ENTER FUKUOKA

Fukuoka, Japan - August 2023

By Eugene Khan

After starting a family, the laissez-faire approach to traveling goes out the window. I was extremely fortunate to have the energy, time, and personality to let my travel curiosity drive any trip’s itinerary. That curiosity still exists to a degree, except that it’s rooted in more familial topics… Do they have a high chair? How far away is the spot? Do they have seating for us right now, like RIGHT NOW? Is the place non-smoking? So when my retired parents came to Asia for their yearly trip, our customary side trip took a more pragmatic approach to selecting a destination.

Enter Fukuoka. 

I’d been across parts of central Japan and done Tokyo countless times, but with a larger group, I needed something more chill. As I alluded to at the start, what you value on a trip changes, and immediately Fukuoka ticked all those boxes. The ride from the airport into the city was a mere 20 minutes — no more 90-minute Narita bus rides. The city features a balanced charm of smaller, quaint corners alongside the usual big box department stores with your luxury brands. You enjoy what is essentially a microcosm of Tokyo but in a more manageable experience. 

Fukuoka is all things I enjoy about Japan, without the intensity of a large metropolitan city. You’re not fighting through a sea of people on crowded sidewalks as you walk towards an amazing meal. Experiences at Koyama Parking and Yorozu, especially the latter with its innovative tea-based cocktails, confirmed that the Japanese craft towards food and drink is still unrivaled. Those two spots were, however, not family-friendly. But regardless, if you have a four-day itinerary to fill, Fukuoka is a place worth adding to the list.