Crazy sports fans and sleeping Buddhas in Fukuoka city
Fukuoka skyline seen from Hakata Bay. Fukuoka Tower is on the right, Yahoo! Dome on the left.For most travelers, Fukuoka is nothing more than a hop between home and the next great adventure. But Fukuoka can be quite an adventure in itself.
Fukuoka Tower
Whether coming in by plane, train, bus or ferry, the first thing to do is get a grand view of Fukuoka city. Purchase an all-day subway pass for ¥500 and head to Fukuoka Tower, the city’s tallest structure.
It's 243 meters high with three levels of observation decks and offers a variety of sights. With its mirrored outer design and location between Hakata Bay and the city sprawl, it has become a beloved icon of Fukuoka city.
2-3-26 Momochihama, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-shi; Nishijin station on the subway Airport Line; open 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission is ¥800; www.fukuokatower.co.jp
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
Near Fukuoka Tower is the Yahoo! Dome, home to the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.
Baseball in Japan is just as much of an adrenalin rush for the fans as it is for the players. Each home team player walks out to his own personalized theme song that all the fans have memorized.
The band plays wildly, flags are waved high, and dancers in mascot costumes run throughout the stadium while vendors strap beer kegs to their backs, and with taps in hand push through crowds to fill your empty cup.
When the Hawks win, fireworks erupt inside the dome while the retractable roof opens up. Afterward, you can relax at Momochihama, a stretch of sandy beach between the Tower and Dome.
Jigyohama 2-2-2, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi; Tojimmachi station on the subway Airport Line; game tickets range from ¥1,000 to ¥25,000; www.softbankhawks.co.jp
Tenjin
Known for its shopping and fashion, going to Tenjin is a must.
You could spend days wandering through streets of boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. On a tight schedule, walk through Tenjin Chuo Park where you might glimpse teenagers in Cosplay, and head to Nakasu.
Here you will find Fukuoka’s pride and joy, Hakata ramen, in the abundant yatai stalls that line the Naka River. Sit in a vacant stool and bump elbows with the locals while you enjoy a steaming bowl of tonkotsu pork, thick noodles and hearty broth.
Just look for the red lanterns that hang in front of each yatai and be sure to slurp as a compliment to the chef. For shopping of all kinds in one place, nearby Canal City houses over 200 shops and is a five-minute walk along the river from Nakasu.
Canal City’s unique architecture and fountain shows provide entertainment while you hop between character stores, clothing shops or see a movie.
For traditional entertainment, catch a kabuki play at Hakata-za and watch actors in elaborate costumes and makeup sing and dance in a dramatic story-telling style that began in the early 1600s.
Canal City is located at 2 Sumiyoshi 1-Chome, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi; open 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; www.canalcity.co.jp
Hakata-za is located at 2-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku; above the Nakasu-kawabata subway station; ticket prices and show times vary; www.hakataza.co.jp
Daimyo & Oyafuko-dori
If you want something other than Japanese food, Daimyo, near Tenjin Station, offers hundreds of restaurants to choose from.
My favorite is El Borracho, a Mexican restaurant known for its Pastor (thin-sliced pork) and friendly owner who lived in Mexico for two years studying authentic Mexican cooking.
Then end your night in Oyafuko-dori, offering a range of nighttime entertainment from DJ dance clubs like Lab-Z Remix to live houses like Voodoo Lounge, all in a three-block radius.
El Borracho is on the 2nd floor of the Liberty Lord Building at 2-3-2 Daimyo, Chuo-ku; open from 5:30 p.m.; plates start around ¥650, drinks at ¥500; www.elborracho.com
Lab-Z Remix is on the 6th floor of the Okabe Building at 3-6-12 Chuo-ku; open from 8pm; cover starts at ¥1,000 per person, drinks at ¥500; www.hotpepper.jp
Voodoo Lounge is on the 3rd floor of the Tenjin Center Building at 3-2-13 Chuo-ku; shows start around 7pm; cover starts at ¥1,000 per person, drinks at ¥500; voodoolounge.jp
Dazaifu
Dazaifu’s Tenmangu Shrine attracts thousands of visitors, starting in mid-February when the 6,000 plum trees blossom.
From the station, you will pass various shops selling local handicrafts, ice cream stands with flavors like sweet potato, corn and tofu, and umegaemochi, a local sweet rice dessert. Also visit Komyozen-ji Temple that houses beautiful Japanese Zen and rock gardens.
After a day meandering through Dazaifu’s many gardens, temples, and shrines, stop in nearby Chikushino for a relaxing dip in one of the many onsen (hot springs) in the area.
I recommend staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn) like Ougiya Inn, which have their own onsen baths and provide traditional Japanese-style meals.
Dazaifu Tenmangu is at 4-7-1, Saifu, Dazaifu; Dazaifu station on the Nishitetsu line, 25 minutes from Tenjin station; free admission; open all hours; www.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp
Ougiya Inn is at 2-5-7 Yumachi, Chikushino-shi; Nishitetsu-futsukaichi station on the Nishitetsu line, 15 minutes from Tenjin station; rooms start at ¥4,500 per person; www.chikushino.org
Sleeping Buddha of Nanzo-in Temple
Another worthwhile trip is to Nanzo-in Temple in Sasaguri.
The path uphill to the temple winds through koi ponds, Buddha statues of different sizes and in the spring, cherry blossoms burst on all sides.
Also take advantage of shops offering free tea to visitors and pilgrims trekking between the 88 temples in Sasaguri.
The 41-meter sleeping Buddha statue is said to be the largest bronze statue in the world. Nestled in the mountains and trees, it's a hidden treasure.
1035 Kasuya-gun, Sasaguri-cho, Sasaguri-shi Kidonanzoinmae station on the Fukuhoku line, 20 minutes from Hakata station; ¥500 to go inside the Buddha; www.nanzoin.com
About the author: Originally from Hawaii, Keliko Adams now lives in Japan as an English teacher. She loves all things related to travel, art, music and food (and not always in that order.) She writes and edits for a Fukuoka JET newsletter called The Refill, found at http://issuu.com/therefill.
Keliko submitted this piece as part of CNNGo's CityPulse section. To find out what other stories we are looking for, go to our CityPulse page.
