The Sunset Road is the nickname of the coastal road — largely Prefectural Route 54 — that runs for some 30 kilometres around the north-west of the Itoshima peninsula, from Futamigaura past Nogita to Keya. For most of its length the Genkai Sea is right beside you, and the sun sets straight out over the water.
Over the past two decades surfers, chefs and craftspeople moved out here from Fukuoka, and the road filled with sea-view cafés, burger shacks, gelato stands and deliberately photogenic props: swings, painted wings, bright steps. It is light-hearted and very popular — think of it less as a list of sights than as an afternoon’s slow drive with frequent stops.
Top things to do: Sunset Road & Beach Cafés
Palm Beach and the Futamigaura cafés
The cluster of restaurants and shops facing the married rocks is the busiest stop on the road. Palm Beach has terrace tables looking over the sea, and the complex around it is home to the much-photographed angel-wing wall.
The palm-tree swing at Zauo
In front of the seafood restaurant Zauo a swing hangs between palm trees on the edge of the beach — the “Yashi-no-ki Buranko” that appears in almost every Itoshima tour itinerary. Expect a short queue on weekends.
The London Bus Café
A red double-decker London bus parked above the Nogita coast sells gelato and drinks, with benches facing the sea. It is a five-minute stop and a reliable photograph.
Detour to the salt works
Towards the western tip of the peninsula a narrow lane leads to the Mataichi salt works, where you can eat salt pudding beside the sea — the best non-café stop on the route.
Finish at Keya
The road ends near Keya no Oto and Keya beach. In the boat season, combine the drive with the sea-cave trip; otherwise walk the tree tunnel to the viewpoint.
How to get there
- By car: the natural way to do it. Start at Futamigaura and drive west (the sea is then on your right), allowing three to four hours with stops. Most cafés have their own car parks, often free for customers.
- By e-bike: rental bicycles and e-bikes are available around Chikuzen-Maebaru Station; a loop of the Sunset Road is a full, hilly but rewarding day. See getting to Itoshima.
- By bus: local buses serve parts of the coast but do not link the cafés conveniently. Without wheels, a guided or private tour is the realistic option.
Insider tips
- Cafés here keep short hours — many close around sunset or earlier, and most take a regular weekly day off. Check before building a day around one particular place.
- Weekends and holidays bring queues for both tables and parking. A weekday is a different, calmer experience.
- Popular lunch spots stop taking orders early in the afternoon; eat before 12:00 or after 14:00.
- Park only in marked spaces. Roadside stopping on the coast road is a real problem for residents.
Best tours & tickets: Sunset Road & Beach Cafés
These top-rated experiences are the easiest way to see Sunset Road & Beach Cafés and the rest of Itoshima:
Private tour from US$95 Customized Itoshima Photogenic Tour
A six-hour private tour that you shape with the guide: choose the coast, nature spots or local food and skip what does not interest you. With pickup available and one of the highest ratings of any Itoshima product, it is the flexible alternative to the fixed coach routes.
- A private guide and a route built around your interests
- Nature spots and local food stops
- Pickup available
Bus day trip from US$76 Kyushu Tour from Fukuoka: Itoshima Nature & Coastal Scenery
The most-reviewed Itoshima day tour on GetYourGuide. The route links a waterfall, forest and an old temple in the hills with the palm-tree swing and the seaside photo spots of the coast, giving a rounded picture of the peninsula in a single day from Fukuoka.
- Waterfall and forest scenery
- An ancient hillside temple
- The palm-tree swing and the seaside photo spots
Bus day trip from US$44 Itoshima Day Trip from Fukuoka
A slightly shorter coach day built around Itoshima’s photo spots: a waterfall in the hills, the tree tunnel known as the Totoro forest, and the coast with its sea views. It includes a ramen stop and time for local snacks.
- Waterfall, sea views and the “Totoro forest” tree tunnel
- Photo stops at Itoshima’s best-known spots
- A ramen stop and local treats along the way
