Being a gateway to the beautiful island of Kyushu, Fukuoka is a flourishing metropolis that offers travellers an exciting blend of rich culture and modern city-life. The city boasts a wealth of attractions, countless shopping opportunities as well as a truly welcoming atmosphere that makes it an excellent starting-point for first-time travellers to Japan – Muslim travellers in particular.
Fukuoka is the largest and capital city of Kyushu – Japan's third largest island. Located along the northern shores of the island, Fukuoka is a modern city that is often considered to be one of the most dynamic and most livable cities in the world. It is also an immensely popular tourist destination in Japan and attracts millions of travellers annually. As a travel destination, Fukuoka is famed for its fascinating historic attractions and vibrant festivals. Attractions in the city range from magnificent castles and beautiful parks to numerous shopping complexes. A few beaches are also available a short train ride away for travellers who wish to unwind under the warmth and tranquillity of Fukuoka's sunny skies.
One of the city's most popular attractions, Ohori Park is an enchanting large scale garden and has been registered a Place of Scenic Beauty, featuring a stunning Japanese water garden, Zen garden as well as a tea house. The ruins of the majestic Fukuoka castle – a national historic site – are also located in the near vicinity, offering a fascinating glimpse into the many centuries of Fukuoka's rich and varied history. Art connoisseurs may head a short distance south and pay a visit to the Fukuoka Art Museum which houses a vast collection some of the finest modern Asian art exhibitions in the world.
Other prominent attractions include the city's bustling waterfront area – Momochi Seaside Park, the Kyushu National Museum, the Fukuoka Tower and the Robosquare Robot Museum which showcases a large number of robotic models and projects. Shopping also takes an big spotlight during a visit to Fukuoka. Some of the key places to shop in the city include Tenjin – Kyushu's largest underground shopping area, Canal City – which is ideal for casual shoppers, Hakata – the most convenient shopping area located just minutes away from the station, Marinoa City – the city's largest outlet store that is ideal for tighter budgets, as well as Daimyo – a delightful collection of boutiques, retro shops and second hand stores.
Muslim travellers in Fukuoka too will find plenty to do in the city. Fukuoka is home to a sizable Muslim population comprising a large percentage of foreign Muslim students and their families who reside in Fukuoka and its neighbouring cities. Fukuoka's Muslims are an active community and organise frequent cultural events and activities throughout the year for both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
The Fukuoka Mosque is the main mosque of Kyushu and is located in Hakozaki, Higashi-ku – a few minutes' walk away from Fukuoka's Hakozaki railway station. Built in 2009, the mosque is capable of accommodating up to a thousand people during prayers and is open to Muslims as well as non-Muslims who are interested in learning more about Islam. The mosque offers a wealth of facilities including separate prayer areas for males and females, classrooms and a multi-purpose hall with a library and kitchen. It also conducts various seminars and religious discussion sessions frequently for Fukuoka's active Muslim community.
With regard to Halal food availability, Fukuoka is home to a few Halal restaurants as well as several restaurants that offer partially-Halal menus – many of which are Muslim-owned. Vegetarian options as well as plenty of seafood will also be available at restaurants, while certain local restaurants are capable of preparing authentic Halal Japanese cuisine upon prior notice. Muslim travellers will also be able to find quite a few shops – particularly near universities – that sell a variety of Halal food items ranging from Halal meat to sweets to other imported Halal goods.
To make transport more convenient, Fukuoka City offers foreign tourists a one-day tourist city pass that provides easy and unlimited access to all buses and trains that operate in the city. The one-day pass can be purchased at the Fukuoka Airport as well as several other bus and train terminals in the city. The service is provided exclusively to foreign tourists in Fukuoka City and is available in four different languages.
Travellers will also be able to enjoy free Wi-Fi internet access at many prominent locations across Fukuoka City - including the Fukuoka Airport, Hakata Port International, the Fukuoka City Tourist Information Centre (Tenjin/Hakata), Fukuoka City Museum, Fukuoka Art Museum as well as all of the city's subway stations. This free service is provided by Fukuoka City to enable travellers to access useful travel information on-the-go.
In the case of any queries or uncertainties when travelling in the city, a foreign language call centre is available for tourists, providing assistance on any travel-rated queries. The centre provides services in English, Chinese as well as Korean and can be reached at 092-751-6904.
