Fukuoka City, Japan is quickly emerging as one of Japan's most dynamic hubs for creativity, design and cultural innovation. With a growing community of artists, designers, founders and digital nomads, the city blends modern liveability with deep cultural heritage, creating an environment where people don't just visit, they stay, create and thrive. Fukuoka is also known as a Japan's pioneer of the Startup Visa, making it one of the few Japanese cities where international entrepreneurs and freelancers can live and work long-term while building new ventures or pursuing creative work. 

NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA

Founded in 2020, NOT A HOTEL has quickly distinguished itself with a hybrid model that offers high-end holiday homes. These properties combine design by world-renowned architects and creators with the comfort of technologies such as IoT, all under the concept of "Your home anywhere in the world".A standout example of Fukuoka's contemporary design culture, NOT A HOTEL FUKUOKA is a next-generation accommodation concept that blurs the line between home, hotel and lifestyle space. Known for its minimalist architecture, refined interior design and flexible living model, it appeals strongly to creatives, remote workers and design-forward travellers. Its approach creates beautifully crafted, multi-functional spaces that support both short and long-term living.The property is designed around the concept of a three-dimensional, city-like space, comprising eight unique guest rooms stacked upon one another, each featuring its own distinct theme. Guests can choose from the eight themes including '+CHEF' which includes a chef's table, large fully equipped kitchen and outside dining space, or '+DESK' which includes a ten seater meeting table equipped with power outlets and a screen for presentations or video meetings, all within a greenery-wrapped structure that blends seamlessly into its neighbourhood.

In 2025, Pharrell Williams and NIGO, both global icons in music, fashion and culture, joined NOT A HOTEL as creative advisors and investors, formalising their influence on how the company conceptualises hospitality as a curated cultural ecosystem rather than a traditional stay. Prices start from 120,000 yen (approximately £580) per night per module, correct as of December 2025.  

Maison HAKOSHIMA

Maison HAKOSHIMA has breathed new life into Hakozaki-shima, a traditional Fukuoka forgotten textile woven in the Hakozaki district since the Meiji era. Once used for everyday clothing, coal miners' workwear and garments for the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, its production disappeared during wartime, vanishing for nearly 70 years. Thanks to the dedication of Keisuke Obata and Mai Hayashi, Hakozaki-shima has been revived using machine weaving and reimagined into modern fashion and lifestyle pieces. Their unique clothing and accessories fuse tradition and contemporary design making the perfect keepsake or gift. 

Fukuoka City Museum of Art

Designed by iconic modernist architect Kunio Maekawa, the Fukuoka City Museum of Art sits within the greenery and water of Ohori Park. The Fukuoka Art Museum holds a uniquely diverse collection spanning from 5000 B.C. to the 21st  century, featuring works from Japan, across Asia and the West. Its holdings include everything from painting, sculpture and film to folding screens and ceramics. Visitors can also browse a curated library of around 1,000 art books and exhibition related publications. With a collection of approximately 16,000 works from contemporary art to ancient Asian artifacts, the museum is a leading cultural anchor. 

In the Esplanade, the open-air space on the second floor you will find a huge yellow pumpkin created by.Yayoi Kusama (born 1929), the globally celebrated Japanese contemporary artist known for her vibrant, immersive works featuring polka dots, nets, and mirrors. Working across painting, sculpture, installation, performance, and literature, she's famous for her iconic Infinity Mirror Rooms, which were shown at Tate Modern,  and soft sculptures, blending Pop Art, Minimalism, and feminism. The pumpkin suddenly appeared for one month, in October 1994, in front of a bank on a busy street in the Tenjin area of Fukuoka City. It was Kusama's first outdoor sculpture and attracted enormous public attention, changing the whole local cityscape. This piece became the first of many colorful and distinctive public sculptures by Kusama, including such motifs as flowers and hats as well as pumpkins, which today are installed in numerous locations around the world. She remains one of the world's most successful living artists. Admission is 200 yen (approximately 95p) for adults, 150 yen (approximately 71p) for school students and free for young children (special exhibitions are subject to separate charges).

Design & Lifestyle for the Modern Creative: HIGHTIDE STORE FUKUOKA

Located in Shirogane, Chuo Ward, HIGHTIDE STORE FUKUOKA is the flagship of the renowned stationery and lifestyle brand HIGHTIDE which includes the globally recognised “penco” series. Visitors can enjoy bold, minimal stationery designs alongside a curated selection of international lifestyle products, custom notebooks crafted by Tokyo's Kakimori, and a relaxing café space serving coffee, homemade lemonad and craft beer. 

“Hakata Machiya” Folk Museum

If visitors would like to experience the rich heritage of artisans and try their hand at recreating traditional craft to take home then a visit to "Hakata Machiya" Folk Museum immerses visitors in the life, craft and culture of the Meiji and Taisho eras. Highlights include:

• The Machiya Building This townhouse, originally built in the mid-Meiji period as a residence and factory for a Hakata textile manufacturer, has been relocated and restored and is a designated cultural property of Fukuoka City.
• Craft demonstrations such as Hakata-ori weaving
• Hands-on workshops including Hakata doll, spinning top and paper mache painting and Hakata Magemono (wooden accessory box) making 
• Exhibitions showcasing traditional craftsmanship
• Local Products Building (Souvenir Shop): Sells traditional crafts and souvenirs such as Hakata dolls and Hakata-ori textiles. A café is also available on-site.

For more information about Fukuoka City visit www.gofukuoka.jp 

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About Fukuoka City:

Fukuoka City, the vibrant heart of Kyushu, serves as a hub for politics, economy, and culture in the region. Known as the "Gateway to Asia," it is a dynamic city thriving with international exchange. Boasting exceptional accessibility, Fukuoka offers seamless connections from Fukuoka Airport to key destinations within the city, making it one of Japan's most convenient urban centers for transportation. Historically a crossroads for cultural exchange with the Asian continent, Fukuoka has flourished into a city that seamlessly blends tradition and modernity. It is home to renowned festivals such as Hakata Gion Yamakasa and Hakata Dontaku, a rich culinary scene featuring its famous street food stalls (yatai), and a unique balance of urban convenience and natural beauty that make it a highly livable city. Compact, convenient, and infused with nature, Fukuoka provides both residents and visitors with comfort and excitement, offering a globally appealing charm that sets it apart. www.gofukuoka.jp