When I was little, one of my favorite things to do during summer vacation was to take the Shinkansen from Hakata Station, where I lived, to my grandparents’ house in Hyogo Prefecture. The beautiful white castle that I always saw on the Shinkansen was Himeji Castle, also known as Shirasagi Castle. It is a World Heritage Site.
I’ve wished since I was in elementary school that I could go there someday, and now that I’m an adult, that dream has finally come true!
I am actually a history buff. When I was in elementary school, I used to look forward to visiting Kyoto and castles during summer vacation. I was finally able to visit the Shirasagi Castle that I had been longing to see.
It is an 18-minute walk (about 1.3 km) from JR Himeji Station. JR Himeji Station is a big station for bullet trains to stop. There are a lot of shops in the building, too.
When you exit JR Himeji Station, you can see Himeji Castle directly in front of you, so there is no way to get lost. You can go straight down the main street or walk along Miyuki-dori shopping street, which has a roof. There is also a restaurant called “Yamayogi” off Miyuki-dori shopping street, which is famous for its conger eel.
Admission Fee
Admission to Himeji Castle is charged. The admission fee for Himeji Castle alone is 1,000 yen, and a set of admission tickets for the neighboring garden “Himeji Garden” is 1,040 yen, so the set ticket is a good deal. Isn’t this a strange pricing scheme? The set ticket is too cheap!
We didn’t hesitate to buy a set of tickets! We didn’t have high expectations for “Koko-En”, but the autumn leaves were even more beautiful and the atmosphere was even better than we expected. We didn’t have enough time. I highly recommend that you visit “Koko-En”. This is a hidden gem.
Himeji Castle Tour
We visited on a weekday in mid-November, so there was no waiting time to visit the castle tower, but signs like the one above mean that there will be a waiting time on holidays, etc. Visiting the castle tower is strictly shoes-only. Himeji Castle is made of wood. Especially in winter, it is recommended to wear socks because the floor gets cold.
To go up one floor, we climbed up the stairs. Those stairs are steep! If you have bad knees, it might be hard for you.
And what was enshrined on the top floor of Himeji Castle was God! I was a little surprised.
From the top floor, you can see this spectacular view. I wonder if the former lords of the castle were thinking about their next move while looking at this view.
After visiting the castle tower, we walked around the surrounding gardens and the Nishinomaru area. The Nishinomaru was once the residence of Senhime, the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu. We were able to see the rooms where the maids used to sleep. It wasn’t fancy, but it was surprisingly interesting. It must have been cold in the winter if they lived in such a boarded-up place.
Required hours for Himeji Visit
It took an hour around the castle tower. It also took us an hour to go around the Nishinomaru area. The entrance to Himeji Castle closes at 16:00, so please allow plenty of time for your visit. We didn’t have enough time for the last part of the tour, which was the Yoshikoen Garden, so we had to rush around.
Overview
Himeji Castle, as expected of a World Heritage Site, is a sight to behold. I’ve been admiring it for over 30 years. Himeji Castle is beautiful to look at, but as you would expect, there are also a sword resting place and a lid on the stairs, so there was a lot to see inside as well. Here is some advice for those who are going to visit Himeji Castle!
Dress warmly for a winter visit.
It takes a long time, so start your visit early in the morning.
The neighboring garden “Koko-En” is also beautiful and recommended.
Fukuoka is a compact city. The attractions are clustered in certain areas and the transportation system is well developed. In this article, I will introduce where you should stay when sightseeing in Fukuoka, as I was born and raised in Fukuoka.
This article answers to the following questions : – Where should I stay in Tenjin or Fukuoka Hakata? – Where is the best location to book a hotel in Fukuoka, Japan?
Overview
写真提供：福岡市
In Fukuoka, everything is concentrated around Tenjin and Hakata Station. The transportation system is well developed, so you don’t need to rent a car unless you want to go to the suburbs. Subways, trains, and buses can be used to access most of the tourist spots. Furthermore, Fukuoka is famous for its airport being located within the city. From Fukuoka Airport, you can get to JR Hakata Station or Tenjin in less than 30 minutes by subway, making it really easy to get to the city center.
