Fukuoka

Bayside Place Hakata Pier is the marine terminal for scheduled ferries to Tsushima island and chartered cruise vessels. Its stylish building contains restaurants, boutiques and, most notably, a huge 8 m-high "Aquarium" holding around 1200 fish. In the evening, fountains and lasers create a bayside show that visitors from across the country make a point of seeing.

Hakata Port provides 2 separate cruise facilities: Fukuoka Chuo Wharf and Hakata Port International Terminal.

Further harbour development aims to attract more large vessels. During 2018, the city dredged and extended Chuo Wharf to Oasis-class specifications, and its berth can now receive two ships simultaneously.

Most cruise vessels berth at Chuo Wharf, which is too far to walk from either Bayside Place or the city centre. A taxi into central Fukuoka costs about 2000 yen for the 4km trip.

A river once separated Fukuoka City into two settlements: merchant port Hakata and samurai castle town Fukuoka. They eventually merged, and although Fukuoka is the official name, most Japanese still know it as Hakata.

Fukuoka's proximity to mainland Asia, closer to Seoul than Tokyo, made it an important harbour for centuries and the Mongol invasion forces' chosen landing place in the 12th century.

Modern Fukuoka emerged when two cities united in 1889: the harbour settlement of Hakata and the former castle town of Fukuoka. Hakata remains the name of the central district and main railway station.

Despite being a large modern city, Fukuoka is easy to navigate. Its metro links most leading sights, including Hakata, Tenjin, Fukuoka International Airport, Meinohama, home to Asia's 2nd-largest Ferris wheel, and Nishijin, where Fukuoka Tower and the Softbank Hawks' Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome baseball ground stand. Hakata's principal station is also the terminus of the renowned Shinkansen bullet train.

The compact city is small enough to explore on foot.

Fukuoka Tourist City Pass is a one-day ticket giving overseas visitors unlimited journeys on buses and trains within Fukuoka City.

When entering a taxi, let the driver remotely operate the left rear door rather than opening or shutting it yourself. You should not tip, as service is already covered by the fare.

If you cannot speak Japanese or are visiting somewhere unfamiliar, give the taxi driver the exact address on a piece of paper or, preferably, point to it on a map. Japan's address system can confuse even local drivers.

Dazaifu is a New Year pilgrimage destination for Japanese students. This small town contains the attractive Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to a Shinto deity of learning, and the recently built National Museum, Kyushu.

Kurume, renowned for ramen noodles, is 1 hour from Tenjin by rail.

Tenjin, Fukuoka's largest retail district, has numerous designer shops in tall blocks such as Tenjin Core, IMS, Vivre and Underground. Boutique areas include Tenjin Chikagai in a pleasant subterranean space beside Tenjin metro station. Nishi-Dori and Oyafuko-Dori, the same street separated by Showa-Dori, contain many mainstream and independent shops and restaurants.

Canal City is a distinctively designed centre midway between Tenjin and Hakata in the Nakasu entertainment district. It contains clothing retailers, restaurants, unusual character shops including Studio Ghibli merchandise, and a well-equipped theatre. If time allows, watch one of the hourly fountain shows in its bowl-shaped central space.

Japan uses the yen. Notes come in ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 values, while coins are issued as ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1.

Japanese ATMs increasingly accept overseas accounts, and post offices also provide machines. Major credit cards work in most shops and restaurants throughout large urban areas, but carry enough cash in rural districts. Japan remains very much a cash-based society, and some shops, hotels and restaurants refuse cards regardless of location.

Tipping is considered rude, so do not leave one.

Fukuoka City offers everyone a complimentary public wireless LAN called "Fukuoka City Wi-Fi", including within the cruise terminal.

Most Japanese shops and department stores trade daily, including national holidays except New Year's, from 10:00 or 10:30am until 7:30 or 8:00pm. Some specialist retailers close on Sundays and public holidays. Department stores may shut on one irregular day each week, but different closures mean open stores are always available.

Consult the list of Public Holidays in Japan.