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!