The main areas for tourists are Fukuoka Airport, JR Hakata Station, Tenjin, and Nakasu Kawabata. All of these are on the subway line. The distance between Tenjin and Hakata Station is only 2km, which is about 10 minutes by subway. It takes about 10 minutes by subway or 45 minutes on foot.
Tenjin is the center of Fukuoka, with its shopping malls and restaurants. The next most prosperous area is the Hakata Station area. The area around Hakata Station used to be a business district, but nowadays, the Hakata Station building houses fashionable stores and restaurants, making it an efficient place to shop and eat. Nakasu Kawabata is well known in Japan as “Nakasu” for its nightlife. On the other hand, Nakasu Kawabata is the downtown of Hakata. There are many old streets and old stores, and you can also enjoy the old Japanese townscape.
If you are planning to visit Fukuoka, you can definitely stay in JR Hakata Station, Tenjin, or Nakasu Kawabata. Nakasu Kawabata is located between Tenjin and Hakata Station, as you can access all places on foot, subway, or by foot. Here are some details about each area.
Tenjin
写真提供：福岡市
Tenjin is an area with a high concentration of department stores and restaurants. You can purchase most of local foods in Fukuoka at department stores in Tenjin.
Tenjin has the first station of the Nishitetsu Omuta Line, Nishitetsu bus terminal, and Tenjin subway station, making it convenient for sightseeing. Tenjin is also within walking distance of Hakata Port. From Hakata Port, you can take a day trip to Busan, South Korea by high-speed boat. The transportation is excellent.
However, Tenjin is a busy shopping district. There are no supermarkets or shopping malls for the locals to shop at. There are also few parks. If you want to enjoy nature, you need to go to the suburbs. Hotels in Tenjin are relatively expensive in Fukuoka.
But all in all, it is by far the most convenient to stay in Tenjin because of the convenient transportation and you don’t have to worry about the last train. If in doubt, I recommend staying in the Tenjin area.
The ocean side (north side) of Tenjin, such as Oyafuko Dori and the Maizuru area, is a drinking area lined with clubs and pubs. If you want to stay quietly, the south side is recommended. For example, the Daimyo, Akasaka, Imaizumi, Kego, and Yakuin areas, which are a bit far from Tenjin, are also recommended as they are about a 10-minute walk from Tenjin. Akasaka, Kego, and Yakuin are high-class residential areas. I’ve known this area for a long time, and it’s safe, so I recommend it for women traveling alone. Imaizumi is a residential area, but it is also lined with love hotels along the Bic Camera and Nishitetsu Omuta line. I used to stay in the area closer to Daimyo in Tenjin, where there are many quiet and reasonably priced hotels.
Nakasu Kawabata is located in the middle of Tenjin and Hakata Station. It is a downtown area in Fukuoka, with many traditional stores. Kushida Shrine, where the Hakata Yamakasa festival is held, and Canal City are also in the Nakasu Kawabata area. The area is also home to a large drinking area called Nakasu. Many long-established restaurants and famous ramen stores can be found in Nakasu, so you can enjoy the nightlife if you stay in Nakasu Kawabata.
The downside is that some areas are noisy even at night, as there is a lot of nightlife. You may also get the impression that the area is a bit trashy. However, if you move around a bit, you can find quiet apartment hotels and many highly rated Japanese-style hotels, so you are spoiled for choice. Security is not that bad, but it is an area where many different people come and go and there are many touts, so I think you should be aware of what is going on around you in some passages.
There are many hotels that make use of the old streets, so this area is recommended for those who want to stay in a cosy and highly rated hotel.
The area around JR Hakata Station used to be a business district, but it has recently been redeveloped to include fashionable restaurants and shopping malls, making it more convenient for sightseeing. However, the Nishitetsu Omuta Line, which is used to visit Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and Yanagawa, is not available from Hakata Station, so you will need to go to Tenjin and change trains.
I have the impression that the Hakata exit side (Tenjin and Nakasu Kawabata side) is more prosperous because of the bus terminal and department stores, but the Chikushi exit is also a busy area with many buildings.
