The Matcha Tokyo at Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

I swear Fukuoka Airport wasn’t this nice when we visited two years ago but whatever happened in the meantime, we’re loving the transformation!

The Hakata Food Hall had a few spots I really wanted to sit down and explore, but with only minutes left in the city, we had to keep it moving. Hopefully next time, we’ll get to enjoy it properly.

With the little time we had left, I managed to grab a quick drink. While everyone else headed to the restroom, I stumbled upon The Matcha Tokyo, conveniently located near our boarding gate. It was as if the universe knew I desperately needed something to sip on.

So, I eventually joined the line and, within seconds, ordered my iced matcha latte. But just before it was ready to be served up, the boarding announcement came on. As someone who’s not exactly skilled in multitasking (一心二用), I made a snap decision: I left the counter and got in line for boarding, thinking I could return for the drink once my group came back from their restroom break.

What happened next totally caught me off guard. Only a minute later, someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and there she was: the lovely staff member from The Matcha Tokyo, walking all the way over to hand-deliver my drink right at the gate. So thoughtful! Moments like that when someone goes the extra mile to brighten a customer’s day — are rare. It truly put a smile on my face, and I won’t forget it anytime soon.

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 739 International Passenger Terminal, 3F Fukuoka Airport, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)80-6935-1746

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 8:30pm daily

Le Petit Palais Boulangerie-Patisserie (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

I wanted mom to have one last Mont Blanc on this trip so as soon as I woke up this morning, I raced over to Le Petit Palais Boulangerie-Pâtisserie, just in time for its 10 am opening.

Nestled in the lobby lounge of Nishitetsu Grand Hotel, Le Petit Palais has a nice (but small) selection of sweet treats including fresh strawberry cake, fruit cake, cheesecake, and of course, Mont Blanc. 

They also whip up some delicious baked goods like croissants and danishes.

Mont Blanc (600 yen) — The chestnut vermicelli came with little chunks of chestnut which was a pretty nice touch. Overall, it wasn't bad but the chestnut purée was just a tad too sweet for my liking. Thankfully, the raspberry mousse between the purée and sponge brought enough acidity to balance things out.

And there you have it — the sixth and final Mont Blanc cake we enjoyed during my time in Kyushu!

Food Rating: 5.4/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: Nishitetsu Grand Hotel, 2-6-60 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-8587, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Tenjin

Tel: +81 (0)92-781-0406

Website: https://nnr-h.com/grandhotel/takeout_shop/

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 7:00am daily

Daimyo Soft Cream Daimyo 大名ソフトクリーム 大名店 (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

At 9pm, with our last night in Fukuoka, most of us (except for mom) simply refused to return to the hotel and sleep early. However, Fukuoka is hardly a city that never sleeps, and with the majority of the shops and restaurants preparing to close for the day (if they weren't already closed), was there anything worthwhile to prolong our night?

I, for one, had one more itch to scratch before this trip ended, so I decided to venture over to Daimyo (大名).

Daimyo Soft Cream (大名ソフトクリーム) is a Japanese soft serve shop I visited when they had a branch at Hakata Station many years ago. Their creamy and silky smooth soft serve made quite an impression on me, and I really wanted a taste of it to close out this journey.

Daimyo's milk soft cream (600 yen) – This was exactly how I remembered it — thick, creamy, and flavorful. I'm glad I can finally cross it off my list.

Unlike most ice-cream shops, this branch of Daimyo Soft Cream offers a spacious dine-in area.

Food Rating: 6.5/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1-11-4 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0041, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Akasaka / Tenjin-minami

Tel: +81 (0)92-791-1594

Website: http://daimyosoftcream.com/

Opening Hours: 12:00pm - 9:00pm daily

POCHI-ITO パスタ酒場 ポキイト (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★☆☆☆

We were down to our last meal of the trip and decided to return to the trendy One Fukuoka Building in search of one final adventure.

We headed straight to the B1F level, where iiTo TENJIN — a stylish food hall offering everything from gourmet salads to meats and bistro dishes is located. After checking out a few restaurants and bars, we finally set our sights on having supper at POCHI-ITO (パスタ酒場 ポキイト), a pasta and tapas bar focused on Itoshima vegetables and seasonal ingredients.

Tortilla (¥759) – The Spanish omelette was very authentic and very fluffy. Just the way I like it. Solid start!

But the wheels started falling off from here...

Pasta with pomodoro and Itoshima vegetables (¥1,199) – The seasoning was a little on the light side, which was fine as the pasta was nicely al dente. Definitely the most decent of the three pastas we ordered.

Pasta with lemon cream sauce, salmon, and green onion (¥1,529) – The sauce was a little lemony and zesty, and the dish came without the savory notes to balance it out. Didn’t finish this one.

Napolitan (¥1,309) – A bit heavy-handed with the seasoning. For me, a little salty without the usual sweetness from a Japanese-style Napolitan. And this is supposed to be the easiest pasta to make. 

