Hakata Gion Yamakasa is an annual summer festival held from July 1 to 15 by Kushida Shrine.
With a history stretching back over 750 years, in 1979 it was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
In 1241, to drive away an epidemic in Hakata, a high-ranking priest was carried by local residents around the town on a shelf and sprinkled holy water along the way. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa of today evolved from this event.
A Yamakasa is a portable shrine with two different types: the Kazariyamakasa, decorated floats, and Kakiyamakasa, carried floats.
Kazariyamakasa are enormous, about 16m high. They are decorated with magnificent dolls that illustrate various historical or legendary tales. During the festival they are displayed in different parts of the city.
Kakiyamakasa are 5 to 6m high, and weigh close to a ton. Seven floats are made for the festival and on the final day they appear in a race known as Oiyama.
At the final of the festival, local teams carry the Kakiyamakasa and race at full speed along a 5km course. At 4:59 a.m., with the beat of a drum, the first team carry its Kakiyamakasa and depart from Kushida Shrine, with the others following at 5 minute intervals. The teams compete to complete the course in the fastest time. Despite the early start, the spectacle attracts 850,000 tourists from all over Japan. The team yell the traditional chant, "Oissa! Oissa!" as the excitement peaks, and throw water on the men as they pass to cheer them on.

Date: June 28, 2009

It is a great season to get on a bicycle and have a nice active day!
There are several Japanese gardens in Fukuoka. Here are some of our reccommendations which all are pretty easy access from Khaosan Fukuoka.
Rakusuien,Yusentei park,Syofuen and Hiraosanso.
You can amuse yourself with nice Green Tea (300yen) or just taking a walk in the gardens is very calming.

Date: May 15, 2009

Have you ever seen a japanese pofessional baseball game ?
If not, why don't you try it here in Fukuoka?
There is a nice baseball stadium called Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome.
You can get there about in 30mins by subway or bus from JR Hakata Station.

more details for the game schedule: check the following webpage
http://www.softbankhawks.co.jp/game/2009/200904.php
( You can see the game at Yahoo Dome only indicated as "(ヤフーD)" on the game schedule calender.)
The game ticket is possible to buy at LAWSON, convenient store.

Date: April 16, 2009

KYUSHU BASHO is coming November.

Date: 9th November 2008 - November 23
Venue: Fukuoka Kokusai Center
Access: 13-minute bus ride from Hakata station (JR), eight-minute bus ride from Tenjin station (subway), 15-minute walk from Gofuku-machi station (subway)

starts 9th October
call 092 291 9333 (within Japan)
from overseas +81 92 291 9333
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/fukuoka.html

cheapest ticket is 2000 yen. (this option is not sold in advance)

Direction to Fukuoka Kokusai centre from Khaosan Fukuoka.

Date: October 12, 2008

This event has finished.
Here is the Photos.

In Onishi area (Kuroki-machi, Yame-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture), farming classes are being held monthly to offer visitors first-hand experience of seasonal farming practices and life in the countryside. Organized by local community, this “Onishi Farming School” is also aimed at revitalizing the area through direct interaction between city-dwellers and local people.

The Onishi Farming School Curriculum for October 2008
・Work on the vegetable field
・Harvesting rice
・Old-style rice threshing
* Homemade snack and Kabosu lime juice will be served during the break time.

If you are looking for a different way to spend your time, then this unique one-day trip may be the one for you. It will be one of the highlights of your stay in Fukuoka .

■Date:
Saturday, October 11, 2008

■Schedule :
7:00 am Depart from KHAOSAN FUKUOKA
9:00 am Arrive at Kuroki-machi, Yame
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Hands-On farming
12:00 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Depart from Kuroki-machi
15:30 pm Arrive at KHAOSAN FUKUOKA

■Participation Fee :
4,000 yen/adult (lunch included)

■Maximum Number of Participants : 8 people
＊ The field trip is available for the guests staying at KHAOSAN FUKUOKA only.

For further information, please contact KHAOSAN FUKUOKA

Date: September 28, 2008

KYUSHU BASHO is coming November.

