Let’s learn more about Fukuoka!!

◆What kind of place is Fukuoka Prefecture?

Prefectural capital: Fukuoka City

Population: Approximately 5 million people

Fukuoka Prefecture is located in the southwestern part of Japan and belongs to the Kyushu region. ( The Kyushu region is like the position of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia)

Among the Kyushu regions, it is located in the north and has developed as a centre of economy, culture, and transportation.

It is also called the “ Gateway to Kyushu” because its proximity to other Asian countries such as Korea and Taiwan. In addition, it has a well-balanced topography surrounded by mountains, rivers, and the sea, and the climate is comfortable.

It is a place where “ease of living” and “enjoyment” coexist, including nature, culture, and food.

As you can see, Fukuoka has various characteristics.

Let’s take a closer look at Fukuoka Prefecture!!

Characteristics of Fukuoka’s regions

Fukuoka Prefecture is broadly divided into 4 regions.

①Fukuoka Region

・Fukuoka’s central city

・The center of politics, economy, and culture in Fukuoka Prefecture

・Excellent transportation access, including an airport, Shinkansen, and port

②Kitakyushu Region

・Industry has been prosperous since ancient times, and the Yahata Steel Works was the first steel factory built in Japan

・There are also many factories that produce automobile and robot parts, using cutting-edge technology

・In the past, due to its thriving industry, it faced environmental problems, but currently, environmental improvements have been made, and in 2011, it was selected as an “Environmental Future City.”

③Chikugo Region

・Agriculture is prosperous, with many fruit and tea-producing areas

・Traditional cultures such as Yanagawa river cruising and Kurume Kasuri are famous

・It is also known as a “ doctor’s town,” and the number of doctors(per 100,000 people) is the highest in Japan.

・The Chikugo River Fireworks Festival, held every August, is one of the largest in Kyushu.

④Chikuhō Region

・Formerly famous as a coal-producing area

・Town development utilizing nature and history

Fukuoka’s charm①: Famous for its food

Fukuoka Prefecture is known as a gourmet city, called a “food paradise.” In addition to local specialties such as tonkotsu ramen, mentaiko, and motsunabe, it faces the Genkai Sea, so it has an abundance of seafood. There are also many food stalls in Fukuoka City, where you can easily enjoy Fukuoka’s local food, and interacting with locals is also one of its charms.

Fukuoka Local Food 🍚

◆Tonkotsu Ramen-> Characterized by tonkotsu soup and thin, straight noodles. The system of being able to order only extra noodles called “kaedama” is also famous

◆Mentaiko-> A classic Fukuoka souvenir. Spicy seasoned pollack roe that goes well with rice and pasta. There are also many arranged menus, such as mentai French bread and mentai mayonnaise

◆Motsunabe->  A hot pot dish made by simmering beef or pork “motsu” (offal) with vegetables. It is characterized by its garlic-flavored soup. There are also various types of flavors.

◆Goma saba-> Fresh mackerel dressed with sesame sauce.

◆Fruits-> Famous Fukuoka brands include Amaou strawberries( named after the first letters of Akai(red), Marui(round), Ōkii(big), Umai(delicious)) and grapes.

There are also many other local foods, such as yakitori and udon.

Fukuoka’s Charm②: Festival Culture♪

Fukuoka has many large festivals. Fukuoka’s festivals are so famous that tourists from other prefectures visit them, and they are very vibrant.

◆Hakata Gion Yamakasa-> Fukuoka’s largest traditional event with over 770 years of history. It is also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

◆Hakata Dontaku Port Festival-> One of Japan’s largest festivals, attracting over 2million visitors every year.

There are also other festivals such as Hakozaki-gu Hojoya and Kokura Gion Daiko!

Fukuoka’s Charm③: Attractive Tourist Spots✨

Fukuoka Prefecture is mainly known for its food, but it also has many tourist spots!

Compared to Tokyo and Osaka, it is a compact city, so it is easy to access.

◆Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine-> A shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the God of Study. Many worshippers visit during exam season. The famous “Umegae Mochi” is a classic food that you must try when visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine!

◆Uminonakamichi Seaside Park-> A representative leisure park in Fukuoka Prefecture. You can enjoy cycling, swimming pools, and flower fields. The flower fields feature seasonal flowers and are perfect for social media. There is also an aquarium nearby.

◆Itoshima-> Fukuoka’s resort area, about an hour’s drive from Fukuoka City. It is a popular tourist spot among locals for its cafes, coastal drives, and swings with an ocean view.

Fukuoka’s Charm④: Convenience of public transportation and accessibility to urban areas🚌

Fukuoka has a very well-developed train, subway, and bus system, allowing for comfortable travel. Trains and subways are not as complicated as in Tokyo or Osaka, so even tourists can use them without difficulty. Also, Nishitetsu Bus boasts the largest number of route buses and operating routes in Japan, with over 2000 buses. In central Fukuoka City, there are even buses that come every 3 minutes.

Fukuoka’s public transportation is very convenient, and you can travel from the airport to the city centre in a short amount of time. How convenient is it?

It takes about 30 minutes by train transfer from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station.

It takes about 40 to 50 minutes by train from Kansai Airport to central Osaka.

In contrast, in Fukuoka,

It takes about 15 minutes by train from Fukuoka Airport to central Fukuoka City!!

It’s very easy to get around!

Fukuoka’s Charm⑤: Dialect

Fukuoka’s dialect is said to be charming. It is characterized by soft and friendly endings such as “~shitōto,” “tai,” “ ~ken,” and “bari.”

The slight differences depending on the region are also one of its charms.

Fukuoka City-> Hakata-ben

Kitakyushu-> Kitakyushu-ben

Chikugo -> Chikugo-ben

Fukuoka Dialect Course

・~shitōto: ~doing 

・~shitō to?: ~are you doing?

・bari: very

・~tai: I was doing

There are many other dialects as well.

As you can see, Fukuoka Prefecture has many charms that are not inferior to other prefectures.

When considering travelling or studying abroad in Japan, you may be attracted to big cities like Tokyo and Osaka, but we hope you’ll also be interested in Fukuoka and try things you can’t experience in big cities!

??Fukuoka Quiz??

Q1. What is the most famous noodle dish in Fukuoka?

Q2. What is Fukuoka Prefecture called because of its proximity to other Asian regions?

Q3. What kind of god is enshrined at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, a classic tourist spot?

Q4. Fukuoka Prefecture is famous for having the largest number of something in Japan. What is it?

Q5. What does “bari” mean in Hakata-ben?

Q6. What is the name of Fukuoka Prefecture’s brand of strawberry? And what are the first letters of the words it was named after?

Fukuoka Quiz Hint Words

• Ramen(Tonkotsu Ramen)　

• Motsunabe　

• Mentaiko 　

• Gateway to Japan 　

• Gateway to Kyushu　

• God of Health 　

• God of Study

• God of Love 

• Train 

• Bus 

• Bicycle 

• Very

• So

• ~ing

• Itoshima 

• Amaou

• Red

• Round

• Big 

• Delicious

*Image is for illustration purposes only.