Japan’s cities attract travellers from around the globe seeking the excitement and vibrance of the country’s revered urban way of life. Beyond the most popular cities of Tokyo and Osaka, among others, Fukuoka’s burgeoning scene of arts, accommodation, and artisan products is putting the city firmly on the map as a top place to visit in 2025. Here’s a guide to some of the newest and most unique and places to stay, as well as where to experience the best local arts and flavours in Fukuoka from espresso to the traditional sake.
Stay at Kyushu’s first Ritz Carlton
Recently opened in June 2023, the Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka is Marriott International’s first luxury hotel in Kyushu. Located in the Tenjin district of Fukuoka City, which boasts access to Hakata Station, Hakata Port, and Fukuoka Airport, the hotel features 167 spacious guest rooms and suites, four restaurants and two bars, a gym, spa, club lounge, ballroom and meeting room.
The hotel’s design is inspired by “Hakata-ori”, a traditional craft of Fukuoka, featuring Japanese modern interior design and solid wood finishings in the rooms. The hotel’s unique and refined space blends traditional Fukuoka culture with contemporary design to provide guests with a comfortable, luxurious stay and unforgettable memories.
Choose your own style of stay at NOT A HOTEL
NOT A HOTEL Fukuoka is conveniently located in Yakuin, Fukuoka City, about a 20-minute drive from Fukuoka Airport and a 10-minute bicycle ride to Tenjin. The hotel offers an ideal base for guests to spend time relaxing in between enjoying the many exciting nearby activities the vibrant city of Fukuoka has to offer.
The accommodation is NOT A HOTEL’s first urban condominium and is characterised by its striking and unusual appearance that represents several boxes stacked one on top of the other. All 8 rooms in this unique boutique hotel are designed with a spacious area of more than 100㎡ – all boasting different concepts depending upon guests’ interests and tastes, such as a room with a well-appointed workspace, a room where you can invite a chef to cook a delicious meal, and a room for relaxation featuring a jet bath on the terrace.
Visit the first floor lounge, +BLANC, where you will enjoy dinner and wine, exclusively for guests.
Start your day with the joys of art and coffee
TAG STÅ is an innovative espresso stand in Haruyoshi, Fukuoka. A great way to start a day of activities in Fukuoka, visit the stand to enjoy high-quality drip coffee and espresso from early in the morning. The concept offers a space where people can casually experience art while they sip coffee, boasting a gallery space that is attached to the stand hosting various exhibitions from selected artists from Japan and overseas.
Visit COFFEE COUNTY Fukuoka
COFFEE COUNTY Fukuoka is the second store of Coffee County, which has its very own roasting location in Kurume City. The store is located in the Yakuin Station area – a cultural hub of Fukuoka City, and only a 5-minute walk from Yakuin Station. Coffee County offers delicious coffee and a wide range of other drinks alongside homemade sweets to enjoy with coffee and other beverages. Here, you’ll enjoy treats inspired by Latin American flavours as well as drinks and sweets that make the best of seasonal fruits.
Discover your own taste of sake
Todoroki saketen Yakuin Stand! offers a selection of carefully selected wines, sake, and shochu. In the evening, you can enjoy sake and wine casually at the counter in a kaku-uchi (stand drinking) style. At Todoroki saketen Yakuin Stand! you’ll discover 100 varieties of sake, 50 varieties of shochu, and 200 varieties of wine and you’ll be given the opportunity to learn all about the unique characteristics and recommendations for enjoying the products.
At Todoroki saketen Yakuin Stand!, you’ll be guided through your experience by staff who have a wealth of knowledge about sake, and who will dedicated to ensuring you find and experience the right sake or wine to suit your individual mood and preferences.
Try an innovative new dining and craft brewery experience
Recently opened in April 2024, Ohori Brewery is a popular microbrewery located on the south side of Ohori Park in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City. In a short time, the brewery has attracted the attention of craft beer lovers from around the world and local residents.
OHORI BREWERY features a stylish and modern atmosphere with a smartly designed interior reminiscent of bars in New York and London. At OHORI BREWERY, you can enjoy home-brewed craft beers alongside the brewery’s signature fried chicken which is perfectly paired with the OHORI IPA (a local craft beer). Why not dine at the restaurant inside the brewery where you will be treated with the unusual experience of watching the brewing process from your table as you eat.
