Welcome to Fukuoka Now! Since 1998 our team of local experts have been introducing the best of Fukuoka to the world. Enjoy!
Atago Shrine
If you’ve overdosed on Fukuokan sun, this place offers the cure: breeze, a fabulous 180° view of the city, and the calming atmosphere of a Shinto shrine. Atago is not the biggest or fanciest of shrines, but it’s believed to be the oldest in Fukuoka. For those finding it hard to give up smoking and alcohol, the enshrined gods have been known to lend a helping hand. Nearby stands Iwaiya, a traditional-style tea shop decked out in tatami mats and mahogany carvings. Here they sell matcha kakigori (shaved ice mixed with matcha), the perfect sweet for beating the heat.
Atago Shrine
2-7-1 Atago, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka
Access: 20 min. walk from the Muromi Sta., or 8 min. walk from the Nishitetsu Bus Atagojinja-mae bus stop (bus No. 9).
http://atagojinjya.com
San-sui Mizudashi Coffee
Finding a great cup of coffee in Fukuoka is not hard, but have you tried mizudashi coffee (Dutch coffee)? Water collected daily from the Wakasugi mountain spring is dripped over coffee grounds into 20 glass casks for between eight to ten hours, then stored overnight. This is used to make both iced and hot coffees. The painstaking process results in a smoother, more flavorsome drink, believed to be easy on the stomach. Handmade hot tuna sandwiches, toast & salad sets, apple pie and yaki ohagi (traditional sweets) make a nice, light bite! Fresh fruit & flower smoothies are also served.
San-sui Mizudashi Coffee
1F Riverain Center Building
092-282-0101
Open: 07:00~19:00
Udon Wasuke
Fukuoka’s claim to be the birthplace of Japanese udon noodles is subject to debate, but when it comes to goboten udon (udon noodles with burdock tempura), there’s no question: Fukuoka did it first, and still does it best. Udon Wasuke is a particularly popular place to try this local favorite (best avoid the noon rush). A huge 20 cm wide disk of gobo tempura covers the bowl. It takes some practice, but you use your chopsticks to break off bits of the crunchy tempura and dip them into the soup, then slurp them up with the noodles. The fibrous gobo is deep fried for each order, and has a nutty, roasted flavor. Their noodles, made with Hokkaido flour, are relatively thin yet firm chilled noodles are colourfully garnished with grated daikon, wakame, shiso leaf, umeboshi, katsuobushi, and green onion. Beautiful dishes, full of Fukuoka flavor.
Udon Wasuke
3-40-30 Tenjin, Chuo-ku
Open: 11:00~16:00, 18:00~22:00
092-733-0202
Closed: Sun.
Sappari Bukkake Udon ¥700 , Goboten Udon ¥600
