My Japan Solo Trip (2022): A day in Fukuoka
I had one full day to enjoy Fukuoka, so I kept it simple! I stayed close to the Hakata station (Zonk Hotel), and focused on three things I wanted to do: nails, shop, and eat.
but first, some logistics upon arriving at Fukuoka Airport..
Arrival (FUKUOKA AIRPORT > HAKATA STATION)
Once at the airport, take the free shuttle from international arrivals to the subway station (Fukuoka airport subway station). There will be signs in english
Take the subway to Hakata station (2 stops). watch video on the subway ticketing here
If you have reserved train tickets, while you are at Hakata station, pick up your train tickets to and from yufuin (so you save time the next day)
There is an enclosed ticketing area within Hakata station. The kiosks are near the entrance.
Now onto the ..
Recommendations!
Nails
Rilu Nails https://g.page/rilunail?share (IG: @rilu_mihiro)
I got to my hotel and simply searched “nail” on my google maps and browsed through the artists’ portfolios on their reviews or instagrams. Once i found an artist I really liked, i decided to swing by to see if i could serendipitously take an open appointment. Little did I know she operated out of an apartment studio, so I was so confused when I arrived at a seven eleven with a nail salon nowhere to be found. I had to translate a whole different webpage to realized I had to dial 1307 to get in touch with the artist
I wrote down in my little notebook how to say “can i make an appointment?” in japanese. And over the intercom, when i arrived at Rilu Nail, I somehow over broken japanese and english I made an appointment to return at 2pm.
My nails :’) since the $ was so strong during my trip, I paid a total of $70 for this nail art!
Shopping
Hakata station is connected to a department store, and a ton of shops. I’d recommend doing all the shopping here, since the snacks are so good, and the shops have plenty of souvenirs to bring back, (the Tenjin shopping area seemed to have all the big western brands you’d also find in the US)
Daimyo is an area near Tenjin station that’s a very young, trendy shopping area, so a good starting point to walk around https://goo.gl/maps/7o9sqqyMeHEhy9TG6
EATS
*Get ready to wait in line for anything decent in and around Hakata station! I hate waiting in line, so I tried to go to restaurants during their off-peak hours (if they don’t have break time!) scroll to see my favorite place that I got in without a wait!
Here are the most coveted items in and near Hakata station:
Shin Shin Hakata ramen : This place is inside the station! Don’t go to the ramen places adjacent to this ! try to wait for shin shin if the line isn’t bad. I regretted going to a random place.
Kaisendon Hinode Hakatadeitosuten : seafood rice bowls
Kiwamiya Hakata stone-grilled beef patties. it seemed like a very popular place but the line moves VERY slow. I got in line for 20 minutes and gave up on this one. If you want, try the Tenjin location (below) I would definitely try to go next time,
Nana’s Green Tea https://goo.gl/maps/UNkYwn49dNPXL7Ff7 my favorite! I think this is a big chain all over Japan but I really love it. I love the hojicha or green tea parfait
Once you explore Hakata station, take the subway to Tenjin Station! Very busy area with lots to eat
Ganso Hakata Mentaiju https://goo.gl/maps/staubp2i4engJwAj8: Fukuoka is known for their fermented mentaiju, fish roe over rice. This was on the list for me
Kiwamiya Tenjin location https://goo.gl/maps/vi3mTR4Wf1y5Q5FSA (see photo above)
Hyotan Sushi (very famous in fukuoka if you want sushi) https://goo.gl/maps/Ks6gDure5B1DFyrC6 personally I wanted to eat here but when I went around 8pm, the line was still pretty long. So I walked over to…
*Gyukatsu Motomura https://g.page/gyukatsu_fukuoka-tenjin?share : this is where i ended up as i wandered away from restaurants with lines. It’s a restaurant where they serve beef katsu that you can grill directly on the hot stone in front of you! SO delicious. highly recommend. I got their Ochazuke set. I arrived at 8pm with no lines, but i may have gotten lucky. Here’s my video on how much i enjoyed this meal :) https://youtu.be/5hW7I99zZAs
Menya Kanetora https://goo.gl/maps/Yug7q7bFcLfcbb2Y8 : a famous Tsukemen place
If you want to pick up some souvenirs, after dinner head to the Don Quijote https://goo.gl/maps/yrfnYqWoaMr98hgV6
Basically before the trip, i starred all of these locations on my Google maps. Then once i got to the general area, i wandered around, explored, and occasionally checked which restaurants i was closer to and walked in wherever the line was shortest.
I liked traveling with loose plans like this with some solid recs, so I hope this helped in some way or the other! next post will be about my yufuin trip =)
