Saturday to Wednesday
March 7 to 11, 2026

Hello, Fukuoka, I’m back! It’s my 3rd time visiting this wonderful city and I still can’t get enough of it. I’ve been looking forward to returning here since last year and thankfully, I had this opportunity to come back. Read on for the play-by-play of the trip.

We were able to get tickets for the same season as our Fukuoka vacation last year. This is my favorite time to visit because winter has just finished but it’s before the Cherry Blossom rush where tickets get very expensive. It’s the right amount of cold and after learning my lesson, I brought a pair of gloves to keep me comfy.

Shane was my companion for this trip and we didn’t have any problems with the pre-flight checks. We smoothly slid through immigration and our flight was on time and relatively quick. I have to give Cebu Pacific and NAIA Terminal 3 props for the smooth process this time.

Day 1 – Arrival and Yanagawa-bound

• After arriving in Fukuoka International  Airport, we got our sim cards (I reserved mine from Klook while Shane purchased hers on the spot) and headed straight to Tenjin Station via the Airport Line Subway.
• We searched for a place to have dinner inside the Tenjin Underground Mall.
• Ordered the Double Niku Udon at En. This was the chewiest udon I’ve had so far. So good and the dashi broth had a strong ginger and beef flavor. It was the perfect amount of savory without making me full and guilty. Great first meal in Fukuoka.
• Headed to the Nishitetsu Tenjin Station and road the Limited Express Omuta Line to Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station.
• Checked in at Hotel New Gaea Yanagawa. After dropping our belongings and relaxing for a bit, we took advantage of their free soup at the lobby. I had chowder soup while Shane had the cream of corn. They also had free coffee and wine, but it was late in the evening already.
• Bought some food at a nearby Lawson and then returned to the hotel to eat, and fix up for the night.

Day 2 – Canals and Kumamon

• Had breakfast at the hotel lobby and took advantage of their free soup and coffee. Checked out of the hotel but left our baggage there for the time being.
• Headed to a punting office for the Yanagawa Canals Boat Ride Tour. It was a calming and scenic route and lasted around an hour. The Boatman spoke a bit of English and pointed out some landmarks for us. He also sang some Japanese songs, though we didn’t understand any at all.
• We were unloaded at the Tachibana Residence, Ohana compound where we bought some souvenirs at their gift shop.
• Took a bathroom break at the Tourist Information Center and then headed to their canal-side shops to look for a place to have lunch.

• Chose Saraya Fukuryu to try the famous Yanagawa Unagi no Seiromushi. Unaju has long been one of my favorite Japanese dishes, but the price is almost comparable to Wagyu. Nevertheless, this one was delicious. Aside from the tender eel, the fluffy rice was also coated in their special sauce and the pickled vegetables on the side were also amazing. Also ate honey-roasted Mudskipper which looked scary but was actually tasty albeit very bony.

• Bellies full, we went to the nearby 83 Coffee for some refreshments and for a bit of relaxation. The owner was friendly and spoke English and the place was quirky and quiet. Shane ordered a life-changing glass of Matcha Latte with Espresso and I got a delicious serving of their Cold Brew. This spot receives a must-visit recommendation from me just for the vibes alone, but the drinks are top notch.
• We took the free shuttle back to the Canal Tour starting point then picked up our bags at the hotel. Then we started the commute to Kumamoto. The first leg was a train to Omuta station using the Nishitetsu line.
• At Omuta station, we tansferred to the JR Kagoshima line and alighted at JR Kumamoto station. We had a glimpse of the Shinkansen that we would be taking back to Fukuoka on our return trip.
• We took a photo with Kumamon at the station as well as tried Famichiki mixed with egg sandwich from Family Mart.
• Took the Tram Line A to Kumamoto Castle Station where we checked in to our hotel, Ark Hotel Kumamoto Castle. It had a mesmerizing view of the castle right outside the hotel window. We spent a few moments just staring out into the city. It was a great room pick.
• Headed out to Kamitori Shopping Arcade to do some shopping. At this point in the evening the shops were already closing but some stores and most restaurants were still open. We eventually reached Shimotori Shopping Arcade and it was the same situation as well. Drug stores and a Donki stayed open 24 hours so we did some price checks on the products we planned to buy.

