Fukuoka Feels: Rain, Ramen, and Really Loud Karaoke

okay, so fukuoka. it’s…a lot. i landed yesterday, completely wrecked from a red-eye after a gig in *osaka, and honestly, i’m still running on fumes and questionable convenience store coffee. the numbers 1860034 and 1392620119 keep popping into my head, don't ask. probably just jet lag manifesting as random sequences.

first impressions? damp. seriously, it’s not pouring, but it’s that kind of persistent drizzle that seeps into your soul. i just checked and it's…a constant mist, apparently. hope you brought an umbrella, or a really good attitude. the weather report said fifteen point zero five degrees, but it feels like thirteen point nine two, which, let’s be real, is just cold enough to make you regret your life choices. the air pressure is a solid one thousand two hundred and twenty, and the humidity is hovering around fifty percent - basically, it’s the perfect conditions for growing moss.

i’m here scouting locations for a friend’s indie film - he’s obsessed with the “gritty realism” of japanese cityscapes. honestly, i’m mostly here for the ramen*. and the karaoke. oh god, the karaoke. i stumbled into a place last night that was…an experience. imagine a tiny room, filled with smoke, questionable lighting, and a group of salarymen belting out power ballads with the intensity of a thousand suns. it was glorious.

someone told me that the yatai (food stalls) along nakasu river are a must-try, but also that you need to be prepared to haggle. apparently, some of the vendors try to overcharge tourists. i also overheard a rumor that there’s a hidden speakeasy somewhere in tenjin, but you need a password to get in. i’m still working on finding someone who knows the password.

my airbnb is…interesting. it’s above a pachinko parlor, so there’s a constant cacophony of beeping and flashing lights. the walls are paper thin, and i swear i can hear my neighbors arguing about something involving cats and a stolen fish. if you get bored, nagasaki and beppu are just a short train ride away. i’ve been checking out reviews on TripAdvisor and Yelp to find some decent coffee shops - i’m seriously craving a proper latte. i found this cool blog about Fukuoka https://fukuoka-now.com/en/ that seems pretty legit.

i’m trying to blend in, but i’m pretty sure i stick out like a sore thumb. i’m wearing all black, which apparently screams “tourist,” and i keep accidentally bowing to people when i’m just trying to say “thank you.” it’s a whole thing.

i heard from a local that the canal city hakata is worth checking out, but it’s super crowded. apparently, it’s a shopping mall built around a canal, which sounds…weirdly awesome. i’m also planning on visiting the ohori park - i need some green space in my life. i’m starting to feel like i’m turning into a concrete jungle creature.

honestly, fukuoka is exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time. it’s a city that assaults your senses and challenges your expectations. and i’m kind of loving it. i’ll keep you updated, assuming i don’t get lost in a maze of ramen shops and karaoke bars.

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