articles | Fukuoka Now

Feb 10, 2023 Now Reports

Fukuoka Hina Matsuri Guide 2023

Every year, families across Japan celebrate Hina Matsuri, otherwise known as Girls’ Day or Doll’s Day. This traditional festival, which takes place on Mar. 3, is an occasion to pra...

Fukuoka Prefecture

Feb 9, 2023 Now Reports

Moving Out of a Rented Apartment – What You Need To Know

Makoto Ayukawa, a guitarist and pioneer of mentai rock (rock music from Hakata in the 70s), passed away on January 29. Someone recommended that I should listen to “借家のブルース” from th...

Others

Fukuoka Prefecture

Feb 2, 2023 Food & Drinks

Curry Takagiya

Curry Takagiya, a curry specialty restaurant featuring counter seating and an open kitchen concept, officially opened its doors on January 6, 2023. The proprietor, after extensive ...

Chuo-ku

Jan 30, 2023 Now Reports

Rakusuien: A Tranquil Japanese Garden in the Heart of the City

About a 10-minute walk from Hakata Station you will find Rakusuien, a Japanese garden with a serene atmosphere. This is originally where the Hakata merchant Shimozawa Zenemon Chika...

Places

Hakata

Jan 24, 2023 Now Reports

Fukuoka Plum Blossom Guide 2023

The plum blossoms begin to bloom in Fukuoka around "risshun," which marks the arrival of spring on the calendar. The plum blossoms, red, white, and pink, are small, lovely, and fra...

Seasonal Guide

Fukuoka Prefecture

Jan 12, 2023 Now Reports

Leaving Japan – A Checklist

Happy New Year! It is a new year, and some of you may be preparing for a new beginning. Some of you may be leaving Japan to live in another country for various reasons. I will outl...

Others

Fukuoka Prefecture

Dec 23, 2022 Now Reports

Fukuoka Hatsu-uri and Fukubukuro Guide 2023

Hatsu-uri literally means “first sale”, and is one of many Japanese ‘first-of-the-year’ traditions, which range from hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, to hatsuhinode, ...

Fukuoka City

Dec 23, 2022 Now Reports

Hatsumode in Fukuoka 2023

For many of our readers, this might be their first time to spend New Year’s Eve in Japan; and that’s an excellent opportunity to experience Japanese traditional culture...

Fukuoka Prefecture

Dec 23, 2022 Now Reports

Fukuoka Hatsuhinode (First Sunrise) Guide 2022-2023

"Gantan" means New Year's Day in Japanese. The term has particular significance given that the Chinese characters relate to the importance placed on the first sunrise of the year. ...

Fukuoka City

Kego Shrine and Kego Park are well-known as places where you can relax in Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka City. Due in part to their location next to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, there is always a constant flow of people through the shrine and the park. Kego Shrine was relocated to its present location in 1608. The shrine was built by Nagamasa Kuroda, the first lord of the Fukuoka Domain, and has served as a place of worship for local people over the generations. The torii gate that remains today was erected in 1639 by Tadayuki Kuroda, the second lord of the domain. The Kego Shrine grounds are not very large, but they are home to several magnificent camphor trees that are said to be over 300 years old. There are many things to see here, including the stately main shrine, which retains its Edo era feel, several old lanterns dedicated anywhere between two and 400 years ago, and the Imamasu Inari Shrine with a rare smiling fox statue standing guard out front. There is even a footbath on site, perfect for soothing your tired feet after a long day of walking. In the fall of 2022, a new nine-story shrine office opened. While the building serves as a new-and-improved shrine office, it also has storage space for the portable shrine and ritual implements that used to be kept in rental warehouses as well as space for exhibiting votive ema (wooden tablets) dating as far back as the mid-Edo period. Kego Shrine was originally home to the local guardian deity. It is also equipped with a large power generator and other facilities in the event that it needs to be used as an evacuation site for the local residents during a disaster. In Kego Park, you can see many people taking a break from work or shopping. The park used to be overgrown with trees and had many blind spots, which posed a risk to public safety, but it was completely renovated in 2012 to create a better lit and more open space. The park is also home to a Safety Center that community groups can use for their activities. In addition to hosting various events throughout the year, the park is famous for its gorgeous Christmas lights in winter, 都心のオアシス、警固神社と警固公園

Dec 22, 2022 Now Reports

Kego Shrine and Kego Park: An Oasis in the Heart of the City

Kego Shrine and Kego Park are well-known as places where you can relax in Tenjin in downtown Fukuoka City. Due in part to their location next to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, there i...

Places

Tenjin