I don’t think there are any problems staying on either side of Hakata Station. Safety is also not a problem.
If you want to stay in Fukuoka while experiencing the atmosphere of local people’s life, Nishijin is the place for you. Nishijin is a 15-minute subway ride from Tenjin. It is an area where you can enjoy shopping streets, department stores, and even Fukuoka Tower if you walk a little further to the sea. In particular, the shopping street in Nishijin is an area where small stores are clustered together, giving you a local feel that you can’t find in Tenjin or Hakata Station. When I was a student, I often went to Nishijin to eat Houraku Manju and buy clothes.
The downside is that the transportation is a bit poor. It is a bit far to walk from Nishijin to Tenjin, so you will most likely have to take a bus or subway to Tenjin. Nishishin is a town where locals gather, so you can’t expect the same nightlife as in Nakasu. I think it is safe.
Fukuoka Airport is close to the city center and it takes about 20 minutes by subway to the city center. The area around Fukuoka Airport is a residential area. There are almost no tourist spots around the airport. There are some restaurants, but most of them are chain stores, and all the famous stores and shopping spots in Fukuoka are concentrated around Tenjin or Hakata Station. As a result, for all sightseeing, you will probably have to take the subway or bus to Tenjin or Nakasu Kawabata. If you are staying one night just to change trains, staying around Fukuoka Airport is a good idea. However, if you want to enjoy sightseeing in Fukuoka for a few days, I think it would be cheaper to avoid the Fukuoka Airport area and go to Tenjin area for transportation.
Summary
The standard lodging areas for sightseeing in Fukuoka are either Hakata Station, Nakasu Kawabata, or Tenjin. The most recommended area is Tenjin, which is the main transportation hub and has a lot of stores. If you are looking for a deeper experience of local life, Nishijin is also recommended, as it is less crowded with tourists.
Each region of Japan has its own famous sweets. When Japanese people go on a trip to a local area, it is customary for them to buy some of the local sweets, which are a little more expensive than supermarket sweets, as souvenirs for their friends and colleagues. In this article, I would like to introduce some of the best confections that visitors to Fukuoka often buy.
Hiyoko (Hiyoko honpo Yoshinodo) / 名菓ひよ子（ひよ子本舗吉野堂）
A product of a confectionery manufacturer in Fukuoka, Japan, founded in 1912. The cute figure of a hiyoko is impressive. The moist skin is filled with yellow bean paste.
Many people in Tokyo say that Hiyoko is a Tokyo’s confectionery, but this is truly Fukuoka ‘s one.
When I was a kid, I loved it so much that my siblings and I used to fight over it whenever we got a hiyoko from our relatives. It was fun to argue with friends over whether to eat the hiyoko from the head or the butt.
At a factory located in Iizuka-city, Fukuoka, you can join a factory tour. The detail is here.
Shop : Mitsukoshi, Daimaru, Iwataya, Hakata Hankyu, Hakata Deitos, Fukuoka Airport etc.
The sweet was born in 1993. A relatively new Hakata specialty snack. However, it gets quickly a standard Hakata souvenir.
A steamed bun with white bean jam wrapped in a moist, milk-flavored skin. Although it is called “manju”, it is a western-style Japanese confectionery that tastes like a western confectionery.
This is one item that anyone would be happy to receive. Truly delicious.
A confectionery manufacturer established in 1630. The buns are made by baking a dough wrapped with sweet bean paste . The top of the bun is branded with a bird.
I have eaten these buns since I was a little girl, and I love them. It is really delicious. At the directly-managed store in Tenjin, they sell slightly misshapen buns at a reasonable price, so I always buy a lot of those buns to take home.
Head Quarter : 9-157 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Shop : Daimaru, Iwataya, Fukuoka Airport etc.
https://www.chidoriya.co.jp/english/index.html
Hakata no Hito (Nikakudo) / 博多の女（二鶴堂）
A sweet made by wrapping red bean yokan in a baumkuchen and cutting it into small pieces. A long-time favorite in Fukuoka. The Hakata doll packaging has not changed since the old days, and it is always delicious.
