If you're traveling around Fukuoka on your own, I highly recommend adding Kushida Shrine to your itinerary!
The shrine is in central Hakata, and it's easy to walk there from Kushida Shrine Station on the subway. Afterward, you can continue on to Kawabata Shopping Arcade and Nakasu, so it's easy to combine them into one itinerary.
Kushida Shrine is an important shrine to the people of Hakata. Once you enter the grounds, it's surprisingly quiet and peaceful, even though the lively downtown area is just outside. Besides praying, it's also a nice place to stroll around and take in the shrine's details.
What caught my attention most was the enormous, ornate yamakasa float. It was even more impressive than I imagined! The intricate decorations are fascinating up close and give you a better sense of the local culture of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
There's also an interesting "test stone." I heard that strongmen in the past could lift it, so I decided to take the challenge myself...
The result, of course, was--**it didn't budge at all!
There's also a famous old ginkgo tree nearby, and you can see a unique zodiac direction plaque on the tower gate. Every corner has little details of traditional Japanese culture.
If you're shopping in Hakata, consider stopping by Kushida Shrine. It doesn't take much time, but it lets you experience a very different side of Hakata.
Kushida Shrine | Review by 王小鈞
Other Reviews by 王小鈞
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PARCO_ya Ueno
Under the concept of “PARCO for a bit fancier adults,” cosmetics, fashion, general goods and the restaurant floor Kofuku Kairo are all gathered. The spacious hangout for adults makes you want to spend time with your friends. In the same building, there are TOHO Cinemas theater and cafes that are not just for the mature, but also for all generations to enjoy.
When visiting Ueno, besides Ameyoko, I also highly recommend checking out PARCO_ya! It brings together quite a few sophisticated fashion brands, lifestyle goods, restaurants, and long-established local brands, offering a more mature and refined shopping experience.
Compared with the bustling traditional shopping streets, it’s more comfortable to browse here, and there’s a wide variety of stores. Whether you want to shop for clothes, pick out household items, or simply walk around and look, there’s plenty to enjoy. When traveling to Ueno, don’t just focus on Ameyoko. PARCO_ya is also well worth adding to your itinerary—it’s a great place to browse and shop!
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ecute Ueno
Located inside the ticket gates at JR Ueno Station, ecute Ueno is a convenient shopping facility with more than 60 permanent shops ranging from food to fashion and miscellaneous goods. Because Ueno Station is a terminal station served by many lines, it is also ideal when you need to adjust your sightseeing plans on a rainy day or want to stop by in between journeys.
This time when I visited Ueno Station, I discovered that there’s actually a lot to browse inside the station! ecute Ueno is directly connected to JR Ueno Station, so you can shop comfortably without worrying about getting wet on rainy days. It has more than 60 shops, offering everything from Japanese specialties, sweets, and souvenirs to household goods, so there’s plenty to choose from.
Whether you want to buy some Japanese snacks, find something good to eat, or pick out souvenirs, you can get it all done here. If you happen to be transferring at Ueno, I really recommend setting aside some time to browse. It’s convenient and easy to shop, and before you know it, you’ll have spent quite a while here!
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Beef Cutlet Aona, main branch in Okachimachi
Beef cutlet has gained popularity in recent years. Their feature is that they use red portions of meat that are low-calorie and light. Red beef from various areas of production are available and in particular, the Japanese Black marbled beef offers a whole new level of deliciousness, with high-quality fat and a lack of odor. Please enjoy the beef cutlet that has been made with painstaking care in the method of deep-frying and carefully-selected bread crumbs and oil.
This time in Okachimachi, I found a beef cutlet restaurant that left a really good impression on me! Beef Cutlet Aona’s main branch in Okachimachi is a little different from a typical pork cutlet restaurant. Here, you can cook the beef cutlet yourself. The restaurant provides a small griddle, so you can control how well done you want it. Cooking it as you eat is pretty fun!
This time, I chose the MIX beef cutlet with three kinds of meat, so I could try the different textures and flavors of various cuts of beef all at once. I thought it was a great value, and the price was also fairly affordable.
The beef itself is very flavorful and is actually delicious on its own! There are also three kinds of sauces, mustard, and salt to pair with it. Switching between different ways of eating it made every bite feel different.
The outside was fried until fragrant and crispy, and I cooked the beef inside a little more to my preferred doneness. It was really delicious eaten hot!
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