When you want to go on a trip that will give you a fresh experience and not just another cliché, you should book a flight to Fukuoka. It is the capital city of the larger Fukuoka Prefecture in Japan and also the biggest city in the island of Kyushu. This city provides you with a unique travel experience that you’ll definitely remember for years to come. With a wide array of activities to choose from such as surfing, bird watching, nature walks, and fine dining, coming up with the perfect itinerary might be quite the tedious task. In order to help you avoid sifting through tonnes of information, here are some of the reasons why Fukuoka should be your next travel destination.
Exploring the numerous shrines
Fukuoka is known for its numerous shrines that have stood for thousands of years. Visiting these historic sites is a great way to learn about the culture of the locals. Hakazaki Shrine is known to be one that has great importance in the history of Japan. In 1274, Mongolians invaded the city and burnt down the original shrine, since then it has been rebuilt and attracted many tourists from around the world. Another shrine to visit is the Atago Shrine. It is located on a hillside and provides a nice view of the whole city all the way to Hakata Bay. As a bonus, this is also the area where storks are known to nest which attracts many bird watching enthusiasts. Sumiyoshi Shrine is another one of the many shrines found in Fukuoka. It is located near the Naka River and was not constructed in the normal Buddhist style.
View the city from the Fukuoka Tower
Standing tall at a height of about 234 meters, it’s no doubt that the views from the Fukuoka Tower will leave you in awe. The tower also has a restaurant on its top floor that gives you an amazing dining experience with the panoramic vistas it offers. The tower is also considered as one of the national symbols of the city of Fukuoka.
Speaking of dining in the sky, Cathay Pacific provides the most comfortable experience that can be likened to it. Cathay Pacific has world class comfort that will ensure you get value for your money. On top of that, their in-flight entertainment promises a flight that is far from boring. With their return trip fares going for quite pocket friendly price, Cathay Pacific promises a wonderful flight experience that will leave you refreshed and ready for your vacation without breaking the bank.
Go Surfing
If you like an adventure that also incorporates a workout, surfing is the way to go. Fukuoka has numerous beaches dotted around city that provide amazing surfing conditions. You can visit these beaches during the summer when the waves aren’t too big if you’re only a beginner.
Watch a sumo match
If you’re like many visitors of Japan and you’re looking to immerse yourself in the culture of the locals, then watching a sumo match should be part of your itinerary. Fukuoka is the best place to experience this amazing sport especially around November when the season is at its peak. Some of the popular wrestlers can even be seen on the streets promoting their fights.
Check out amazing robots at Robosquare
When visiting Fukuoka, you should definitely explore Robosquare to see and interact with some cool robots. You’ll also get to see some of these robots being built and repaired. In addition, there is a gallery where you can learn about the mechanics behind some of the robots. This place beckons cybernetics enthusiasts and is also ideal for younger visitors since it provides an avenue for them to learn about robotics.
Checkout the roof garden at ACORS Building
The ACORS Building is located in the wider Tenjin Chuo Park and is especially popular for its roof garden. The garden hosts up to 75 different species of trees with a total of about 35,000 plants. The best time to visit the garden is in the morning when you can catch the plants glowing during sunrise. Unfortunately the park closes at 4pm which doesn’t allow for the plants to be seen during sunset.
