This is an annual exhibition is for the connection between people with disabilities and the community through art.
Especially this year, the portraits, picture diaries and video works were created for the result of the artists’ communication with those in the affected Tohoku area.

Able Art 2012 Life Map-note

Venue: Gallery Artelier, B2F Hakata Riverain
Date: Feb. 4th (Sat.) – Mar. 25th (Sun.)
Time: 10:30 – 19:30
Admission: Free
Access
Take a subway from Hakata station to Nakasu-Kawabata station. (3min, 200yen) + 1min walk.
Or 30min walk from Khaosan Fukuoka.

HAYABUSA was an unmanned spacecraft to return a sample of material from a small asteroid named Itokawa to Earth.
This special exhibition is for the successful return of Hayabusa capsule.
You can watch “Hayabusa capsule”as the actual size, “Panel Remarks” and a model of “Hayabusa”
Don’t miss this special exhibition!!!

Venue: Fukuoka Science Museum in Kurume City.
Date: March 9th – 13th. (Close on March 12th)
Open: 9:30 – 16:30 (~17:00 on Weekends)
Admission: Free
Access
Take JR from Hakata station to Kurume station on Kagoshima Honsen line. (40min, 720yen) Then take a bus #23 from JR Kurume-eki bus stop to Seishonen Kagaku-kan mae bus stop. (17min, 230yen)

Asteroid Probe HYABUSA

Richard Street who is an original member of The Temptations will take the stage and perform worldwide hits from The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay and more.
This great live music will attract you!!

Venue: Fukuoka Sun Palace Hotel & Hall
Date: February 21st (Tue.)
Start: 19:00
Admission
A: 5500yen, B: 5000yen, C: 4500yen
Access
Take a bus #99 or #88 from “Hakata eki-mae E”bus stop and get off at “Kokusai Center Sun Palace-mae”bus stop. (13min, 220yen)

Motown Sound 2012

About 30 thousand people join this annual event.
This huge handcraft fair displays of items made from paper, cloth, glass as well as a fashion show, talk show, lectures and so on.
Don’t miss the event if you are a person who likes making things yourself!!

Venue: Marine Messe Fukuoka
Date: February 17th (Fri.) – 18th (Sat.)
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Admission: 700yen
Access
Take a bus #88 from Hakata-eki center biru-mae E and get off at Marine Messe mae (17min, 220yen)

17th Hand Craft Fair in Kyushu

The exhibition of Japanese and Western antiques will be held by licensed dealers!!
Also you can have your own antiques valued by experts.
Valuations are limited to 20 people.

Venue: Fukuoka Convention Center
Date: February 10th (Fri.) – 12th (Sun.)
Time: 10:00 – 17:00 (~ 16:00 on 12th.)
Admission: Free
Access
Take a bus #88 at Hakata-eki center biru mae E and get off at Kokusai Kaigijo Sun Palace mae. (21min, 220yen) + 3min walk.

Antiques Fair in Fukuoka

Dream line Ferry have a special cheap price event between Busan and Fukuoka from Feburary 10th to March 31st!!!

Dream line Ferry
Depart Busan 9am → Arrive Hakata 12:15pm (3 hours and 15 minutes)
Fare: 69000 KRW (weekdays) or 92000 KRW (weekends) + oil surcharge 20000 KRW (round way)

Depart Hakata 2:45pm → Arrive Busan 6:00pm (3 hours and 15 minutes)
Fare: 3500 JPY + oil surcharge 1500 JPY (round way)

* Ticket fee can be paid by credit card or cash
* Check-in must be done 50 minutes before departure time.
* They don’t operate every Wednesday.
* Make a reservation by phone.
Japan: 092-282-7300, Korea: 1544-5117

Access from Hakata ferry port to JR Hakata station.
Take a bus, about 20minutes 220yen.
From JR Hakata station (bus stop E) to Hakata ferry port #88
From Hakata ferry port to JR Hakata station #11, 50, 80
Click here for direction from JR Hakata station to Khaosan Fukuoka.

Dream Line Ferry

Setsubun literally means seasonal division.
On 3rd of February, it’s said that this is the beginning of spring.
Japanese people throw roasted beans on this day to cleanse all evils away and bring good luck!!

The bean throwing festival takes place at Atago Shrine.
Find a gold or silver bean hidden among those thrown!!
Let’s join this event and get good luck!

Venue: Atago Shrine
Date&Time: From 11:30am on February 3rd (Fri.)
Admission: Free
Access
Take a subway from Hakata station to Muromi station (15min, 290yen)
8min walk to Atago Shrine.

Setsubun Lucky Star Festival at Atago Shrine

Beans thrown by the shrine maidens

One of Japan’s biggest video game and hobby fairs will be held in Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome!!
Famous companies will show off their new creations. You will see famous Manga artists too.
Both kids and adults can enjoy this event.
Let’s explore Japanese subcultures!!!

Venue: Fukuoka Yahoo! Japan Dome
Date&Time: 9:00 – 16:00 on Feb. 5th (Sun.)
Admission: Free
Access
Take a bus #44 at Mizuho bus stop (the closest bus stop from the hostel) and get off at “Yahoo Dome mae” (220yen, 40mins)
On Weekends, not so many buses run on this route.
You can take a subway from Hakata station to Tojinmachi station (15min, 250yen) and 10 min walk to Yahoo! Japan Dome

Next Generation World Hobby Fair '12

Hinamatsuri (Dolls festival, Girls’ day) is held on the 3rd of March.
Ornamental dolls are displayed around this day in Japan.

In Yanagawa city, many citizens open their houses to the public to show their dolls during Sagemon-Meguri festival.
Enjoy their unique decorations!!

Yanagawa City Official Website

Access
50min by Nishitetsu train to Yanagawa station from Nishitetsu Fukuoka station.

If you have a JR pass, take JR train from Hakata station to Omuta station(50min by express train) and transfer the train to Nishitetsu train. JR Omuta staion and Nishitetsu Omuta staion is the same station but different platforms.
Take a Nishitetsu train from Nishitetsu Omuta station to Yanagawa station.(about 10min by express train, 330yen)

Yanagawa Sagemon-Meguri