I used to bring them to my colleagues in Tokyo. Many people love this sweet.
Head Quarter : 15-21 Maedashi 6-chome, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
Shop : Hakata Deitos, Mitsukoshi, Hakata Ming, Fukuoka Airport etc.
https://www.nikakudou.co.jp/commodity/index.html
Tsukushi Mochi (Jyosuian) / 筑紫もち（如水庵）
Mochi rice cakes made from kneaded rice produced in Kyushu and covered with kinako (soybean flour). It is eaten with the accompanying kuromitsu.
I used to get them from my relatives who lived in Fukuoka. Very well-known confectionery.
Head Quarter : 19-29 Hakataekimae 2-chome, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (+81924750052)
Rice crackers made by a company founded in 1906. These egg-flavored crackers are shaped like the masks of the local performing art “Hakata Niwaka”. Most people probably don’t know about the local entertainment, but the TV commercial where a child goes to apologize with a Niwaka cracker is very famous. This is another cracker that has been well known for a long time, and I used to eat it from time to time.
Shop: Hakata Deitos, Hakata Hankyu, Iwataya, Daimaru, Mitsukoshi
Hakata no Ishidatami (Chocolate Shop) / 博多の石畳（チョコレートショップ）
This is a long-established restaurant established in 1942. In fact, although I didn’t know the name of this store when I was little, I found out about it when I grew up and tried it and it was delicious. Chocolate cake with sponge cake, mousse, and fresh cream. There are also variations of strawberry and green tea flavors.
3-17 Amiba-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Shop : Hakata JR Station (Amu plaza Hakata 1F), Fukuoka Airport
A thin, crispy rice cracker snack. They come in a variety of flavors, including mentai flavor, and are quite tasty.
It was once served on an international flight of All Nippon Airways. It is one of the crackers that I always buy for myself to take home. Hakata Hankyu has a limited supply of premium menbei.
You can visit Menbei Factory in Fukuoka, Japan. The detail is here. (Japanese Website)
Hakata Deitos Store : 1-1 Hakataeki Chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-0012
Rolled cookie dough filled with vanilla or chocolate cream. You can buy similar ones at the supermarket, but Chidori-ya’s rolled cookies are much better. I’ve been eating them since I was a little girl, and I love them.
Head Quarter : 9-157 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
Shop : Daimaru, Iwataya, Fukuoka Airport etc.
https://www.chidoriya.co.jp/english/index.html
Nanban Ourai (Sakaeya) / なんばん往来（さかえ屋）
“Namban Orai” is a popular snack sold by Sakaeya, a well-known confectionery manufacturer in Fukuoka. It is made of moist dough made of almond flour and pie dough, and is really delicious.
Personally, I really like it so much that it is one of my top three favorites, and there was a time when I only bought “Namban Orai”. There is a limited edition product that can only be bought at Hakata Hankyu department store.
Head Quarter : 128-1 Horiike, Iizuka-city
Shop : Hakata Ming
http://sakaeya.co.jp/
Summary
In this article, I have introduced Hakata’s famous sweets that can be purchased in Hakata. All of them are standard, long-loved sweets. Why don’t you buy some for yourself or as souvenirs? I always buy them for myself!
Fukuoka is famous among Japanese people for its many delicious foods. I grew up in Fukuoka, and after moving to Tokyo, I realized how good the food was in Fukuoka. Even now, when I go back to Fukuoka, I look forward to eating delicious food. I am such a big fan of Fukuoka. In this article, I will introduce 7 dishes you should eat on your trip to Fukuoka.
This article will answer to the following questions: – What are the sights to see and food to eat in Fukuoka as a tourist?
Hakata Ramen
Hakata Ramen is one of the most popular foods in Fukuoka, and is so well known in Japan. Hakata Ramen is made with pork bone soup and thin noodles. Depending on the restaurant, the soup can range from rich to lightly flavored. I hope you will try Hakata Ramen at various restaurants.
Hakata Ramen is really Fukuoka’s soul food that the locals have been eating on a regular basis. When I was in high school, I used to eat Hakata Ramen on my way home from school. The ramen I ate back then was pork bone ramen made by an old man in a small store. The price was 450 Japanese Yen then. It was really delicious. I looked it up and found out that it is still in business. It’s a bowl of ramen I want to try when I go back to Fukuoka.
