Golden Week in Fukuoka

Hi everyone! Today, I’ll be talking about the time I spent in Fukuoka during Golden Week. Golden Week is a series of national holidays in Japan, so we ended up getting almost an entire week off from school. To take advantage of the break, a few friends and I decided to head south to Fukuoka!

Popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto become incredibly crowded during Golden Week, so if you ever find yourself in Japan around this time, I’d definitely recommend visiting somewhere a bit less hectic.

Traveling from Yokohama to Fukuoka took about 4.5 hours on the Shinkansen (bullet train). I highly recommend taking the Shinkansen if you have the chance- it’s comfortable, convenient, and incredibly scenic. In my opinion, it’s also much less stressful than flying.

As someone who grew up in a smaller suburb where you’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know, Tokyo can sometimes feel overwhelming. Taking a break from the busy areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya was honestly really refreshing. What I loved about Fukuoka was that it still had the energy of a major city, but it felt much more relaxed and easier to navigate.

One of my favorite places we visited was Dazaifu, located about 30 minutes south of central Fukuoka. The area is full of history, beautiful shrines, and amazing food. I especially recommend visiting Dazaifu Tenmangu. The shrine was absolutely gorgeous, less crowded than many tourist spots in Tokyo, and surrounded by small hiking trails that led up into the mountains.

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine

Another highlight of the trip was spending time outdoors at Uminonakamichi Seaside Park and Ohori Park. We were lucky enough to have amazing weather the entire trip, which made exploring the parks even more enjoyable. Both were beautiful, relaxing, and definitely worth visiting- 10/10 would recommend!

Ohori Park

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Something I’ve come to appreciate while studying abroad is getting the opportunity to see different parts of Japan beyond Tokyo. Every region has its own atmosphere, food, and culture, and traveling during breaks can help you to experience a side of Japan that many tourists sometimes miss. Fukuoka was definitely my favorite trip so far because it gave me a chance to relax, explore somewhere new, and spend quality time with friends.

Overall, Golden Week in Fukuoka was such a memorable experience, and I would absolutely recommend visiting if you ever get the chance!