I traveled to Hakata and Okayama. As a record of my memories, I’ve compiled this trip to help you plan your trip! In conclusion, it was a perfect trip, excluding my travel expenses!
Travel overview
- Three nights, four days
- Hakata for two days
- Okayama for two days
Keywords of the trip
- Bullet trains
- Nakasu Yatai (food stalls) area
- Mikazukiya Croissant shop（三日月屋）
- Mitsukoshi department store
- Ohori Park
- The OneFive Villa Fukuoka hotel service
- Issou Hakata Tonkotsu ramen shop （一双）
- Canal City Hakata
- Kojima Jeans street
- Local bus riding
- Korakuen
- Travel expenditure
December 25: Tokyo to Hakata
Bullet trains (Hikari and Sakura)
On December 25th, Tokyo station was extremely crowded. Despite Japan being in the midst of the eighth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals were rushing to the bullet train ticket gate to travel and return home as the year came to an end with no restrictions for the first time in years.
This morning, my partner and I had trouble getting bullet train tickets, but we were eventually able to secure seats on the 12:03 Hikari (Shinkansen) to Okayama.
Unfortunately, we were unable to secure tickets for the Nozomi (Shinkansen) and had to opt for a transfer from Hikari to Sakura in Shin-Osaka in order to reach Hakata. The journey took a total of five hours. However, it is important to note that the most efficient and quickest option is to acquire a Nozomi ticket directly from Tokyo to Hakata.
As we reached Nakasu in Hakata, it had become dark outside. We were delighted to see the beautiful Christmas decorations adorning the bridges.
Nakasu Yatai (food stalls) area
The OneFive Villa Fukuoka hotel, where we stayed, was in front of the Nakasu Yatai area. We had some food at the stalls for dinner.
https://yokanavi.com/en/yatai/
December 26: Hakata
Mikazukiya Croissant shop（三日月屋）
There was a luxurious-looking croissant shop close to our hotel. I had a Salmon, avocado and cream cheese sandwich for breakfast. Yes, I can recommend it to others! It was delicious.
http://www.mikadukiya.com/sandwich_haruyoshi
Mitsukoshi department store
We took a stroll to Tenjin station where we came across a large Mitsukoshi department store. While there are various Mitsukoshi departments in Tokyo, this one was notably bigger than the others. Although we only viewed it from the outside and didn’t venture in.
Ohori Park
During the Keicho era, when Nagamasa Kuroda built Fukuoka Castle, he used this area, an inlet of Hakata Bay, as an outer moat.
Ohori Park, located almost in the centre of Fukuoka City, is one of the nation’s leading waterscape parks, with a total area of approximately 398,000 square meters, including a pond measuring 226,000 square meters. There is a 2-kilometre circuit around the pond, a wild bird forest, a children’s amusement park, a Nou theatre, a Japanese garden, an inner island connected by four bridges, a floating viewing hall and a boathouse, all of which are used for relaxation, entertainment and the improvement of physical education.
https://www.ohorikouen.jp/about/
The OneFive Villa Fukuoka hotel service
The OneFive hotel provided a complimentary afternoon tea set. It was luxurious! But, to be honest, we wanted to leave room in our stomachs for good food. We’re not young, so we couldn’t eat that much.
Issou Hakata Tonkotsu ramen shop （一双）
Hakata is known for its Tonkotsu ramen. We went to a ramen shop with a cappuccino-like bubbling soup. Yes, I can recommend it to others! The Tonkotsu ramen soup is made from pork stock. Some people wouldn’t like the Tonkotsu soup smell, but most friends around me love Tonkotsu ramen.
Canal City Hakata
I searched for something interesting close to the hotel, and Canal City Hakata came up. I didn’t expect much because it seemed like one of the average shopping malls, but we didn’t know until we experienced it, so my partner and I went anyway!
Canal City Hakata, a redevelopment project that opened on April 20, 1996, is a complex of shopping malls, cinemas, theatres, amusement facilities, two hotels, showrooms, offices, and a variety of other business types on an approximately 43,500 square-meter site.
In the city’s centre, lined with curvy and colourful buildings, a 180-meter-long canal flows, and a show of dynamic fountains informs the passage of time. Performers’ events and live music are held daily on the waterfront stage. The city is always full of activity, making it an entertainment city where everyone can enjoy, gather and relax.
https://canalcity.co.jp/service/concept
We dropped by BANDAI NAMCO Cross Store on the first floor. You should go there if you like Gacha Cacha (capsule toys) and the arcade atmosphere. We were just excited and forgot to take photos of the area.
https://bandainamco-am.co.jp/crossstore/
December 27: Hakata to Okayama
We walked to Hakata station from the hotel. We caught the Sakura bullet train to Okayama at 9:43.
The next hotel was in front of Okayama station, so we first asked to store our belongings at the hotel and caught a local train to go to Kojima jeans street.
Kojima Jeans street
Kojima is known for its origin in Japanese denim manufacturing. Around 40 jeans shops are gathered in the area. Hanging jeans welcome your visit in front of Kojima station.
When we buy clothes and things while travelling, we remember the trip every time we use them. Buying memories is one of the best parts of travelling.
http://jeans-street.com/smp/shop_search/index.html
Local bus riding
After shopping at Kojima jeansstreet, we rode on the bus, and it took more than one hour to get to Kurashiki. We saw local cities and mountains. I liked the silent bus ride that never experienced in urban areas.
http://shimoden.net/themes/rosen@shimoden_rosen/rosen/pdf/rosenzu/amaki.pdf
December 28: Okayama
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter（倉敷美観地区）
It is a townscape preservation and tourist district in Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture. There is a canal in the middle, and old buildings line up.
We had a panini at CONO FORESTA. The shop is an old house renovated for over 90 years and features a warm wooden building and a beautiful garden.
Korakuen （後楽園）
Korakuen is located close to Okayama station. It takes about 20 minutes from the station by tram and walk.
Along with Kairakuen in Mito and Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, it is one of the “three great gardens of Japan” and is designated as a special place of the scenic beauty of Japan. Okayama Korakuen, once a place of peace for successive domain lords, is still loved and visited by many people from inside and outside the prefecture and overseas.
Time flew quickly. Our trip is time to be over. We rode on Nozomi （shinkansen）from Okayama to Tokyo.
Travel expenditure (for two people)
I calculated our cost from receipts the next day.
- Shinkansen ¥105,900 (Tokyo to Shin-Osaka to Hakata, Hakata to Okayama, Okayama to Tokyo without round trip discount)
- Hotel ¥60,710 (Two nights of Hakata, one night of Okayama)
- Food and bevarages ¥28,000
- Jeans ¥48,400 (one jeans and dress)
- Others ¥10,000 (entrance fee, medicine, etc.)
- Total = ¥253,010
It cost more than I expected!!! But I was still satisfied! I really enjoyed it.
