{"id":166095,"date":"2024-10-24T14:42:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T05:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=166095&lang=en"},"modified":"2024-10-24T14:42:57","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T05:42:57","slug":"enjoy-sumo-yatai-hopping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/enjoy-sumo-yatai-hopping\/","title":{"rendered":"Enjoy Sumo, Yatai, and \u201cHopping\u201d Around Fukuoka"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every November, Fukuoka hosts the Grand Sumo Kyushu Tournament, offering a rare opportunity to witness Japan’s traditional sport up close. But in a city known for its fantastic food, the excitement doesn\u2019t stop after the matches\u2014it’s time to enjoy \u201chashigo,\u201d or hopping from one restaurant to another.<\/p>\n

Sumo: Japan\u2019s Traditional Sport<\/strong>
\nSumo, Japan\u2019s national sport, is a thrilling contest between massive wrestlers in a ring called the dohyo. With origins dating back over 1,500 years, sumo began as a ritual but later evolved into a form of entertainment. By the Edo period, it had become a professional sport, with much of today\u2019s sumo retaining the same rules and attire from that era.<\/p>\n

\"Kyushu<\/p>\n

Official sumo tournaments are only held in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. Watching the powerful wrestlers clash in a packed arena is a truly unforgettable experience.<\/p>\n

\"Kyushu<\/p>\n

The closest seats, tamari-seki (or \u201csand seats\u201d), are so near the ring that spectators are showered with sand. These high-end seats come with strict rules\u2014no food, drink, or phone use. Behind them are masu-seki, where groups of up to four can sit on tatami mats, enjoying bento and drinks during the matches.<\/p>\n

\"Kyushu<\/p>\n

Fukuoka: The City of \u201cHashigo\u201d<\/strong>
\nSumo matches typically finish around 6 p.m., right in time for dinner. In Fukuoka, known for its lively food scene, the fun continues with \u201chashigo\u201d\u2014hopping from one restaurant to another to sample different dishes and drinks. It\u2019s common to visit multiple places in one night.<\/p>\n

Restaurants in Fukuoka are used to this hopping culture, so it\u2019s completely normal to stop for a quick bite before moving on. For beginners, yatai (street food stalls) are a great starting point. In fact, it\u2019s considered good manners not to linger too long at yatai. These stalls offer light fare such as ramen, oden, and yakitori, while some now serve unique dishes like French cuisine, ethnic food, cocktails, and coffee, making yatai hopping a delicious and fun adventure.<\/p>\n

\"Yatai<\/p>\n

Fukuoka\u2019s Yatai Areas<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fukuoka is home to around 100 yatai, with the majority located in three main areas: Nakasu, Tenjin, and Nagahama. Here\u2019s what each area has to offer:<\/p>\n

Nakasu<\/strong>
\nNakasu is the most famous yatai district and a favorite among tourists. The view of neon lights reflecting off the Naka River as yatai line the riverbank is truly stunning. It\u2019s a popular spot, so if your preferred stall is full, simply hop to another one while you wait.<\/p>\n

\"NakasuPhotograph provided by Fukuoka City.<\/p>\n

Tenjin<\/strong>
\nThe Tenjin area has the largest concentration of yatai. As a busy commercial district with office buildings and shopping centers, it’s a popular stop for both tourists and locals grabbing a bite after work. Most yatai here are found along Watanabe-dori and Showa-dori.<\/p>\n

\"Tenjin<\/p>\n

Nagahama<\/strong>
\nSlightly farther from central Hakata and Tenjin, Nagahama is known as the birthplace of Fukuoka\u2019s ramen stalls. Originally catering to workers at the nearby fish market, today\u2019s yatai offer a variety of dishes beyond ramen.<\/p>\n

\"Nagahama<\/p>\n

Other Areas<\/strong>
\nA few yatai can also be found outside the main districts, such as near Hakata Station. These stalls, often cherished by locals, provide a warm welcome to visitors. If there\u2019s a yatai near your hotel, be sure to check it out!<\/p>\n

In addition to yatai, standing bars, ramen shops, gyoza joints, and yakitori restaurants are perfect for \u201chashigo.\u201d And if you\u2019re lucky, you might even spot a sumo wrestler grabbing a post-match meal!<\/p>\n

\"Kyushu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every November, Fukuoka hosts the Grand Sumo Kyushu Tournament, offering a rare opportunity to witness Japan’s traditional sport up close…
\n..<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29305,"featured_media":166268,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=166095&lang=en","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[74,355],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-166095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-events","category-food-drink","location-fukuoka-city","en-US"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/fn_kyushu-sumo_2024_cl-017.jpg?fit=1400%2C933&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166095","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=166095"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166095\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":166287,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166095\/revisions\/166287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/166268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}