Japan Day 17: Fukuoka
January 17.
Instagram
Today is a sad day, because it's my last big train ride in Japan. It's just under 2 hours from Beppu to Fukuoka, and this is also my earliest train of the trip, as it leaves the station at 5:27am. Save the best for last, right? I actually left the hotel so early in the morning, I had to wake the desk guy up to tell him I was leaving. He wasn't like hunched over the desk or anything, he was in a back room and I rang the bell and clearly woke the poor man up. Luckily I was the only person there, so he can go back to sleep for a few more hours.
Fukuoka has a tourist day pass that also covers all local metro trains! I didn't look this up in advance, but there was a sign for it at the train station, and it's purchased at the station, so it's a good win-win. The day pass is mostly discounts, not a lot of attractions are free, but it's only $18, so the metro/bus being free all day will be the biggest win. The best bonus of the day is where I'm here so early in the morning, I have plenty of time to plan a route before I actually need to be anywhere. I bought a can of Monster Energy Drink and some spicy chicken nuggets from Lawson, and planned a route.
My first stop would be to drop off my backpack at the hotel, which is at the busy shopping center Canal City. Across the street is my first real destination: Kushida Shrine. Kushida Shrine was founded back in 757 and has a big summer festival with a parade floats weighing nearly a ton. Some of the Kannushi (Shrine keepers) were out sweeping the grounds, but I didn't see the giant Otafuku mask.
Next I'm hopping on a ferry over to Shikashima and Uminonakamichi. On my walk I found a space-cat themed hostel. There's not much to do on Shikashima, but I wanted to see it, so a quick little walk around the area, spotted some cats, then backtracked over to Uminonakamichi Seaside Park.
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a gem. I assume in the summer this place is packed, but right now, I think I might be the only person in the entire place. Some workers were planting seeds on Flower Hill, there's a zoo... except instead of keeping me away from the animals, I can just walk right up to them, and there's all sorts of fun play places for kids to hang out, and a romantic rose garden, and go karts? Man this place has so much going on and how about this, it only costs $4.50. That's its regular price! That's not even a discount!
After a bit of a train ride, I made it all the way over to Fukuoka Tower, which I'm nicknaming The Triangle Building. Everything on this structure is a triangle, from the framework inside, to the windows, and even the shape of the building itself. The views were incredible, and the place was packed with tourists. Had a bowl of ramen down at the base of the tower, and moved on to the next destination.
Nokonoshima Island is pretty much like Miyajima in Hiroshima, a little island in a bay with a beautiful park and some shrines, there's just one issue. When the ferry arrived to Nokonoshima, it started pouring rain, just an absolute downpour. According to the weather app, it only had a 30% chance of rain, and it was exactly over my head. By this point it was getting pretty late in the evening, so even though I wanted to try to stop by one last park, the rain really killed that whole idea.
I made my way downtown, walking fast, rain still falling, and went to a ramen place called Hakata Issou, which is arguably the most popular ramen restaurant in the city, as they're located close to Hakata Station, the main train terminal in Fukuoka. They make a tonkotsu ramen with the thickest and creamy broth I think I've ever had, but Fukuoka is home to tonkotsu, so I wouldn't expect anything less than incredible.
By the time I made it back to the hotel to finally check in, it was 8pm and I decided being awake for 15 hours was enough, so it was off to bed to rest up for Okinawa tomorrow.
Today is a sad day, because it's my last big train ride in Japan. It's just under 2 hours from Beppu to Fukuoka, and this is also my earliest train of the trip, as it leaves the station at 5:27am. Save the best for last, right? I actually left the hotel so early in the morning, I had to wake the desk guy up to tell him I was leaving. He wasn't like hunched over the desk or anything, he was in a back room and I rang the bell and clearly woke the poor man up. Luckily I was the only person there, so he can go back to sleep for a few more hours.
