Fukuoka Uncovered

Above, Fukuoka Tower that was featured in "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a travel article on Fukuoka entitled, "Uncovering The Secrets of Fukuoka."

Fukuoka has chic boutiques, laid-back bars, a fantastic high-and-low dining scene and beaches nearby. Nearly equidistant to Tokyo, Shanghai and Seoul, it sits on the northern tip of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands.

Despite its many assets, relatively few tourists have discovered Fukuoka. But with a multitude of new transport links, that may soon change.

Cruise ships began docking in the port three years ago, joining ferries from South Korea and China. In 2011, the Kyushu Shinkansen high-speed rail line was completed, linking Fukuoka to Kagoshima, on the southern tip of Kyushu. And this year, two new low-cost airlines, Peach Aviation and AirAsia Japan, have started flying to Fukuoka from Osaka and Tokyo, respectively.

If one doesn't like crowds, Fukuoka may be the Japanese city to suit your fancy.  You may want to visit it now, before the hordes of tourists discover it.

Above, Fukuoka Yahoo Dome that was featured in "Gamera, Guardian of the Universe."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I visited Fukuoka in 2007 and found it to be a rather relaxed city.  I was attracted to it as it was featured in Rodan (1956), Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994) and Gamera, Guardian of the Universe (1995).  Fukuoka is covered in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 45.

Above, a view of off-shore islands from Fukuoka Tower.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/ stories/life/travel/uncovering-the-secrets-of-fukuoka-650465/#ixzz25CVr5Vz1