Exploring Fukuoka : A Perfect Blend of City Life and Tranquility

This will be my first time in Fukuoka and in this part of Japan. I believe Fukuoka is on the southwestern side of the country, if I'm not mistaken. I have no expectations for Fukuoka. I didn't even research the place or make an itinerary. I wanted to be surprised. Joining me on this trip is one of my best friends. Originally, there were supposed to be three of us, but unfortunately, the other one couldn't make it due to unforeseen circumstances.

_{I had only read about Fukuoka while on the plane.}

The moment we landed in Fukuoka, the familiar scent of fresh Japanese air greeted us, and I said to myself, Yes, I'm in my happy place again! 🙂
We’ll be staying at a hotel near the Nakasu area called The Breakfast Hotel.
_{Breakfast buffet served at The Breakfast Hotel.}

Since we arrived around lunchtime, our first order of business was to eat. I had read that Fukuoka is the birthplace of Ichiran Ramen, which is famous for its Tonkotsu (pork bone) broth, so we made sure to visit the original branch.

_{Original branch at Nakasu, Hakata‑ku, Fukuoka City}

We expected a long queue, but to be fair, it wasn't that long. We waited for about 15 minutes at most. We ordered the same ramen we usually get in Tokyo. The taste was the same, with no significant difference. Ramen cravings satisfied at last. Burp! 😋

_{How I usually like my Ramen.}

_{Hindi naman masyadong gutom. 😆}

After lunch, we were in the mood for something sweet, dessert was calling! We decided to just stroll through the alleyways, and then we passed by a boulangerie. Their bread looked way too good to ignore, so of course, we had to try it. My friend also needed his coffee fix because he was already starting to doze off mid-walk.

The bread was delicious and totally worth every yen. But apparently, our stomachs were just getting started. I guess day one turned into an eating tour with a side of casual downtown wandering.
Eventually, we reached the famous underground shopping mall called Tenjin Chikagai, did some exploring, and stumbled upon a shop displaying these mouthwatering tarts. Naturally, we bought a box with no questions asked.

_{Tenjin Chikagai (Tenjin Underground Shopping Mall)}

But wait, there’s more. As if the tart stop wasn’t enough, we passed another dessert shop called I’m donut? and those donuts? Insanely good. I swear I could’ve devoured a dozen.
That was our breaking point. We had to stop the sugar madness then and there. Dessert quota officially maxed out for the day. No, no, no to diabetes! We still want to see tomorrow. LOL! 😆

We then explored the city proper. It was so pretty, especially with all the flowers because it was springtime after all. We passed by some parks and the Naka river as well. Here are some photos:

For dinner, my friend was seriously craving Sushi. A little backstory: he worked in Tokyo for two years before moving to Canada, so he made a list of foods he wanted to eat again to bring back some good memories. Ramen was already checked off the list, so Sushi was next on the mission. I told him my favorite one is Kura Sushi, and lucky for us, there’s one right here in Fukuoka.
We each demolished about ten plates and were completely stuffed. I asked him how the Sushi was, and he said meh it was a bit dry, giving it a six out of ten. As for me, I’m pretty easy to please when it comes to Sushi (or Japanese food generally), and I thought it was delicious wahaha!😁

He said his Sushi cravings weren’t quite satisfied yet, so we still need to hunt down another Sushi place the next day. We’re going all in and picking a spot with great reviews, even if it means paying a little extra. My friend is on a mission to eat the best Sushi he’s been dreaming about since before this trip, and I’m all for it. You can’t go wrong with good Sushi, right?

_{Nakasu area at night.}

Our second day was spent still exploring the city. We started with lunch at Gyukatsu Motomura. The restaurant opens at 11AM, but by 10AM the queue was already long. Waaaah! I guess this place is super famous on social media like Instagram and TikTok, so the demand is really high. The one-hour wait was tough, but I think it was worth it. My friend liked it too.

After lunch, we went to Fukuoka Tower, which is on the top 10 of the tallest towers in Japan. It took us almost an hour to get there from our hotel, but the trip was totally worth it. The tower is covered with about 8,000 reflective glass panels that sparkle in the sunlight. Sugoi ne!

