Dazaifu (Umegae Mochi) ★ 4.6
Famous for: Umegae mochi at Kasanoya and the Dazaifu Tenmangu shrine
Dazaifu is the Tenmangu shrine pilgrimage town, thirty minutes south of Tenjin. Kasanoya's umegae mochi has been the souvenir on the road since 1922.
Food destinations within easy reach of Fukuoka. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Worth the trip
Itoshima (Oysters and beachside cafes) ★ 4.5
Famous for: Winter oysters at the Itoshima oyster huts
Itoshima sits west of Fukuoka with a coastline of oyster huts in winter and beachside cafes through the summer. Winter oysters from October to March.
Yanagawa (Eel and canal boats) ★ 4.5
Famous for: Unagi no seiromushi at Wakamatsuya
Yanagawa is the canal-boat town an hour south of Fukuoka by Nishitetsu line. Wakamatsuya has served unagi no seiromushi steamed eel rice since the 1860s.
Karatsu and Yobuko (Squid ikizukuri) ★ 4.5
Famous for: Yobuko squid ikizukuri at Kawataro and Ikahonke
Yobuko in Saga prefecture is the canonical Genkai squid town, 75 minutes from Hakata. Live-tank ikizukuri at Kawataro and the Manbo underwater restaurant.
Munakata (Mihara coast and seafood) ★ 4.2
Famous for: Genkai Sea seafood at the coastal restaurants
Munakata sits on the Genkai coast east of Fukuoka. Mihara fishing port runs morning auctions and a row of seafood restaurants that serve the day's catch.
Kashii Mentaiko Trail ★ 4.4
Famous for: Mentaiko factory tours at Fukuya and Yamaya
Higashi-ku east of Hakata holds the two mentaiko factory floors: Fukuya's renovated Aji no Mentaiko Factory and Yamaya's Factory Terrace, both with buffets.
Nokonoshima Island (Beachside cafes) ★ 4.2
Famous for: Beachside cafes and seasonal flower fields
Nokonoshima is the close-by island ferry trip from Fukuoka Meinohama Pier. A small cluster of beachside cafes, summer barbecue spots and a flower park.