Page 27 - RCI EV Asia October 2015

From its vibrant heritage and important historic treasures to its stunning natural beauty and exhilarating modern cities, Japan’s third largest island, Kyushu, promises a holiday to remember.
BY NEHA KALE
Clockwise: Fukuoka city. Food is never far from your thoughts in Fukuoka whether it be roadside stall, hand made sweets or Ramen in a cosy restaurant.
(all shots this page) cowardlion / Shutterstock.com
Dotted with everything from active volcanoes and postcard-pretty beaches to futuristic cities and Zen temples, Kyushu
is Japan in miniature, minus the tourist hordes and frenzied pace. The island is shaped by its status as the spiritual home of shoguns and samurai, its history as an early cradle of Japanese culture and its past as a major trading post for explorers from China and beyond.
Fukuoka
But you don’t have to be a history buff to fall for Kyushu’s charms. Bustling Fukuoka combines a world-class dining and retail scene with a warmth that’s the envy of Tokyo and Kyoto. Famous for green spaces, sleek architecture, offbeat boutiques and shoebox ramen shops, Kyushu’s largest metropolis – home to 1.4 million people – blends big-city attractions with friendly, small-town vibes. Retail addicts should head to Tenjin, a shopping precinct lined
with luxury boutiques, such as Gucci and Prada, as well as the flawlessly curated Mitsukoshi department store. From here, hire a bike and cycle to Daimyo – an up-and-coming enclave known for labyrinthine streets, retro clothing stores and hole-in-the-wall sake bars.
Although Fukuoka has long been considered Kyushu’s dining capital, it’s fast gaining a reputation as Japan’s next great food city, featuring everything from Michelin-starred French restaurants to yatai, open-air food stalls that dole out some of the best ramen, yakitori and gyoza in the world. Work up your appetite with
a stroll through Ohori Park, a manicured oasis that borders the Fukuoka Art Museum (look for the pumpkin sculpture by cult Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama), before visiting the southwest bank of Nakasu Island for charred-to-perfection chicken skewers and bowls of tonkotsu
ramen – the rich, pork-filled noodle broth that’s the city’s greatest culinary export.
If you’re craving a fuss-free daytrip, head to Hakata Station and take a 25-minute train trip to Dazaifu, a small, former imperial capital punctuated with ornate temples, Shinto shrines, and gardens
and plum trees that blossom in spring. Visit the Tenmangu Shrine, which was built in tribute to the Japanese poet Michizane in 905AD. And don’t forget
to spend some time at the Kyushu National Museum, which pays homage
to the region’s history with revolving exhibitions and a permanent display that stars ninth-century Buddhist sculptures and 14th-century swords forged by master swordsmiths. Ohori Park is located at
1-7, Ohori Koen, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka. Kyushu National Museum is located 4-7-2 Ishizaka, Dazaifu 818-0118, Fukuoka.
ENDLESS VACATION 25