Delve into the unique culture of Fukuoka, Japan 

On the northern shore of Kyushu Island, Fukuoka Prefecture is abundant in natural beauty, ancient history and boasts an eclectic culinary scene shaped by centuries of trade. Fukuoka City is a bustling port, which has earned the name “gateway to Asia”. An epicentre of trade since the mid-1st century, there’s a diversity to the region’s food and its artisan industries are based in centuries of tradition. There’s a pulsing, modern beat to Fukuoka too in its state-of-the-art museums, renovated waterfronts and slew of young sake-makers setting up shop. Dig deep and you’ll discover a world of art and culture in Fukuoka. 

Although associated with Japan, ramen noodles originally came from Chinese traders who landed on Kyushu’s shores in the 19th century. These days, you can find tonkotsu ramen in nearly every shopping mall and train station across Japan but this staple dish was born in Kurume city in Fukuoka.

Pork dashi (broth) simmers for hours before al dente noodles are added and topped with melt-in-the-mouth sliced pork belly. Make a pilgrimage to Kurume to try tonkotsu ramen at Nankin Senryo, where it was created in 1937. It was allegedly made by accident when the chef at Nankin Senryo noodle stall left a pot of pork broth cooking too long. The result was a rich, unctuous liquid which would become the basis of tonkotsu ramen. While the dish originates in Kurume, the Hakata neighbourhood in Fukuoka City is often cited as the birthplace of tonkotsu as it is known today, where a dash of soy or miso is added to the pork broth. Ramen joints have been trading in Hakata since the early 20th century, like Akanoren Setchan which began serving umami-rich noodles in 1946, or Hakata Issou – a Fukuoka institution where you can smell the simmering dashi from several blocks away.   

A constant influx of people from across Asia and beyond gives Fukuoka City an electric atmosphere. As neon lights flicker to life at twilight, people flock to yatai (street food stalls) where clusters of customers wait for gyoza and ramen from bubbling pots and hissing pans. These open-fronted establishments are a result of the city’s port history – merchants would land in Fukuoka in search of fast, filling food and plenty of beer. A Fukuoka Food Stall and Bar Hopping tour lets you dine like a local, sampling gyoza and ramen at some of the best hole-in-the-wall spots in the city.  

Fukuoka City’s skyline is constantly evolving. Part work of art and part public park, ACROS Mountain rises out of the concrete and skyscrapers like a forested mountain. A roster of musical acts and cultural activities take place inside. Another of Fukuoka City’s ultra-modern attractions, BOSS E ZO FUKUOKA features several floors of cutting-edge exhibitions like the teamLabs experience and a VR game zone. Going against the tide of change, in the Hakata neighbourhood the tradition of making wooden crafts from cedar (magemono) has been passed down for over 400 years. Learn about the history of magemono from an 18th generation craftsman and make your own unique souvenir on a Hakata Magemono Craft Experience.  

The fields surrounding Yame are so green they practically glow. This is Kyushu’s primary tea-growing region where Yame hon gyokuro is harvested. After sipping a cup of this traditional green tea, the remaining leaves are mixed with vinegar and soy sauce, then eaten – a zero-waste approach the people of Yame have been practicing for centuries. Visiting Chiyonoen organic tea plantation lets you see the tea harvesting process and lunch here (which needs to be booked in advance) comes with a tea pairing, letting Yame hon gyokuro’s subtle notes marry with locally caught game.   

Yame’s green mountains are cloaked in cedar and bamboo forests, and this wood fuels artisanal crafts across the city. Yame sudare blinds have been made here since the 8th century. Soft, light-wood bamboo is intricately woven together in typical Japanese zen style and these blinds now grace the glossy pages of interior design magazines in Italy and the US. Cedar has also been used in Yame’s crafts for centuries. Takeru Baba and his wife Chieko use the bounty from the mountain forests to create incense from cedar and bay leaves using a water mill. Observe how this aromatic incense comes to life on a Baba Suishaba experience.  

Shinkansen (bullet trains) whisk in and out of Kitakyushu from Osaka and Tokyo, but this place is so much more than a transport hub. Kokura Castle rises from the urban sprawl, layered like a wedding cake. Dating back to the 17th century, this bone-white structure presided over the city from the Edo period when Kitakyushu was a centre of trade, until 1866 when the wooden structure was destroyed in a fire. Rebuilt to its former glory, it now houses a local history museum and a small theatre showing castle life from centuries gone by. The castle’s gardens are particularly captivating in spring when the cherry blossom is in full swing.

If you’d rather admire a medley of fragrant purples and blues, check out the Kawachi Wisteria Garden where tunnels dripping with wisteria bloom stretch to 100m long. But it’s not all roses. Kitakyushu is home to one of the most curious museums in Japan. The TOTO museum is dedicated to the evolution of the iconic Japanese toilet – from simple flushing systems to seat warmers.    

Rice travelled to Fukuoka from across the East China Sea and rice production has been prevalent in the area for over 2,000 years. For centuries the people of Fukuoka Prefecture have tended the land, growing an abundance of rice in bright green terraces and harvesting it to be fermented into the distinct sakes of the region. Breweries like Kitaya, which began production around 1820, and Ebisu Shuzo have been using the sweet water of the Chikugo River, giving a distinct flavour to their sake. Visit Yanagawa, the City of Water, to see how this region is blessed with an abundance of water. The Chikugo River feeds a labyrinth of canals through the ancient centre.

Experience the City of Water on an evening tour including a cruise down the canals while supping on the local delicacy – steamed eel – with a warm glass of sake. In Fukuoka City, new craft sake breweries see an injection of modernism into the production of this age-old spirit as Japan’s youth take the mantel. Experience a craft sake brewery and tasting room on a Fukuoka Food Stall and Bar Hopping evening tour.