Japan
Fukuoka
Fukuoka is situated in the northern extremity of Kyushu, Fukuoka facing Suho-nada (the Sea of Suho) to the northeast, Genkai-nada (the Sea of Genkai) to the northwest and Ariake-kai (the Sea of Ariake) to the Southwest. As the prefecture neighbors the Korean peninsula to the continent of China with a strait in between, it was the first place to touch the continental culture in Japan. Ever since the Government-General of Kyushu was set up in the place known as Dazaifu in the 7th century, Fukuoka has grown as the hub of the Kyushu district.

At Dazaifu, the ancient capital of the Kyushu district that lasted for 500 years, is the Dazaifu Tenmangu, where about 200 kinds of red and white Japanese apricot trees amounting to 6000, about 40 kinds of irides as many as 30,000 pieces in total and other flowers of each season can be enjoyed. Being a shrine sacred to the god of learning, the Tenmangu is visited by many people, students seeking luck in their entrance examinations mostly, all the year round. Also, the prefecture has the Senbutsu Shonyudo, a limestone cavern with beautiful stalagmite and stone pillars known for the discovery of fossil remains of Naumann elements, and other places of natural beauty. In addition, there are theme parks worth visiting, such as the Space World showing what is envisioned as near-futuristic cities in space and on earth.

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The city of Fukuoka, also known by another name Hakata, is not only the center of administration and economy in the Kyushu district but a terminal at which air routes and railroads converge. There, Hakata Dontaku, a gay port festival that is staged every spring, is a spectacle. Highlighted with a parade of painted children, men and women in fancy costume and on decorated vehicles and posture-dancing people through the streets, this event draws more than 300 groups and about 25,000 citizens, plus more than 2 million spectators.

Getting There
About 1 hour and 45 minutes to Fukuoka Airport from Tokyo Haneda Airport; about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport . About 5 minutes to Hakata Station from Fukuoka Airport by subway. About 4 hours and 50 minutes to Hakata Station from Tokyo Station by JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line. About 2 hours and 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station by JR Sanyo Shinkansen Line.

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