Fukuoka Prefecture ranks fifth in Japan in the number of foreign overnight stays, after Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Hokkaido. Why do foreign tourists visit Fukuoka? And what are the surprising hidden spots that are popular with foreigners? A father comes to Japan for his daughter's notebook. A foreign man at the Fukuoka Airport information desk is scratching his head, having just arrived at Fukuoka Airport from Hong Kong on an evening flight. The man from Hong Kong says, "Can we take a taxi to Hiroshima?" "(Q. Taxi? To Hiroshima?) I know that's crazy." The man pleads, "I want to get to Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, about 300 kilometers away, as soon as possible for my daughter." The man from Hong Kong says, "(Q. It will cost about 100,000 yen.) 100,000 yen? Forget about the taxi." He had looked at the map and was prepared to spend a certain amount, but when he heard that it would cost 100,000 yen, he was scratching his head. So the information desk suggested that the quickest way to get there was to take the Shinkansen from Hakata to Hiroshima and then take a taxi from there. Man from Hong Kong: "(Q. How is it?) Oh, I understand. Let's go. Thank you." "I'm heading to Hakata Station right away," said the man. What on earth happened? Man from Hong Kong: "My daughter came to Japan two weeks ago, but she left an important notebook in Kure." The father found out that his daughter had left a notebook she uses for work in Japan, so he came to Japan in a hurry to look for it. ■Reasons why foreign tourists visit "Fukuoka" About 500 foreign tourists visit the Fukuoka Airport International General Information Center every day. What on earth did they come to Fukuoka? Family from Germany: "Food is a must." "Yes, food is important." Everyone is looking forward to Fukuoka's gourmet food, such as tonkotsu ramen and motsunabe, but Hakata's food stalls are now known overseas. Family from Hong Kong: "They're lined up along the river, aren't they? We came here to go to the 'food stalls.'" For this reason, a specialized consultant called a "food stall concierge" was introduced in June. A family of four from Ireland also used it. A family from Ireland: "We want to go to a food stall." "(Q: There are lots of food stalls, but I recommend this one.) Thank you." "(Q: Are you going to a food stall tonight?) Ah, I've always wanted to go. It's my first time in Japan, so I'm excited." ■ "Feeling the local vibe" Food stall experience Hakata has about 100 food stalls, and there are three major food stall areas: Nakasu, Tenjin, and Nagahama. The Nakasu area along the river is synonymous with Hakata food stalls, and is filled with many tourists and foreigners. The Tenjin area is located in the center of the city, and the Nagahama area is characterized by its many locals and rich local color. A family from Ireland: "Wow! It's here." "It's like a market." The family from Ireland came to the food stall area in Nagahama, wanting to "feel the local atmosphere." The secret to its popularity is the unique food stalls, such as those specializing in mentaiko dishes. We checked out the English menu. A family from Ireland: "All of these foods are quite unusual," "And chicken neck meat," "Very good," "It's nice to feel like we're in a local area, not in a tourist spot." When the drinks arrived, they raised a "cheers" and toasted. The best part of a food stall is the interaction between customers. The first food stall delicacy was stir-fried bamboo shoots. A family from Ireland: "This is delicious." This food stall's creative dishes, which use cheese and vegetables, are popular, and the most popular of these is the pork wrapped in lettuce. They couldn't help but take a photo of the stylish presentation. After the father took a bite, he gave a thumbs up and a smiling gesture. And what the father and son were most looking forward to was ramen. Yaki ramen is a standard dish at food stalls. A family from Ireland: "It's great." "It's very tasty. The pork has a great taste." "It was a great experience. He's funny. The food was good too." "The food stalls were great!" ■Fukuoka's hidden gems: "Itoshima" and "Frog Temple" In addition to the food stalls, Fukuoka is also famous for Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and Mojiko Port, but according to Tada Nozomi of the tourist information center, the hidden gems that are currently popular with foreigners are "Itoshima and Ogori's Frog Temple." If you go a little way out of the city, Fukuoka's charm is that it is rich in nature. Itoshima is about an hour's drive from Hakata, and the Meoto Iwa rocks at Sakurai Futami