Higashi Hirao park, Sports park in Hakata district, Fukuoka, Japan

Higashi Hirao Park is a sports park in Hakata ward, Fukuoka, built on part of the former US Itazuke Air Base and managed by the Fukuoka City association for forests and greenery. Its grounds hold the Hakata no Mori stadium, an athletics stadium seating 30,000, a sub-track, tennis courts, a kyudo hall, a baseball ground and Axion Fukuoka, a gym and pool complex.

The park occupies part of the former US Itazuke Air Base, returned to Japan in 1972. Planning began when Fukuoka sought the 1978 Asian Games; after Singapore won the bid, the plan shifted to public sports facilities keeping existing trees. The 1990 National Sports Festival (Tobiume Kokutai) brought the nickname Hakata no Mori, chosen by public competition, and the 1995 Universiade added the ball field and tennis courts.

The park's nickname, Hakata no Mori, was chosen through a public competition when the site was picked to host the 45th National Sports Festival in 1990. Its grounds were redeveloped from part of the former US Itazuke Air Base, returned in 1972. Today Avispa Fukuoka plays home matches at the Hakata no Mori ball field.

Access is by Nishitetsu bus to the Higashi Hirao Koen Iriguchi stop, a 10-minute walk from there; the stop is served from Fukuoka Airport, Fukuoka Airport subway station and JR Hakata Station. By car, take the Tsukiguma exit of the Fukuoka Urban Expressway, about 4 km away. The park is split into two named districts, Higashi Hirao Koen 1-chome and 2-chome, postal code 812-0852.

The park occupies part of the former US Itazuke Air Base, returned to Japan in 1972; the hilly section was leased to Fukuoka City. The site was first planned for a 1978 Asian Games bid that went to Singapore instead, then hosted the 1990 National Sports Festival, when the nickname Hakata no Mori was chosen by public competition.