Fukuoka - this & that
Category: food, travel, japanI’m going to squeeze the last of Fukuoka in all into one post. Though it’s still not really complete, but I guess that should suffice for now. Expect a LONG POST.…..
HAKATA STATION
Starting from Hakata Station, JR recently introduce the shinkansen from Hakata to Kagoshima. Only takes 2hrs 12mins @ 7800Yen. Just for comparison, the highway bus I took from Fukuoka International Airport takes about 2hrs to reach Kumamoto, nearly half way point to Kagoshima. So you can pretty much guess the huge saving in time.
Food food food are available around Hakata Station. This Puff bakery at the basement produces some really amazing puffs at really good price
Really smooth & aromatic custard with just the right amount of sweetness.
And for good Japanese curry, the basement do have some really nice & affordable curry house. They concoct their own curry formula, and their curry sauce taste really unique & delicious. There are a couple of high end curry resturant on the 5th floor (if I remembered correctly) of Bus Station building (Just beside Hakata Station). I haven’t tried those, they are more expensive since its a proper restaurant.
If you miss buying mentaiko elsewhere of Kyushu, don’t fret. You can always pick these up at the Hakata station.
FUKUOKA YATAI
Yatai are open air food stall, equivalent to our street food stall here in Singapore. They are probably Fukuoka city’s best known symbol. You can find them at Hakata & Tenjin. The ones I showed here is at Hakata.
No visit to Fukuoka will be complete without a visit to these Yatai. Here are were majority of Japanese office workers hang out with their friends or colleagues for a nice dinner & chats. It’s bustling with activities & the atmosphere is really very relaxing & friendly. I even got an invitation to sit with them for dinner. Unfortunately I just had my dinner, reluctantly I have to decline but did stayed a while for some nice chitchatting.
SHUKO KOJI
Looking for some high end dining experiences or places with your date? Shuko Koji have some fine Japanese & International Cuisine in beautiful surrounding. I did not tried any, so no comments. Perhaps I should spent sometime there next time … any sponsors? kekekeke …..
This is quite near Shuko Koji, I’m interested in the beef they are serving, but look at the prices :X
FUKUOKA DOME
Baseball is really hot in Japan, so if you are a baseball fan, you properly would like to pay a visit to the dome.
Unfortunately, I’m not much of a sporty guy hahahaha … hence I’m more interested in the Dessert Forest somewhere near the dome.
They have the most exquisite desserts from all over Japan. However they are heavy on calories & pocket, hence it best consume in moderation kekekekeke ….
TENJIN - FASHION
For the latest fashion trend, just head to Tenjin. You can easily spent a whole day there for all your fashion needs. ’nuff said!
CANAL CITY
Last but not least, you really have to visit Canal City for all your food-shopping-gifts-entertainment needs. I’m there everyday either eating ramen, people watching or relaxing over a cuppa.
Happen to be Halloween and their decor is pretty cool!
Watch our their regular dancing water fountain show. Nice!
Open concept cooking school, hmmm … better pickup my Japanese language first LOLz
The Groval Buffet @ 1210Yen is really good value for money. Very popular with the youngsters.
Of course there are usual Gelato, Pastry & cakes, coffee etc Great place to spent your days relaxing, if you got nothing in mind to do.
Alright, so I’ve reached the end of my Kyushu trip. Spending my days around various prefectures in Kyushu is a real eye-opener to me. And driving around really opens up for more options, more flexibility & greater opportunities to be closer to learn about various Japanese cultures & places.
I really like to thank all the people who have help me along the way in my planning, especially Adam , marc and many more others I met along my way, which probably won’t be reading this blog, unfortunately.I REALLY do hope to come back again to visit though I anticipate it will not be so soon.
Anyway, I’m going to take a short blog break again. Also, I’ll be preparing for my next posting about my recent trip to Sarawak, Kuching. Stay tune and Happy Good Friday and/or Easter Holidays!!! (depending where you are)
When I was looking at your ramen posts the other day, my wife without looking at your blog, had a craving for ramen. Talk about the power of suggestion!
I bought some for her at Kitchen Kura…
http://bayarea.typepad.com/bayarea/2005/01/kitchen_kura.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USZT9mmpXWg
I bought her some tasty beef ramen and I had the delicious ginger beef over rice. I wanted the curry katsu, but I had just had Vietnamese chicken curry a few days before and so I thought I would try something new, instead.
Well, lo and behold with katsu curry on my mind, you post a picture of it. Alas, I will have to wait at least another eleven hours to get my katsu curry fix : (
Comment by Write Procrastinator — April 9, 2007 @ 3:37 pm
Hey WP, nah, this can’t be true rite LOLz
Thanks for the link, looks like a very warm & homey kitchen.
I love these home run eatery, gives a very personal touches which is often lacking in more proper resturant.
btw, check out book “Harumi’s Japanese Home Cooking” if you like japanese food. she has simplified japanese cooking so that you can do it yourself at home too. of coz, if planning to do review of resturant, forget it then hahaha
However, Ramen is a different beast, it take days just to prepare the broth alone.
p.s: OMG, you can read japanese language?
Comment by slurp! — April 10, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Hey, you got some great pics of Fukuoka here!
Comment by Nathan — May 30, 2007 @ 2:41 pm