福岡 Fukuoka

Met my parents and uncle in Fukuoka for a tour of Kyushu during my spring vacation!

Spring has indeed arrived in Kyushu (southern part of Japan, 2 hrs' flight from Tokyo)

Zenzai, a traditional dessert in Fukuoka, mochi balls in sweet red bean soup.

Festival float on display at the zenzai shop.

Canal City, huge shopping, entertainment, convention mall built around an artificial canal.

Festival float on display at Kushida shrine

Cutely-dressed Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) statues at Tocho temple, which also houses the largest wooden Buddha statue in Japan (but unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures of that)

Retro armchair in our room at the rustic Ryokan Kashima Honkan

Fukuoka is famous for a type of ramen called tonkotsu ramen. Soup base is a rich and tasty white pork broth. Hakata ramen dinner and gyozas at Menchan (voted #1 in Ramen Freak).

Verdict: OISHIIIIII!! It fully deserves its #1 position!