Fukuoka

Fukuoka, the largest city on Kyushu island, is home to historic sites, local culinary specialties, and modern landmarks. You can explore the ruins of Fukuoka Castle, eat at a yatai food stall, or see the city from Fukuoka Tower. From Fukuoka, you can easily travel to other parts of Kyushu.

Visiting Fukuoka Castle and Ohori Park

Fukuoka Castle, located in Maizuru Park, was built in the early 1600s. Today, you can walk along its stone walls and through its gates. In spring, many people come to see the cherry blossoms on the castle grounds. Next to the castle is Ohori Park, which has a large pond at its center. You can rent a boat to paddle on the pond or walk the trails around it.

Eating at Yatai Food Stalls

In the evenings, small mobile food stalls called yatai appear on the streets of Nakasu and Tenjin. These stalls typically seat 6-8 people and serve a variety of local dishes. You can try Hakata ramen, a noodle soup made with pork bone broth that originated in Fukuoka. Another local specialty is mentaiko, spicy pollock roe often served as a side dish or used to flavor other foods.

Attending Fukuoka's Major Festivals

If you visit in May, you might see the Hakata Dontaku, one of Japan's largest festivals. You can watch parades with dancers and floats moving through the city streets. In July, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa takes place. During this festival, teams race through the city carrying heavy wooden floats. Over a million people typically come to watch this event.

Exploring Beyond Fukuoka

From Fukuoka, you can easily take day trips to nearby areas. A 30-minute train ride takes you to Dazaifu, where you can visit the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and the Kyushu National Museum. About an hour from Fukuoka is Yanagawa, a city known for its network of canals. Here, you can take a punt boat ride along the waterways. A boatman uses a long pole to move the boat through the canals.