There are many types of hot pot in Japan, but Fukuoka is famous for its Motsu-nabe. Motsu-nabe is a hot pot with beef mots, cabbage, and chives. The soup is either soy sauce or miso flavored. It is also popular among women as they can eat a lot of vegetables. I have actually eaten motsunabe myself, and it is delicious. Now, I sometimes eat motsu-nabe at home as well.
[Nakasu Kawabata] Hakata Motsu-Nabe Ooyama HQ 博多もつ鍋 おおやま 本店
[Nakasu Kawabata] Motsu Kou もつ幸
[Gion] Kawano かわ乃 博多店
[Nishi Nakasu] Motsu Nabe Syouraku HQ もつ鍋 笑楽 本店
Mizu-taki
写真提供：福岡市
Another hot pot in Fukuoka is Mizu-taki. Mizu-taki is a hot pot that I have eaten often since I was a kid. When relatives gathered at my parents’ house, it was one of the traditions to have Mizu-taki together. Mizu-taki is a local dish that originated in the Meiji era. It is said to have originated as a Japanese version of Chinese cuisine and consommé soup.
The meat and vegetables are simmered in a chicken-based soup and eaten with ponzu sauce. When the vegetables and meat are finished, it is best to add rice or noodles to soak up the soup before eating.
[Daimyo] Iwatoya 岩戸屋
[Nakasu Kawabata] Mizutaki Nagano 水たき 長野
[Tenjin] Hakata Mizudaki Shinmiura 博多水だき 新三浦
[Nakasu Kawabata] Hakata Hanamidori Nakasu HQ 博多華味鳥 中洲本店
Fresh Fish
Fukuoka is famous for its delicious seafood as well as ramen and hot pot. I really think this is true for me as well. When I went to Tokyo for the first time, I was surprised at how tasteless the sushi I bought at the Tokyo supermarket was. Sushi at supermarkets in Fukuoka is cheaper and tastes so much better. The secret of the delicious seafood is thanks to the sea that Fukuoka faces, the Genkai Sea. Because Genkai Sea is one of the best fishing grounds in Japan, it is easy to get fresh seafood in Fukuoka. If you want to enjoy seafood in Fukuoka, go for sushi or izakaya restaurants and order fish .
Also, each season has different fish to enjoy, so enjoy the freshest fish according to the time of year you travel. Here is a list of typical fish for each season.
June – October : horse mackerel and cuttlefish
October – November : sand crayfish and mackerel
December – January : saw-edged perch
Here is the list of recommending restaurants.
Hyotan no Kaiten Sushi ひょうたんの回転寿司
Mawaru Sushi Hakata Uogashi まわる寿司 博多魚がし
Kaisendon Hinode 海鮮丼 日の出
Okiyo おきよ
Additionally next prefecture “Saga” is famous for squid. You can enjoy fresh squid in Fukuoka as well. The best way to eat squid is to go to Karatsu, Saga. However you can still fresh squid. This squid is very different from normal squids. I highly recommend to eat squid in Fukuoka or Saga.
Hakata Hitokuchi Gyoza
写真提供：福岡市
Hitokuchi gyoza is a popular food as soul food in Hakata these days. The size is 4-6cm, which is smaller than most gyoza. It is said that they were made so that impatient Hakata people could eat them.
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve heard from adults that there are restaurants that serve delicious gyoza, but I never knew that the size of gyoza in Hakata was so small and so popular. Upon closer inspection, I found that there are many specialty gyoza restaurants in Fukuoka, including some that have been in business for over 70 years. In Fukuoka, gyoza is often eaten as a side dish to ramen, but be sure to try the gyoza from specialty stores.