Date: November 11, 2007 - November 25
Venue: Fukuoka Kokusai Center
Access: 13-minute bus ride from Hakata station (JR), eight-minute bus ride from Tenjin station (subway), 15-minute walk from Gofuku-machi station (subway)

Ticket order start 7th October at Fukuoka Kokusai Centre

order by phone starts 9th October
call 092 291 9333 (within Japan)
from overseas +81 92 291 9333
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/fukuoka.html

cheapest ticket is 3100 yen.

Direction to Fukuoka Kokusai centre from Khaosan Fukuoka.

10 mins walk back to Hakata station, then take a bus #11, 19, 50, these buses take you there about 13 mins. The cost is 180 yen.

Date: October 5, 2007

Seven floats, each carried on the shoulders of 26 men, compete over a 5km (3 miles) course. The spectators cheer them on and (this is the point) sprinkle refreshing water over them, a tradition that is said to have originated in the plague year of 1241, when the founder of Joten Temple saved the city by sprinkling sweet water everywhere. The racing floats (Kaki Yamagasa) are a male preserve, while the women have even more ornate fixed floats called Kazari Yamagasa. These feature the famous Hakata dolls and are on show throughout the festival. The Kaki Yamagasa are paraded for the last five days of the festival and raced in the climactic Oiyama contest on the final day

Date: 01 Jul 2007 - 15 Jul 2007

Date: June 10, 2007

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No1 icon Nishitetsu Yakuin Station No2 icon Nishitetsu Yanagawa Station Nishitetsu Yakuin - Nishitetsu Yanagawa -- about 45 minutes 830 yen. It doesn't have to be Yakuin staion, The train departs from Nishitetsu Tenjin Station. If you go to Yanagawa from Tachiarai, go back to Ogori station, then you can take Nishitetsu line. Then cost is 500 yen. Get a local train to Kurume first, then take a express from kurume to Yanagawa. It is just 2 stops from Kurume station by express train.
Yanagawa is really beautiful and quiet place. When you get off the train station, the canal boat cruise staff can give you a ride to stating place. You might want to see around the town before canal crusing, but there are just souvenir shops on the way to the statring point. So you can walk back to the station after boat cruise.
The boat cruise costs you 1500 yen per person for 50-70 minutes. They have a few english cruise which is just explore with cassette tape player. They usually cruise with 4-5 people on 1 boat. So you might need to wait for other people. Yanagawa is famous about bbq eel which is called unajuu. You should try it, if you like eel. More photos by google picasa

Date: June 2, 2007

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No1 icon JR Hakata Station No2 icon JR Kiyama Station No3 icon Amagi Tetsudou Tachiarai Station JR Hakata Station - JR Kiyama station -- Rapid bound for Tosu, 28 mins 450yen JR Kiyama Station - Amagi Tetsudou Tachiarai Station -- 21 mins 330 yen
From Lonely planet wrote; Even the locals don't know about Tachiarai Heiwa Kinenkan, a tiny memorial museum established by ex-aviators and residents ofTachiarai, a small village set in farmland 40 minutes from Fukuoka. yeah, lonelyplanet maybe right. The locals don't know this little place
The amagi tetsudo is not JR, so you need to pay the fee when you get off the train, because the little train operated by 1 guy. You need to pick a ticket when you get on, the number is on the ticket, so you can figure out how much you need to pay. But From kiyama to Tachiarai is 330 yen anyway(June, 2007).
This little museum has an aircraft. The cost is 500 yen. You can also get there by Nishitetsu line from Tenjin or Yakuin station. But JR is cheaper, if you have JR pass.
	There is also KIRIN BEER FARM, it takes about 20 minutes walk from the museum. But it is nice walk before the lunch. They have a brewery tour (except monday and new year's days), need to make a reservation in advance.(0946（23）2132). So, After lunch, what are you going to do? Going to Yanagawa? or Going to Dazaifu? Both place are on the Nishitetsu line. So you need to back to Ogori station by Amagi tetsudou. Which is about 16 minutes for 280yen. More photos by google picasa

