This article will feature old school shopping arcades with delicious food and even better accessibility, beloved local staples of the area, beautiful shrines lush with greenery, and many other places that are sure to impress residents and visitors alike with their distinct Fukuoka vibe. This guide will take guests on a walk through the area, making it perfect for those wanting to do a bit of sightseeing as well. 

This time influencer Naoya is kind enough to join us on this journey to uncover some of the tastiest and most fun spots in the area!

[Before the event] Offer a prayer with a color of your choosing at Torikai Hachimangu Shrine! 

First on our itinerary is Torikai Hachimangu Shrine. The shrine was said to have been established 1800 years ago upon a decree of Empress Jingu after the local townspeople kindly prepared her a meal. The shrine is also regarded as housing the patron god of the Kuroda Clan who used to serve as the Daimyo of Fukuoka, and is often prayed at to help with marriages, victory in competitions, convalescence from illness, and warding off misfortune.

The shrine is a tranquil oasis of greenery and calm in the middle of the city, perfect to help calm the nerves before a big game or event at the dome. There are plenty of sub-shrines and other smaller offering spots located throughout as well, with the god of marriages being one in addition to the goddess Benzaiten who is affiliated with success in entertainment. For this reason, fans often come to celebrate a successful concert, cheer on their favorite artists, or wish the SoftBank Hawks good luck.

If you’re visiting the shrine, you also must check out the wide variety of gifts they have on offer. Especially popular are the colored charms, which come with braided cords and pouches that you can select the color of to match your wish or prayer. There are 13 colors for both the charms and the cords, resulting in a whopping 169 possible combinations. Follow your gut and choose the color that fits your mood or wish you have in mind and create a charm that is all your own. 

As this shrine is associated with the fulfillment of wishes, many decide to invest their charms with thoughts of victory in competitions, happy marriages, and good health, but there are others who simply like certain colors and choose based on their favorites. Perhaps for this reason, these charms have become popular among those that are part of a fandom and seek to channel the colors of those they support. Getting to make a wish while choosing the perfect color to support your favorite live act or baseball team is part of what makes Torikai Hachimangu Shrine special. 

As a place where the everyday and history of Fukuoka intersect, Torikai Hachimangu Shrine is sure to help you find a moment of inner peace.

❖Torikai Hachimangu Shrine
Address: 2-1-17 Imagawa, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 ~ 17:00 (open 24 hours for prayer)
Access: 5-minute drive from the Mizuho PayPay Dome, 20-minutes on foot/8-minute walk from the subway Tojinmachi Station 

[Before the event] The perfect pre-event snack! Head to the Dome with a delicious fried treat in hand from Sato Chicken Shop

A purveyor of chicken meat, Sato Chicken Shop is a well-beloved staple of the neighborhood that has been around for about 60 years. However, chicken is not the only thing on the menu here—they also have a fine line-up of small treats and sides. Whole chickens raised in Japan are shipped to the store where they use their considerable experience to prepare the bird with great skill. The sides made with this chicken are delicious as a result. 

The fried treats here are a must-try. From the juicy karaage (Japanese fried chicken) to the flat-shaped fritter filled with crunchy lotus root and ground chicken known as the konohaage, all their fried food is on-point. Another point worthy of mention is that one can opt to purchase a single piece, making it easy to grab a snack to take along on the way to the Dome. 

There are two benches out in front of the store for those looking for a place to sit while eating. A very happy Naoya exclaims, “They have a simple, homemade flavor. I could eat these all day long!” 

The store is in the Tojinmachi Shopping Street, right next to Tojinmachi Station. Beloved stores that have been here for generations line the street, adding a kind of atmosphere that is unique to areas with a long local history. There are plenty of other stores and restaurants to explore there, making it the perfect place to take a stroll either before or after an event at the Dome. 

❖Sato Chicken Shop
Address: 1-12 Tojinmachi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Hours: 10:00 ~ 19:00
Days off: Sunday
Access: About a 5-minute drive or a 15-minute walk from Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, 3-minute walk from Tojinmachi Station

[Before the event] Give your mood a boost with a delicious parfait! A luxurious bite of the season at Pinsirio

Located very close to Tojinmachi Station is this must-try shop for those with a sweet tooth: parfait shop Pinsirio. Opening the door with one’s heart stirred by the refined exterior, the first thing that meets the eye inside is the open kitchen. A large window on the second floor adds a further bright and airy quality to the seating area. 