[Nakasu] Houuntei Nakasu HQ 宝雲亭 中洲本店
[Daimyo] Temjin Daimyo branch テムジン大名店
[Hakata Station] Asahiken Ekimae HQ 旭軒 駅前本店
[Hakata Station] Hakata Gion Tetsu Nabe 博多祇園鉄なべ
Hakata Udon
It is said that Hakata is the place where udon was first introduced. For this reason, there are many specialty stores in Hakata, Fukuoka. Udon is said to have been introduced by the monk Seiichi Kokushi, who returned from China in the Kamakura period. Udon in Fukuoka is characterized by its soft noodles and toppings such as burdock tempura and round tempura. I have been going to udon shops and eating udon since I was a little girl. During the summer Obon season when my relatives would gather, we would all go to “Karo no Uron”, one of the most famous udon shops in Fukuoka. “Karo no Uron” has been in business for over 130 years. It’s a very famous restaurant in Fukuoka.
[Nakasu Kawabata] Karo no Uron かろのうろん
[Tenjin] Inaba Udon 因幡うどん ソラリアステージ店
[Nakasu Kawabata] Miyake Udon みやけうどん
Yakitori
Yakitori is also available in other cities in Japan. Fukuoka’s yakitori is characterized by the fact that a pile of cabbage is served even without ordering it. And the cabbage is delicious. When I was a high school student, My mom took me to a yakitori restaurant for the first time and I was impressed by the deliciousness of the cabbage. Of course, the yakitori was also delicious. On weekdays, you can see people on their way home from work enjoying their yakitori while drinking beer.
[Yakuin] Torikawa Kyosui とりかわ粋恭
[Hakata Station] Yakitori Hachibee 焼き鳥の八兵衛
[Nakasu Kawabata] Tenka no Yakitori Nobuhide HQ 天下の焼鳥 信秀本店
Summary
I have introduced seven dishes that you must try when you visit Fukuoka. Fukuoka is a gourmet city with seriously cheap and delicious food. Instead of spending a fortune in Tokyo, I would recommend that you go to Fukuoka and enjoy the fresh and delicious local food.
I’ve been eating Hakata ramen since I was a kid, and at this point, Shin Shin’s Hakata ramen is my number one choice. I’ve been eating Hakata Ramen since I was a little girl, and at this point, Shin Shin is my number one choice for Hakata Ramen. It’s orthodox Hakata Ramen, but I think Shin Shin is delicious! For those who love Hakata Ramen, I will introduce Shin Shin.
Note: The photo above is shot at the KITTE Hakata branch.
Hakata Ramen Shin Shin Information
1-1 Hakataeki Chuo-gai, Hakata Deitos 2nd floor, Hakata, Fukuoka
There are several stores in Fukuoka City, with the main store located in Tenjin. One of the branches is also located in Hakata Menkaido, in Hakata Station. When I arrive at Hakata Station on the Shinkansen, I often go straight to the restaurant next to the ticket gate of Hakata Station to eat. If you arrive to Fukuoka (Hakata) via Bullet Train, you can visit the restaurant within 5 minutes. Please stop by!
Inside the restaurant
The Hakata Deitos branch has 42 seats at tables. I’m sure the number of seats will change in the future, but when I visit, there is almost no line to get in, but even so, the seats in the restaurant are often quite occupied even when I visit between 3 and 4 pm.
If you have large luggage, you can ask the staff at the entrance of the restaurant to keep it for you, so you don’t have to worry about having a large suitcase.
Menu
The menu is, of course, centered around ramen. You can choose the ramen first, and then add fried rice or gyoza to make a set. If you still can’t get enough, you can order a second bowl of noodles (called “Kaedama”), which is a Hakata specialty. If you eat a lot, you can get a ramen set including ramen and fried rice, and if you are a small eater, you can get only ramen to fill up your stomach.
Hakata Shin Shin Ramen (700 Japanese Yen)
It is the simplest Hakata ramen. It is really a royal pork bone ramen. Of course, the noodles are thin. When you order, you will be asked, “How long do you want to boil the noodles? When you order, you will be asked, “How long do you want to boil the noodles? I ask for “balikata (hard)”. When I come back to Fukuoka, this is the first ramen I eat!
