Fukuoka City Essential Tour: Local Foods, Nature & Culture

Japan’s rising food destination, Fukuoka has historically been a gateway connecting Japan to the rest of Asia, and as such has evolved as an exciting melting pot of flavors, ingredients, and unique foods. Although the city’s gourmet scene has gained world fame, some of its delicious and rare foods can still be found in humble yatai food stalls and hidden eateries. Take Ropponmatsu, the city’s university neighborhood that has become a booming restaurant district. Here, you’ll start the tour by enjoying an izakaya meal at a restaurant that usually has hour-long lines to enter, where you’ll enjoy staple foods, like skewers or fried meat dumplings, or indulge in its signature wagyu beef tataki. You’ll walk off your meal by going to a traditional Japanese garden that few visitors know about and enjoying a guided visit to the Fukuoka Art Museum. The biggest museum in the city, it houses an impressive collection of masterpieces of art, ranging from ceramics to paintings and sculptures. You’ll then head to Ohori Park, often called Fukuoka’s Central Park, where you’ll wrap up the day exploring its glittering pond crossed by four bridges, three of which were registered as the city’s cultural property. As you take in the sights, flavors, and history of Fukuoka, Yoshi, your guide, who knows the city like the back of his hand, will fill you in on the impressive history and modern trends of Kyushu’s flagship city. Having lived in the US for 10 years, Yoshi draws from his experience as a bilingual concierge and his extensive knowledge of Fukuoka’s ever-changing urban landscape to create unforgettable tours showcasing the area’s best local specialties. Itinerary: -Meet your guide at Ropponmatsu Station -Enjoy a meal and drinks at one of the most popular izakaya restaurants in Ropponmatsu. -Walk for 10 minutes (if sunny) or take a taxi to a traditional Japanese Garden. -Visit the Fukuoka Art Museum -Walk along the photogenic Ohori Park, often called Fukuoka’s Central Park.