beloved throughout Japan and beyond. The Kurume Forest Azalea Park and the Kurume World Tsutsuji Center are both excellent spots to discover it.
Be sure to check out the interactive map of Kurume for information on hotel locations, attractions, and must-see destinations.
