10:00 – 11:00
Expressway drive to Itoshima and evaluating Sakurai Futamigaura photo queues
Driving from Fukuoka City to Itoshima is straightforward for foreign tourists navigating Japanese roads, provided your rental car has GPS and an ETC card. We entered the expressway at Gofukumachi IC, paying a one-way toll of 600 yen. Taking the expressway gets you off busy city streets quickly and avoids morning urban traffic congestion, allowing you to reach the coastal drive in around 45 minutes.
If you are wondering whether half a day is enough for a self-drive trip including car rental pickup and drop-off in Fukuoka, a 10:00 AM start allows roughly 5 to 6 hours overall. This provides comfortable time buffers for car pickup, scenic coastal exploration, and drop-off back in Hakata or Tenjin.
Arriving at the coast around 10:45 AM brings you past Sakurai Futamigaura and its iconic white Torii standing in front of the Wedded Rocks. During our February 2026 trip, over 30 people were lined up along the beach waiting to take photos. To protect our half-day schedule for the kids, we drove past without queueing. If taking a photo here is a priority, leaving Fukuoka before 09:30 AM helps you arrive before 10:00 AM when lines are substantially shorter.

11:00 – 13:00
Outdoor play and photos at Swing Heaven
Swing Heaven (located by the Palm Tree Swing area) offers free admission and is ideal for families. The beachfront setup features wooden swings—including double-seated options and a heart frame—plus a mini zipline, ocean views, and a pink "Anywhere Door" photo spot. We spent almost two hours here letting the kids play while capturing photos.
Parking at popular Itoshima cafes and photo spots requires cash and careful attention to signage. We parked across the street at Okyakusama Parking Lot, which costs 300 yen for 40 minutes or 1,000 yen for up to six hours. It is a short 5-minute walk to the swings. Keep 1,000-yen bills ready, as machines rarely accept cards.

13:30 – 15:00
Winter seafood lunch at Kishi Oyster Huts
The Kishi Oyster Huts operate seasonally from November through late March, featuring a long row of fisherman-run seafood shacks. There are plenty of parking slots located directly outside the huts, and parking here is completely free of charge. We picked Toyohisa Maru for lunch. Everyone puts on bright yellow protective jackets before sitting down to guard against popping shells. The venue charges a 550-yen table fee for charcoal grill setup. Ordering seafood by weight is simple and fun for kids. We ordered 2kg fresh oysters, 6 scallops, 3 abalones, prawns, squid, vegetables, rice, and drinks, totaling 17,140 yen. Staff will explain the recommended grilling times and instructions for cooking each item safely. We suggest picking tables near windows, as open draft provides significantly better ventilation while cooking.
15:15 – 16:00
Strawberry treats and returning to Fukuoka
At 3:15 PM, we arrived at the Itoshima Berry Farm Food Truck & Strawberry Picking spot. While picking sessions often require morning bookings, the food truck sells fresh strawberries and sweet treats. We bought strawberry crepes and chocolate-coated fruit, though the popular strawberry smoothie was already sold out. If a smoothie is high on your wishlist, visit the food truck earlier in your drive. From the berry farm, it takes roughly 45 minutes to drive back to central Fukuoka City. We finished our drive around 4:00 PM near teamLab Forest, making it a smooth 6-hour family excursion.

Before starting your Itoshima drive
Confirm your rental car booking includes an ETC card for smooth Japanese expressway toll payment.
Carry at least 3,000 yen in cash for paid coastal parking meters like Swing Heaven (parking outside Kishi Oyster Huts is free).
Set GPS navigation for Gofukumachi IC and Okyakusama Parking Lot before departing Fukuoka.
Verify seasonal operating dates (November to March) if planning to dine at Kishi Oyster Huts.
Depart Fukuoka by 09:30 AM if you wish to photograph Sakurai Futamigaura without long queues.
Request window seating at oyster huts for optimal ventilation while grilling seafood over charcoal.
Reserve 45 minutes for the return drive to Fukuoka to avoid late car rental return charges.
