Fukuoka City is home to numerous traditional crafts rooted in local culture, with many passionate artisans dedicated to preserving these traditions for future generations – some with a modern and innovative twist. Whether you’re a foodie or have an appreciation for the arts or history, Fukuoka offers travellers a huge array of unique and distinct experiences that are impossible to find anywhere else. Here are some of the must-see highlights of Fukuoka’s crafts and culinary culture.
A gallery dedicated to Hakata dolls
Since April 2023, Hakata Doll artisan, Nakamura Ningyo, opened a new private gallery, Kaigeido, commemorating Japan’s 400-year-old tradition of Hakata dolls. For centuries, Hakata dolls – clay dolls characterised by their delicate expressions and colouring – have historically been a traditional craft in the Hakata area of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Kaigeido gallery offers visitors a variety of displays featuring traditional Hakata dolls, decorative dolls from the centuries old Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, and new works with a modern interpretation. The interior of the museum also uses innovative lighting and decoration which makes the dolls appear to change their expressions depending on the time of day and weather.
See centuries old fabric perfectly restored at Maison HAKOSHIMA
Maison HAKOSHIMA is a store specialising in the restoration of “Hakozaki-shima”, a traditional fabric of Fukuoka City, where visitors can buy the fabric as a new revitalised item. Hakozaki-shima is a traditional textile that has been woven in the town of Hakozaki since the Meiji era (1868 – 1912). Offering a unique experience for visitors today, the Hakozaki-shima textile was only reintroduced 4 years ago after production ceased for 70 years following the war.
Hakata Magemono Craft Experience and Tour of Hakozaki Shrine
Hakatamagemono is a traditional Fukuoka craft featuring a container made of thinly shaved cedar or cypress boards that are steam bent and bound with cherry bark. Both light and strong, they have traditionally been used for lunch boxes and tea caddies. Join a tour with 18th generation artisan, Mr. Tamaki Shibata, who will tell you all about the history of Hakata Okimono and its creation process before you are invited to try the craft for yourself.
Special guided tours of Hakozakigu Shrine (including the main hall and the treasure hall, which are usually closed to the public) and a lunch picnic at Ohori Park is also available where you can learn more about Hakata’s traditional crafts and historical shrines.
Enjoy one of Japan’s most diverse sushi restaurants
Sushi Shima, located in the Chuo-ku of Fukuoka City, is a renowned sushi restaurant where skilled chefs use carefully selected seasonal ingredients to create “omakase” (chef’s choice) or “course” menus. Committed to diversity, Sushi Shima offers a vegan menu in addition to traditional sushi which includes a plant-based version of tonkotsu ramen.
Perfect for travellers, Sushi Shima breaks the mold of many high-end sushi restaurants in Japan, renowned for its welcoming environment which creates a unique space where people from various nationalities come together. This collaborative venture between the restaurant’s head chef and hostess is driven by a shared passion for introducing sushi to as many people as possible in a unique and vibrant space. Sushi Shima perfectly harmonises traditional Japanese flavours with modern global tastes, making it an important venue for promoting Fukuoka’s food culture to the world.
Experience a foodie night out like a local
For decades, Fukuoka has nurtured a unique yatai culture in Japan which has become increasingly popular with travellers visiting the city as well as locals on their way home from work. Originating in the postwar period when war victims and repatriates began seeking a source of livelihood, the volume of yatai stalls peaked in the 1960s with Fukuoka still one of the largest yatai spots in Japan today boasting over 100 stalls.
Located in the Tenjin area, visit Chusuke which is loved by locals for its warm atmosphere and delicious food. Don’t miss the chance to try the delicious gyoza (dumplings) and the tofu oden topped with green onions, dried bonito flakes, and yuzu pepper. Chusuke offers diners authentic Fukuoka flavours and a welcoming atmosphere created by regular customers and the restaurant’s friendly staff. Open from 6:00 p.m. to 1 a.m, Chusuke is the perfect place to enjoy a night out in Fukuoka while soaking up the local food culture.
Taste the flavours of Kyushu’s culinary culture at Yamaya Sohonten Zen
Yamaya Sohonten Zen is an innovative Japanese restaurant that showcases Kyushu’s culinary culture and charm to the world. Located in the Shirokane area of Fukuoka, Chef Daishiro Abe, pursues the possibilities of Kyushu ingredients alongside Chef, Zaiyu Hasegawa, with the restaurant being awarded the number one spot in the “50 Best Restaurants in Asia” in 2022.
The building itself symbolizes Fukuoka’s tradition and innovation with its luxurious use of Kyushu materials such as burnt cedar and red clay walls. The oval-shaped courtyard is planted with local plants, capturing the essence of Fukuoka’s natural environment. Alongside its foodie accolades, this sophisticated space blends Japanese and modern styles and has been awarded the Good Design Award for 2023, the only comprehensive design award scheme in Japan.
Discover a multi-course menu featuring colourful dishes from appetisers to sashimi, grilled dishes, and earthenware pot rice – all of which make the most of Kyushu’s seasonal ingredients. Carefully expressing the local food culture, don’t miss the opportunity to try Fukuoka’s famous spicy cod roe at Yamaya Sohonten Zen.
Try custom-made sushi
The 3 Michelin Star Sushi Gyoten restaurant is a renowned restaurant located just 3 minutes on foot from Yakuin Station in Fukuoka. Born into a family of sushi chefs, owner, Kenji Gyoten, is dedicated to pursuing his own unique style of sushi. Mr.Gyoten’s sushi is characterised by its distinctive design featuring an oval shape with an arched top. A truly special experience, the restaurant offers a custom-made course for each guest, ensuring that the freshest ingredients are served in their best form.
