Fabulous Fukuoka

The most delicious cuisine in Japan, famed for dishes such as tonkotsu ramen, motsunabe hotpot, and mentaiko pollack roe. Unrivalled friendliness, river cruises down the Suigo Yanagawa waterway, fish markets and stunning Shizuku-cha, a unique way to enjoy tea. So why would you not want to visit Fukuoka?

The gateway to Kyushu - Japan’s third largest island - Fukuoka is a crossroads of cultures that sometimes gets overlooked by travellers. That’s a mistake.

Closer to Seoul in South Korea (540km) than it is to Tokyo (833km) Fukuoka is a city, a port, and a prefecture. It offers natural beauty, the world’s largest bronze buddha statue at 41 metres long and 11 metres high, the tachibana wine brewery and grape picking - including Pione and Queen Nina - in Buzen among its many pluses.

With a history of foreign relations dating back to the 6th century - earlier than Kyoto and Tokyo established links outside Japan - there are plenty of points of interest. But that’s not necessarily the essence of Fukuoka. Dig deep, sample the life of the locals, and immerse yourself in traditions like no other part of Japan.

Fukuoka is rightly proud of its food history, and is so highly regarded many visitors come from all over the country to get a taste. A particular highlight is the friendliness of the welcome when it comes to the yatai, or street food, culture.

These temporary stalls are set up every evening across the city and draw crowds of locals and visitors. It's not just about the food, though; the affability and close-knit atmosphere is part of the appeal.

Some cities have clamped down on these stalls, but in Fukuoka, they are embraced and thrive as part of the city’s charm. An endless supply of oden, tempura, yakitori, gyoza, okonomiyaki and ramen.

Fukuoka is the birthplace of Tonkotsu ramen. Characterised by thin, straight noodles, it is a broth packed with the rich umami of pork bones.

When ordering tonkotsu ramen, you will be given several options of noodles - yawa (soft), futsu (medium), kata (hard), harigane (extra hard), and kona-otoshi (very hard). Enjoy your ramen with one or more toppings, which include white sesame seeds, red pickled ginger, and mustard greens. That’s truly catering for every taste.

If sitting outside isn’t your thing, head into one of the city’s many yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) shops for food, drinks, and conversation. Most restaurants are quite small, creating an intimate setting.

Fukuoka also hosts a spectacular fish market, handling a rich variety of about 300 species annually from the Genkainada Sea, the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea.

After the food, time for a drink in a tachinomiya: small casual bars with no seating that serve local and international beers, shochu and sake.

The Fukuoka prefecture has around 65 sake breweries, the fifth most in Japan, taking advantage of the clean, fresh water.

If tea is your choice, then seek out the Hoshino Tea Culture Museum, to sample Shizuku-cha, meaning ‘drop tea’.

With endless stretches of sandy beach, parks and discovering ancient ruins thrown into the mix of an ever-evolving food scene, Fukuoka has become a must-visit in Japan.

Discover more at crossroadfukuoka.jp/en and follow Visit Fukouka on Instagram and Facebook.

Photos courtsey of Fukuoka Prefecture Tourism Association; Kurume Bureau of Tourism and International Exchange; Kyushu Tourism Organisation; Fukuoka City