This time, we are in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. Fukuoka Airport is very close to the city center. We take the subway to Tenjin Station. Exiting the subway station, we encounter the 600-meter-long Tenjin Underground Mall. The ceiling is designed with winding vines, adorned with strings of lights, giving it a festive atmosphere, perhaps due to the approaching Christmas season. The stone-paved floor adds to the serene ambiance of the underground street. As it is still early, many shops on both sides are yet to open. The mall hosts over 150 stores, including trendy fashion, eateries, bookstores, and more. The underground street connects to both Tenjin Station and Tenjin Minami Station on the subway, and above ground, there's the SOLARIA department store, divided into SOLARIA STAGE and SOLARIA PLAZA. It also links to the Nishitetsu Fukuoka Tenjin Station, providing transportation to places like Dazaifu and Yanagawa. The integrated Fukuoka Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel is located upstairs. You can seamlessly explore from the Tenjin subway station to Tenjin Minami Station. Ringo is a well-known chain of apple pie specialty shops in Japan. Through the large glass windows, various flavors of sweet pies are on display, including the November-limited maple syrup nut flavor. The most famous one is the Castella Apple Pie, available in chocolate sauce-covered and classic original versions. It features a 144-layer homemade puff pastry and a sweet yet not overwhelming apple filling. The only branch in Fukuoka is located in the Tenjin Underground Mall. We buy some for breakfast the next day. Another notable treat is the Bake Cheese Tart, which claims to sell one tart per second. While they used to have a branch in Taipei, it has unfortunately closed down. Their cheese tarts use cheese from Hokkaido and France, creating a mildly tangy and salty cream mousse. The tart crust is pre-baked before being filled and baked again, ensuring its crispiness. Apart from the original flavor, there are various options such as chestnut, caramel, and chocolate. The shop also provides seating for customers who want to enjoy the freshly baked cheese tarts on-site. I purchase flavors like original, chocolate, and King of Strawberries Cheese. My favorite is the strawberry flavor, with its delightful combination of tartness and sweetness. The underground mall connects Tenjin Station to Tenjin Nishi Station. Previously, to travel from Tenjin Nishi Station to Hakata Station, one needed to walk back to Tenjin Station and take the Airport Line to Hakata. However, after the extension of the Nanakuma Line in March 2023, you can directly take the Nanakuma Line from Tenjin Nishi Station to Hakata Station, saving a considerable amount of time. Next, we take the JR train from Hakata Station to Umizuru Kaido Station to visit the highly popular aquarium, Marine World Umizuri Kaido. We first take the JR Kagoshima Main Line to Kashii Station and transfer to the Kashii Line, boarding a two-car train. We then alight at Umizuru Kaido Station, where you can collect a commemorative stamp at the station. For those who enjoy collecting stamps, it's recommended to bring a notebook. Following the signs, we head towards the entrance. Tickets can be purchased on-site, but we had already bought ours in advance on an online platform. As a result, we could skip the ticket queue and proceed directly to the entrance, scanning the QR code for admission. The lobby displays the schedule of performances for various venues today. The first section is the Kyushu Nearshore, which is filled with diverse marine features from different regions. There are also fiddler crabs and balloon fish. There are many sea turtles, and they even approach people. Kyushu Water Forest is a space where you can experience the connection between the forest and the ocean. The skeletal fossil area features many whale bones. After passing through the light-carved corridor, you'll encounter the impressive two-story high Deep-sea Tank, which is 7 meters deep and 24 meters wide. It replicates the rich marine ecology of the warm waters in southern Kyushu, featuring adorable stingrays and large sharks. There are three daily sardine feeding shows. The tank looks spectacular when viewed from the first floor. Later, we realized that we had missed the outdoor Marine Beast Island, where you can get up close to penguins, seals, and sea lions. The Kyushu Deep Sea exhibit features mysterious marine life thriving in harsh environments. In the northern part of Kyushu, playful small dolphins, known as Yangtze Finless Porpoise, frolic in a pool, exuding an adorable charm. The Kyushu Jellyfish exhibit, enhanced by lights and music, creates a dreamlike and therapeutic atmosphere as the jellyfish gracefully move through the water. The Amami Coral Reef, located on the first floor, showcases the vibrant coral reefs and colorful schools of fish from the southern part of Kyushu. Reilly, the restaurant on the first floor, offers a vantage point to gaze at the dolphin performance pool, where upcoming dolphin and sea lion shows can be enjoyed. Next to the dolphin pool is a sea lion that will perform later. When it sees someone, it will come over and offer a private performance. The sea otter pool on the second floor provides a view of the lazy sea otters lounging and enjoying their meals, swimming around in anticipation of the upcoming show. As the showtime approaches, the seating in the performance pool fills up quickly, offering a view of the picturesque Hakata Bay in the background. The front stage is specially added for the sea lions, and their performance is amazing! Next, the dolphin show begins, featuring adorable pilot whales that can jump really high. If you want a little surprise, you can sit in the front row's orange seats! The performance is fantastic, and both the sea lions, dolphins, and their trainers have worked hard. If you plan to visit again on the same day, you can get this transparent stamp. Returning to the Umizuru Station. The station is more straightforward with just one railway track. Depending on the train direction, passengers need to stand on the left or right side of the platform. Besides