Fukuoka: Claire

Where am I – Fukuoka - a city full of fantastic food and a relaxed lifestyle on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

After a 2 ½ - hour bullet train journey from Osaka we arrived at Hakata station, Fukuoka.

We were staying in Hakata, a quieter area of Fukuoka and a short walk from the station which was great for easy access around the city. I had high expectations for Fukuoka’s food, and it did not disappoint. The tonkotsu ramen and yakitori is a must try when here. As a Melbourne coffee drinker, I was also pleasantly surprised by the city’s coffee culture.

We were recommended to visit Rakusuien Garden. A lovely tranquil spot in the city where you can experience a traditional tea ceremony, unfortunately tea was not being served in the tea rooms the day we visited but feeding the surprisingly large koi fish in the pond entertained my children.

There were plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained. We spent some time at TeamLab Forest, Hakata doll painting and shopping - the Nintendo store was a must visit for my children!

My must do when visiting Fukuoka is dinner at a Yatai street food stall in Tenjin. It was a beautiful balmy September evening when we visited which was perfect for outdoor eating. We ordered the fried ramen, yakitori and gyoza, all were incredibly delicious. Hot tip you can't place a second order at the Yatai stalls so make sure you don't forget anything!