Fukuoka
福岡県
Where is Fukuoka?
Fukuoka Prefecture sits at the northernmost tip of Kyushu. It faces the Genkai Sea (Sea of Japan) to the north–northwest, the Kanmon Strait across from Yamaguchi (on Honshu) to the northeast, Suo-nada (Seto Inland Sea) to the east, and the Ariake Sea to the southwest. On land it borders Saga to the west, Kumamoto to the south, and Oita to the east. The capital, Fukuoka City, lies on the northern coast, while Kitakyushu fronts the Kanmon Strait—both serving as major gateways between Kyushu and the rest of Japan.
Specialty Products of Fukuoka
Fukuoka’s specialties center on food and craft. Try Hakata mentaiko and rich tonkotsu Hakata ramen—best enjoyed while hopping between yatai (street stalls)—and finish with mizutaki hot pot. For sweets, look for giant Amaou strawberries, buttery Hakata Torimon, and Dazaifu’s Umegae-mochi. Tea lovers should seek Yame tea, famed for gyokuro. For crafts, check out elegantly painted Hakata ningyō dolls and Koishiwara-yaki pottery with its hand-tooled patterns.
Food
Hakata Mentaiko
At long-established Fukuya, you can take factory tours and try hands-on workshops—this is the classic Fukuoka souvenir.
Hakata Ramen
Milky pork-bone broth with ultra-thin straight noodles; the kaedama (extra-noodle) custom is a hallmark. Easy to enjoy at street stalls, too.
Yatai Street Food
Stalls that open at dusk let you savor ramen, gyoza, oden, tempura—soak up “Hakata by night.”
Mizutaki
A local hot pot of bone-in chicken simmered gently; dip in ponzu and finish with rice porridge.
Crafts & Others
Hakata Ningyo
History of Fukuoka
Fukuoka’s history, in short, has two pillars: it’s Japan’s gateway to Asia and the command hub of Kyushu. In ancient times, the Dazaifu government office oversaw Kyushu, while the Kōrokan guesthouse on Hakata Bay welcomed foreign envoys. Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine, dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, dates to the Heian period.
Through the medieval era, Hakata thrived as one of Japan’s busiest international ports. During the Mongol invasions (1274 and 1281), stone defenses were built along Hakata Bay—traces are still visible today. In the Edo period, Kuroda Nagamasa established Fukuoka Castle and its castle town, which grew together with the merchants’ city of Hakata.
In modern times, heavy industry rose in northern Kyushu; the Yawata Steel Works became a symbol of Japan’s industrialization and is now part of the UNESCO-listed “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” Today, Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu layer these eras—diplomatic crossroads, castle-town culture, and industrial heritage—into walkable neighborhoods. As a visitor, you can experience shrines, castle ruins, historic port streets, and industrial sites in one trip.
Areas
Discover the unique areas within this prefecture