Fukuoka

Ganso Hakata Mentaiju 

After a good nights rest I allow myself to sleep in a little before heading out to explore Fukuoka. Fukuoka is pretty known for their mentaiko which is cod roe. So my first stop is a bit of “breakfast” at Ganso Hakata Mentaiju. This restaurant is fairly well regarded for this fare and getting there early I’m able to beat the rush. I order their “Han Men Sui” set. This includes their signature Mentaiko-juu (konbu-wrapped mentaiko), Mentai Nikomi Tsuke-Men (Mentaiko simmered dipping noodles) and their cod roe soup. I find that the mentaiko-juu is a tad bit salty for me and you definitely need to have it with rice. On the other hand I loved the dipping noodles. I especially liked that once the noodles are done they give you a kettle of broth that you can pour into the remaining dipping sauce to make a soup!

Fukuoka

After breakfast/brunch, I decide to walk around and get my bearings. Thankfully its a beautiful day in Fukuoka and I get to appreciate how pretty this city really is! It’s also quite hot and slightly muggy, so before long I’m popping into a convenience store for a cold drink!

Canal City & Kushida Shrine

My next stop is Canal City. This is a big mall along one of the canals in Fukuoka. While the mall itself is pretty standard. The building architecture of the mall itself is pretty cool to see. Parts of it are covered outdoor walkways and there is a large amphitheatre section in the centre which is pretty cool to check out. There are also plenty of food options in the mall but having just come from brunch, I pass on more food!

Nearby to Canal city is the Kushida Shrine. It’s a lovely small shrine in the middle of the city. Because it’s so close I pop in for a little bit. However, it quickly gets crowded with different tour groups so I decide not to stay too long. But it is well kept and well worth a quick detour to check out!

From the shrine I need head back to my hotel. As it’s October, it’s the start of the hockey season and I inadvertently schedule a fantasy hockey draft. So I pick up a few small snacks from the nearby 711 and spend an hour or two in my hotel drafting my team for the upcoming season! (Priorities!)

Fukuoka Castle

In the afternoon I head to the Fukuoka Castle ruins. While the castle is no longer there. There are ruins throughout the area and the surrounding walls are still intact. I spend a little time exploring the site and making my way to the castle tower base where there is a pretty good view of Ohori park with Fukuoka in the background.

Ohori Park Japanese Garden

From the ruins, I make my way to Ohori Park. But before I get to the main part of the park I pass by the Ohori Park Japanese Garden. There’s a small fee to enter and I almost didn’t go in. But after a little humming and hawing I head in and pick up a tasty strawberry cider in the process. The garden is beautiful and it is pristinely upkept! It feels like everything in the garden is done intentionally and with a lot of care. There’s a beautiful pond with some massive fish and also a large zen garden as well.

As I make my way around the pond, it starts to “mist”. It gives the pond this very fantasy like feel to it. The mists come from these bamboo barriers that surround the pond so it’s not actually natural. So while it looks awesome, it does take a little away knowing its artificial. Nonetheless, its a beautiful scene and I spend a bit of time admiring it from different angles!

Ohori Park

After exiting the garden, I find myself at Ohori park. Before walking to far I pass by a small coffee shop right along the water called &Locals. I didn’t intend to get anything but seeing a Banana milkshake on the menu drew me in. I order the milkshake and plop myself down at one of the seats facing the park to enjoy my snack!

After enjoying my milkshake, I head out to explore the park. The park is almost all lake with a large track that surrounds it and a small walking path that cuts through the middle a small island. After walking along the outside of the lake for a little ways, I take the path through the middle and enjoy a walk through the narrow island and a series of bridges. Sadly the sun from the morning is replaced with cloud but even without the blue skies and sunshine, I can safely say its a beautiful park. I can see why its a popular destination for both locals and tourists. There’s even activities like boating and “duck boats” that you can take out on the water.

Shin Shin Ramen

After freshening up at my hotel for a little bit, I head out in search of dinner. Tonight I try another Hakata Ramen placed named Shin Shin. When I arrive, there’s a line to get in but it moves pretty quickly. When I get in I order their signature ramen along with gyozas. It’s a very tasty meal which hits the spot and I slurp it all up very quickly!

Jazzclub Kingfish

Dinner is pretty quick for me tonight as I intend to head to a Jazz club to catch some local musicians play. So I head to the Jazzclub Kingfish after dinner. Because it’s a weeknight, it’s not busy at all and so I get my pick of the seats available. I end up opting for a bar seat so I have an opportunity to chat with a fellow guest and the bar staff. There’s a cover charge as well as a one drink minimum but I’m happy to oblige as there are some tasty cocktails on the menu!

Once the show starts we’re treated to three sets of some great jazz clarinet, piano and drums. At one point even on of the guests asks if he can play with the musicians and they let him! All in all its a very awesome way to spend my evening listening to some good music, chatting and making new friends and enjoying a tasty beverage or two!

I originally only intended to stay for two sets. But ended up staying for all three! By the time I left the club, it is already midnight! I leisurely make my way back to my room very happy with how the evening turned out. It’s suppose to rain tomorrow so it may be a bit more of a quieter day tomorrow. With that I wash up and head to bed looking forward to whatever surprises tomorrow holds.