PORTS OF CALL - Asia
Fukuoka, Japan
Not only is it incredibly fun to say, but Fukuoka also boasts incredible sights like the country's biggest hotel, longest bar and largest cinema complex. This cosmopolitan centre has spent the last few years transforming into a vibrant, modern city just for worldly travellers like you. Dive into all the shopping, dining, sports and culture you can imagine, with plenty of helpful information offices and efficient subway stations along the way.
Don't Miss
If you're up for a bit of local history, check out the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum. There you'll explore a 150-year-old home filled with authentic everyday objects. Or watch artisans create the famed Hakata-ori cloth - used for kimono (obi) sashes and sumo loincloths.
Check out Canal City Hakata - a massive shopping and entertainment complex wrapped around a man-made canal that features huge jets of water.
Shop the high-rise and underground boutiques of the Tenjin district and keep your eyes peeled for the car-sized LCD video screens.
Go neon along the Naka River in Nakasu - Western Japan's largest entertainment district.
Explore the ruins of Fukuoka Castle in Ohori-Koen Park and take in the amazing views from this hilltop refuge.
Visit traditional Japanese shrines and temples in the Hakata Ward, including Shofukuji Temple, Tochoji Temple and the Kushida Shrine.
Sporting Adventures
Catch a fly ball at one of the world's most innovative baseball stadiums - the Fukuoka Dome. Home to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, this stadium seats 48,000, has a retractable roof and houses the world's longest bar with over 600 feet of whistle-whetting bliss!
Local Flavours
Most people have tried ramen. You know, those tasty "just-add-water" noodles you can buy for a dime in any supermarket? Well, Fukuoka is known throughout Japan as the place to go for fresh ramen noodles. The best ramen stalls are the ones with a big crowd out front, but the great price and satisfying slurp will make it well worth the wait.
Shopping for Bargains
It's hard not to find boutique or window-shopping opportunities in Fukuoka. But if you want local crafts like the popular clay Hakata dolls or silk obi sashes, be sure to stop by the Tenjin district.
Currency
Japan's official currency is the Japanese Yen. ATMs are plentiful and major credit cards are usually accepted.