Fukuoka

About Fukuoka
Fukuoka is the largest city on the southern island of Kyushu, and it is the Japanese city that is the closest to China and Korea. For centuries, Fukuoka has been the centre of trade with these countries, and it is considered to be Japan's oldest city. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II, but today it is a modern and unusually green city with a population of about 1.5 million. Please note that the bullet train stops at Hakata Station. From here you can take the metro to the city centre.

Japan's oldest city is full of life
Kyushu's capital is colourful and vivacious. Everything is a bit extra here: the weather is warmer, the food spicier and the people more extroverted. The harbour area, Seaside Momochi, is home to an impressive skyline of futuristic buildings, including the Fukuoka Dome stadium, the interesting City Museum and Fukuoka Tower, where you can look out over the city from a height of 123 meters. The large and airy Ohori Park provides a green respite in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Nearby you will find the Fukuoka Art Museum, which has thousand-year-old Buddha sculptures as well as modern art by Miro and Dali. You can also visit the Asian Art Museum - the only museum in the world that specializes in modern art from all of Asia. The main attraction, however, is the city itself. Fukuoka is famous for its street food and nightlife, and the best place to find both is on Nakasu Island right in the middle of the city. Here, small food stalls ("yatai") are lined up in a row. Slurp a bowl of tonkotsu ramen (noodles in a pork bone broth) and feel like a local. In the nearby shopping district of Tenjin, you can buy everything your heart desires. Note that many of the shops are underground in the Tenjin Underground Mall (Tenjin Chikagai).

Other attractions in Fukuoka
Do not miss the colourful Tenmangu Shrine in the small town of Dazaifu (about 30 min from the city centre by metro and train). This area also hosts the Komyozenji Temple with its gorgeous stone gardens, a beautiful National Museum and probably the world's fanciest Starbucks, drawn by the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.