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What do you do in Fukuoka?

2025/02/10

• food
• yatai
• landmark
• ramen

Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu and one of the ten most populous cities in Japan. Fukuoka was formed by the merger of two cities in 1889, when the port city of Hakata and the former castle town of Fukuoka were combined to form one city named Fukuoka. Hakata remains the name of one of Fukuoka's central districts and of the main railway station.

Fukuoka's food is renowned across Japan for its affordability and quality. In some restaurants, you can get a bowl of tonkotsu ramen for as little as 280 yen, while the Yatai stalls in the city draw crowds from around Japan and Asia. If you enjoy sushi and sashimi, you must try game Saba (mackerel), which is a speciality of Fukuoka.

Fukuoka's top attractions

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata is a large shopping and entertainment complex that is referred to as a 'city within the city'. There are approximately 250 shops, cafes, and restaurants, a theater, cinemas, the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka, and a canal that runs through the complex.

Canal City's many stores are likely to have something of interest for shopping visitors, whether it be a shop exclusive to Japan or a branch of an international company. There are a variety of Japanese and international restaurants that offer menus that are generally affordable. On the fifth floor, there is the 'Ramen Stadium', which features eight ramen shops that offer noodle dishes from all over Japan, including the local specialty, Hakata Ramen.

Food Stalls (Yatai)

The city's best-known symbol may be Fukuoka's open air food stands (Yatai). Usually, Yatai can accommodate around seven or eight people and provide an intimate outdoor setting to savor a variety of straightforward and filling meals.

Fukuoka is home to dozens of Yatai, but the southern end of Nakasu Island is the most effective place to locate them. Typical dishes enjoyed at Yatai are grilled chicken skewers (Yakitori), hot pot (Oden) and most famously Hakata Ramen, a local noodle dish featuring relatively thin ramen noodles in a pork bone based soup (tonkotsu). Various alcoholic drinks are also available, and help make the yatai a great place to get in touch with the locals.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrines are among the most important ones in Japan, alongside Kyoto's Kitano Tenmangu. Tenmangu Shrines are dedicated to the spirit of Sugawara Michizane who is a scholar and politician of the Heian Period.

The entrance to Tenmangu Shrine, which is about 250 meters from Dazaifu Station, is lined with shops that cater to the visitors. The shrine is quite large, measuring approximately 250 meters from one end to the other.

Fukuoka's best gourmet food

Hakata Ramen

Hakata-style ramen is a popular ramen style in Japan, and it is only becoming more popular as more chefs adapt the style and add their own twist to the iconic dish. The main reason why ramen has become so popular in the West in the last decade is the rich pork broth, and you may come across brands like Ippudo and Ichiran when looking for the most scrumptious tonkotsu ramen.

Hakata ramen was originally sold from food stalls to fishermen working in the business district. Fukuoka city is known for having many of these different food stalls, known as Yatai.

Motsunabe

The Japanese word “motsu” basically refers to offal or internal organs of cows and pigs. Although it may be difficult or unappetizing to eat, matzo is a popular food in Japan because it is not only tasty but also inexpensive, and it's said to have beautifying effects due to its high collagen levels.

Therefore, motsunabe is a hot pot dish with various offal stewed with vegetables such as cabbage, leek, and garlic. According to some, the most exquisite aspect of moths is their soft texture, which resembles snow melting in your mouth. Though I have been in Japan for two years, it will be my first time to have motsunabe as I head on down to the restaurant hoping to satisfy my appetite.

Hakata Udon

Hakata Udon is characterized by its soft, fluffy noodles and elegant, light broth. The city's restaurants only heat up boiled Udon noodles after an order is placed Because Hakata was a bustling merchant town at the time, the custom of heating pre-boiled noodles and serving them became widespread to help busy merchants eat quickly.

The soup stock used in Hakata Udon is not typical, utilizing kelp, bonito flakes, mackerel flakes, dried sardines, and other fish, and then combining light soy sauce and mirin. The soup stock is light and mellow with a clear golden color and a delicious flavor that will leave you wanting to drink it all up.

Have fun taking day trips to Fukuoka!

Fukuoka is the biggest city in Kyushu and among the top ten most populous cities in Japan. Fukuoka's food is highly regarded throughout Japan due to its affordability and quality.

When you visit Fukuoka, we recommend using a our taxi service [Charter Bus & Limousine Japan] . Sightseeing taxis are recommended for both first-time travelers to Fukuoka and repeat visitors as they allow you to adjust the route based on your individual travel goals and interests. A Full Size Van is capable of accommodating up to 9 people for efficient sightseeing.

Have fun taking trips to Fukuoka!