Well, we didn’t want to have more Japanese food on our final night in Fukuoka and it obviously backfired!

Food Rating: 4.4/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: B1F One Fukuoka Building, 1-11 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001 Japan

Closest Metro Station: Tenjin

Tel: +81 (0)92-401-6060

Website: https://www.pochi-ito.com/

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm daily

Truffle Bakery Tenjin Chikagai 天神地下街店 (Fukuoka, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

After returning our rental car, we stopped by Tenjin Chikagai (the underground shopping mall 天神地下街) to pick up tomorrow’s breakfast before heading back to our hotel. With most of the local bakeries closing in less than an hour, I quickly made my way to Truffle Bakery, hoping to catch some of my favorite baked goods while they were still available.

Not surprisingly, many of my favorites were already sold out but not the relatively new truffle salt donut, which I had the pleasure of trying back in the summer.

Truffle salt donut – The “nama donut” (生ドーナツ) has taken Japan (and the world) by storm in recent years, and this is Truffle Bakery’s own interpretation crafted using a unique “no-water-added” fresh dough method, which results in a lighter and more springy texture.

The cream filling is infused with white truffle salt and black truffle. The subtle savory notes help enhance the truffle’s delicate aroma.
Very nicely done.

Food Rating: 7.2/10 (Based on the truffle salt donut only)

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: Tenjin Chikagai 2nd Avenue No.300, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001 Japan

Closest Metro Station: Tenjin

Tel: +81 (0)92-406-4882

Website: https://www.tenchika.com/shop/truffebakery/

Opening Hours: 8:00am - 10:00pm daily 

The Gate Hotel Fukuoka by HULIC (Fukuoka, JAPAN)

Tonight, life comes full circle as we arrive back where it all started almost 10 days ago—right here in Fukuoka City. While I decided to kick off this trip in Hakata (博多), the final chapter will be written in trendy Tenjin (天神) district. 

Located just off the busiest streets of Fukuoka, right next to PARCO, The Gate Hotel Fukuoka by HULIC is our final stay of the journey. As we took the elevator up for check-in, a bright and airy lobby quietly awaited us.

Check-in was a breeze, and I managed to squeeze in a couple of minutes to check out the outdoor terrace from the lobby.

It offers a pleasant city view, though nothing particularly jaw-dropping.

I actually had a hard time finding hotel accommodation for tonight. For some reason, most of the hotels in the city were already sold out months in advance for this particular night (but not during Christmas!). So, honestly, this was my fifth or sixth choice.

With all the basic rooms gone, I went with a three-bed deluxe room, hoping for more space. Even with the added room, we had a tough time finding space for all our luggage and shopping bags. I guess we really bought a lot on this trip!

For a room of this size, the designer did a great job of including two basins in the bathroom. So, we didn’t have to fight over one while getting ready the next morning.

The bathroom itself was pretty standard — dark-colored tiles and a tub inside.



I passed out before the lights were even off, so I guess I was truly exhausted. It’s been a long trip, and everyone simply wanted to go home and rest ASAP.

Rating: ❤❤❤

Price: ￥￥￥￥

Address: 2-8-49 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan

Closest Metro Station: Tenjin

Tel: +81 (0)92-406-2605

Website: https://www.gate-hotel.jp/fukuoka/

Kasanoya かさの家 (Dazaifu, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

A trip to Dazaifu is not complete without tasting its Umegae mochi (梅が枝餅), a traditional Japanese sweet unique in the area, consisting of a thin, chewy rice cake filled with sweet azuki red bean paste, grilled to a crisp on a hot iron plate with a plum blossom stamp. Sold as a warm, toasted, and slightly salty delicacy, it is best enjoyed freshly baked near the famous Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine (太宰府天滿宮).

To find the best Umegae mochi in Dazaifu, just follow the longest line and you’ll likely end up at Kasanoya (かさの家), located right across the street from Dazaifu’s remarkably designed Starbucks.

Situated on the buzzing Dazaifu Tenmangu approach/Omotesando (太宰府天滿宮参道), you can watch the chefs diligently flipping the hot iron plates behind the scenes — an experience in itself!

After less than 10 minutes in the line, I finally got us some sizzling hot Umegae mochi!

I had this last time around during the summer, but in winter time amidst the cold weather, this tasted even better as a heart-warming snack.

Now, we have just enough time to visit Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine before sunset.

Mission complete!

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 2-7-24 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117, Japan

Closest Train Station: Dazaifu

Tel: +81 (0)92-922-1010

Opening Hours: 9:00am - 6:00pm daily

Ramen Oigen Dazaifu 拉麵 おいげん 太宰府店 (Dazaifu, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Ramen Oigen Dazaifu (拉麺 おいげん 太宰府店) is a pork bone broth ramen shop we first visited two years ago during our trip to Dazaifu (太宰府). After skipping lunch to make time for a Mont Blanc dessert in Kurume earlier in, we figured this was the perfect opportunity to relive a flavorful memory. Plus, by the time we arrived at around 3pm, most eateries in the area had already closed for their lunch service.

