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Guide to Fukuoka, Japan
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Fukuoka
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FukuokaLocated inside an easterly bay on the island of Kyushu, a relatively large member of Japan, Fukuoka is a city like many on the mainland, though it's got a few tricks up its sleeves which have lent it such appeal in terms of tourism. Populated by roughly 1.3 million residents/workers, Fukuoka is undoubtedly a busy commercial and trade hub, but one can't deny the aire of attraction to be found inside the downtown region here as well as some waterside delights. Fukuoka is said to be touched by a mix of both the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, but what is clearly marked is its proximity to the Korean Strait, a vastly wide channel that provides respite-laden currents to an otherwise toasty network of congested streets, steamy nightclubs, and vendors in numbers which seem to be larger than the city's residential body. Some liken Fukuoka to Tokyo for the prevalence of electronic and digital kitsch found within its limits, though when evening sets, the streets do get less crowded and they do not resemble an expanded likeness of New York's glitzy Times Square. Of course, we'd like to put Fukuoka in a class all its own, however similarities with the rest of the country's metropolises emerge all too frequently, leaving you with run-of-the-mill hotel chains in which to spend your nights and an increasing number of traditional American fast food joints. Its historic sites usual make up for its lack in originality, what with centuries old temples and shrines that nary offer a bland or uniform portrayal of the Mongolian empire and those which ruled thereafter.
When to go:
The proud recipient of one of Japan's best climate, Kyushu Island is where all can bask in the sun and shed some layers while those on the nation's northernmost block, Hokkaido, start up their heaters at the start of winter. Don't get the impression that all is well in Fukuoka, however. Springs, summers, and autumns in the city lay out a series of months host to an overwhelming number of clear days, but with rain comes more rain in this part of the world. Watch for telltale signs of foul weather before setting out for the local international airport.
Getting there and around:
Speaking of airports, Fukuoka has a lot to show for it in this field. In order to provide convenient service to millions of travelers each year, the city has had to build a terminal to support them. Fukuoka Airport is now home to separate centers for domestic and international carriers, and though the flight center's planners had an "ease of use" mentality when expanding the place, it all makes for a longer period of time in which to process arrivals and departures. You can save money by sitting through a cramped trip from airport to city inside a bus, but once you've unpacked and settled yourself a bit, you're better off ditching above-ground services for a network many modern metropolises boast: a subway.
Attractions:
Via underground means you can find the site of the Tochoji Temple, a few minutes' walk from Hakata Station. Though it is clearly a modern creation, it is nonetheless a beautiful sight, one which is especially popular for its being home to the largest wooded statue of Buddha in Japan. Measuring 33 feet tall, its really up for guesstimation as to how many feisty splinters its creator had to war with. If local history sounds appealing, the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum is a great place to get an in-depth feel for what originated here as a merchants town.
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