Fukuoka

Fukuoka, Japan

Sitting proudly on the shores of Hakata Bay, Fukuoka is a city ablaze with the neon glare of the 21st century, moving at a slower and much more manageable pace than its better-known siblings from Honshu. There is plenty of Japanese flavours to be had here, both figuratively and in the very direct sense of the word, and a lot of uniquely local flair for those looking to cast their nets wider than the staples of Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka.

Population:

1.539 million (2015)

Currency:

Japanese Yen (JPY)
¥100 ~ US$0,90

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency, Fire Brigade: 119
Police: 110

Opening Hours:

Business hours are generally from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and Saturday from 9am–12:30pm. Banks are open weekdays between 9am and 3pm. The bigger department stores and the malls have extended opening hours.

Newspapers:

Fukuoka Globe (ENG)
Nishinippon (JPN)
Kyushu Yomiuri (JPN)
Mainichi (JPN national)

The City

Fukuoka is the capital city of the Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyūshū. The city is divided into seven wards (ku) of which the central areas of Chuo-ku and Hakata-ku will be of most interest to the visitor.

West of Tenjin is Ohori-koen Park and the ruins of the old castle whilst further along in Sawara-ku ward is the Momochi district. Momochi is a modern waterfront area with wide tree lined streets, plenty of cafés, restaurants and green public parks. Here you will find the Fukuoka Tower and also the Fukuoka Dome, home of the city’s baseball team, the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

East of the river in Hakata-ku is where you will find most of the old shrines and temples, whilst the entertainment district of Nakasu lies between the sandbank of the Naka River and the Hakata River. Nakasu is one of the major red-light districts in Japan as well as home to a big number of fashionable restaurants. The Nakasu district also houses expensive shops along the Riverain; a stroll along the sandbank is a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Do & See

Chuo-ku ward, located west of the Naka-gawa River, is the commercial and entertainment hub of the city. At its heart lies the district of Tenjin to which most visitors will undoubtedly be drawn, lured by the bright lights of its bars and restaurants and the excellent array of boutiques.

Dining

Fukuoka is renowned for its culinary delights with acclaimed dishes such as the Fukuoka ramen (pork-stock soup with Chinese noodles), Hakata gyoza (stuffed dumplings), and Genkai-Sea fugu (blowfish). There is a range of restaurants in which to savour these gastronomic delights. However, a trip to Fukuoka would not be complete without visiting one of the many yatai (food stalls), which set up shop in the city centre come nightfall.

Cafes

Japan is one of the largest consumers of coffee in the world, and coffee shops are not difficult to come by in a large city like Fukuoka. You can easily spend hours in the cosy settings and indulge in the various local delicacies on the cake menu.