- fukuoka tower - Fukuoka-sightseeing
Fukuoka is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture situated in the southern most island of Kyushu in Japan. Being a city by the sea it had a feeling of freshness and openness unlike the choking congestion of Tokyo and other major Japanese cities. It is a very livable city in that it is very clean, reassuringly safe and the people are ever so warm, friendly and helpful.
City Sightseeing and leisure course
Armed with a city map from the Tourist Bureau at Hakata Station get on the 100yen (equivalent to RM 3), Nishitetsu loop bus which starts from Hakata Station, the city's main transportation hub. This loop that the bus takes covers a number of places of interest like theHakataza Theatre, Fukuoka Riverain which houses the Asian Art Museum, Robosquare and the Eeny Meeny Miny Mo shopping complex.
Be sure to get down the bus at Kawabata and take a stroll down this traditional arcade which specializes in all things traditionally Japanese; a good place to purchase some gifts .From Kawabata walk to the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum to learn about the traditional crafts and lifestyles of this region during the Meji and Taisho eras. Visitors can purchase some authentic folk handicraft at the gift shop.
A 5 minute walk from here is the famous Kushido Shrine, the starting point of the annual Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival which begins on 1 July and ends with the Oiyama race on 15 July
The bus then moves along the the Hakata Fukuokrenga Cultural Center a very chic British style building which is a nationally important cultural property designed by Kingo Tatsuno.It then goes by ACROS Fukuoka a truly spectacular building; its exterior design features a terraced garden full of plants and trees.
The bus than goes into the Tenjin area which is Fukuoka”s largest financial and shopping district where designer stores and financial inatitutions are housed in towering swank retail blocks such as Solaria, Plaza Vioro, IMS, Vivre, Tenjin Core, Iwataya, Daimaru and Mitsukoshi to name a few.
The bus than passes some beautiful gardens and parks which are very well maintained, forming lovely oasis of greenery before coming to Canal City a famous landmark. This futuristic three-dimensional city-within-a-city hosts a variety of attractions like the famous amusement park. It has and a plethora of shopping and retail outlets with a 187meter long canal running through. It houses the Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Fukuoka City Theatre and the Fukuoka Joypolis - a futuristic amusement theme park. From here the bus heads back to Hakata Station.
It is easy to get on and off the bus anytime because another one will come around at every ten minute interval. Taking a sightseeing tour will cost about RM70 for a 3 1 /2 hour duration. The other option is to buy a one day travel pass which will give one access to buses trains and the subway.
Hop on a Nishitetsu bus or take a subway to the Momochi area tol see the iconic Fukuoka Tower nicknamed “mirror sail” which at 234m is the symbol of the city. Within walking distance is the Fukuoka City Public Library, the Fukuoka City Museum and the Fukuoka Sky Dream Ferris Wheel, the largest in Asia. The 20 minute ride on it is especially spectacular at sunset. Within this area is also Hawks Town, wherein is The Fukuoka Yahoo Dome and the majestic Seahawk Hotel and Resort.
Good Eats
Try the Yatai stalls along the Naka riverside in Nakasu. Yatais are a specialty of Fukuoka attracting people with a wide array of meals like Hakata Ramen Noodles, Oden (hotpot dish), Yakitori (grilled chicken), Tempura(deep fried seafood and vegetables), Goya (pot stickers) among other delicacies There are about 180-200 yatais in the Nakasu and Tenjin area alone.
Have your taste of the original Udon Noodles in one of the specialty Noodles shops, slurping up the soup from the bowl in authentic Japanese fashion!
Top Shop
The 100yen shop is a must as one can find all kinds of stuff from souveniors to household goods here. There is a good one behind the Tenjin station and another in Nishijinn in Pravel Plaza which is really big. The crafts and boutique stores at Hakata station is also a good place to buy gifts and souvenirs
The Underground Arcades that make up Tenjin Chikagai is a very interesting place to shop and browse around all year round.
Canal City is another good area to shop. You can easily spend a whole day there. It has quite a number of Asian restaurants serving authentic spicy food.
Insider Tip
Eat a hefty lunch as lunch time prices are half the dinner prices and that would be a major saving as food is quite pricey in Fukuoka. A simple meal of noodles and a drink will cost around RM20 - RM30.
Don’t miss out on the exciting night life in Nakasu; it is the largest entertainment area in western Japan. It has more than 2000 eating and drinking establishments; it is nice just to take a stroll along the Naka River seeing all the lights of the city reflecting in it
Autumn or spring is the best time to visit, as the city trees are all in its beautiful colors and blooms and the climate is very conducive for sightseeing.
Alice Fernandez - I am currently employed as a Property Valuer with the City Council of Ipoh City in Malaysia. Besides having my professional qualifications ...
