I had no idea what time it was.
On the flight, in the hotel, walking around Fukuoka.
I just knew one thing: I was hungry.
And everywhere, too. I had a couple of Spam musubis on the flight over — including everything Hawaiian Airlines would give us to munch on — and an entire bag of Skittles. And we hadn’t even landed yet.
Arrival made it worse, with izakaya (Japanese tavern), ramen shops and convini (Japanese convenience stores) everywhere.
I couldn’t stop thinking about food.
And the food here in Fukuoka, the hub of Kyushu in southern Japan, is legendary. Even former Gov. George Ariyoshi, who’s family hails from Fukuoka, started to smile when I asked him where he likes to eat.
“I don’t know exactly because people always just take me around,” he said, grinning. “But Fukuoka has very good seafood.”
That prompted his wife, Jean, to come over and convince me to try the fugu (blowfish). “Oh, it’s very thin, it’s translucent, and it’s absolutely delicious,” she gushed.
Well, it’s confirmed then. We’re eating fugu.
So here’s what we did — and ate — on our first day in Fukuoka. If you haven’t eaten breakfast already, you might want to down a Snickers bar first.
Checking in
Hawaiian Airlines invited a few people — including blogger Melissa Chang — on its inaugural flight to Fukuoka, Japan yesterday. Since I had already booked my flight to Haneda later this week — I had a trip to Japan planned before this invitation — I just jumped on the earlier flight to Kyushu to see the area from which my great-grandparents came.
Read Melissa Chang’s version of our first day in Fukuoka at her blog, Urban Mix Plate.
Follow my eating adventures in Fukuoka on Twitter @thedailydish.
12 Comments
sweet sweet sweet. I’m hanging on yall’s tweets like it was a world series game, constantly refreshing my phone or keeping a window open on my laptop. i miss Japan and Fukuoka and I’m getting motivation to buck up and buy a ticket.
glad to see you got to yanagawa. the boats, the unagi. just a cool little town.
instead of convini, check out gyudon at yoshinoya for breakfast. nothing like starting the day off with a nice sukiyaki bowl. way better than the yoshinoya in the states.
You should! Hawaiian Airlines had specials for $199 to Fukuoka! Can’t beat that price!
Hello Cat and Melissa!
All I can say is have a GREAT time and I’m J……
Thanks! You should come. You’d like it. We’re going to Chigasaki later and I’ll report back on the surf 🙂
How cool is that? You eat three times more than me and no fat… what’s up with that 🙂
Three dinners — I didn’t mention the other meals!
Great report and great pics! On my “bucket list”!
Stay tuned! I move on to Kyoto, Tokyo and Chigasaki! FTW!
CAT: Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! Now that you have tasted the ramen from Fukuoka, isn’t it time for your ramen tasting contest back home? Tell MC to post a pix of the bathroom in your hotel…that apparently is her thing!
There’s lots of FUUD photo opps here, for sure!
And I did post the toilet photo… on Facebook. Did you see it???
I like the contrast between your bags and Melissa’s bags. Where will the omiyagi go?
Only OJ?
Melissa’s bags? I didn’t post a photo of THEM. She brought half her apartment! LOL