JR trains, you can also take a bus or a boat to get to the Marine World. There's also the Uminonakamichi Seaside Park nearby for a leisurely stroll! Back in the city center, we take the subway to Ohori Park Station. Coming out of Exit 5, we're greeted by Ohori Park. On one side is the Maizuru Park with the remains of Fukuoka Castle, while on the other side is the Ohori Park, dominated by the Ohori Pond. We stroll along the Shimobashi Bridge From Shimobashi Bridge, we enter Maizuru Park. Alongside is the Tidwell Tower and the cultural property of Fukuoka City, the Nashimado Gate. Maizuru Park is also a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in Fukuoka City! Continuing our stroll, we reach Ohori Park. Ohori Park is perfect for a leisurely walk, and you'll find many people walking their dogs or jogging. Spending an afternoon sitting by Ohori Pond, sipping coffee and enjoying the view, is a delightful experience. The Starbucks in the park is a well-known landmark, with long lines on weekends. In the park, you'll also find the Fukuoka City Art Museum, housing numerous artifacts related to the Kuroda family, the former lords of Fukuoka. The museum also features collections from within Japan and overseas. One of the most popular attractions is Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin located on the outdoor terrace of the second floor. Adjacent to the museum, there's a maple tree whose leaves haven't turned completely red. Despite the temperature being in the teens, the sunlight makes it feel warm. Although most of the maple leaves haven't turned red yet. but the ginkgo trees have turned a vibrant yellow, creating a truly autumnal atmosphere. Another well-known spot in Ohori Park is "Yame Tea Specialty Store & LOCALS," which focuses on using local Kyushu ingredients to make specialty products suitable as souvenirs. Since today is a holiday, there are many people waiting in line for dine-in. Observing numerous waterfowl resting on the pond adds to the charm of the park. Originally part of the outer moat of Fukuoka Castle, Ohori Pond has now become a popular destination for residents and tourists alike. Passing through the Satsuki Bridge, you can reach the Sweet Flag Island in the middle of the pond. From there, you can enjoy views of the Duck Island. Islands in the pond are densely wooded, with benches available for a relaxing break. Crossing the Chason Bridge, an arched bridge, you'll reach the largest island, Pine island. Here, you'll find a monument for Japanese poetry anthology. The Shogetsu Bridge connects Pine Island to Willow Island, where you can see the Ukimi Pavilion. Many people pause to take photos at Ukimi Pavilion. Ohori Park offers a serene environment, with picturesque scenes everywhere. Passing through the Kangetsu Bridge On the right-hand side, there are swan boats available for visitors to enjoy the scenery on the pond. We initially looked forward to trying the popular French pastry shop Jacques. However, whether it was too late to visit or due to lack of reservation, the staff informed us that dine-in service was currently unavailable, and only a few pastries were left. It's recommended to go early when the shop opens! Across the street is La Brioche, a popular bakery next to Ohori Park. Although the shop is not large, the decor creates a warm atmosphere. They offer a variety of original and classic pastries, each looking delicious. They also serve coffee and beverages that complement the pastries. There's a small seating area at the entrance, but we decide to take our pastries to enjoy by Ohori Pond. Sitting by the pond, occasionally seeing waterfowl swimming by, we savor the pastries. The curry bread was particularly delightful, with a warm filling and a crispy outer layer. inally, we arrive at Fukuoka Tower, located next to Hakata Bay Fukuoka Tower's lights are regularly changed. We purchased tickets in advance on an online platform. Upon arriving at the counter, we show the service staff the QR code and exchange it for physical tickets. The elevator hall, where we wait for the elevator, has a glass roof, allowing us to see the elevator moving up and down. Riding the elevator to the third floor's Sky View 123, we enjoy the night view of Fukuoka City. Below, there's the beautifully lit beach of Seaside Momochi Park. Fukuoka Tower is listed among Japan's top 20 sightseeing towers. It's the tallest seaside tower in Japan. For those who enjoy collecting commemorative stamps, Fukuoka Tower offers a unique stamp experience. In every direction from Fukuoka Tower, you can see different landmarks. Just make sure to position the paper correctly before stamping to capture the desired pattern. It's very convenient! There are two more floors below. The second floor houses the Refuge café and restaurant, where you can dine while enjoying the scenery. On the first floor, there's Sky Play 116.
There are various interactive games and photo spots, such as the "Sky Gacha," where you can get models representing local features of Kyushu. There's also the "Message from the Goddess of the Moon" Fortune Telling, and the Love Lock, There's a thoughtful spot for taking photos. You place your phone on the front stand, and couples, by holding hands and pressing the buttons on either side, can make the heart light up. There's also the "Omikuji Pinball," where if the ball lands on the corresponding number, you can take out a fortune slip. By depositing the fortune slip into the wish slip case, you can enhance your luck! Finally, you can take a photo with the mascot, FUTA. . This episode introduced four recommended spots in Fukuoka, and we've organized them into a table for your reference. In the next episode, we'll take you near Hakata Station to visit the Kushida Shrine, which houses the Gion Matsuri Yamakasa floats, the Kushida Shrine with ancient sumo wrestler and Shichi Fukujin statues, the Hakata Canal City with a ramen stadium, and JR Hakata City with several department stores clustered together. The next episode will feature the must-visit Hakata Ramen Alley for ramen enthusiasts and recommend good places to buy souvenirs, including the Souvenir Market and MING. Stay tuned! If you enjoy our videos, please like and subscribe!
