Searching for a souvenir? Leave it to us! Guide to shopping spots in Fukuoka Prefecture

Look no further for information on where to shop on your trip to Fukuoka. Where are the best places to shop? What makes a great souvenir? Find these answers and more here.

Before you decide where to shop, do your homework and think about what to buy.
Go on a shopping spree at a large-scale commercial facility
Find souvenirs at popular sightseeing spots
Enjoy the vibrant market and gourmet food
Shop at places that offer unique experiences

Before you decide where to shop, do your homework and think about what to buy.

Products that are unique to Fukuoka Prefecture make the perfect souvenirs for friends and family.
The first representative Fukuoka cuisine is Tonkotsu ramen. There are many varieties to choose from, including products that recreate the flavors of popular restaurants, dried noodles, and fresh noodles.
Next, among confections, the staple items in Fukuoka are chocolates, cookies, and Japanese confections made with Amaou brand strawberries, a local specialty product. Menbei rice crackers flavored with spicy Mentaiko, or pollack roe (fish eggs), are also a popular snack.
If you want to get a souvenir for someone special, choose an item that will last for a long time. How about a pouch or strap made from Hakataori textile, which represents the culmination of traditional techniques?

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What do foreign tourists like to buy for themselves?

It is no surprise that Japanese brand cosmetics, home appliances, and anime character merchandise are popular. Practical and affordable miscellaneous goods are also popular among foreign tourists for their creative and ingenious designs.
In addition to department stores and electronics retailers, be sure to also visit supermarkets, drugstores, 100-yen shops, and other local stores near your accommodation.

Go on a shopping spree at a large-scale commercial facility

If it is too difficult or tiring to travel here and there to shop, you may find it more convenient to shop at a large-scale commercial facility! You can shop around for a wide variety of products efficiently.

JR Hakata City

A commercial building that is linked directly to JR Hakata Station. It is split into several areas, the largest of which is "AMU," offering a dizzying variety of products such as fashion, miscellaneous goods, and cosmetics. You will find the "Pokémon Center Fukuoka" on the 8th floor, which is packed with fans from Japan and abroad. "DEITOS," located on the 1st floor, features many souvenir shops selling food products from Fukuoka Prefecture. You can also purchase various Fukuoka specialties such as adorable chick-shaped manju confections and bite-sized Baumkuchen.

LaLaport FUKUOKA

A large-scale commercial facility with a wide variety of shops selling fashion, cosmetics, electrical appliances, household goods, and groceries. You are sure to be able to find what you are looking for here. The massive statue towering over the entrance to Forest Park is "Gundam," the hero of the world-renowned robot anime. There is also a shop offering an extensive selection of plastic models and merchandise on the 4th floor. "KidZania Fukuoka" is also located here. This is a theme park where children can tackle the challenge of trying out different jobs, so the whole family can enjoy a fulfilling and fun day out.

Canal City Hakata

This shopping mall is known for its dynamic fountain show. There is a wide range of shops here, including fashion, interior goods, accessories, and miscellaneous goods. The Sanrio GALLERY features a large selection of adorable character merchandise of characters that are wide popular worldwide, such as Hello Kitty and Cinnamoroll. When you get hungry, head to Ramen Stadium where popular ramen restaurants can be found under one roof!

MARK IS Fukuoka-Momochi

This shopping mall is located in the Momochi area, well known for Fukuoka Tower and MIZUHO PayPay Dome FUKUOKA. It can meet the needs of every shopper, covering areas such as apparel, electrical appliances, cosmetics, interior goods, and miscellaneous goods. The building is designed to be user-friendly, complete with rest areas that have benches and sofas, as well as a play area for children. You can enjoy shopping to your heart's content.

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Tenjin, the largest downtown area in Kyushu

The Tenjin area is said to be the heart of Kyushu in every aspect, including business and fashion. Against the backdrop of stiff competition between commercial facilities such as Iwataya and SOLARIA PLAZA, foreign tourists have turned their attention to Fukuoka PARCO. In addition to Animate, which offers a wide selection of manga and anime goods, there are also shops selling merchandise of characters such as Rilakkuma and Snoopy.
Tenjin Chikagai (Tenjin Underground Mall), which is directly connected to the subway station, is home to about 150 tenants selling products ranging from apparel, miscellaneous goods, and cosmetics to food. If you like characters such as Hello Kitty and My Melody, be sure to visit SANRIO VIVITIX.
Tenjin is a shopping paradise that you must check out!

