Fukuoka Travel Diary: "Hotel Hokke Club → Shrine Stroll → Ramen → Dazaifu, A One-Day Course in Fukuoka City & Suburbs"

🏨 1. Morning – Start at Hotel Hokke Club Fukuoka • Location: Conveniently situated between Hakata Station & Tenjin, accessible by foot or subway • A clean and quiet business hotel with well-reviewed breakfast and an onsen to help you relax ✔️ Before exploring, store your luggage or enjoy a leisurely coffee in the lounge ☕ ⛩ 2. Shrine Stroll Near the Hotel – Sumiyoshi Shrine / Kushida Shrine • Sumiyoshi Shrine (8-minute walk) • A serene spot with cedar forests and traditional Japanese tiled roofs, perfect for a peaceful morning stroll • Famous for enshrining Sumiyoshi Daijin, the deity of horseback riding • Kushida Shrine (12-minute walk) • The central site of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival • Features large floats (Yamakasa), popular amulets, and commemorative stamps • Don’t forget to snap a photo with the "Lucky Cat" statue at the entrance 📸 🍜 3. Lunch – A Bowl of Hakata Ramen! • Ichiran Ramen Main Store or Hakata Ippudo Main Store • Rich tonkotsu broth + straight noodles = the classic Hakata-style ramen • Enjoy the unique experience of dining in individual booths, with adjustable spice levels • Side dishes like soft-boiled eggs or chashu rice bowls are also recommended! ✔️ TIP: Lines can be long, so consider having it as brunch around 11 AM 🍜 🚇 4. Afternoon – Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine Visit • How to get there: • Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station → Dazaifu Station • Travel time: About 45 minutes to 1 hour (1 transfer, fare around 400 yen) • Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine: • Dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the deity of learning • Features a red bridge, pond, cherry blossom paths (spring), autumn foliage, and traditional gardens • Don’t miss the souvenir shops, matcha sweets, and Umegae Mochi (rice cakes) along the shrine street! • Dazaifu Starbucks: • A Japanese-style café with impressive traditional wooden architecture • Capture the moment and enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee ☕