Two Days in Fukuoka

In earlier times Fukuoka used to be half the city it is now. Quite literally. Because in 1889 it actually gained quite a bit of ground by merging with the neighbouring city of Hakata, just across the river. At this point in time you wouldn't guess that these cities used to be seperated, but the naming of Fukuoka's central trainstation (Hakata Station) is still a nice, albeit confusing, rememberance. 

Fukuoka Itinerary

This itinerary will take you across the city of Fukuoka for two days. Fukuoka is a modern city with boulevards, underground shoppingmalls, a beach and some interesting temples. More than enough to keep anyone occupied for two days. Modes of transportation in the city are via subway, walking or most ideally: cycling.

Day One

Before heading to the shops in the afternoon, a great way to start the morning is to go look at some of Fukuoka's historic sights. Altough the city in general is quite modern, there are still a few places in the Hakata-area well worth visiting. We start out at the Kushida-jinja Shrine, the centerpiece of the yearly Gion-Yamakasa Festival. In the same area are also the Tōchō-ji Temple and the Shōfuku-ji Temple. The first containing a 10.8 meter Buddha and the latter being Japan's oldest Zen Temple. You can reach the Gion-area quite easily by taking the orange metroline and dropping off at Gion-station.

The second part of the day is reserved for shopping. In the Tenjin-area, the area around the station of the same name, there are a few large plazas with different kinds of shops, a host of streets with popular brandname-stores and an enormous underground area for shopping. You can basically get lost in this area for an entire afternoon if shopping is your thing. If you're looking for a little break from the consuming, then head for the ACROS building in Chuo Park. On the rooftop you will find a garden and a beautiful view over the city.

Day Two

This morning it's time for Canal City, a mall with a unique design. The mall has a central location in between Tenjin and Hakata. Take the opportunity of going to Canal City to finish up on your shopping. If you, however, feel like you had enough of shopping, then at least experience the largeness of the thing and play a few games at the Sega Arcade Hall. Once your mind is blown by all the beeps and blips, it is time to get the hell out and look for some fresh air.

Fukuoka has a few nice parks and also some beaches. These make for ideal spaces to zone out and relax. Grab your bike, if you have one at your disposal, or take a subway, and head for Ohorikoen. From here on you can visit Ohori park, walk/jog/cycle for a while and drink some coffee at Starbucks. Close to Ohori park is Maizuru park, where you can visit the remains of Fukuoka Castle and a bit further, Nishi Park. From Nishi Park it is not far to Yahoo Japan Dome, the stadium of the local baseballteam, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Try to visit a game if that's your thing or else, wander around and head for the beach, which is just a small walk from the stadium. Lay your head down and wait for the sun to set. When you're done find some place to eat and take some time to reflect on two beautiful days in Fukuoka.

Tips & Recommendations

• Try to rent a bike. Fukuoka is an ideal city for cycling.
• Plan your trip to Fukuoka around early May to catch the Dontaku Festival
• Want to go to South-Korea? Take a ferry to Busan. You can be there within three hours!

One Day in Nagasaki

Nagasaki is a city with history. At one point in time it was the only port in Japan trading with the outside world, much later it became the scene of the disastrous second atomic bomb drop, which killed over 70,000 people. The city, however, has bounced back and now combines beautiful nature with impressive historic sights.

Nagasaki Itinerary

This itinerary will take you across some of the historic places of Nagasaki like the Atomic Bomb Memorial and Glover Garden, but will also let you enjoy some of the nature that surrounds the city. The schedule is perfect to catch the highlights of the city without wearing yourself out completely. Luckily, Nagasaki is not a huge city, but rather compact. The more faraway places are connected by a cute little tram called streetcar. 

Morning

No matter where you are in Nagasaki, the trams are usually not far away. So when you start this itinerary, make sure that you know where your nearest tram stop is. The first destination is Peace Park, a park established to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombing in 1945. It features an enormous statue, as well as multiple smaller sculptures donated by different countries and cities. The park is good for a short stroll and to prepare yourself to enter the Atomic Bomb Museum.

The Atomic Bomb Museum is a five-minute walk from the Peace Park. It is easily found by following the signs. The exhibits in the museum show among other things the damage done by the atomic bomb, the history of the city and the lead up to the bombing. The museum’s final exhibits feature an argument against the use of nuclear weapons.

Walking through the museum is an impressive experience, especially when you realize that the tragedy of the atomic bombing took place at this very spot.  

Afternoon

When you’re done at the site of the atomic bombing, it’s time to go a bit further back in time. Head for Shinchi Chinatown to grab some delicious Chinese snacks. In order to get to Shinchi Chinatown you can hop on to the tram and drop off at Nishihamonomachi.

When you're done eating snacks it's time to take a walk. Just keep on walking south and follow the signs pointing you to the Dutch Slope. In this little area you can enjoy some European architecture. When you're done here just move on to the Oura Cathedral, which is almost 150 years old. You can enter the cathedral for a fee. Very close to the cathedral are the Glover Garden. Once the homes of European entrepreneurs, these houses and gardens are now open to visitors. Aside from experiencing some beautiful views over the city, this is an ideal place to relax. 

Alternatively, if you are more into shopping, then I suggest instead of heading south from Shinchi Chinatown, to go north. You will find a nice shopping arcade. Remember that Nagasaki does not offer the same amount of shopping possibilities as Fukuoka, which is just 2,5 hours away by train. Another option for shopping in Nagasaki is a nice shopping mall located on the way to the Peace Park. You can get there by taking the same tram, but dropping of at the stop for CocoWalk.

Evening

In the early evening it's time to experience Nagasaki's most famous view. Head to Takaramachi Station by tram and follow the signs to the ropeway-station. From here on you can take the trip up to Inasayama and enjoy Nagasaki's '10 Million Dollar View'. It is well worth it.  

After getting off the mountain, it's time to find a good place to eat. Why not try some Champon? Nagasaki's famous noodle-dish.

Tips & Recommendations

• Try to walk as much as possible. Nagasaki is a fairly compact city and most places are actually within walking distance.