• We decided to have dinner at a local favorite, Komurasaki Ramen, serving authentic Kumamoto-style Ramen. I had a large order (1.5x the noodles) plus a plate of Gyoza. Fellas, Kumamoto ramen tasted exactly like a richer, porkier bowl of Batchoy. It was crazy how similar they tasted. After adding Komurasaki’s homemade Garlic Powder, it tasted even more familiar. It’s not as rich as Hakata-style, but it was still delicious and the lightness of the soup didn’t weigh down my stomach afterwards. Also shoutout to the elderly servers who were very accommodating and even helped me open my Ramune bottle.

• Dropped by the nearby 7eleven, Family Mart, and Lawson branches to look for dessert plus tomorrow’s breakfast. It was late at night so everyone took all the Inari Sushi already. Ended up buying at Lawson and returning to the hotel.
• Our hotel had Free Drinks at the top floor restaurant area. It also had floor-wide window view of Kumamoto Castle which was lighted up during the night. However, the place was filled with noisy locals so we didn’t stay long. Shane finished her cup of tea and we retired for the night.

Day 3 – Klook Day Tour and Shopping

• We woke up early for our Klook tour. Our meetup was at Kumamoto Station so we took the Tram Line there. The morning wind was freezing, even penetrating my gloves and making my fingers numb.
• Bought some Famichiki at the Family Mart and found a waiting room to eat breakfast while waiting. Eventually, our tour guide arrived and ushered us to our designated bus. We left the station promptly.
• Our first destination was the Amaterasu Railway, one of the highest railways in the country. It was a couple of hours away from the city, passing through winding mountain roads. I fell asleep on the way and woke up when our guide led us down to Takachiho  Station. This railway system is purely used for tourism purposes now. We got on an open-air wagon that travels on an out and back track, with the U-turn point being a tall bridge on top of a valley at Amanoiwato Station. From this viewpoint, we had a 360-degree view of the mountains around us. The cool winds also froze my ears to the point that I was glad when the wagon started its journey back.

• After this, the tour bus took us to the main highlight, Takachiho Gorge. It was a very organized hike through the park’s well-maintained and marked paths. Our guide took us through the multiple bridges crossing the gorge. We didn’t have a lot of time here, but we were able see the natural beauty of the rock formations and the paddle boats down by the river. The water was a vibrant blue and the gorge’s walls had different patterns caused by natural movements of the earth over time.
• At the end of the walking path, there were multiple shops selling local food and products. We bought a cone of their soft-serve (mango and Hyuganatsu orange for me, matcha for Shane) and perused the wares. There was also a paid shuttle service to take people back to the entrance, but we opted to walk back the way we came, that way we were able to see the gorge once more, from a different perspective. Plus the hike back helped me burn some calories and warmed me up.
• While waiting for the bus, we tried a skewer of horse meat bbq. It was chewier than regular beef, but sliced more thinly and cooked well by the chef. Tougher than wagyu, but just as juicy and flavorful. I want to eat more horses.