The Outlets Kitakyushu

This is one of the largest outlet malls in western Japan that sells various products at outlet prices, including world-class luxury brand items, fashion items, sporting goods, kitchen goods, cosmetics, and more. If you visit the AEON Mall just next door, you can also purchase groceries, daily necessities, and electrical appliances. You can be sure to find everything you are looking for if you visit both of these malls.

Find souvenirs at popular sightseeing spots

During their trip, many travelers want to buy souvenirs that are linked to the area they have visited, so this section features shopping spots for each popular sightseeing destination in the prefecture.

Mojiko Retro and its unique souvenirs

Mojiko Port opened in 1889 and once flourished as a trading hub. Buildings from that period are still standing even today, and the retro streetscape attracts many visitors.
If you are looking for souvenirs, we recommend visiting the "Kitakyushu Souvenirs." It is filled with souvenirs unique to the Kitakyushu region, such as the classic gourmet dish "yaki curry" (baked curry rice) , and screw-shaped chocolates that draw inspiration from the local industries.

Spectacular views of Itoshima, and the farmer's market "Ito Saisai"

Itoshima is a popular destination for scenic drives, with many places along its beautiful coastline for taking "Instagrammable" pictures. It is renowned for the scenic area of Futamigaura, where the blue skies and white torii (shrine gate) stand out against the backdrop of "Meotoiwa" (Couples Rock) , joined in marital bliss by a sacred rope. Ito Saisai is a must-visit spot. This farmer's market sells fresh local vegetables and fruits, flowers, meat, seafood, processed foods, and much more. There is also a space for dining in, so you can buy confections and meal boxes and savor them on the spot.

写真：太宰府市

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and strolls along the shrine's approach

Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the deity of learning, is the largest shrine in Kyushu. It is also a famous location for admiring plum blossoms, and is bustling and lively during the flowering season from late January to early March.
The approach to the shrine is lined with souvenir shops and eateries. Enjoy your time here freely, sampling the local specialty "Umegae Mochi" (Japanese rice cake) or browsing for Japanese-style accessories.

White Walls of Fukushima and searching for masterpieces of Yame

Yame and Fukushima flourished as merchant towns during the Edo period (1600-1868), and many traditional buildings still remain today, adding interest to strolls along the charming streets. Confections made with the local specialty, matcha, are also popular. At the Yame Dentokogeikan, which exhibits and sells craftworks made in the region, look out for accessories and miscellaneous goods with elaborate and creative designs. Yame Tourism Products Hall Tokimeki, located just a stone's throw away, is the perfect place to find souvenirs such as Yame tea, local sake, and famous confections.

Enjoy a river cruise down the Yanagawa River along with local specialties

Yanagawa is known as a water town, and cruises of the moats on small boats are very popular with both domestic and foreign tourists. After enjoying the picturesque scenery from the boat, go souvenir-hunting at Yanagawa Yokamonkan, which handles numerous products certified as local brands. Find your favorite from among the many local products that come highly recommended by the locals, including processed foods such as seaweed and confections, local sake, as well as traditional crafts.

Enjoy the vibrant market and gourmet food

Get a glimpse into the lives of the local residents and enjoy local food made with fresh ingredients. Visit a local market and immerse yourself in the unique atmosphere and flavors!

Nagahama fresh fish market

One of the nation's leading fresh fish markets, handling a rich variety of about 300 species of fish annually. Fresh seafood from the rich fishing grounds of the Genkainada Sea, the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea is gathered from all parts of Kyushu and western Japan, and fish is supplied to all parts of the country.
The ground floor of the market hall is open to the public, with set meal restaurants, conveyor belt sushi restaurants, Chinese restaurants and other eateries. Some restaurants are so popular that there is a queue at peak lunchtime, so be sure to arrive early if you are looking for a table.
The rest of the market is a wholesale market, so the public are not normally allowed to buy fish, but once a month a 'Citizens' Appreciation Day' is held to familiarise people with the market and increase their interest in fish and fish food. A portion of the market is opened to the public, and on that day the public can buy fresh fish from the seas around Fukuoka at reasonable prices.

写真提供：福岡県観光連盟

Yanagibashi United Market Cooperative

A market where professional chefs come to stock up on fresh fish from the Genkai Sea, spicy cod roe and other Hakata delicacies. Shops, mainly fresh fish shops, are crammed into a 1m-wide alley.
In addition to fruit and vegetable shops and Japanese confectionery shops, there are also shops selling kelp, salted and dried fish and pickles, offering a full range of products. In winter, this is the kitchen of Hakata, where visitors come to enjoy natural fugu (blowfish), anglerfish, arabesque fish and other delicacies.　
There are also restaurants, cafés and shops with eat-in spaces, so hungry tourists are sure to be satisfied! It is also easily accessible, just a 5-minute drive from Hakata Station. Shipping is also available, so don't worry if you buy a lot of souvenirs!
The market is a fun place to chat with shopkeepers in the old-fashioned face-to-face sales style with a lively Hakata dialect.

