Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cwaddell]

Bit late to post this cos when I finish this soju I'm gonna sleep and get up in 4 hours.....

Anyway, on the off chance there are any Fukuoka masters on the board right now, what should I see during my visa run?

I jotted down the temples/tower/beach that sounded interesting, but if you have anything you would highly recommend, I'd love to hear about it before I set off. Cheers.

Oh, and also any nightlife recommendations. I'll be staying in Hakata-ku.

[cangel]

I lived in Fukuoka for 7 years so I think I'm about as close to an expert as you are going to get. First, Fukuoka isn't a huge tourist destination but there are a few sights to see. The best temple is just down the tracks in Dazaifu (Tenmangu). Also at that location, there is the Japan National Museum. Just a short walk from Hakata, is Canal City, which is an intersting shopping mall. There is also a temple just across the major road from Canal City heading toward Nakasu. The nightlife is not in Hakata but Tenjin. Head to Oyafuko-dori for the largest concentration of clubs. Remember to buy a day-long subway pass for Y600 at the subway kiosks. This card is good for both the Kuko Line and the Nanakuma Line. Instead of paying Y600 to go up in Fukuoka Tower, go the the JAL (Seahawk) Hotel almost right next to it. It's restaurant is equally high and for the tower's entrance fee you can buy a beer instead. One of the world's tallest observation wheels (Ferris Wheels) is in Fukuoka, just down the tracks in Meinohama, something like 120m. The best site for Fukuoka information is: http://www.fukuoka-now.com/ If you have any specific questions, let me know.

[cruisemonkey]

If you like amusement parks, take the train (about 50 min.) up to Space World in Kitakyushu. It has a couple of really good roller coasters.

[Donghae]

Bit late for the OP, but I second the above good advice for anyone else.

Anyone who did go to Spaceworld should check out the rest of Kitakyushu too. Well, not a lot to see, but it does have a decent castle with an identical mall to Canal City in Fukuoka too. And it's also better for seafood restaurants.

[Neil]

Woah..strange, I used to live in Donghae and now live in Kitakyushu....but am not stalking you honest.

[cangel]

Better seafood in Kitakyushu? Hmm, that's debatable. Definitely better fugu across the bay in Shimonoseki but Fukuoka has some excellent fish as well as eka from Yobuko and Karatsu. Either way, Kitakyushu or Fukuoka, you're getting good seafood.

[Donghae]

Across the Strait to Shimonoseki actually, not the bay. Eka? Isn't that a furniture store? I guess you mean ika, the Japanese for squid, which Yobuko particularly and Karatsu are indeed known for, but both are in Saga rather than Fukuoka. But I'm sure you do talk sense sometimes though

Incidentally, Yobuko squid is nearly all caught just off the coast from a nuclear power plant. Perhaps that adds to the flavour.

[Donghae]

[cangel]

I guess I was spelling it more phonetically but yes, I do mean squid. As for the Karatsu and Yobuko being in Saga, yes that's also correct but keep in mind that the vast majority, in the neighborhood of 90% according to a past issue of Fukuoka Now, is delivered every single morning to Fukuoka.

[Donghae]

Aha, so you used to read Fukuoka Now. Isn't that the lastest last word on Foo-koo-oh-ka for the foreign community? You can be Mr Fukuoka-Advice then.

I don't read Fukuoka Now, I just rely on the J-news and J-newspapers for my local info, so I'm expect I'm a bit out the loop.

[cangel]

Arrived in Fukuoka on Sat 12/20 and is it just me or has the traffic gotten worse in the last 6 months? I was out and about today and it took 10 minutes for the bus to round the corner at Daimaru. I got off and walked to Canal City and arrived well before the bus. Of course, the rain started up quite hard around 4PM and I got soaked walking a few blocks... Oh well.