But clearly, we weren’t the only ones with this idea. A line had already formed, and we found ourselves waiting in the cold, with the temperature hovering around 2°C.

It took a while before we could finally get in (more on that later).

Tonkotsu Ramen (豚骨らぁ麵) (920 yen) — Still the star of the show at Ramen Oigen. The creamy pork bone broth was deeply flavorful, yet beautifully balanced — not overly rich or intense. But the real standout was the smoky aburi chashu (chargrilled pork belly). Perfectly charred, tender, and packed with flavor, and definitely elevated the entire dish.

Shoyu Ramen scented with shrimp oil (海老香る醤油らぁ麵) (1,050 yen) — I had the shoyu ramen scented with shrimp oil this time around. The broth had a savory umami profile, but to be honest, it lacked the depth and richness I was hoping for. And regrettably, it didn’t come with the smoky aburi chashu — my favorite. (Yes, I could have added it as a topping but forgot).

Meanwhile, the soft-boiled egg was nicely done.

This didn't taste anywhere as good as their smoky aburi chashu.

The thin noodles were pretty satisfying.

Our visit wasn’t all smooth sailing. As we stood in front of the line outside the shop, braving the cold, three seats became available but only two were next to each other. However, no signal came from the staff to usher us in or guide us in any way and the ramen shop was set to close in about half an hour. In the end, I had to step inside and explain our situation, asking if little nugget and mom could be seated first while I waited outside. Thankfully, they agreed, but the moment felt a bit awkward (why not offer us to be seated separately?).

All things considered, I felt the incident could have been handled with more care and compassion by the team. When you're hungry, cold, and traveling with a small child and elderly, those little gestures go a long way.

We did have a great time in Dazaifu, as always. 

Food Rating: 6.3/10

Price: ￥￥￥

Address: 1-10-32 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka, 818-0117 Japan

Closest Train Station: Dazaifu

Tel: +81 (0)92-408-8697

Website: www.ramen-oigen.com

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 4:00pm daily

Kasanaya Okinohata カサナヤ沖端 (Yanagawa, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

Yanagawa City  (柳川市) is a peaceful and historic town in Fukuoka Prefecture known for its picturesque canals and “donkobune” boat rides.

And Okinohata (沖端), one of the most scenic and culturally rich parts of the city, is where time slows down, and history flows as gently as the canals that wind through the neighborhood. 

Since Okinohata is literally in the backyard of our hotel, we couldn’t resist heading there to soak in the vibe. Quaint shops line the narrow streets, many of them selling fresh local produce, crafts, and specialties unique to the area. But what really caught our attention was a little gem tucked in between the city's iconic unagi eel restaurants — a cozy snack shop called Kasanaya Okinohata (カサナヤ沖端).

Kasanaya Okinohata keeps its focus razor-sharp with a menu of just four items but every one of them punches above its weight in flavor and flair.

Mutuyaki (220 yen) — A whimsical twist on the classic taiyaki (鯛焼き), the mutuyaki is cooked in a blowfish-shaped mold rather than a sea bream. Its golden, waffle-like batter is lightly crisped on the outside and pillowy soft inside.

One can choose from four fillings: red bean paste, custard, chestnut, and a savory ham and mayo. Being a sweet tooth myself, I went with the custard option. The crust was nice and spongy while the custard cream was smooth with a mild sweetness. The overall experience was a delightful one although I won't mind a little more sweetness in the custard. 

All in all, it’s the kind of snack that makes you smile even before the first bite.

Shrimp cracker 🦐 (700 yen) — For an Instagram-worthy bite, look no further than this shrimp cracker. The freshly made cracker arrives piping hot and fanned out across a wire rack. 

It takes about 6–8 minutes to make, but the anticipation only added to the experience especially for little nugget, who could barely contain his excitement watching it come to life.

The texture was crispy and airy with bright flavors of shrimp and umami that came mostly from two large prawns as toppings. It was our first time trying freshly made shrimp crackers, and honestly, I thought 700 yen for something this fresh and eye-catching was a total steal!

With our snacks in hand, we found a quiet spot by the canal to take in the scenery while we munched away. For under 1,000 yen, we've feasted on two hand-crafted, high-quality snacks under the late morning sun. Kasanaya Okinohata isn’t a place you stumble upon in guidebooks, but it’s exactly the kind of little treasure that makes traveling in Japan so magical.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 34 Okinohatamachi, Yanagawa, Fukuoka 832-0065, Japan

Tel: +81 (0)80-3956-9329

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 4:30pm (Thu - Tue)