Tanga Market

Tanga Market, which has a century-old history, houses about 120 stores that operate as the "kitchen of Kitakyushu."
Fresh local produce such as vegetables, fruits, and fresh fish, as well as homemade dishes and local cuisine are lined up in narrow spaces, and the buildings and stores have a traditional, old-fashioned atmosphere that take you back in time.
There is also a space where you can bring in and consume prepared food and alcohol purchased in the market.

Shop at places that offer unique experiences

If you want to learn more about the roots of Japanese food culture and its food production methods, this is the place for you! Enjoy tours and hands-on experiences, and pick up some keepsakes and souvenirs.

Museum of Hakata’s food and culture (Hakuhaku)

How about joining a factory tour or taking part in a program to experience making mentaiko at this facility operated by Fukuya, a long-established manufacturer and retailer of mentaiko?
In addition to mentaiko, there are also exhibition corners, as well as a cafe and shop, featuring the food and culture of Fukuoka and Hakata. You can enjoy all the various elements of seeing, learning, touching, experiencing, eating, and buying.
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Kirin Beer Fukuoka Factory

They offer factory tours where visitors can experience the production process of Ichiban Shibori beer and our commitment to it. The tour begins with a video introduction about Kirin's ideal beer and the regions where it is produced. Next, visitors get to experience the depth of beer through tasting malt, experiencing the aroma of hops, and comparing the first and second-pressed wort. Visitors will also learn about the fermentation process and storage process, and observe the packaging process. At the end of the tour, you can pick up a souvenir at the factory store, which offers items exclusive to the factory, and take it home with you as a memento.
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Tea Museum

One drop of the “Shizuku tea” served at the Tea Musuem in Hoshino Village (also known as the home to Gyokuro refined green tea) will make you reexamine tea. Savor tea noodles, tea leaf rice, tea gruel and more at the Hoshino Tea Room inside the museum. Gifts are also available at the museum, ranging from Hoshino Gyokuro to a number of other teas, matcha flavored yokan (a jellied sweet), and Hoshino ceramics.
Experience leaf kneading and roasting at workshops held during the tea festival! Workshops available during the Spring Holidays in early May, early June, and the festival for first tea of the season.
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Three recommended roadside stations for your road trip

One of the highlights of going on a road trip in Fukuoka Prefecture is shopping at roadside stations. Why not try some local specialties and famous dishes while taking a break from touring the sightseeing spots?

Michi no Eki “Munakata” Roadside Station

This is a roadside station that you must not miss if you are visiting the World Heritage Site, Munakata Taisha Shrine, or the Genkai Quasi-National Park, Satsuki Matsubara. Its location overlooking the Genkai Sea and the quaint wooden building are sure to amaze any visitor.
It offers a truly myriad lineup of products for sale, from fresh farm produce and seafood to confections and crafts. Be sure to try the "ryoshi ryori" (fisherman's cuisine) made with local seafood, and smoothies made with seasonal vegetables and fruits.
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Michi no Eki Kanyusha Hikosan Roadside Station

This roadside station is located at the gateway to Mount Hiko with lushly green mountains and streams is beautiful. Its landmark is a large statue of a long-nosed goblin’s head. On the premise, starting with stores, there are restaurants, a bakery, and a park installed with a huge jungle gym, perfect for families! At the store, vegetables and fruit mainly produced in Soeda Town fill up the broad space along with processed products like Tofu and Miso (soybean paste). Local specialty products and local crafts are available as well. In addition, Yuzu (yuzu citron) Pepper (the town is said to be the birth place) and Hikosan Adzuki Bean Jelly are popular even among visitors from far away.
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Roadside station 'Harazuru' Farm Station Basallo

Harazuru Roadside Station is located at the entrance to Harazuru Onsen, one of the prefecture's leading hot spring resorts. Located along National Route 386, it is easily accessible from all parts of Kyushu.
A wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruit and other agricultural products picked that morning are very popular at Farm Station Basalo, a product centre. Handmade processed products made locally are also on sale. Recommended products include Fuyu persimmons, known as the king of persimmons. Specialty products such as persimmon chips and persimmon dressing make great souvenirs.
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Conclusions

Have you enjoyed our shopping feature? In Fukuoka Prefecture, stores that are working to make shopping and dining more convenient for foreign tourists display the "Inbound Cooperation Shop" sticker. If you see the sticker, feel free to drop by and make yourself comfortable.