<The Charm of Fukuoka As I Know It>

I used to live in Kumamoto City for two years. Some of my fondest memories involved me taking a direct bus to Fukuoka City on Friday afternoon to spend the weekend there. What kept me going back? The multifaceted charms of Fukuoka, of course!

1. Fukuoka City. I just love how Fukuoka City straddles tradition and modernity seamlessly. I love taking a leisurely stroll from Hakata Station to Tenjin and visiting all the traditional shrines - such as Kushida shrine - that are dotted throughout the city. It also boasts great shopping malls and restaurants, which help to fill my tummy and yield me retail therapy. Plus, eating ramen at the yatais is a fun gourmet experience. Lastly, I love how it caters to travelers of varied profiles. When I was single, I used to enjoy visiting the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum. Now that I’m a father, I take my children to play to their heart’s content at the Fukuoka Anpanman Children’s Museum! This December, I intend to visit the Fukuoka Aquarium with my family.

2. Dazaifu City. I love browsing through the varied stores located along the pathway leading to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. The Starbucks outlet here beckons me with its extraordinary design. I also enjoy visiting the shrine, especially in winter. It’s interesting to observe all these Japanese students praying for good grades.

3. Yanagawa City. I visited there twice and enjoyed the stunning sight of cherry blossoms and willow trees juxtaposed against rustic shophouses during the boat ride. Tucking into delicious onagi rice was another highlight of my trips!

4. Kurume City. I still remember how I devoured a piping hot bowl of Taiho ramen appreciatively. And no wonder! Kurume is known as the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen.

5. Kitakyushu City. Outdoor enthusiasts must pay a visit to Hiraodai Karst Plateau. I was awed by the spectacular limestone rocks that stretched as far as the eye can see.

I believe I would be an ideal person to be an Ambassador for Fukuoka because of my deep love and comprehensive knowledge regarding this lovely liveable city. Fun fact: Fukuoka came in 22nd in Monocle Magazine’s survey of top 25 liveable cities in 2022!