Visiting Fukuoka… If I Were You
Fukuoka offers the charm of a small village in a big (enough) city. Laughter abounds in this city. People say hi to strangers on the streets. The vibe is not excessively formal. It’s the best of Japan – without the stress of the biggest cities nor the melancholy of forlorn towns.
It’s also where casual style hits the road, whether the stunning Acros building or the Boathouse on Ohori lake. Creativity stands out in the spacious flatlands of Fukuoka city.
Having been the “Gateway to Asia” for centuries, Fukuoka has an openness to newcomers that’s hard to find in other Japanese cities. One finds warmth, not robotic coolness. Fukuoka has a sprawling commercial port that was Japan’s largest between the 12th and 16th centuries and still connects the country with Korea, Taiwan, and other parts of the Pacific. Drawing vacationing Japanese and up to 180,000 tourists from Korea per month, the city welcomes visitors with praised affordable cuisine, its more laid-back vibe, gregarious social atmosphere, vibrant arts and nightlife scenes… and Ohori Park.
STAY:
InnThe Park: A unique lodging experience in the Miami Beach-style strip of land facing the ocean, a 20 minute drive from downtown. For an overview, check out this website (in Japanese, so use a machine translator). For reservations, click here.