Date: June 2, 2007

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No1 icon Nokonoshima ferry port No2 icon Camp site No3 icon Meinohama Ferry port No4 icon Khaosan Fukuoka (need to zoom out)
There is a little island on Hakata bay, called nokonoshima (能古の島), Nokonoshima is an island of about 3.93km² and 800 people. The highest mountain only 195m. The island has unditurbed nature, camp site, beachs, flower park, trekking trail for begginer. It is only 10 mins to get there by ferry from Meinohama nokotosenba(姪浜能古渡船場) ferry port. There are many ferries between 6am to 11pm everyday.
	To get to the Meinohama nokotosenba (姪浜能古渡船場), just get on the bus ( 300, 301, 302 ) from Hakata station. The cost is 420 yen, takes about 40 minutes. Though this ferry port is out of 1 day pass area, you can just pay 200 yen extra. The 1 day bus ticket is only 600 yen, so it is very convenient for hanging around fukuoka city. The ferry cost is 220 yen for one way. There is no return ticket discount. This ferry accept cars, bicycle also. 120 yen extra for bicycle. For information 092-881-8709
After 10 mins the ferry brings you to Nokonoshima ferry port, this island pretty small, and it is good size for for 4 or 5 hours trekking. But if you are not outdoor man, you might not walk around. There is a bus once every an hour, to get to Nokonoshima island park (のこのしまアイランドパーク). The cost is only 220 yen. There is an look out point on the way to Nokonoshima island park, the cost is 160 yen. However there are many wild flowers and fruits trees around island, the smells would make you feel good!!
	There is a camp site on the beach on the east side of the island. You could see Fukuoka city view from here. The camp site provide you BBQ, 3,000 yen p/p. That is included food, BBQ set, but not for beer. Also they provide you the BBQ set only, for 3,000yen for 1 set. You must book in advance, for BBQ or camp site. http://www.nokonoshima.com/mura1 There is only 1 taxi in this island, his name is Maeda-san. I think he would be quite busy in the summer time. You could see his taxi many times during you are in this island even though 1 taxi. More photos by google picasa

Date: May 13, 2007

The history of Japanese bath culture is very old.
Now everyone has their own bathroom in their house, but long time ago, it was not so common to have their own one.
Everyone went to public bath and there was mixed with so many different kind of people who has different jobs, different situation of family,and different age.
The number of public bath is decreasing nowadays, but still people go there to enjoy big bath tub and take a rest.
Maybe some of old people expect to have communication with people there.
Big hot spring place has a lot of tourists, but most of local people go to the small place because it is cheaper and people know the people there.

We have 2 different kind of Public bath near here. You can get there on foot.

* Hana no yu -5min on foot
Local place. crowded in the early evening with old people.after 8pm or 9pm is better.
opening hour- 15:00～24:00

410yen for entrance.
700yen if you want sauna as well, with a big towel for sauna for rent.
Every Mondays are Sauna day. 500yen with sauna, without a big towel. 50yen for a big towel rent.

The price is not included anything like shampoo soap... so you need to prepare them by yourself if you need.

* Yaoji no yu -15min on foot
Real natural hot spring.Good for health.
medicinal benefits- neuralgia,muscular pain,arthritis,pain in the shoulders,bruise,sprain,inflammation of the digestive organs,bad circulation,recover from fatigue.

opening hour- 6：30～9：30(last entrance 9:00) / 12：00～24：00(last entrance 23:30)

700yen for the entrance with sauna.
Every Wednesdays are Ladies day-600yen only for ladies.
Every 26th are 600yen for everyone.

Sampoo and soap are included.
They have towels for rent- pair of big and small towels for 200yen.

People who has tatoo on the skin can not enter.

How to enjoy Japanese Public Bath??

1.Take off your shoes and put them in the shoe box as you do in Khaosan Fukuoka everyday.
2.Pay the entrance fee at the counter.(Some places has vending machine to buy a ticket. If you get a ticket, just pass it to the counter.)
3.Get into the changing room. NOTICE!! Men and Women are separated!!
4.You can use the locker. If you are really worried about your valuables,you can ask to the counter to keep them.
5.Take off everything. Don't be shy.
6.Move to Bath room　with your stuff like small towel, soap and shampoo if you brought them.
7.You have to wash your body first before you get into bath tab.This action can be the respect for the other people.The bath tab is not only for you but for everyone.
8.Now,have relax into the hot water in the tab....haaaaaa. But careful, sometimes very hot.
9.Wipe your body with squeezed towel before you move to changing room to keep the room clean.
10.Wipe your body and hair well and put on your cloths. Be careful not to catch a cold. Better to take something to drink.