Fukuoka has a tourist day pass that also covers all local metro trains! I didn't look this up in advance, but there was a sign for it at the train station, and it's purchased at the station, so it's a good win-win. The day pass is mostly discounts, not a lot of attractions are free, but it's only $18, so the metro/bus being free all day will be the biggest win. The best bonus of the day is where I'm here so early in the morning, I have plenty of time to plan a route before I actually need to be anywhere. I bought a can of Monster Energy Drink and some spicy chicken nuggets from Lawson, and planned a route.
 |
| Lawson convenience store, Fukuoka |
 |
| Spicy Chicken Nuggets, Fukuoka |
My first stop would be to drop off my backpack at the hotel, which is at the busy shopping center Canal City. Across the street is my first real destination: Kushida Shrine. Kushida Shrine was founded back in 757 and has a big summer festival with a parade floats weighing nearly a ton. Some of the Kannushi (Shrine keepers) were out sweeping the grounds, but I didn't see the giant Otafuku mask.
 |
| Kushida Shrine Parade Float, Fukuoka |
 |
| Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka |
 |
| Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka |
Next I'm hopping on a ferry over to Shikashima and Uminonakamichi. On my walk I found a space-cat themed hostel. There's not much to do on Shikashima, but I wanted to see it, so a quick little walk around the area, spotted some cats, then backtracked over to Uminonakamichi Seaside Park.
 |
| Space Cat Hostel, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Wild Beast, Shikashima, Fukuoka. |
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a gem. I assume in the summer this place is packed, but right now, I think I might be the only person in the entire place. Some workers were planting seeds on Flower Hill, there's a zoo... except instead of keeping me away from the animals, I can just walk right up to them, and there's all sorts of fun play places for kids to hang out, and a romantic rose garden, and go karts? Man this place has so much going on and how about this, it only costs $4.50. That's its regular price! That's not even a discount!
 |
| Parrots you can walk up to, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Parrots you can walk up to, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Kangaroos you can walk up to, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Capybara you can walk up to, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Dolphin Slide, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Flamingoes, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Pirate Swing, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Octopus Slide, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| What's the porpoise of these if you can't climb them? Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Roses from the Rose Garden, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Fukuoka. |
After a bit of a train ride, I made it all the way over to Fukuoka Tower, which I'm nicknaming The Triangle Building. Everything on this structure is a triangle, from the framework inside, to the windows, and even the shape of the building itself. The views were incredible, and the place was packed with tourists. Had a bowl of ramen down at the base of the tower, and moved on to the next destination.
 |
| Fukuoka Tower Elevator Shaft, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Riding up the elevator, Fukuoka Tower, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Fukuoka Tower View West, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Fukuoka Tower View North, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Fukuoka Tower View East, Fukuoka |
 |
| Fukuoka Tower South View, Fukuoka |
 |
| So many tourists! Fukuoka Tower, Fukuoka. |
 |
| My best Arthur impression, Fukuoka Tower, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Just add Molly, Fukuoka Tower, Fukuoka. |
 |
| Lunch ramen with dumplings, Fukuoka. |
Nokonoshima Island is pretty much like Miyajima in Hiroshima, a little island in a bay with a beautiful park and some shrines, there's just one issue. When the ferry arrived to Nokonoshima, it started pouring rain, just an absolute downpour. According to the weather app, it only had a 30% chance of rain, and it was exactly over my head. By this point it was getting pretty late in the evening, so even though I wanted to try to stop by one last park, the rain really killed that whole idea.
 |
| View of Fukuoka from Nokonoshima Island, Fukuoka. |
I made my way downtown, walking fast, rain still falling, and went to a ramen place called Hakata Issou, which is arguably the most popular ramen restaurant in the city, as they're located close to Hakata Station, the main train terminal in Fukuoka. They make a tonkotsu ramen with the thickest and creamy broth I think I've ever had, but Fukuoka is home to tonkotsu, so I wouldn't expect anything less than incredible.
 |
| Hakata Issou, Tonkotsu Ramen, Fukuoka. |
By the time I made it back to the hotel to finally check in, it was 8pm and I decided being awake for 15 hours was enough, so it was off to bed to rest up for Okinawa tomorrow.
 |
| View from the hotel room, Fukuoka. |
January 17 by numbers:
- Photos: 382
- Miles walked: 15.7
- Steps: 32952
- Total Calories Burned: 4884
- Bowls of Ramen: 2
-Joe
Comments
Post a Comment