| Fukuoka isn't that small of a place. Actual numbers | | | | On the occasions when I miss American and |
| bring the population to about the 5 million mark, | | | | Mexican food, I always have the option to head |
| with the city having roughly 1.3 million people. With | | | | on over to Hard Rock Cafe right next door to |
| that amount of people around, you know there | | | | Fukuoka dome in Momochi. Momochi is adjacent |
| has got to be something to do. On any day of | | | | to Nishijin so indeed I am in luck. Hard Rock Cafe |
| the week if you look you will be able to find | | | | Fukuoka boasts the largest restaurant of its kind |
| something that interests you. There are often | | | | in Japan. The food is fantastic and of course the |
| festivals in one area or another in Fukuoka city. | | | | atmosphere is like all other Hard Rock Cafes out |
| With a little help from a friend or the domestic | | | | there. The staff is very friendly and since I |
| foreigner magizines and information centers you | | | | frequent their establishment often I am treated |
| will be able to find out where the festivals are | | | | extremely well with occasional benefits.Izakaya |
| being held.The center of Fukuoka city will have to | | | | Though not only found in Fukuoka, Izakaya |
| be Tenjin (though others may argue it to be | | | | restaurants deserve a notable mention. Izakayas |
| Hakata). It is the shoppers haven of the | | | | offer a wide variety of food and more |
| prefecture. Feel you need to do a little shopping | | | | importantly drinks at a low price. University |
| for some nice named brands from Italy or | | | | students as well as business men can often be |
| France? head on over to Tenjin. Want to blow off | | | | found in these restaurants chatting with colleagues |
| some steam and hit a bar (including foreigner | | | | and drinking up a storm. All Izakayas offer a |
| bars)? Tenjin is the place to be. want to meet | | | | different ambiance, and with some searching you |
| some new friends? Rainbow Plaza in... you guessed | | | | will be able to find one that suits you.Famous |
| it, Tenjin, is the place to do just that.Right next | | | | Fukuoka foodFukuoka ramen |
| door to Tenjin is Nakasu. Nakasu hosts nightlife | | | | Have you ever had that cup O ramen or that |
| entertainment but tends to cater to the more | | | | freeze dried packaged ramen? bah! throw that |
| affluent individual. However, Nakasu also has a | | | | out and try some "Tonkatsu ramen" (pork |
| huge shopping complex named Canal City which | | | | ramen) famous in Fukuoka and well know |
| has so many shops that you wouldn't be able to | | | | throughout all of Japan. First time I tried it I was |
| count them all. The complex holds many | | | | instantly hooked and to this day try and eat it |
| restaurants, two hotels, a large cinema and in the | | | | once every week or so.Mentaiko |
| center of Canal City is an area called Sun Plaza | | | | Another famous food which Fukuoka is renound |
| where it is common to find street performers | | | | for is mentaiko (very tiny fish eggs). To some |
| doing their acts.Of course Tenjin and Nakasu | | | | people mentaiko may not seem very appatizing |
| aren't the only place you can have fun. I live | | | | but please don't knock it till you try it. Mentaiko |
| about 10 minutes away from Tenjin by subway in | | | | spagetti, as an example, is a delicious treat around |
| a town called Nishijin and I can do nearly as many | | | | these parts. And there are of course many other |
| things here as I can in Tenjin. Bowling, swimming, | | | | recipes which have use for |
| soccer, billards, game centers, and even a movie | | | | mentaiko.TransportationUnlike the nickname given |
| theater are just a few of the things Nishijin and | | | | to New York, Fukuoka does tend to get a little |
| the nearby area has to offer.Yahoo Dome | | | | tired at night but usually not until quite late |
| (formerly Fukuoka Dome) is located in Momochi | | | | especially on weekends. One of the reasons for |
| which boarders the sea. Yahoo Dome is home to | | | | this in my humble opinion is the transportation |
| the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. The Hawks are a | | | | shutdown at around midnight. Thats right, the |
| strong baseball team, beloved by the city and its | | | | subway, train, and bus system all but stops once |
| residents. In fact, there are only two teams in | | | | you hit the AM. Which leaves the weary and, |
| Japan's professional baseball league who attract | | | | more often than not, drunk to either take a taxi |
| more than one million fans to their home games | | | | home, walk, or I have even heard the "I will just |
| per year, and the Hawks are one of them. When | | | | stay up until the subway starts again at 6:00 |
| the Hawks don't have a home game you can | | | | before I go home" line used by those who just |
| sometimes find other activities occuring in the | | | | aren't finished partying when its time for the |
| Dome. Yahoo Dome hosts various flea markets | | | | transportation system's last call. This isn't just a |
| and concerts throughout the year.Food, food, | | | | Fukuoka special, for the shutdown happens |
| food!As far as I'm concerned, Fukuoka has the | | | | throughout the whole of Japan.Though the |
| best food to offer in all of Japan (though I hear | | | | transportation system does shutdown at perhaps |
| food in Sapporo is quite good). Fukuoka has its | | | | inconvenient times, it is a wonderful system. |
| own well known dishes and of course the chefs | | | | Perfectly clean trains, buses and subways (which |
| here are well capable of recreating dishes found | | | | are amazingly quiet) are the consequence of the |
| throughout the world.Yatai | | | | shutdown for they are all cleaned during the wee |
| When night begins to fall on Fukuoka city you | | | | hours of the morning.LocationFukuoka is found on |
| may suddenly notice many little street vendors | | | | the southernmost island of the four main islands in |
| (usually operating out of their vans) popping up all | | | | Japan. The name of the island is Kyushu. Fukuoka |
| over the sidewalks. These vendors serve a | | | | happens to be closer to Seoul, South Korea than |
| variety of foods ranging from ramen to yakiniku | | | | it is to Tokyo. Fukuoka prefecture is located on |
| to tempura. Yatais themselves are really a site to | | | | the northern tip of Kyushu. |
| see.Hard Rock Cafe Fukuoka | | | | |