Asparagus Vodka and Carbon Coffee: Alternative Ways to Experience Fukuoka

Emma Hartman
Nov 6 · 4 min read

Are you tired of being a typical gaijin tourist, sticking to the Japanese basics like shrines, temples, and museums? Take another look at Fukuoka, a city you’ve probably heard of but might not have known is an up-and-coming millennial metropolis. Peppered with foreigners and startups, the city’s growth rate in these two areas beats out even mega-cities like Tokyo. Not only is Fukuoka osharé (Japanese for fashionable/chic), but it is also home to a range of unique cuisines and natural landscapes for you to discover.

In the central ward, you can find gems like CITADEL, a homemade liqueur and craft coffee cocktail bar. Get adventurous and sip on an asparagus vodka soda, sesame seed gin and tonic or bacon whiskey on the rocks. Or, go a sweeter route and tuck into a cozy cup of peanut butter rum and milk or an espresso pina colada. For a more standard variety, you can check out an assortment of wine bars or Fukuoka Craft Brewery. Itoshima Lemonade, which opened its doors this July, features local lemon-based libations and offers specials like an hour of free highballs for all female customers.

If you are the outdoorsy type, try the small islands off the coast which are just a ferry trip away from Hakata Port — just don’t accidentally hop onto the ferry to Korea! At Shikanoshima Island, for instance, you can cycle its scenic circumference, making stops along the way to enjoy nature lookouts, a stretch of beach, and rocky seaside views.

Don’t worry about whether your beat-up bike can withstand the journey — Shikashima Cycle offers rental mountain and street bikes for the reasonable rate of 2,000 to 2,500 yen for three hours. Food on offer includes the best sanma curry in Japan at Megane Curry, where the sauces are made from scratch and include “no flour or chemicals.” Two other lunch options include the cycle shop’s cafe, and if you are willing to wait in line, Nakanishi-Shokudo is a popular spot. While I only visited one of the five islands, each warrants a day trip and is easily accessible to someone based in Fukuoka city accommodation.

On the peninsula reaching north of Fukuoka lies the expansive, under-trafficked Uminonakamichi Seaside Park. You may forget you are in Japan while cycling in and out of woods passing fields of grass. Yes, they have grass! Other flora includes a field of red, fluffy bushes and vibrant flowers — your chance to get that perfect shot for Instagram. The petting zoo is home to animals like capybaras, kangaroos, and a flock of talkative toucans. If you’re lucky enough, you may catch feeding time when a troop of mini monkeys shovel down bananas and run around like elementary students at recess. The park’s downfall is its mediocre food (microwaved, plastic-wrapped rice balls and other disappointing fare), but there is plenty of space to picnic with a friend or a date. So, remember to pack ahead!

Back on the mainland, Itoshima is accessible from Hakata by bus or train. It boasts the largest basalt cave in Japan, Keya No Oto, which you can float through on a boat tour! Afterwards, be sure to stop by the Kishi oyster huts where you can enjoy frying your own oysters. The windbreakers they offer may look silly but are essential for protecting the unsuspecting diner from getting seared when the shells pop open, squirting hot saltwater. Be sure not to make the same mistake as me and forget to call ahead to check if the cave and huts are open! If you show up and everything is closed, never fear. This countryside area has a relaxing beach where you can collect shells, do yoga on the pier, and perhaps catch an impromptu steel drum performance. There are also a couple of fresh seafood restaurants and plenty of locals to observe (or to interact with if you are brave)!

Finally, rather than going to an art museum, why not support local artists at a spot like Carbon Coffee? Both a coffee shop and a gallery, their coffee and exhibits alike are fresh and seasonal. Sip on a salted caramel latte, grab an American-sized cookie or light sandwich, and kick back to a showing of Little Miss Sunshine on the wall projector. If there is one on, be sure to peruse the most recent exhibition from Fukuoka’s art scene while you wait for the caffeine to kick in. Whether in the city or the countryside, Fukuoka has an abundance of eclectic curiosities waiting to be discovered.

To learn more about Fukuoka, visit their city’s webpage at http://facts.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/.

To see the Fukuoka city guide, visit https://yokanavi.com/en/how-to-tour/

To learn more about the five islands off of Fukuoka’s coast, read this article on Wow!Japan https://wow-j.com/en/Allguides/fukuoka/sightseeing/01090_en/.

Wide Island View

Written by and for Hiroshima JETs

Emma Hartman

Written by

A transplant from Midwest USA to Hiroshima — I left behind fields of corn for this new rice life. Stick around for some matcha-fueled poems.

Wide Island View

Written by and for Hiroshima JETs

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