Fukuoka Travel Diary: "Hotel Hokke Club → Shrine Stroll → Ramen → Dazaifu, A One-Day Course in Fukuoka City & Suburbs"
🏨 1. Morning – Start at Hotel Hokke Club Fukuoka
• Location: Conveniently situated between Hakata Station & Tenjin, accessible by foot or subway
• A clean and quiet business hotel with well-reviewed breakfast and an onsen to help you relax
✔️ Before exploring, store your luggage or enjoy a leisurely coffee in the lounge ☕
⛩ 2. Shrine Stroll Near the Hotel – Sumiyoshi Shrine / Kushida Shrine
• Sumiyoshi Shrine (8-minute walk)
• A serene spot with cedar forests and traditional Japanese tiled roofs, perfect for a peaceful morning stroll
• Famous for enshrining Sumiyoshi Daijin, the deity of horseback riding
• Kushida Shrine (12-minute walk)
• The central site of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival
• Features large floats (Yamakasa), popular amulets, and commemorative stamps
• Don’t forget to snap a photo with the "Lucky Cat" statue at the entrance 📸
🍜 3. Lunch – A Bowl of Hakata Ramen!
• Ichiran Ramen Main Store or Hakata Ippudo Main Store
• Rich tonkotsu broth + straight noodles = the classic Hakata-style ramen
• Enjoy the unique experience of dining in individual booths, with adjustable spice levels
• Side dishes like soft-boiled eggs or chashu rice bowls are also recommended!
✔️ TIP: Lines can be long, so consider having it as brunch around 11 AM 🍜
🚇 4. Afternoon – Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Visit
• How to get there:
• Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station → Dazaifu Station
• Travel time: About 45 minutes to 1 hour (1 transfer, fare around 400 yen)
• Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine:
• Dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the deity of learning
• Features a red bridge, pond, cherry blossom paths (spring), autumn foliage, and traditional gardens
• Don’t miss the souvenir shops, matcha sweets, and Umegae Mochi (rice cakes) along the shrine street!
• Dazaifu Starbucks:
• A Japanese-style café with impressive traditional wooden architecture
• Capture the moment and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee ☕