{"id":140325,"date":"2021-04-28T15:55:33","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T06:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=140325&lang=en"},"modified":"2021-05-11T17:44:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-11T08:44:23","slug":"people-and-places02","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/people-and-places02\/","title":{"rendered":"My Momochi \u2013 Living in a City Without the Feel of a City"},"content":{"rendered":"

The \u201cMomochi Now\u201d series is back with monthly interviews with people who live, work, or are otherwise involved with Momochi. Through their stories, we will bring you closer to Momochi now!<\/p>\n

Momochi Now<\/a><\/strong>
\nPresented by SEAHAWK GALLERIA<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a good chance that many of our readers are aware of this month\u2019s guest, having seen his name around town or even eaten one of his meals. This month we spoke with the man often credited with bringing Neapolitan pizza to Japan: Salvatore Cuomo. You\u2019ll find his name on a hundred restaurants and other businesses all over the country and beyond, but for the past ten years, the Japanese-Italian chef has called the Fukuoka seaside his home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Salvatore and his family found themselves looking for an alternative to Tokyo. They spent months testing the waters in Hokkaido, Nagano, Okinawa, and elsewhere. Nothing felt right until a friend invited him to check out Fukuoka. He\u2019d been to the city before on business without noticing anything special \u2013 but this time, his friend booked him into the <\/span>Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk Hotel<\/span><\/a>, in a room with a panoramic view over Hakata Bay. It was this stay that convinced him. Within just a few hours, the man who could choose anywhere in Japan or the world to live had picked Momochi.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Photo: Hilton Fukuoka Seahawk Hotel<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Having grown up in Naples, Salvatore feels a special connection to the sea. That\u2019s what drew him to Momochi: the beach is where he goes to take long walks and process his thoughts. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Meanwhile his wife and children love Central Park, where they go to enjoy the outdoors in perfect safety. And with Fukuoka International School and several large hospitals nearby, the area also ticks the family\u2019s boxes for quality education and health services.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cMost importantly you live inside a city without feeling like you live in a city,\u201d Salvatore says. \u201cIt\u2019s never crowded; perhaps it\u2019s the lack of parking spots or the cost of parking, but not many people come here.\u201d It\u2019s true that, despite all its attractions, Momochi is not for everyone. It\u2019s short on convenience stores, restaurants, dry cleaners and other urban services, but as Salvatore says, \u201cthat\u2019s why Momochi is Momochi\u201d. \u201cIf it had all that, it would be just like any other neighborhood,\u201d he points out, saying that the right kind of person will find it a uniquely enjoyable place to live \u2013 though it does help to have a car. Salvatore himself found it a convenient place to commute from: he often traveled to Tokyo several times a week, and overseas too. Being able to leave just an hour before your flight departs is another bonus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, Salvatore is setting up <\/span>LAB3680<\/span><\/a>, a new project in the fruit-growing area of Hita, Oita Prefecture, just 90 minutes from Momochi by car. Inside a renovated old building, he\u2019s setting up a base to collaborate and experiment with other chefs while reconnecting to nature. Follow their adventures on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a> and on <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Salvatore\u2019s hands-down favorite place for a drink or snack is <\/span>Seala Brasserie and Lounge<\/span><\/a> on the 4th floor of the <\/span>Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk<\/span><\/a>: \u201cI spend a lot of time here, a lot of time!\u201d It\u2019s easy to see why. The airy, light-filled space is a scenic spot to meet for coffee, light meals, or cocktails.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salvatore likes to clear his head with strolls along Momochihama\u2019s boardwalk.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re not playing in the sand, the beach brings out the kid in all of us.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Seala Brasserie and Lounge<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk With approximately 1,000 rooms, it\u2019s the largest Hilton Hotel in Asia. Be sure to visit the Seahawk Galleria shopping area on the 4th floor.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

4F Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, 2-2-3, Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka<\/a>
\n\u25b7 Adjoins Seahawk Galleria
\n7:00~21:00 (L.O. 20:30) *temporarily changing business hours from April 22 to May 19. (normal hours of operation 7:00~22:00)
\n092-844-8000<\/a> (9:00~18:00)
\nhttps:\/\/www.hilton.com\/en\/hotels\/fukhihi-hilton-fukuoka-sea-hawk\/dining\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Seahawk Galleria<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Seahawk Galleria, a shopping arcade with a diverse array of\u00a0 shops such as accessories, fashion, sundries, daily necessities, and souvenirs, is located inside the Hilton Fukuoka Seahawk seaside hotel. There\u2019s also a 24h convenience store that can be accessed next to PayPay Dome too. It\u2019s an ideal spot from which to explore the Momochi area.<\/p>\n

\u2022 2-2-3 Jigyohama, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka<\/a>
\n\u2022 Usually 10:00 ~ 20:00 (FamilyMart \/ 24h)
\n*Hours vary for each shop due to COVID-19. (as of the end of Apr. 2021)
\n\u2022 http:\/\/seahawk-galleria.com\/en\/<\/a>
\n\u2022 https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SeahawkGalleria<\/a><\/p>\n

Holiday Walk <\/strong>
\nThis website by Seahawk Galleria offers suggestions for walking tours of the Seaside Momochi area, where many of Fukuoka\u2019s landmarks are located. Check it for information on what\u2019s hot in Momochi now – and for ideas for a path to stroll not found in guidebooks.
\nhttp:\/\/seahawk-galleria.com\/travellers\/<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/seahawkgalleria\/<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Your Guide to The Latest in Momochi \u2013 Momochi Now!<\/strong>
\nLearn about all the attractions in Momochi from the well-known to the newest and lesser known.
\n\u25b7Back number: https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/momochi-now\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a good chance that many of our readers are aware of this month\u2019s guest, having seen his name around town or even eaten one of his meals. This month we spoke with the man often credited with bringing Neapolitan pizza to Japan: Salvatore Cuomo. You\u2019ll find his name on a hundred restaurants and other businesses all over the country and beyond, but for the past ten years, the Japanese-Italian chef has called the Fukuoka seaside his home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29305,"featured_media":140331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=140325&lang=en","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4911,4913],"tags":[5177],"class_list":["post-140325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","category-things-to-do","tag-momochi","location-momochi-nishijin","en-US"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fukuoka-now-WEB-002.jpg?fit=1400%2C1050&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140325"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":140518,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140325\/revisions\/140518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}