The shop is famous for its luxurious parfaits made with an abundance of seasonal fruits. New parfaits featuring in-season fruits are introduced almost every month, and each one is both visually stunning and delicious. These delicious sweets are sure to provide that much-needed burst of energy for the big game or live show.

Naoya gives the store his seal of approval: “Eating something that looks this good and is this delicious is sending my energy levels through the roof!” 

▲Carol of the Bells ¥2500

Owner/chef Matsuo Kounosuke used to be a salaryman but ended up switching careers. The story is that he made a cake for his family which went over well with everybody, leading them to make the offhand suggestion “why not open your own store?” This remark was enough to get the ball rolling, and in 2017 he opened his chocolate cake shop Gohoubi Chocolat. He then opened Pinsirio, making it his second store. 

A lot of attention is paid to the balance between extracting the best possible flavor out of the seasonal fruit and the texture of the pastry, and they cut no corners with either the ingredients or labor required to make each dessert as delicious as possible. The fruit compote, fresh cream, and cookie are all store originals and delicious as a result. 

During the day a gentle light filters into the shop, making the exquisitely assembled desserts even more enjoyable. At night it becomes the perfect spot to unwind in the evening with a drink and an adult-style nighttime parfait to pair with it. Since it’s a popular spot, we recommend making a reservation at least one day in advance for evening visits.

❖Pansilio
Address: 8-15 Kuromon, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Days: open all week
Access: Approximately 5-minute car ride or 15-minute walk from Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, approximately 3-minute walk from Tojinmachi Station (subway)
 

---

[After the event] Where the beer flows! Gyoza and motsunabe at Gyoza Rakusho

After thoroughly enjoying the event, it’s time to go grab a bite (or two) to bring the day to a close. 

All around the Mizuho PayPay Dome there are plenty of restaurants ready to satisfy cravings of both the stomach and soul. Another great perk is that the subway station is within walking distance, making it possible to enjoy Fukuoka’s culinary delights on the way home while avoiding the crowds after the event. Since many of these places stay open late, they’re perfect for popping in on the way home from a concert or game. 

On the way back from the Dome, right in front of the Tojinmachi subway station is Gyoza Rakusho. This is the kind of place you’ll want to stop by on your way home with friends or family, beer in hand, to soak up the excitement of the game or concert.

As the restaurant’s name suggests, their main specialty is gyoza made with Kagoshima Kurobuta black pork. Each dumpling is sealed with a rich and juicy umami that makes it easy to lose count of how many you’ve eaten. Far from being limited to only the classic grilled gyoza style, they also serve suigyoza (boiled gyoza), gyoza cooked in a cast-iron pan, and the Fukuoka staple hitokuchi (one-bite) gyoza. All are worth trying. 

Also worthy of note is their popular motsunabe (tripe hotpot). The tripe they use is soft and plump, with a legion of repeaters often singing the praises of the flavor of the soup in this menu staple. According to the proprietress the soup has such rave reviews that customers often want to purchase it to take home with them. The restaurant’s Hakata Motsunabe Set features this delicious dish as well as mentaiko and gyoza for a complete and satisfying lineup that is quite popular with tourists.

The restaurant has a warm and homey environment, making it feel welcoming. A chat with the owner of the restaurant is also the perfect way to make a lasting memory of your meal. 

The restaurant welcomes individual diners making it easy to pop in for a bite. As it is close to Tojinmachi Station, it is in the perfect location for those returning from the Dome as well. For those seeking a beer or bite to cap the night, it’s hard to beat the Fukuoka specialties on offer here.

❖Gyoza Rakusho
Address: Tojinharuno Building 1F, 1-6-14 Tojinmachi, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
Hours: 17:00 ~ 23:00
Days off: Mondays
Access: Approximately 5-minute car ride or 15-minute walk from Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, 1-minute walk from Tojinmachi Station (subway)

[After the event] Bask in the afterglow at Torikage! Enjoy delicious yakitori and high-quality sake

For those hankering for a bite of yakitori, the Nishijin area’s Torikage restaurant comes highly recommended. In fact, many are unaware of the fact that Fukuoka is one of Japan’s most highly competitive yakitori hotspots, and there is even data to back this up. Fukuoka boasts one of the highest ratios of yakitori restaurants to population in Japan, making it a highly ingrained part of Fukuoka’s culinary scene.

