I am guessing this will be one of the last nice days before winter finally arrives so I decided to take my son to the beach.  Nijo Parking Area on 202, a great beach!!

Check out the pictures!!

He drove to every show in Japan and basically set up all his own gear!!

A picture of Watanabe Dori (Street) in Tenjin, Fukuoka, Japan.

The Dark Room Fukuoka

The Dark Room Fukuoka

The Dark Room is one of the best bars to go to if you are in Fukuoka, Japan. It’s located on Oyafuko Dori (Oyafuko Street) in Tenjin. It is known as an “Urban Rock Bar” and plays all kinds of great music! The owner of The Dark Room is Moses Yamane, who is a cool laid back kind of guy. Why is The Dark Room such a cool place, you might ask? Well depending on the night you can dance, play billards, foosball, eat food, DJ’s, watch sports, attend special parties, and a lot more. Another cool thing about The Dark Room is that they have a Roof Top “Beer Garden” type place that is open most of the year. I have spent many a night enjoying a beer or two on the roof top, that’s for sure.

Why else would you want to go? Well lets just say if there are any famous actors, bands, singers, or celebs in town, The Dark Room is where they will stop by to hang out to have a drink. I have witnessed this first hand with Keanu Reeves stopped by to hang out for a bit. Hollywood knows about this place that’s for sure! The Dark Room is located right across from the MOS Burger on Oyafuko Street. If you are in Fukuoka and you want to experience a cool place to hang out and meet some cool people I recommend you stop by The Dark Room. Tell Moses you heard about his bar from the Fukuoka Talk website!

Address:

2 TENJIN BACCHUS KAN
3-4-15TENJIN
CHUO-KU, FUKUOKA
810-0001
(on Oyafuko-dori)

810-0001
福岡市中央区
天神3-4-15
天神バッカス館802
（親不子通り）

問合せ： 092-725-2989
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A Yatai in Fukuoka

Photo by Houze

Yatai’s are basically food stalls that serve all kinds of food and drink. They are very famous in Fukuoka and many locals and visitors alike frequent them. They are temporary structures that are put up just about everyday. They are usually open from evening to late into the night. Yatai’s are usually put on sidewalks along some of the popular streets in and around Central Fukuoka City.

The best place to find Yatai’s is in and around Tenjin and near Nakasu, although they have been known to pop up just about anywhere. They are often very crowded with people packed tightly sitting on little stools. Yatai’s serve some of the following foods and drinks:

• Ramen
• Udon
• Oden
• Yakitori
• Yakisoba
• Okonomiyaki
• Gyoza
• Beer
• Shochu
• Sake

These food stalls are open just about year round. Bad weather is about the only thing that closes them down. I think the best time to go is in the spring or fall, but I have been in every season and always have a good time. One of the best things about going to a Yatai is that it’s a great chance to meet and chat with people. No matter how good or bad your Japanese is, you will always find either a customer or a Yatai owner that wants to “talk story”. Yatai prices are usually fairly cheap, which is why they are so popular, and why the good ones are always packed.

Another interesting thing about these shops is their ability to store, prepare, cook, power, and serve. You wont believe how efficiently space is used! Also, it’s amazing what these chefs (I call them chefs because I believe it magical how they prepare their dishes) can do with these limited resources!! Next time you are in Fukuoka or if you are looking for something interesting to do, get down to the Tenjin and Nakasu areas and check out a Yatai for yourself.

http://www.samanddave.jp/

Sam & Dave Fukuoka
Address:

3f Westside Bldg.,
2-8-22 Tenjin,
Fukuoka. Located above Kitamura Camera.
Tel: 092-713-2223
Closed: Mon + Tue

http://offbroadwayjapan.com/
Beans Bldg.2F 1-8-40 Maizuru, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Tel 092-724-5383

Pictures are coming!!

Google Map of Kona Cafe

Hakata Ramen or Tonkotsu Ramen is one of the most famous foods in Fukuoka, Japan. It is a ramen noodle dish that is served in a pork bone based broth. If you go to a good ramen shop the broth will have been cooking for many hours so the flavor is just unbelieveable. Hakata Ramen is also served with toppings that include sliced pork, pickled ginger, sesame seeds, and pickled greens.

There are many places to eat Hakata Ramen around the city from Ramen Stadium in Canal City to a street vendor at one of the Yatai’s. If you ask a Fukuoka local where their favorite ramen shop is you will probably get many different answers, so try a few until you find your own favorite.

If you have a favorite Ramen Shop let us know and we will add it to our recommended shops!

Link
The Fukuoka Asian Art Museum is located in the RiverRain Building near Hakata Station. The museum focuses on Modern and Contemporary Asian Art from around the Region. They have a very comprehensive website so have a look and get all the information you need.

Hours:
10:00-20:00
Closed on Wednesdays (or the following day if Wednesday is a national holiday)
New Years Days (26 Dec – 1 Jan)

Address:
7 & 8th floor, Riverain Center Building
3-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City

Tel: 092 263 1100
Fax: 092 263 1105