Things to Do in Shime (志免町), Fukuoka: Sights, Train Access & Travel Guide

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

Overview & City Profile

Shime (志免町) in Fukuoka Prefecture (Kyushu, Japan) is anchored by local sights including Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property), Tanabataike Kofun, Shime Railway Memorial Park and served by Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) via the regional hub at Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway). Set at 11 m elevation (33.5876°N, 130.4763°E), Shime offers travelers a base for sampling regional Hakata tonkotsu ramen (creamy pork-bone broth with thin straight noodles), Motsunabe (beef/pork offal & chive hotpot), Mizutaki (rich chicken hotpot) cuisine and exploring neighboring Kasuya (粕屋町) (3.1 km), Sue (須恵町) (4 km), Ōnojō (大野城市) (5.7 km), Kasuga (春日市) (6.1 km).

Shime is located in northwestern Fukuoka Prefecture. Although there are hilly areas in the southern and western parts of the town, it is generally flat. The area of Shime was part of ancient Chikuzen Province. During the Edo Period, the area was under the control of Fukuoka Domain. Shime is located in the center of the Kasuya Coalfield, and the town once had several coal mines and prospered as a coal industry, but the last mine closed in the 1960s. Within Fukuoka Prefecture, Shime (志免町) serves as a town (町) in Fukuoka Prefecture (municipal incorporation: 1889-04-01) and pairs naturally with wider prefectural highlights such as Nakasu & Tenjin open-air yatai food stalls, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine & Kyushu National Museum, Yanagawa canal punting boats, Mojiko Retro port in Kitakyushu, and Itoshima coast.

What to See & Do in Shime (志免町): Landmarks & Sights

Visitors exploring Shime (志免町) from Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) at 11 m elevation (33.5876°N, 130.4763°E) can visit these nearby shrines, temples, parks, and geographic landmarks (with straight-line distances from central Shime):

• Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property) — local sightseeing landmark near Shime (志免町).
• Tanabataike Kofun — local sightseeing landmark near Shime (志免町).
• Shime Railway Memorial Park — local sightseeing landmark near Shime (志免町).
• Iwato-no-Sato — local sightseeing landmark near Shime (志免町).
• Primary Rail Gateway for Shime: Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) (connecting to Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway)).

Closest Neighboring Municipalities to Shime

When planning a regional rail or driving loop around Shime (志免町) and Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km), consider pairing your stop with the 5 closest neighboring municipalities across Fukuoka Prefecture and Kyushu:

• Kasuya (粕屋町) — 3.1 km from Shime (Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Sue (須恵町) — 4 km from Shime (Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Ōnojō (大野城市) — 5.7 km from Shime (Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Kasuga (春日市) — 6.1 km from Shime (Fukuoka Prefecture)
• Fukuoka (福岡市) — 6.9 km from Shime (Fukuoka Prefecture)

Getting to Shime & Getting Around

Train & hub access to Shime (志免町) via Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km): 2h 28m from Shin-Osaka or 5h from Tokyo on the Sanyo Shinkansen to Hakata; Fukuoka Airport (FUK) is a 5-minute subway ride from Hakata Station. From Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway), transfer to local JR or private rail lines serving Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) to reach central Shime (33.5876°N, 130.4763°E).

• Local rail & IC cards at Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km): JR regional trains and private commuter lines link Fukuoka with Shime (志免町) and neighboring Kasuya, Sue, Ōnojō. Nationwide IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA) work at major urban gates; for rural branch stations or local buses around Shime, carry ¥1,000 bills and ¥100 coins for the onboard fare box.
• Luggage & station coin lockers: Travelers exploring Shime and continuing toward Kasuya can store bags at major transfer stations or check suitcase dimensions in our Luggage & Locker Checker and ship large bags ahead via Takkyubin.
• Driving & car rental around Shime: While Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) anchors public transit for Shime, picking up a rental car at Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway) makes it easy to link Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property) and Tanabataike Kofun with nearby Kasuya (粕屋町) (3.1 km), Sue (須恵町) (4 km), Ōnojō (大野城市) (5.7 km), Kasuga (春日市) (6.1 km). See our Renting a Car in Japan Guide.

What to Eat in Shime (志免町) & Fukuoka

Dining near Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) and across Shime (志免町) highlights the regional food culture of Fukuoka Prefecture and Kyushu. Look for these local specialties at station restaurants, family-run shokudo, and markets in Shime:

• Local specialty & terroir of Shime (志免町): suburban rail connectivity, green riverside parks, and local agricultural markets alongside irrigated paddy rice cultivation, seasonal produce, and rural satoyama landscapes.
• Hakata tonkotsu ramen (creamy pork-bone broth with thin straight noodles) — regional specialty enjoyed across Shime (志免町) and Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Motsunabe (beef/pork offal & chive hotpot) — regional specialty enjoyed across Shime (志免町) and Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Mizutaki (rich chicken hotpot) — regional specialty enjoyed across Shime (志免町) and Fukuoka Prefecture.
• Karashi mentaiko (spicy cod roe) & Yanagawa unagi seiro-mushi — regional specialty enjoyed across Shime (志免町) and Fukuoka Prefecture.

If you are dining in Shime (志免町) with food allergies or dietary restrictions, use our Japanese Phrasebook & Allergy Show-Cards at restaurants around Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km).

Where to Stay in Shime (志免町)

Visitors staying overnight in Shime (志免町) can look for business hotels, traditional ryokan, or family-run minshuku near Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km), or base at major rail hubs in Fukuoka (Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway)) or neighboring Kasuya, Sue, Ōnojō for quick train access into Shime. Compare hotel tiers and ryokan etiquette in our Japan Accommodation Guide.

Best Time to Visit Shime & Seasonal Highlights

Seasonal guide for Shime (志免町, 11 m elevation at 33.5876°N, 130.4763°E): Late March–April for Maizuru Park cherry blossoms; July 1–15 for the thrilling Hakata Gion Yamakasa float race; year-round evening yatai street-food stalls.

Wider sightseeing across Fukuoka Prefecture that pairs well with visiting Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property) in Shime (志免町) includes: Nakasu & Tenjin open-air yatai food stalls, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine & Kyushu National Museum, Yanagawa canal punting boats, Mojiko Retro port in Kitakyushu, and Itoshima coast.

Practical Travel Tips for Shime (志免町)

• Tourist information (観光案内所) for Shime: Stop by the Kankō Annaijo desk at Hakata Station (Sanyo & Kyushu Shinkansen) & Fukuoka Airport (FUK, 5m by subway) or Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) for local bus schedules to Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property) and walking maps of Shime (志免町).
• Cash & ATMs in Shime: Convenience stores and major hotels around Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) accept international cards, while smaller eateries and shrines near Former Shime Coal Mine Winding Tower (Important Cultural Property) often prefer yen cash; 7-Eleven (Seven Bank) and Japan Post ATMs in Shime accept foreign debit cards.
• Local dining hours in Shime: Around Sakado Station (酒殿駅) (1.9 km) and neighboring Kasuya, Sue, Ōnojō, lunch service typically runs 11:30 AM–2:00 PM and dinner spots open around 5:30 PM with last orders between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.