For those hankering for a bite of yakitori, the Nishijin area’s Torikage restaurant comes highly recommended. In fact, many are unaware of the fact that Fukuoka is one of Japan’s most highly competitive yakitori hotspots, and there is even data to back this up. Fukuoka boasts one of the highest ratios of yakitori restaurants to population in Japan, making it a highly ingrained part of Fukuoka’s culinary scene.

The most popular item on the menu is the white liver skewer (the closest to the viewer in the below photo). Take just one bite, and you will find yourself utterly captivated by the creamy melt-in-your-mouth texture of the meat, not dissimilar to foie gras. The other skewers are generally a bit on the large size, making this the perfect place for yakitori afficionados. 

On the left of the above photo is the Mitsuse chicken thigh meat skewer, thoroughly suffused with the aroma of charcoal. Whether the skewers or non-skewered items, the menu hits a great consistency with the large portioning and skillful use of charcoal flame to best bring out the flavor of the ingredients. Every dish pairs perfectly with alcohol as well, making it hard to put down either your glass or chopsticks. 

The owner also has a line-up of sakes and shochus that he chooses based on seasonality. It can be difficult to pick from this extensive selection, so don’t hesitate to ask the chef for his daily recommendation if you find it hard to decide. 

Another fun quirk of this restaurant is that it the music playing changes based on the current event over at the Dome. Designed to keep the excitement going even after a concert or game, these features are sure to amp up the fun. With both counter and horigotatsu (a kind of pitted communal seat) seating available, it’s easy to get in as an individual or with a group. The relaxed lighting and congenial lighting of the restaurant make it the perfect place to immerse in the lingering energy of the Dome event to close out your night. 

❖Torikage
Address: Station Core Nishijin 1F, 1-3-15 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City
Hours: 17:00 ~ 23:30
Days off: Wednesday
Access: Approximately 5-minute car ride or 25-minute walk from Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, 10-minute walk from Tojinmachi Station (subway)

[After the event] You’ll polish it off even after a night out! The addictive ramen from Iruka-ya

For those seeking the perfect way to cap off a night of excitement at the Dome, ramen restaurant Irukaya is the perfect way to get in post-event libations or a delicious bowl of noodles. Conveniently located within walking distance from the Dome in the Nishijin neighborhood, Irukaya is rightfully famous among locals. 

Their main claim to fame are their tonkotsu shoyu (soy sauce/pork bone) broth ramen. The addition of chicken fat as a finishing touch ends a glossy sheen to the beautifully golden broth, with the rich flavor leaving an unexpectedly clean aftertaste. The perfect balanced flavor to bring the night to a close. 

There are plenty of other delicious things to order outside of ramen too, including seasonal specialties and abura soba, making it easy to find something that suits your current mood. 

The restaurant is open until late at night, making it a highly reliable pit stop for those with a wee hour appetite. Upon taking a sip of his broth, Naoya confesses “Actually when I was a student, I used to come here all the time. There are plenty of tonkotsu ramen restaurants all over town, but the flavor here is hard to beat. It’s really nostalgic to have a bowl of this again!” Even after a line-up of yakitori skewers, he manages to polish off his bowl of noodles. 

❖Irukaya
Address: Iris Nishijin Building 1F, 1-11-16 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City
Hours: 11:30 ~ 3:00 AM
Days off: None
Access: Approximately 10-minute car ride or 30-minute walk from Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka, 2-minute walk from Nishijin Station (subway)

Enjoy the vibes right up to the very end!

All around the Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka area there are plenty of places and shops to visit both before and after your event. Compose yourself and offer up a prayer at the shrine and enjoy a few local bites at the neighboring restaurants before heading over to the Dome, and then close off the night with a sumptuous feast of yakitori and post-meal bowl of ramen… This whole sequence of beautiful detours can only happen in a city like Fukuoka! Of course, we hope this article will inspire you to find your own favorites, and to help make your time as rewarding as possible!