<p>A lone cat sits and enjoys the sunshine at Tochoji temple in Hakata</p>

A lone cat sits and enjoys the sunshine at Tochoji temple in Hakata (Photo: Ben Beechey)

A Day in Fukuoka City

Hakata temples, ramen, and a beautiful night view

Ben Beechey Jul 12, 2012 - 1 min read

<p>A lone cat sits and enjoys the sunshine at Tochoji temple in Hakata</p>

<p>Tochoji temple is surrounded by interesting buildings with immaculately kept gardens</p>

<p>Tochoji temple in Hakata is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan</p>

<p>Tochoji temple's five story pagoda</p>

<p>Behind Tochoji temple you can find a maze of quiet back streets</p>

<p>A short walk away from Tochoji temple is Kushida shrine</p>

<p>Ema plaques on display at Kushida shrine. Ema plaques are written on by visitors to the shrine detailing their wishes and plans for the future</p>

<p>Just across the street from Kushida shrine is the Machiya Folk Museum, which has objects and artifacts of historical interest on display</p>

<p>A traditional abacus at the Machiya Folk Museum</p>

<p>An early example of a Japanese-built record player at the Machiya Folk Museum</p>

<p>Fukuoka is also famous for its streets of food stalls, known as yatai</p>

<p>Inside a Hakata yatai</p>

<p>A great local dish, Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen . . . Goes really well with a cold beer!</p>

<p>In the evening you can enjoy a walk along the Naka River; the area is full of shops and bars</p>

<p>If you're looking for stunning views over Fukuoka, a trip to Fukuoka tower is recommended. The views are excellent during both day and night.</p>

Hakata is the historic center of Fukuoka City, said to be the oldest city in Japan and the gateway to Asia.  You can discover old temples and merchant buildings in this port town. There's lots to see and do in Fukuoka, but the famed Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen alone is worth a visit!

Ben Beechey

Ben Beechey @ben.beechey

I moved to Japan in late 2007 and lived in the beautiful mountainous setting of Nagano-ken for two very fun years. Although the scenery in Nagano was stunning and the snowboarding conditions second to none, I decided to try life in the fast lane and moved to Tokyo in 2009. I have been in Tokyo si...