Date: May 6, 2007

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No 1 icon --- khaosan fukuoka
No 2 icon --- Hana no yu

Date: May 6, 2007

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No1 icon --- khaosan fukuoka
No2 icon --- Yaoji no yu

Date: May 6, 2007

Many Yatai (food stall) places around fukuoka area.
There are a few Yatai on the way to our places from JR Hakata station.
Try yatai culture on the open air restaurant.

Date: May 6, 2007

Date: May 6, 2007

Date: May 6, 2007

This colorful festival takes place on May 3 and 4 in the city of Fukuoka in northern Kyushu. The festival evolved from matsubayashi, a folk art widely performed in Kyoto during the Muromachi period (1333-1568). It was performed by farmers and townspeople as a form of New Year's greetings to the local landowner or leader. People dressed up as the three gods of good fortune and paraded to musical accompaniment. The "gods" were followed by young children, who danced to a special chant called iitate. The Hakata Dontaku elevated the traditional matsubayashi into a festive occasion, when people from all walks of life can meet and exchange greetings on an equal footing. Today, people from all over the country descend on Fukuoka for the festival, which coincides with Golden Week." It is one of the most popular destinations for vacationers during the holidays in western Japan.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), decorative floats and platforms showcasing dolls were added. The name of the festival was adopted around this time: it is believed to be derived from the Dutch word zondag (Sunday), which was taken to mean "holiday".

On May 3, a 1.2-kilometer stretch of a major thoroughfare is converted into "Dontaku Square," where a parade is held. Traditional matsubayashi is performed by over 12,000 people belonging to around 120 groups. Some of these groups use traditional Japanese instruments, while others perform the folk melody with brass instruments. A parade is also held on May 4. In addition, 16,000 dancers, singers, and other performers are featured on specially built stages in the city of Fukuoka. Closing out the two-day festival are rousing renditions of the Dontaku dance that spectators are invited to join and a gala display of fireworks.

Photos: Thousands of people take part in the festival parade. (Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

Date: April 12, 2007

It's a great time to go out to see the cherry blossoms from the midle of march to beginning of april in Japan.
Maiduru Park and Nishi(West)Park are good place to see the cherry blossoms.Both of places is close to Tenjin that is downtown of Fukuoka.

Maiduru Park
address: jounai.chuouku,fukuokashi
access : from ｢ohori kouen｣subway sation
to take a walk on Meiji st east way,and intersection of o-temon to turn right.

Nishi(west)Park
address:Nishi kouen,chuouku,fukuokashi
access :from ｢ohori kouen｣subway sation
to take a walk on kendo 556 line north way

Date: February 21, 2007

Canal city hakata is so big shopping mall. There are many boutiques and toy store, CD and book
store, restaurants, Ramen stadium, amusement arcade, movie theater, musical theater.
You can enjoy all day long!

http://www.canalcity.co.jp/index.html
Address:1-2, Sumiyoshi hakata-ku fukuoka-city

Access : From Hakata station area
・「Hakata eki mae A」(outer)bus stop to take a bus and「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.
・「Hakata eki koutsu center 1F」number 113,114,200,201,202,203
to take a bus 「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.
→ go straight the bus line and crossing
→ turn left from pedestrian bridge
→ Canal city (side of city theater)
・「Nishinihon city bank mae F」number 46,63
to take a bus 「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.
→ back to opposite side of bus line

From Tenjin area
・「Tenjin Daimaru mae 4」on Tenjin Watanabe street
number 46,63 (inner),68
「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.
・「Tenjin Kego Jinja,Mitsukoshi me」on Tenjin kokutai street
number 6,113,114,200,201,202,203
* Be sure to take a bus that go to 「Hakata station」
「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.
・「Tenjin 1 cho-me」in front of the Daimaru elgala on Tenjin kokusai street
number 6, 46,63(inner) 68,113,114,200,201,202,203
* Be sure to take a bus that go to 「Hakata station」
「Canal city Hakata mae」bus stop to get off.

