The Japans

Ken's Japan Recs

Bars · Eats · Coffee · Denim · Lodging 

Region

Kyushu

Fukuoka is surprisingly big. It has its own style of food stalls too. But the airport is super close to the city and the bullet train takes you very close.

Just watch the DIRT video and you’ll be convinced to spend your whole vacation there.

DIRT in Kyushu

DIRT in Kyushu

Coffee & tea

Tenjin · ★ 4.5 (777) Rec Coffee Tenjinminami —

Fukuoka’s specialty-coffee standard-bearer, in the Tenjinminami neighborhood. Rec roasts with precision and pours with care — the kind of cafe where the flat white arrives exactly as it should. A necessary reset between Fukuoka’s food adventures.

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Stay

Hita · ★ 4.3 (826) Okuhita Onsen Umehibiki —

An onsen ryokan in Okuhita — deep in the mountains, all steaming baths and kaiseki dinners. This is the Japan of the imagination: cedar, steam, and quiet. The splurge night your itinerary deserves.

→ Splurge
Ureshino · ★ 4.6 (219) URESHINO YADOYA Ureshino Onsen Saga —

An onsen ryokan in Ureshino, Saga — famous for silky, skin-beautifying waters and excellent tea. The classic Kyushu hot-spring town experience: soak, sip, sleep, repeat. Deep-countryside calm.

→ Splurge