Kaedama (150 Japanese Yen)
When you ask for a refill, you will get only noodles on a small plate like the one above. When you order a refill, leave out the ramen soup! Personally, I like to leave the red ginger and other ingredients out of the first bowl of ramen soup, and try to arrange it when the replacement ramen comes.
Fried Rice
Japanese fried rice! That’s what fried rice is called. You can enjoy the Japanese style fried rice, which is different from the fried rice you can get in Chinese restaurants. I love it.
Shin Shin is recommended for these people
In Fukuoka, there are many famous ramen stores that are known for their delicious ramen. All of them have their own individuality, but I think Shin Shin Ramen is pretty close to the basic form. Before trying the various Hakata ramen in Fukuoka, why not try the royal ramen first, and then try the other sub-types?
For those who are planning to visit Fukuoka (Hakata), the home of ramen, I will introduce best ramens. I grew up in Fukuoka and visit Fukuoka every year. If you like ramen, this article is a must to read. Hope you will find an interesting ramen for your trip to Fukuoka.
This article answers to the following questions : Where is the best place to eat ramen in Fukuoka?
Hakata Ramen ShinShin
This is a popular restaurant in Hakata where you can find moderately good pork bone ramen. I have eaten there many times, and it is really delicious. You can also enjoy the extra-fine noodles that you can’t taste anywhere else. This restaurant is so popular that you can even buy a ramen set at the airport. This popular restaurant is always crowded because it is run by an owner who honed his skills at a food stall. There are several stores in Hakata Station and Tenjin.
It is now a very famous restaurant that can be found all over Japan. However, the main restaurant is in Fukuoka. In Fukuoka, there is a Fukuoka-only menu called “Kamadare Tonkotsu Ramen,” which is interesting to try. The restaurant’s design is unique in that each seat has its own curtain, so you can concentrate on the ramen.
The Ramen is served by Japanese traditional bento box. The ramen is very tasty.
Head Quarter (Nakasu) : 3-2 5-Chome Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
This is another famous restaurant that can be found all over Japan. The Daimyo main restaurant near Tenjin has a limited menu.
Head Quarter (Tenjin) : 13-14, 1-Chome Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
Hakata Station : 1-1 Hakata-Eki Chuo-gai, JR Hakata City 10th Floor, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
Hakata Ikkosha
This is a very famous restaurant with more than 60 stores in Japan and overseas. It is called “Awakei (Bubble)” because the surface of the soup is covered with bubbles of fat. The soup is made from the skull, backbone, and bones of a pig, and is quite thick. The Founder “Kosuke Yoshimura” invented this soup in 2004. The homemade thin flat noodles are slightly thin. This is also a very popular restaurant that offers instant ramen sets at the airport.
Head Quarter : 23-12 3-Chome Hakata Eki Mae, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
A popular ramen restaurant with a moderately rich taste. The noodles are very thin. The noodles are ultra-thin, so even people who don’t like tonkotsu can eat them. In addition to ramen, the main restaurant’s limited menu, Hakata Meat and Meat Rice, is also popular for its delicious taste.
Head Quarter (JR Hakata Station) : 16-4 2-Chome Hakata Eki Mae, Hakata-ku Fukuoka (MAP)
Although it is located in the suburbs, a short distance from Tenjin and Hakata, it is a popular restaurant loved by the locals who never stop coming. The soup, made by mixing two different concentrations of pork bone soup, is moderately rich. The noodles are between thick and thin. The free chives and kimchi on the table is also a specialty of the restaurant, and is delicious wrapped around chashu pork. In addition, the grilled rice is also popular.
Head Quarter : 24-2, 2-Chome Taguma, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
The attraction of Hakata Issou is its thick soup. Although it opened late in 2012, it is now a very popular restaurant. The noodles are slightly thinner.
Head Quarter (near JR Hakata Station) : 1-6, 3-Chome Hakataeki-Higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (MAP)
We have introduced some of the most popular ramen stores in Fukuoka and Hakata. There are as many ramen stores in Fukuoka as there are Starbucks in New York, but these are the ones that are extremely popular among the locals. Ramen is one of the most popular meals in Fukuoka, and can be enjoyed at lunch, dinner, or even after a night of drinking at an izakaya.
