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 Futamigaura are a classic. One of the hidden gems in Itoshima that is popular with foreigners is a spot where you can "have a certain experience" in nature. The family from France visited the prefecture-designated scenic spot "Shiraito Falls." It has a magnificent view with a drop of 24 meters. A family from France: "It's nice and cool." Although most of the customers are foreigners, there is actually another secret to its popularity besides the falls. It's Nagashi Somen, a Japanese summer tradition. The family is delighted with this unknown experience. A family from France said, "There are many restaurants in Paris, but there's nothing like this. It's a very unique culture." "We came here because we searched for things to do in Kyushu and Nagashi Somen came up." On overseas social media, there are also posts saying, "I highly recommend eating somen noodles that flow down a bamboo slide." Nagashi Somen, which is said to have originated in Kyushu, is popular among foreigners as a Japanese cultural experience. A family from France said, "It's so much fun!" A hidden spot that is popular among foreigners, and one that is especially recommended right now is Kaeru-dera Temple in Ogori City. There are more than 10,000 stone statues and ornaments of frogs in the grounds of Nyorin-ji Temple, which is also known as the "Kaeru-dera Temple." In addition, during the summer, there are about 5,000 cool wind chimes with wishes written on them. An Italian woman who came here after seeing it on social media said, "It's soothing" to the sound of overlapping wind chimes, and "It's completely different from Italy. It's a really amazing place." A parent and child from Taiwan was surprised by the frogs, which were more than they had expected. A parent and child from Taiwan: "At first, I thought there would only be a few frogs, but there were so many different kinds of frogs, so I was very surprised." Even overseas, frogs are said to be lucky charms that bring good luck and happiness. This temple is also popular as a power spot. A parent and child from Taiwan: "It's a very cool place. It's my first time to see a frog temple." The thing they liked the most was the frog that could blow bubbles out of its mouth. A parent and child from Taiwan: "The frog that could blow bubbles was funny." ■Marriage milestone...Reasons for visiting Japan "The gateway to Kyushu" Many people use Fukuoka Airport as a base to head to various parts of Kyushu. A woman from Switzerland: "We went to Kumamoto, saw Takachiho (Miyazaki), and also to Mount Aso (Kumamoto)." An American couple who came to the information center also said, "We're going to Nagasaki," but in fact it's for a honeymoon. We accompanied them on their honeymoon to Nagasaki. Why did they choose Nagasaki, Japan for their honeymoon? A couple from the US: "(Q. Why did you choose Nagasaki for your honeymoon?) We are interested in the history of Christians in Nagasaki. We studied Japanese and religion at university, so this honeymoon is a combination of both." Nagasaki, the "city of hills," is a popular city for foreigners with its exotic atmosphere, including Peace Park and Glover Garden. The couple climbed a steep slope to a scenic spot... The couple from the US: "Perfect." "It's so quiet and peaceful." Next, the couple went to Oura Cathedral, a World Heritage Site. The couple from the US: "Look. It's a church." "It's so beautiful." Nagasaki, where their beloved Japanese and Christian cultures blend, was the ideal honeymoon destination for the couple. Why on earth do they love Japan so much? In fact, his wife, Aimonee (24), did a homestay in Tochigi during high school. She was so impressed by Japanese culture, such as the soba noodle making experience, that she became such a fan of Japan that she majored in Japanese at university. After that, they went to the place in Nagasaki that she most wanted to visit. We headed to the Catholic Honkawachi Church, located at the top of a small hill in the city. Aimony said, "Father Kolbe is well known in the West, and lived here for six years." Father Kolbe is a saint known worldwide as a "martyr of love" who chose to die in place of his wife at the Auschwitz concentration camp after evangelizing in Nagasaki. The couple, who came to their beloved Japan to celebrate the milestone of their wedding, offered prayers at the church. Aimony said, "I'm really glad we were able to come to Nagasaki, which was our long-cherished dream." [TV Asahi News] https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp