Eat
What else for it? You are in Japan. The first thing you should do is EAT! Try the delicious weird, and beautiful foods, slurp the mouth-watering noodles, and indulge in the delightful sushi. There are several places I would recommend finding, to make sure you don’t leave Fukuoka without trying.
Ichiran
The first is a chain called Ichirin. It is located at various spots around the city and is very easy to find by looking on any tourist map. You enter and are presented with not a waiter to show you your seat but a vending machine, where you select your food, pay your bill and enter under a fabric curtain hanging from the wall (typical Japanese Style).
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The seats are individual stools placed at a ‘bar’ like counter with individual shutters for privacy. Once you ring the bell, a waiter/server will arrive on the opposite side of the bar and take your ticket. You will not see a face; all you see are hands serving delicious noodles! Yes, a unique experience indeed! When your food arrives, the shutters will close, and you will be alone with your selected bowl of noodles.
Maybe this is intentional because when I say they are “the best noodles I have ever tasted,” I mean “the best noodles I have ever tasted,” and a moment alone with them is not wrong. But, in my case, I like to share everything with Janice, so we opened our small partition to enjoy the meal together!
We ordered the same dish but had the same opinion regarding taste, so you must try it at least once!
Yatai Street Vendors
For more noodle options and fried foods, you can try Yatai Street, which comes alive on the banks of the river leading to Canal City at around 6 pm. Each street vendor will have various noodle dishes, sushi, fried foods, and even some sake if you want something to warm you up. It’s a great spot; the noodles are just as delicious as any restaurant.
“Yatai” means “shop stand” in Japanese. We tried Hakata Ramen (a local noodle dish featuring relatively thin ramen noodles in a pork bone-based soup (tonkatsu)). It was delicious!!!! Many vendors will serve family recipes passed down, making each dish somewhat unique in flavor. Definitely worth a try!
Ramen Stadium
If you shop all day at Canal City Shopping Complex in Hakata, you will want to travel to the 5th floor for Ramen Stadium. Raman is a typical noodle dish in Japan, and here you will find various vendors selling all types of ramen dishes. Again you will pay using the vending machines in advance, presenting your tickets for your food.
Sight-See
Fukuoka is a sleepy city with lovely parks to relax in, lazy canals flowing through the streets, and many temples to explore. You can experience some authentic Japanese culture if you want.
Ohori Park
This is one of the biggest parks in central Fukuoka and a great way to spend a morning or afternoon. Several coffee shops are dotted around the lake, with runners, play parks, and even a few row boats to enjoy the views from the water. While here, you can also check out Fukuoka Castle Shiomi Tower, a historical landmark.
How to get there: Subway – Get off at Ohori Koen Station.
Fukuoka Tower
Being the tallest structural building in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Tower generates a lot of yearly tourism. Standing 234 meters tall, it is the tallest seaside tower in Japan.
Momochi Seaside Park
Situated in the Momochihama area, a stone’s throw from the beach, this is a fantastic place to spend the day if the weather is nice. Grab an ice cream or a takoyaki, hit the beach, and catch some rays. If you’re ravenous, you can even enjoy a fancy Italian meal at the water.
How to get there: Subway – Get off at Tojinmachi Station and walk for around 15 minutes. (Fukuoka Tower & Momochi Seaside Park are both signposted from the station)
Tocho-ji Temple
Situated within walking distance to each other in the Hakata district, the Shinto shrine and Tocho-Ji Temple are excellent sites to see to experience traditional Fukuoka. Marvel at the ancient structures or experience a formal ceremony. Either way, you will leave feeling very mellow and somewhat calm.
How to get there: Subway – Get off at Gion Station, a 500-meter walk to the grounds.
Shop until you Drop!
There are plenty of shopping malls to feed any shopaholics addition in Fukuoka, and with tax-free shopping in almost all of them, you won’t be able to resist buying some designer goods or at least some green tea-flavored kit-kats.
Hakata Area
Hakata station is located in the largest shopping complex in Fukuoka and will almost certainly take you all day to navigate it if you want to visit every shop. You can even watch a movie on the 6th floor if you have spare time or find yourself there on a rainy day.
How to get there: Subway – Get off at Hakata Station
Canal City Shopping Complex
Canal City shopping complex (not too far from Hakata Station) is another excellent option for shopping. Here you will find names like Zara and H&M and several Japanese brands and tourist shops. Stock up on Japanese Sake or weird and excellent Japanese snacks.
How to get there: Subway – Hakata Station is around a 15-minute walk from here.
Tenjin
If you stay closer to Tenjin, you will also find several shopping complexes close to the station and the wonderful maze of underground alleys filled with shops and everything you need. You will find great shopping here; prices vary depending on the store and brand. But beware, you could spend the whole day here walking around and getting lost!
How to get there: Subway – Get off at Tenjin Station.
When you’re done eating, shopping, and sightseeing, the only thing left is to get drunk on sake and sing! Japanese singing rooms are as fun as Korean “more bangs” and a great way to end the night!
Have fun
If you’ve got to wait for a visa, the least you can do is embrace the new city and have fun for a few days!