• Our next stop was up another long and winding road on the slopes of the mountain ranges around Mt. Aso. We reached Kusasenrigahama, a breathtaking plateau with views of multiple peaks and the smoke rising from Mt. Aso’s crater in the distance.
• We had our lunch at New Kusasenri, a restaurant chosen by our tour guide on the floor above a building that served as a souvenir shop, cafe, and ice cream parlor in one. I had a Horse Sashimi set and Shane ate the Mt. Aso Local Delicacies set. Both sets included a hearty vegetable soup and rice mixed with pickled veggies. They also had free-flowing miso soup, white rice, and green tea. The horse sashimi tasted like tuna if it wasn’t fishy. It’s hard to explain but I liked it a lot. Shane’s meat arrived as a bowl of smoked chicken cutlets which I also found delicious, if a bit dry. Shoutout to my newly discovered side dish, karashi renkon. It was just something added to the few slices of horse sashimi, but it tasted so unique I wanted more.
• We burnt our newly consumed calories walking up and down the slopes and taking pictures. The crater spewing smoke was a but intimidating, but it seemed to be the norm there. After a brief pictorial, we returned to the souvenir shop to buy some things and taste the bing chilling (ice cream)  that our tour guide mentioned. And here, shoutout to Walnut Caramel, my new favorite ice cream flavor.
• We returned to Kumamoto station to end the trip. We headed to Akaushi Dining Yoka Yoka to taste Kumamoto’s famous red beef. This was a place we saw from a YouTube video. It was a fine dining place, with a classy ambiance and great service from the staff. They had an English menu and we were also glad one of the servers is a Filipina. Shane ordered the Special Beef Bowl while I had the Red Beef Hamburger + Rice set. The red beef was cooked rare, almost sashimi-like. It melted in my mouth and every bite of the meat seemed to enhance the flavor. The hamburger was so juicy, a single slice made it ooze so much liquid onto the sizzling plate, coating the bed of peppered bean sprouts under it. Accompanying the burger was a side of salad with a delectable dressing plus a small bowl of consomme. This was a fine meal and probably the most expensive on the trip. I think it’s worth the price of trying out a local delicacy. You can’t go wrong with wagyu.

• With dinner done, we walked through Shimotori and Kamitori shopping arcades once more on the way back to our hotel, where we dropped of the day’s haul and got a quick rest before the day’s final activity: shopping.
• We headed back to the shopping arcades and visited every book store and drug store that was still open. Then, it was time for the mandatory visit to Don Quijote. Thankfully, this branch was smaller and less overwhelming. The number of people inside was also more manageable. After purchasing our tax-free goodies, we called it a night, giving our wallets their well-needed rest.

Day 4 Kumamoto, Itoshima, and the life-changing Pasta

• We had breakfast in our room which consisted of ready-to-eat meals we bought from the konbini the night before. Then, we checked out of the hotel but left our baggage there for the day’s adventure. We walked to the tram station and waited for the car to arrive.
• Our first destination was Suizenji Jojuen Garden. This park had an entrance fee of JPY400 per person but I believe it was worth it because of how beautiful the place is. It featured a lake in the center with sloping hills around it, accented by different plants and trees. There were a lot of plum and cherry trees which indicate that this place would look even more immaculate during spring time. We dropped by Izumi Shrine and Shane did the ritual cleansing at the waters there. Our goal was to actually buy matcha from the shop inside the garden, but it was closed for some reason so we left empty-handed.

• We went to Sakura no Baba Josaien, a tourist area at the entrance of the Kumamoto Castle compound. This place was built in the likeness of an Edo-period village. There were even some staff dressed up as samurai and geisha walking around. We wandered in and out of the shops to look at their merch and ended up buying Horse Meat Croquettes and Minced Horse Meat Sushi from Suganoya. Shane also shared a cup of Matcha soft serve with me.
• We then explored the Kumamoto Castle Grounds. Due to a lot of reconstruction and rehabilitation of the castle buildings, there were a lot of areas closed to the public. Plus, there was an entry fee for the Main Keep itself. We decided to just walk around the free areas and admire the castle from afar.
• Finally ready to leave, we got our bags and headed to Kumamoto Station. Before heading out we had our last meal at Ramen Tengaiten. This restaurant is famous for their intense garlic broth. The entire serving was dusted with a layer of fried garlic powder and even just the smell was heavenly. It was a heavy and flavorful meal. Shane was unable to finish her remaining soup because as the meal went on, we could feel the sodium content in our bodies rise to dangerous levels. This meal is best consumed with copious amounts of water. The highlight of the meal was their gyoza. These fried dumplings were fried well and had a flavor that was different from the other gyozas I’ve tasted before. I surmise that they use a thicker wrapper which is why they turned out very crispy and flavorful. They were a delight to eat.
• To save on time, we decided to ride the Shinkansen to Hakata. We boarded the  Tsubame 320 and we zoomed through Kyushu, converting the regularly 2.5-hour ride to a 40-minute one. Instead of admiring the views, Shane and I dozed off and woke up as we came to a stop at Hakata.
• Went straight to Hakata Bus station to buy from Pao Crepe Milk, Shane’s favorite from our last visit. Thankfully they’re still open and just as good. What do they put in Hokkaido Milk Cream and why is it so good???
• Bought some Matcha at 茶道具・抹茶 左座. This was one of the most important tasks on Shane’s list. After days of searching, from Yanagawa to Kumamoto, we finally found what she was looking for in the main city. It’s just too bad that the Fukuoka kind of Matcha was already sold out so she settled with the Kyoto cans for now.

