Aburayama Katae Observation Deck

A great walk in the hills overlooking Fukuoka. Perfect when the weather is dry and the mist/clouds/fog aren’t covering the views from the observation deck. Plenty to see along the paved and unpaved trails for any hiking enthusiasts. There are buses and parking as well as coffee and food available locally. Everyone there enjoying the trails or working in the stores was friendly and respectful of each other.

Great view of the city. A wonderful spot for sunset or sunrise. Rode my bike it was definitely a grunt on the ride up.

Some of the reviews say you can hike up to the Aburayama Obersvation Deck (rather than drive) and that there is information online. Yes you can! But I found no info online, at least not in English. This is a quicker hike than the 4-5 hours to do Aburayama peak, so I'd recommend it if your time is limited. It took me about 40 minutes up, 25 minutes down. (1) If there's no special weekend bus, take the 13 bus from central Fukuoka (I caught it at Ropponmatsu, just outside subway station). (2) Get off at the stop AFTER these two: Higashi-Aburayama and Aburayama Housing Complex. (3) walk in the same direction the bus was going. Take first left. (4) After the dry field or wetland (depending on season), veer to right up through the park, which is Katae Central Park. You'll go uphill then up stairs. (5) When you hit the street, turn right. The nursing home is on your left. Go past it, and take first left. Walk to the red part of the road and keep going up. (6) When the red part of the road ends, turn right. Then take the first left. In a short while, you are amidst trees. (7) Go straight, then you must do a sharp right, Then there is a little park of Buddhist stonework and remnants you can walk through. It's nice. The paths will all sort of lead you back left, to the main road. You might have to go over a short fence. Then turn right/upward on that main road. (8) When the main road turns left towards Tenpukuji (a modern-looking Buddhist temple), you'll see a marked trail that goes straight and then right. Take it. (9) This trail puts you into forest. It turns into a small, non-vehicle road that turns right and left several times. (10) At one point, you can get off the paved part and onto an actual nature trail. You'll clearly see a trail during a right turn. Don't jump the gun. There looks like maybe a trail at a right turn where there is a creek/stream, but that's not it. The trail will be on its own (no stream). This trail is steep, and you don't have to take it; you can stay on the paved switchbacks, which are semi-steep themselves. The trail is clear and there are no offshoots that will lead you astray. It rejoins with the paved small road, near where you will go up a few feet and run into a bigger road with vehicles. (11) You will be at a red portion of that road. Turn Right and go up. There will be hard right, then a babbling creek (which you can check out), and then keep going up to the observation deck. Sharing the road with vehicles. (12) There is a drinks machine up there (it even takes IC cards!) and a hotdog truck, apparently, though it was closed when I was there before 10 a.m. The view from the observation deck is very nice. (13) Retrace your steps, and you can even get a bit off track on the way down and you'll still make it now that you are comfortable with the area. (14) I opted to walk back to central Fukuoka, (Yakuin Station area), which took me about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the base of the mountain. ENJOY !!

Wonderful night view with the sound of a nature.

It’s a best place where you can see the whole Fukuoka city. This place is also famous for night view of Fukuoka city.