In the heart of Hakata Ward, Hakata Ekimae is associated with its train station, hotels and amenities, but has its own charms as well. Friendly to the non-Japanese-speaking tourists who stay in the nearby hotel towers, Hakata Ekimae is the perfect place to begin experiencing Hakata and Japanese culture. Try its culinary specialties, such as the famous Japanese wobbly cheesecake, in restaurants lining the streets. Visit temples and test Japanese phrases on friendly passersby.

See Hakata’s international roots on display at Jotenji Temple, a 13th-century Buddhist structure financed with Chinese trade money. It holds a copper bell minted during the era of Korea’s kingship. A more traditional Japanese spirituality is on display at the Shinto Sumiyoshi Shrine, with a bright red shrine covered by a tile roof in the midst of a beautifully green park.

Hakata Ekimae’s association with travel means it’s a hotspot for onsen, the Japanese spas that offer a selection of pools, hot tubs, steam rooms and relaxation rooms. Ride the train to take dips in the many different indoor and outdoor tubs at the Kumanokawa Onsen. Spend a couple hours relaxing at nearby Minato Onsen Namiha no yu before a long train journey or the odyssey of a flight home.

Located next to the Hakata Station, Hakata Ekimae might be Fukuoka’s most easily accessible neighborhood. Reach the neighborhood in 15 minutes from nearby Fukuoka Airport or in 20 minutes from the Ferry Port a little bit north. Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome is a 30-minute subway ride away. Hakata’s main tourist attractions, including the Kushida Shrine, are only about 10 minutes away on foot. Several bus lines run through the neighborhood. Car rentals are available at the airport, but given the easy connectivity and the relative lack of parking, it is best explored on foot.

Before you leave Hakata Ekimae, stop at Amu Plaza Hakata City at the Hakata Station. It’s full of shops offering clothes, souvenirs and more in case you’ve procrastinated completing your shopping.