Date: February 17, 2007

Date: February 13, 2007

“Ramen ”mean is noodle.“Hakata”mean is one of city name in Fukuoka. Soup base is “Tonkotsu” which made of pork's bone.Especially this noodle of food is so thin.Mainly,this kind of food making in Hakata area.Terefore everybody calls “Hakata Ramen”
This food looks like strong tast.and smell also too....but!!! unexpectedly tast is a mild.

If you want to see many kind of Ramen at once,I recommend to go “Ramen stadium” in Canal city Fukuoka.You can have a lot of area 's Ramen!!

Address: 5F,1-2, Sumiyoshi hakataku fukuokashi
http://www.canalcity.co.jp/ra-sta2/index.html

Date: February 10, 2007

Go to korean consulate first ? From Ferry port. Catch the bus # 55, 151, 152, 61 get off the bus at tenjin kita. then going underground to get a subway. take a Fukuoka airport subway line to Tojinmachi station (which is bound for Meinohama). The korean consulate is about 10 mins walk from Tojinmachi Station. How to get to khaosan fukuoka from Tojinmachi station. Get on the Fukuoka airport subway line to Hakata station. (bound for Fukuoka airport)
	When you get to Hakata station by subway, you see the yellow sign, take the way to "Chikushiguchi exit".
	Make sure you are taking the way to Chikushiguchi Exit
	After through the gate look for the No15 Exit.
	You can see "Miyako Hotel" when you get to on the ground. Cross the pedestrian, then turn right.
	you will see "FedEx Kinkos" on the corner, turn left this corner.
	keep walking along to the street after kinkos about 6-8mins. you could find green signed "HONDA VERNO". turn left this corner.
	turn right the first corner after HONDA. We are here. Welcome to Khaosan Fukuoka.

Date: February 8, 2007

JR Kyushu has a great value pass, "KYUSHU RAIL PASS".
They have 2 types of PASS, 1 for 3 days cost 13,000 yen, another one is for 5 days cost 16,000 yen.
You don't need to apply for that from overseas like as JR pass.
It means that you don't need JR pass travelling for Kyushu, You could use your JR pass, may be 7 days in Honshu, tokyo, yokohama, kyoto, osaka, kobe, hiroshima.
JR KYUSHU website
There is a ferry from Hakata international port to Busan, Korea.
It takes just 3 hours, and also they have ferry and Korea rail pass cost about 28,000 yen for 5 days.
This pass include return ferry ticket between Hakata and Busan, and Korea rail pass for 5 days. for more details see the website.

Date: December 25, 2006

Name of Hakata is very famous for japanese people except people who live in Fukuoka prefecture.
I mean that there is the area named as Hakata, but it is actually one part of Fukuoka city at this time.
But I think "Hakata" is more popular than "Fukuoka" for Japanese people.
For example there is a Paddington in London, if British people called "paddington" instead of expression of London.

From wikitravel

Fukuoka is a modern city; most of its buildings are new. Historically, it was divided into Hakata (博多) and Fukuoka, two separate cities divided by the central river, and the main railway station and port are still known as Hakata Station and Hakata Port. The westernmost part of Fukuoka is also known as Sawara (早良).

Fukuoka is a good starting point to begin a vacation to Japan for first-timers. Compared to Tokyo, even New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles will seem sleepy and life appear slow. Beginning the trip at Fukuoka will help ease the transition. While still a big modern city, it's not hard to get around. The train station is already the loci of one of the city's two city centers (the other being Tenjin). When you're ready to head to the big cities up north, just board the "shinkansen" train line.

Date: December 20, 2006

Yatai, "street stalls", in Hakata are now famous all over the country. Today, there are more than two hundred stalls in Fukuoka City and most of them stand close along the streets of the central parts of the city such as Tenjin and Nakasu. Yatai have become firmly fixed as a natural feature in the evening of Hakata.
Why are they so popular? There are many reasons such as "cheap and delicious", "abundant dishes", and "people to people contact". "Furthermore, that it has many trend-oriented young female customers is the recent feature of Yatai in Hakata.
The lively Yatai in Hakata have an atmosphere common to cities in Asian countries. This may be why the cultural theory in which the closest city to Asia is Fukuoka City tends to emerge.

日本語はこちら »

Date: December 20, 2006