• Visited Chiikawa Land at Fukuoka Parco. Yipee. There’s so much Usagi stuff there that I wanna buy but I was able to control myself. I don’t want to fall down the rabbit hole (pun intended) but I only got what I’ve been looking for a while now. Plus Shane approved of this purchase, so welcome to the family, Pombon Usagi!
• Finally escaped the crowds by taking the Airport Line to Chikuzen Maebaru station in Itoshima. We wanted to be ready for the early morning travel to the beach, so we booked a hotel that was nearby. Plus it’s outside the city center so the price is not as high as staying within the city. For some reason, hotel prices just shot up fast this year.
• We took a few moments to savor the sunset at Marutaike Park, then checked in at our final accomodation, Hotel New Gaea Itoshima. It’s the same chain as the hotel on our first night and they also had a lounge with free drinks. I got a cup of vegetable juice and another cup of hot chocolate before we went out to find a place for dinner.
• I’m glad we picked this absolute hidden gem. Kitchen M is a cozy and funky restaurant/izakaya hybrid run by a mother and daughter duo right in front of the Itoshima City Hall. It only has 3 tables and 4 counter seats but when we arrived, there was only one other couple inside and they left after we barely got into our seats. They don’t have an English menu so be prepared with your translation apps. We ordered a bowl of katsudon, a plate of fried octopus, and a plate of Mentaiko cream pasta. The fried pork cutlet was served with soft, oozing egg on bed of fluffy rice. It was decent and well done, especially when drizzled with the accompanying sauce. The fried octopus was exactly like takoyaki, but fried to a crisp finish while the inside remained soft and fluffy. However, the pasta was another life-changing dish. I’m not exaggerating, but this was one of the most delicious pasta dishes I’ve eaten. Everything the old lady in the kitchen did to make this dish was perfect. The flavors and textures all combined to make me wish the pasta never ended and I never got full. It was simply lovely. If you can take away anything from this blog post, it’s that you should go to Kitchen M and eat their Mentaiko Cream Pasta.

• After praising the owners for that wonderful dinner, Shane and I dropped by the Family Mart beside the train station to buy some dessert and tomorrow’s breakfast. Before ending the night, we spent a few minutes at the hotel’s lounge sipping on free drinks before heading to bed.

Day 5 – From Itoshima to Kawabata and adios

• Our last day. My breakfast was some Inari Sushi (finally) and Natto Rice Roll from last night’s trip to Family Mart. I also had a couple of cups of free hot chocolate from the hotel’s lounge. Afterwards, we checked out of the hotel.
• We took the first bus from Chikuzen Maebaru station to the Sakurai Futamigaura Couple Stones. This is the most famous landmark in Itoshima and there were a lot of tour groups taking pictures when we arrived. This natural rock formation is formed by two peaks jutting out of the water. They are then bound together by a braid of rope, thus, forming a ‘couple’. The natural view is then accented by a white torii gate. We took some pictures and then admired the sights and sounds of the beautiful beach. Sadly, there wasn’t much else to do here because all the cafes and restaurants nearby were still closed. And so, we just waited for the bus back to the station.

