Umi no Nakamichi [海の中道]

Umi no Nakamichi is a sand bank connecting the mainland and Shikanoshima island.

The length is about 8 km.
The widest part is about 2.5 km and the narrowest part is less than 0.5 km in width.

"Umi no Nakamichi" means "Road in the sea" in Japanese.

It is like a breakwater of Hakata Bay, and the open sea is Genkai Sea connecting to the Sea of Japan.

Seaside Momochi which is the waterfront area near the center of Fukuoka city is located about 6 km south of this sand bank.

The west part about 2 km long is Uminonakamichi Seaside Park (海の中道海浜公園).

There are wide flower gardens and large grassy fields.
And, an amusement park, zoo, pools are set up in the park.

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Shikanoshima island (志賀島)

Shikanoshima is a small island connected by Umi no Nakamichi.

The island is about 3.5 km from north to south and about 2 km east to west.
The southeast edge is connected to Umi no Nakamichi by a narrow sand bank.

There is the main town of Shikanoshima at the place, and the fishing port is by the town.
A ferry is operated from Hakata Port to this port.

There is Shikaumi Shrine (志賀海神社) just at the north edge of the town.

It is unknown when this shrine was founded.
A statement remains in an old document that this shrine was existent in 731.

Gods of the sea were enshrined in this shrine, and the shrine has been worshipped as a guardian deity of Hakata Bay.

In 1784, a farmer found the golden seal given from China in the 1st century in his farm in the island, when he plowed a field in his farm in Shikanoshima.

"Golden seal" is "Kin-in" in Japanese.
Now, the place is Kin-in Park (金印公園).

It is located near the coast about 1.5 km west of the main town.
There is the monument of the seal.

The real golden seal is seen in Fukuoka City Museum in Seaside Momochi.

There is Mouko-zuka (蒙古塚) about 0.8 km northwest of Kin-in Park.

In 1274 and 1281, there were the attacks from the Yuan dynasty by Mongolian ruling China and Central Asia.

In the second battle in 1281, hard storm hit Mongol ships and the great military was devastated on the sea.
About 220 Mongol soldiers washed up on the shore, and they were killed there.

Mouko-zuka is the memorial monument for the soul of Mongol soldiers, and was built in 1928.

To travel around Shikanoshima and Umi no Nakamichi, rental bicycle is available.
Some stations for rental bicycle are set up in the area.

Great Ride into the Blue

How to get here

By local train of JR Kagoshima Line, about 12 minutes from Hakata to Kashii.
Change to JR Kashii Line, then about 16 minutes to Umi-no-Nakamichi.

To Shikanoshima, you get on the train to Saitozaki terminal.
About 19 minutes from Kashii.
Then, by route bus, about 11 minutes to Shikanoshima.

Other Tourist Attractions in Fukuoka city

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