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This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original
Quick facts
- Region: Kyushu & Okinawa
- Capital: Fukuoka
- Population: 5.1 million
- Climate: Sea of Japan side
- Cherry blossom (average): 22 March
- No. 1 in Japan: Kyushu's largest metropolitan area; "Amaou" strawberries — Hakata ramen, mentaiko, a top producer of bamboo shoots
⭐ Top sights
Nakasu Yatai Food Stalls
About 100 street-food stalls appear along the river at night. Tonkotsu ramen, yakitori and oden shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers.
Hakata Motsunabe & Mizutaki
Motsunabe is beef offal simmered with chives and cabbage in soy or miso; mizutaki is a whole-chicken broth. Fukuoka's two great hot pots, finished with noodles or rice porridge.
🍲 Local food
Motsu nabe, Hakata ramen, mizutaki, mentaiko
Tonkotsu ramen was born in Kurume. Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) was commercialised in Hakata after the war
🏮 Festivals & events
- Hakata Gion Yamakasa — July 1–15 (the Oiyama race at dawn on the 15th). Men in loincloths race 5 km carrying massive floats. 780 years of history; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
- Hakata Dontaku Port Festival — May 3–4. Dancers clack rice paddles as they parade. Its 2 million Golden Week visitors are among the most of any festival in Japan
🏨 Where to stay in Fukuoka
The area around Fukuoka, the capital, has the best transport links and the widest choice of hotels; a night at a hot-spring town is also worth it.
Other prefectures in the region
Saga · Nagasaki · Kumamoto · Oita · Miyazaki · Kagoshima · Okinawa · 47 prefectures
Frequently asked questions
What is Fukuoka famous for food-wise?
Fukuoka's best-known local dishes are Motsu nabe, Hakata ramen, mizutaki, mentaiko. Tonkotsu ramen was born in Kurume. Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) was commercialised in Hakata after the war
What are the top sights in Fukuoka?
Top picks in Fukuoka include Nakasu Yatai Food Stalls, Hakata Motsunabe & Mizutaki.
When do cherry blossoms bloom in Fukuoka?
In Fukuoka (Fukuoka), Somei-yoshino cherry trees usually start blooming around 22 March, reaching full bloom about a week later.