• We took our baggage from the hotel and took the train back to the city center. We alighted at Nakasu-Kawabata station and took one last stroll at the Kawabata Shopping Arcade. We did some last minute window shopping before getting hungry and realizing that it was already lunch time.
• Walking through the shopping arcade, every place was packed with men in suits. Fortunately, we passed by a hole in the wall in a small alley. Through the plastic door, we saw that the place only had one customer. We checked the menu and saw that they only served Ramen. At a decent price, too. And that’s how we ate at Olez Magaraz. We learned that this branch had an exclusive Tantanmen, so Shane ordered that while I had their Special Shoyu Ramen. The bowls were good, especially the broth of the tantanmen. It was rightly spicy, but not overwhelmingly so. The umami-ness was addictive, especially when eaten with rice. They also had the best chashu I’ve had, cooked rare at the start with the pork meat a light pink, and then the broth cooks it into the perfect texture a few moments after. I’ve never had chashu that juicy. This store is run by one lady and she expertly does everything well. Another store I’m glad we tried.
• Finally, we walked to Hakata Station to take the subway to Fukuoka Airport. It was still quite early but we wanted to check if our stuff complied with the weight limits. We spent some quiet time at a Tully’s Coffee in the International Arrivals area. We found their coffee to be a bit underflavored tho. I also took the time to explore the Gacha World in the same floor.
• After checking in and heading through the pre-departure area, we bought some last minute items at the Duty Free shop. While waiting for our flight, I had a cup of Coffee Matcha Latte from The Matcha Tokyo. I don’t think I’m going back to regular Matcha lattes anymore. There’s something about the addition of coffee that makes the drink so much better and full-bodied.
• Finally boarded the plane and returned to Manila. Huhu.

Miscellaneous Thoughts

• There are fewer gacha machines in the wild in Yanagawa and Kumamoto. Even fewer Chiikawa gacha machines. Just my luck, I never pulled an Usagi. Huhu.
• I loved the sounds of silence in Yanagawa and Itoshima. They were beautiful provinces just an hour away from the big city. I enjoyed how few people there were and how friendly the locals we encountered were. There’s something about this quiet that I never get to experience in Manila. It’s calming and has a positive impact on my monkey brain.
• Outside of the big cities, more and more establishments are being staffed by the elderly. It’s quite motivating to me when I see these people still being active and working well through their advanced age. I wish I’ll be as coordinated and mobile as them when I reach that point.
• Japan should officially bring Kei Cars to the Philippines. I like the way they look and how unobtrusive and functional they are. My favorite is the Suzuki Wagon R.
• I just noticed that the microwave ovens in Japan don’t have turntables anymore. My food just sits there without rotating and it still gets hot evenly. My mind is blown.
• I’m so thankful for the many public toilets available around the place. It was still cold season so my bladder wanted to let go after just drinking a drop of water. They were all well-maintained, too.
• Didn’t get a lot of stamps on this trip. I was so ready with the paper, too. I never ask where the stamps are when we tour around, I just seemed to stumble onto them previously. No such luck here.
• Hotel-hopping on a budget is a bit of hard work, but it’s cheaper than staying in the city center and doing multiple day trips. Plus, we got to explore further than we can otherwise be able to. Staying a night to explore a provincial town is definitely my new game plan in approaching my Japan trips.

Fukuoka has shifted from being a destination and into a gateway to even more places in Kyushu. Now that I’ve ticked off most of the must-see places in and around the city, I am excited to venture out even further. Places like Yufuin, Kitakyushu, Nagasaki, and more are on my list for our next visit. I’ll do what I can to max out the remaining uses of my multiple-entry visa to this beautiful country.

As always, thank you to Shane for accompanying me on this trip. The insights, photos, and companionship you’ve provided is a big aspect to my enjoyment of these travels. To more places and experiences!

Thanks for reading and let’s explore and share more of this world to each other.
Be safe!

-jgzn