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Nanzoin Temple
Nanzoin’s biggest attraction is, well, big! At 41 m long, 11 m tall and weighing 300 t, the Nehanzo reclining Buddha is the world’s largest bronze reclining Buddha statue. Nestled on the side of a mountain, Nanzoin has a main hall dedicated to Shaka Nyorai, the Buddha after enlightenment, and walking paths in the woods. The abbot is famous for having struck the jackpot in a lottery, so the reclining Buddha has become a popular destination for people looking to boost their financial good luck. This is a Buddhist temple, so please be respectful. Read and follow the rules posted at the entrances.
After putting money in the donation box, visitors can hold the ribbons which connect them directly to Buddha.
Nanzoin Temple
Address: 1035 Oaza Sasaguri, Sasaguri-machi, Kasuya-gun, Fukuoka
Open: 24 hours (Shop: 9:00~16:30)
Closed: Never
Tel: 092-947-7195
Manu Coffee Jotenji
Manu Coffee, a pioneer of specialty coffee culture in Fukuoka, recently opened its fourth cafe in the historic Teramachi area, just 10 minutes from Hakata Station. A trip to Manu is not just about coffee, it is an entire experience, from the interior design and music to the friendly staff and the carefully selected beans (Manu roasts its own!). Stop by with a group or on your own. There is a counter as well as tables, sofas and garden terrace seats. This branch takes its name from the neighboring Jotenji Temple, which is known as the birthplace of udon and the Yamakasa Festival.
Manu Coffee Jotenji
Address: 1-7-9-1F Hakataekimae, Hakata-ku
Hours: 11:00~20:00 (from June: 7:30~20:30)
Closed: Irregular
Tel: 092-414-1305
http://www.manucoffee.com/home/
Menu: Espresso ¥300, americano ¥450, caffe latte ¥480, cappuccino ¥480, caffe mocha ¥500, monster cookie ¥200
Maki no Udon
The whir of the noodle-making machines pours out from the open kitchen as the waitstaff rush back and forth. Meanwhile, your udon seems to last forever. Welcome to Maki no Udon! Originally founded in Itoshima in 1973, Maki no Udon’s latest shop opened inside the Hakata Station Bus Terminal building in March. This is good news for fans of the popular chain who live in the city. (Expansion to date has focused mainly on suburban outlets.) The new shop uses a ticket vending machine, so be sure to buy your ticket before you go in. When you order, tell the staff your preferred noodle hardness: kata (hard), chu (medium) or yawa (soft). Udon is best eaten right away, so load up your bowl with chopped green onions and slurp away. The noodles fatten as they soak up the soup, but you can keep adding splashes of katsuo (bonito) or kombu (kelp) broth as you go. Try the goboten (burdock root tempura) udon, perhaps topped with braised meat and kimchi.
Maki no Udon
Address: B1F Hakata Bus Terminal, 2-1 Hakataeki-chuogai, Hakata-ku
Hours: 10:00~23:00 (L.O.: 22:30). Closed: Never
Tel: 092-483-1130
Menu: Goboten udon ¥480, maruten (fishcake tempura) udon ¥480, croquette udon ¥480, veggie tempura udon ¥510, mini udon and mini chicken rice set ¥630, toppings ¥100~
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn209, May 2016)