We went all the way up to the observation deck, and the views were absolutely amazing. Even though I have a fear of heights, I mustered the courage because this view was the ultimate prize.

From up there, you can see all of Fukuoka city, Hakata Bay, and on a clear day, even some of the nearby islands. We also stopped by the Sky Café at the top, ordered some drinks, and took our time admiring the whole city below us.

After Fukuoka Tower, we rode a boat to Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. The ferry departed from the Seaside Momochi area. We chilled by the seafront, took some photos, and then rode a bus back to Fukuoka city proper.

Now, on to our second day dinner. We continued the mission to satisfy my friend’s Sushi cravings, this time based on his own Sushi standards. At this point, he no longer trusted my recommendations 😤, so he took matters into his own hands and searched for the best Sushi place himself. That’s how we ended up at Hyotan Sushi.

In all fairness, it was absolutely delicious. Nothing dry this time. The fish was incredibly fresh, and honestly, it was one of the best Sushi experiences I’ve ever had. My friend was super satisfied and happy, until the bill came...😱
_{Look at that smile of my friend. Happy yern?}

8,000 yen. Yes, that stung a little. But I guess that’s the price you pay for a Sushi meal that hits all the right notes. Cravings were definitely satisfied. Tummies were very happy! Our wallets? Not so much. 😬

_{Night view in Fukuoka.}

For our third day, we planned to tick off the usual touristy places that Google recommends like the temples and cultural spots. Actually, we were staying in Fukuoka for five days, but we decided to dedicate the last two days exploring the outskirts or nearby towns. But that part of the trip deserves its own story. That will be for another blog!

As we continued exploring the city, we kept seeing ads and pictures of a local dish that seemed to be everywhere. It’s called Motsunabe, a hotpot dish made with beef or pork intestines simmered in a flavorful broth, along with cabbage, garlic, chives, and chili peppers. It actually looked really delicious, and with how heavily it was advertised, our curiosity got the best of us.
So, we searched for the best Motsunabe restaurant in the city based on Google star reviews.

When it was finally served and we took our first bite… ummmm it was very chewy. I kept chewing, but it was still just… chewy chewy. Huhuhu. My friend was also struggling bigtime. I can see his face turning red LOL 😆

_{Why the sad angry face man?}

We looked around and saw other customers clearly enjoying theirs. Some even ordered the massive portions and were happily finishing them. But for us, unfortunately it just wasn’t hitting the spot. We really tried. We even cooked it longer. But it wasn’t for us. In the end, we just ate the chives and drank the soup.
And to make things more painful... we spent another 8,000 yen for that Motsunabe. Unlike the Sushi 8,000 yen, which was worth every yen, this one felt like we got ripped off. Huhuhu. (our fault anyways!) Our wallets cried quietly in the background. Well, at least now we know what it tastes like. No hate to Motsunabe. It’s just not for everyone, and in our case, definitely not for us.

Since we weren’t full from the dinner, we had to treat ourselves to something sweet. We stumbled upon Elizabeth Muffins, and wow those muffins were made in heaven.

Even though we weren’t satisfied with our dinner, at least we got a good laugh out of that epic fail experience. Definitely one for the books! We ended the night wandering through the city under the lights, feeling a bit full (thanks to the muffins) and amused with our epic fail funny experience.

_{The famous Fukuoka Yatai scene at night.}

After three days exploring the city proper of Fukuoka, I have to say, I really loved the vibe of this place. It’s a perfect blend of city life and tranquility, not as hectic as Tokyo or Osaka, but not as quiet as the countryside either. The people are just chill as they walk around the city, unlike in Tokyo where everyone seems to be in a hurry. If you’re someone who loves the perfect mix of city energy and peaceful calm, Fukuoka might just be your dream spot. As for me, if I ever get the chance, I would definitely want to live here or at least spend a few months soaking it all in.

Fukuoka has a special charm that stays with you long after you leave. I’m already counting down the days until I can go back ❤️

* All content is mine unless otherwise noted. All photos taken with my iPhone 14 Pro Max.