When is the best time to travel Japan? Hard to answer because Japan is a country with four seasons. It is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The temperature, weather, and rainfall are completely different depending on the season. Each season has pros and cons. In this article, I will introduce the best time to visit Japan based on my experience of living in Japan for 30 years.
Four seasons in Japan
Japan is divided into spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Generally speaking, spring is from March to May, summer is from June to August, autumn is from September to November, and winter is from December to February. Japan is a long country, and the climate differs slightly between Hokkaido in the north and Okinawa in the south, but if you are visiting Tokyo or Kyoto, you should refer to the general seasonal divisions mentioned above.
Season
Month
Spring
March to May
Summer
June to August
Autumn
September to November
Winter
December to February
Best time to visit Japan
If you don’t have any particular festival or event you are looking forward to, I would recommend spring and autumn as the most comfortable time to visit. In spring and autumn, the temperature during the day is around 20 degrees Celsius and there is not much rain, so you can spend a comfortable time. Whenever I visit Japan, I like to go back in spring and autumn if possible.
Things to Enjoy in Spring in Japan
Spring is the season when cherry blossoms bloom. It varies from place to place, but the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in March in the early southern regions and around May in the cold northern regions. In Tokyo, the best time to see cherry blossoms is from the end of March to the beginning of April. The best time to see cherry blossoms is hard to predict, and sometimes it rains and the best time to see cherry blossoms is over in a week or so, so if your goal is to see cherry blossoms, it is best to stay for about two weeks from the end of March.
Spring is also the season when the year begins in Japan, and with school entrance ceremonies in early April, you can see new students everywhere and feel the whole country in a buoyant mood.
Cherry Blossom
Things to Enjoy in Summer in Japan
Summer in Japan begins with the rainy season in June, followed by the hot and humid season from July. Anyway, it is a hot and humid season. In the evenings, it often rains like a squall, called guerrilla rain, and the weather is often unstable. If you want to enjoy swimming or scuba diving in Japan, I recommend the period from July to August 15, but not after August 15 because of the increase in jellyfish. Also, the typhoon season begins, so depending on your timing, the chances of encountering a typhoon may be higher during August and September. Also, July 20 to August 31 is the summer vacation period for Japanese students. In addition, August 13 to 15 is the season for Japanese people to return home. During this season, the prices of hotels and airplanes go up, and everywhere is crowded.
Beach
Things to Enjoy in Autumn in Japan
Autumn is a good season to visit because the weather is pleasant and the autumn leaves begin to change from October to November, turning the mountains of Japan red and yellow and providing a very beautiful view. Japanese people love to enjoy the autumn leaves and go to hot springs during this season. It is also a great season for hiking. Kyoto is quite crowded, especially in mid to late November, so if you are thinking of visiting Kyoto, I recommend making reservations as early as possible. There are so many people everywhere in Kyoto during this season that even the locals lament about it. That’s how much Japanese people long to see the autumn leaves in Kyoto. Autumn in Japan is also known as the harvest season, when delicious vegetables are harvested. There are many delicious foods to eat. Autumn is also a good time to visit for those who enjoy eating.
Leaves changing color
Things to Enjoy in Winter in Japan
In Japan, snow begins to fall around November in the Tohoku and Hokkaido regions. The real season in Japan is winter. If you want to enjoy skiing, December to January is the best time. In Japan, Christmas is a day to spend with your loved ones, and you can see Japanese lovers dating on Christmas Eve. It is also customary to eat Kentucky Fried Chicken on this day, and you can see the strange sight of many people standing in line to buy chicken at Kentucky Fried Chicken. For Japanese people, the year-end and New Year holidays have the same meaning as Christmas overseas. Companies in Japan are closed from December 29th to January 3rd. Many people return to their hometowns to spend time with their families. On January 1st, people stay at home with their families and relatives to enjoy the so-called “Osechi” (New Year’s food).
Skiing
Light-up
Summary
If you don’t have any particular preference, I recommend visiting Japan in spring or autumn. It is better to avoid is summer because it is hot and humid and travel prices in Japan are high. Go enjoy the beautiful nature of Japan!
