Fukuoka's Seaside Momochi

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There is an area in Fukuoka, Japan on the island of Kyushu that attracted both Godzilla and Gamera during the 1990s.

It just so happens that Gaijinpot.com has an article on this section of Fukuoka. It is "Fukuoka's Seaside Momochi."

Within Seaside Momochi are Fukuoka Tower, featured in 1994's Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla and the Yafouku! Dome in 1995's Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.

The Gaijinpot.com article begins with:

People that come to Fukuoka tend to focus on Tenjin and Hakata. This is understandable because these two areas are very much the heart of the city; you can shop till you drop, see all of Fukuoka’s most famous temples and try all of its best food in these areas. 

It surprised me then, when a friend of mine came to visit last week and said, “Lets skip Hakata and head to Momochi instead!” Seaside Momochi (シーサイドももち) to give it its proper name is an area created in 1989 from reclaimed land along Hakata Bay in the north of the city. It’s an incredibly attractive part of Fukuoka with wide streets lined with trees, no phone or electricity lines above ground and plenty of interesting architecture to gaze at whilst you walk.

I visited Seaside Momochi during my trip to Kyushu in 2007. I took a special bus from Fukuoka's Hakata Station to get there.

Above, the Yafouku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Kaiju fans can see the aforementioned two monster movie locales very easily as the Yafouku! Dome and Fukuoka Tower are within easy walking distance.

The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan spotlights Fukuoka on page 45.

To read more on Seaside Momochi, go here.

Fukuoka Walking Tours

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is known to kaiju fans as being featured in Rodan (1956), Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995) and Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla (1994).

Landmarks used in those movies include Hakata Bay, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafouku! Dome.

Gaijinpot.com has posted an interesting article on places to see in Fukuoka by just taking a walking tour or two. Although the locations used in the aforementioned kaiju movies aren't part of the walking tours, there are other things to see and enjoy.

They begin the article with:

All around Japan people are starting to venture out after a long, grueling winter tucked into their kotatsu. Spring is on its way, and heading outside to have fun is finally a real possibility. Soon it will be time to pack a picnic, pick up some friends and head for the nearest cherry blossom tree for a Hanami party. 

There are plenty of alternatives to Hanami viewings though. Spring is also the perfect time to explore a new place on foot, and there is nowhere better suited for a walking tour than Fukuoka city. Other Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka are just too big to walk around, but Fukuoka offers you the chance to see everything that the city has to offer, simply by walking through its streets (as long as you pick the right ones!).

To read more to find out what you can see during a walking tour of Fukuoka, go here.