Fukuoka Trip: Day 3

On our last day in Fukuoka, I went window-shopping while Chad had a dip in an onsen, or hot spring. The main focus of the day was going to be the Hakata Gion Matsuri (festival), but we had a few hours to blow before it started. When we met up again, we were trying to think of what else to do. Then we looked at our Hakata map and spotted the Fukuoka Asahi Beer Factory! Ah-hah! We'd go on their free beer tour like we'd done in Nagoya! Woot!

We made friends with another couple on the tour

Needless to say, by the time the festival did start, we were feeling pretty good. We took the train from the beer factory to Gion and headed up the stairs to see crowds lined up for the festival. And my, my, what a festival it was!


From July 1st to 15th, hundreds of men and boys get together to race while carrying giant shrines. Wearing loose shirts, loin cloths and boots, they practice racing daily until the final, biggest race on the last day.

As the men raced by, many of them stopped to bow at the temple before continuing on

Everyone was (understandably) tired after their 5 kilometer race. On the final day, the men are supposed to run it in about 30 minutes while holding the 1-ton floats with as much grace as possible. Phew!

After the festival finished, Chad and I headed off for our anniversary dinner at a garlic-themed restaurant. We tried to make up for our breath by going for dessert at a taiyaki place. Unlike most taiyaki we've tried, this taiyaki was made with mochi, or rice cake, and it had chocolate inside! Served piping hot, the texture and flavor was wonderful.


Feeling full and sleepy, we were ready to pick up our stuff from our hotel and ride that horrible night bus back to Kobe.

What a wonderful trip to celebrate 3 wonderful years married~!

Now we're trapped inside, waiting for a typhoon to blow over and dreaming of those sunny days!