Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, is composed of a plethora of wonderfully unique prefectures, filled to the brim with beautiful views and immersive experiences. Whether it is your first time heading to southern Japan, or you have extensive experience exploring the area, it is a perfect spot to spend time in. Especially Fukuoka Prefecture, the first prefecture you travel through from the mainland if going by train. From delicious food and tea to historic castles, there is more than enough to make this Kyushu prefecture one of your favourites!
Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen
No stop to Fukuoka Prefecture is complete without having tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu ramen is characterised by pork bone broth, made by boiling pork bones for many hours, in comparison to other varieties of ramen such as shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce), and miso. Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen has cloudy broth and is a perfect way to end a night, or even begin a day. With hot broth, a soft boiled egg, chashu pork, green onions, and many more available toppings, every bite will be full of flavour. There is no wrong time to have this delicious dish, and know that you can always order a ‘kaedama’ or refill if you are still hungry. All around Fukuoka City you can find restaurants specialising in this type of ramen. Sometimes you’ll even see stalls called ‘yatai’ lining the streets. These small stalls have few seats, but give you an up close and personal view of the chef creating the dish. You may even make a few new friends along the way.
Itoshima
Located slightly outside of Fukuoka City, Itoshima and the Itoshima Peninsula are home to some idyllic locations and a perfect area for some relaxation. You can make your way to the Itoshima Peninsula area via train, but exploring up the peninsula might be better suited for a car. Beaches are plentiful, affording great spots to relax with some food or drink, or even head out into the water with a surfboard or paddleboard. The sunsets are also unparalleled, with some unobstructed views looking out westward, watching the sun sink below the horizon is a perfect way to relax as the day winds down.
You can check out either Futamigaura, Keya Beach, or Nogita Beach, there is no wrong sandy shore. Futamigaura is also home to a ‘meoto iwa’, a pair of rocks linked by a sacred shimenawa rope. There is also a unique white torii gate on the beach, giving you the perfect opportunity to frame your photos. If you are keen for a shrine visit, dating to 1632, nearby Sakurai Shrine provides a peaceful experience in the woods and trees of Itoshima. Further inland, another great spot for nature lovers is Shiraito Falls. Located closer to the border with Saga Prefecture, this waterfall is 24 metres tall and is a delightfully cooling place to visit during the summer. You can also try another traditional Japanese cuisine here, nagashi somen, where soba noodles are sent down a tube for customers to pick them with chopsticks.
Yame
Moving slightly further south of Fukuoka City is Yame. A historic city famous for its tea known as yame-cha, wandering around this town will take you back to what seems like life many years ago. You can reach Yame in a little under an hour from Fukuoka City, but you can also travel by train to Kurume City and then take a bus. Traditional crafts are plentiful in the town, make sure to visit some shops in the area in addition to the Yame Traditional Crafts Centre to take home some unique gifts or even participate in a workshop.
Traditional works of the area include bamboo, paper (and paper lanterns), and pottery, among many others. Visit Fukushima Hachimangu, or Reiganji, which dates back 600 years and was founded by Eirin Shuzui, thought to have brought back various tea techniques from China. While you walk the historic streets of the city, you may notice a feeling of ‘Showa-kan’, essentially meaning that the surrounding area invokes feelings and nostalgia of the Showa Period of Japan. This may be from the signage or the architecture, but has the possibility of feeling like you’ve been transported back in time.
If you are a tea fan, then don’t forget to check out the Yame Central Tea Plantation, where you can relax and take in nearly endless views of tea getting ready to be harvested. The nearby Hoshino Mura also has a tea museum, where you can participate in workshops where you can make and taste tea.
Kurume
Located north of Yame City, you can find the city of Kurume. With the third largest population among cities in Fukuoka Prefecture, it has the perfect feeling of being a big city, but small enough to allow ample relaxation. Kurume has its own unique style of tonkotsu ramen, where leftover soup base at the end of the day is not thrown out, but included in the next day’s batch. Tonkotsu Ramen is also thought to have originated in the city. Don’t forget to visit the many temples and shrines that dot the landscape either. There is Suitengu, known for enshrining the god of safe childbirth and the sea, Daihonzan Naritasan Kurume Temple has a 62 metre tall statue of Kannon, making a striking sight to see from all over.
The Kurume area is also known to be the producer of a great deal of high quality sakes and wines. Whether you tour or have a tasting experience at a winery or brewery, be sure to take home some unique Kurume goods. Kurume is also known for kurume-gasuri, a type of fabric made with indigo dyeing, and used in a variety of goods from coin purses to even sneakers. The beautiful designs will leave you wanting to buy all sorts of souvenirs. Another Kurume craft is called rantai shikki, essentially lacquered bamboo. After pieces of bamboo are threaded together and varnished, they become this uniquely beautiful design, which gets better the more and more you use them. Come to Kurume with an empty suitcase, because you’ll be going home with a lot of new goods!
Kokura Castle
Heading back north, near the main island of Honshu, you can find Kitakyushu and Kokura Castle. Built in the early 17th century by Tadaoki Hosokawa, the castle was historically the residence of the Ogasawara Clan. The original design of the castle was burned down at the tail end of the Meiji Period, however it was rebuilt in the 1950s. Containing multiple exhibits on Kokura and an observatory on its 5th floor with views of the city, the castle is a beautiful symbol of the city and its past.
Situated quite centrally in the city, you can walk around the castle grounds and neary gardens, admiring the castle architecture, and then head for some food and drink at the many shops and restaurants in the area. Katsuyama Park, the grounds that the castle is in, is a great spot to visit in springtime, when the many cherry trees all come to life with their pink leaves. Famous samurai Miyamoto Musashi is also said to have visited Kokura Castle in the 17th century.
Mt. Hiko
If you are keen to surround yourself with nature, then look no further than Mt. Hiko, deep in the forests of southern Fukuoka, near the border with Oita Prefecture. Well travelled historically by those practising Shugendo, or mountain asceticism, be prepared for some tough hiking but the views are more than worth it. There are also a large mix of temples and shrines to explore on your trips around the mountain. You can visit Hohei-den, a marker of the start of the journey to the peak of the mountain, which dates all the way back to the year 740.
If you make it to the middle summit of the mountain, make sure not to miss Takasumi Shrine, where there is a statue of a bull known for good luck. Autumn time is one of the best times to visit the area, as the changing leaves will be encapsulating in their beauty. An even better view of the autumn foliage can be had from the top of the three peaks, it’ll make the tough hike up even more rewarding.
Fukuoka Prefecture is a perfect mix of urban and natural beauty. Whether you are after the perfect bowl of ramen or the best autumn foliage views, there is no better destination than Fukuoka!
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