Fukuoka Marche  NEW!

Date: March 9 (Sat) – 28 (Sun)
Place: Elgala Passage Square (Tenjin) and the square at Fukuoka City Hall

Why not come and enjoy Fukuoka’s outdoor market, “Fukuoka Marche”; encountering gourmet foods from all around Kyushu?
This event aspires to create opportunities for producers as well as processors to sell their products directly to consumers. These efforts started last September in 8 cities across the nation to support food producers by linking the two sides.
A variety of Kyushu’s favorite fruits, vegetables in season, as well as processed foods, will be sold.
Please enjoy “Fukuoka Marche” where you’ll find fresh produce in season and hand-made items. For further information on the date and venue, please visit the web site or call the number below.

Inquiry: Fukuoka Marche Office
Tel: 092-711-5492

Fukuoka Art Museum, the 44th Fukuoka City Art Competition  NEW!

Place: Fukuoka Art Museum (Ohori Park, Chuo ward)

The Fukuoka Art Museum will hold the 44th Fukuoka City Art Competition. This is an exhibition in which entries were collected from the residents of Fukuoka metropolitan area and within the city limits. Prize-winning pieces from seven categories including Japanese and Western style painting, sculpture and applied arts, will be on display. Come and admire some great works of art.

The first term: March 16 (Tue) – March 22 (Mon / Holiday)
Japanese style painting, calligraphy, photograph and graphic arts
The second term: March 24 (Wed) – March 28 (Sun)
Western style painting, sculpture and applied arts
Admission: 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school and college students and free for junior high school and under (Good for the first and second terms)

Inquiry: Fukuoka Art Museum
Tel: 092-714-6051
Fax: 092-714-6145

Fukutabi Campaign

Fukuoka City is conducting the Fukutabi Campaign, experience-based tours that help you fully enjoy food, culture and other charms peculiar to Fukuoka. This is a tourism product filled with experience and exploration as it is selected by the citizens and organizations in Fukuoka. The Fukutabi Campaign will run through April 18th, but the tours will continue to be offered.

There are 55 courses, such as Hakata Ori tour or the Hakata doll coloring tour. One of the tours visits a few ramen shops and the participants will try making ramen noodles accompanied by a local noodle specialist.
There is also a special program only for foreigners that gives the participants a chance to experience making sushi at local sushi restaurants.
English, Chinese and Korean speaking guides will help foreign visitors.

For more information, please pick up the brochures at the Fukuoka City Tourist Information Center or the Information Plaza. You can also visit Fukuoka’s official tourist information website, “Yoka Navi” and go into the “Fukutabi” page.

Inquiry: Fukutabi Campaign Office Translation Center
Tel: 092-735-8886

Fukuoka Tower “Lover’s Night 2010”

Date: Until March 14 (Sun)

Fukuoka Tower, located at Momochi-hama, in Sawara Ward, is now lit up for St. Valentine's Day and White Day.
Heart-shaped illuminations glitter on the walls of the 130-meter tower.
The interior of Fukuoka Tower and the square around the tower are also illuminated, creating a twinkling mood of romance.
In addition, enjoyable activities are scheduled to give lovers that sweet and special feeling towards each other. Come out and have a special time with your loved ones.

Illumination hours: 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
On February 14th, Valentine’s Day and March 14th, White Day, lights will stay on until 12:00 midnight.

Fee (Admission for Fukuoka Tower): 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 200 yen for preschoolers at the age of four and older

Inquiry: The Fukuoka Tower
Tel: 092-823-0234
Fax: 092-822-4656

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum

Learn and discover daily life and culture of the commercial town Hakata in the Meiji and Taisho eras, at “Hakata Machiya Folk Museum,” located at Reisen-Machi, in Hakata ward.
The museum was originally a house built in the early 20’s of the Meiji era, and it was restored to show people the history of Hakata. The museum has three buildings:  the Exhibition Hall, the Machiya Hall and a souvenir shop.  Visitors can gain knowledge of the old townscape and the local festival Hakata Gion Yamakasa. Visitors can also enjoy a demonstration and experience Hakata’s traditional hand crafts, such as Hakata dolls and Hakata Ori. The Souvenir Shop sells traditional craft items.

Admission: 200 yen and free for elementary and junior high school students

Inquiry: Hakata Machiya Folk Museum
Tel: 092-281-7761
Fax: 092-281-7762

Fukuoka City Zoological Garden’s official video site, “Fukuoka Zoo CHANNEL”

Fukuoka City Zoological Garden has launched its official video site called, Fukuoka Zoo CHANNEL. (http://fukuoka-zooch.jp/)
This website shows the real life of an assortment of popular animals in the zoo, such as Amur tigers and gorillas. It also provides a variety of content, including a breeding record of Tsushima leopard cat cubs, and inside stories previously known only by the zookeepers.  You can access Fukuoka Zoo CHANNEL by clicking the banner on the lower right of the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden Homepage. (http://zoo.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/)

There is also a site which can be accessed by cell phone (http://fukuoka-zooch.jp/m/).
Please check out the newly opened Fukuoka Zoo CHANNEL video site, filled with information about animals in the Fukuoka City Zoological Garden.

The Reopening of Hakata Station Tourist Information Center

JR Hakata Station is crowded with many people as a gateway to the Fukuoka area.  The Hakata Station Tourist Information Center, located in the middle of the Hakata station concourse, has been redone. With its new look, the friendly staff offer a variety of information about sightseeing, transportation as well as facilities inside the station.  Sightseeing information of cities throughout Kyushu as well as in and around Fukuoka City is also provided here. The staff speak English and Korean and are there to serve everyday.  What’s more, a call center service in 7 different languages is also available. There are touch panel terminals which enable you to search for useful information in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean.
Hakata Station Tourist Information Center is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please make good use of this free information service.

Inquiry: Hakata Station Tourist Information Center
Tel: 092-431-3003

The Fukuoka City Website

Information on this website is also broadcast on Love FM in a section called, “Information From Fukuoka City” on the radio show, “Around the Globe”.  Information is on air from 8:17 p.m. on Monday through Thursday in three languages; English, Chinese and Korean.

Also, new event information is posted on the “Event” English page of the Fukuoka City website every month.
Please take advantage of this information (both on the radio and this website) about must-see events, including museums, concerts and festivals, as well as useful information on daily life.

Inquiry: Fukuoka City, Public Information Section
Tel: 092-711-4016
Fax: 092-732-1358

A web photo gallery “FUKUOKA SHOWCASE,” which displays various attractions of Fukuoka, has opened on Fukuoka City’s website.
This gallery offers you information on the natural environment, festivals, history, culture and the food of Fukuoka City, in the style of a guidebook. You can download the posted texts and images freely for personal use.
There are 163 articles and 613 photos on the website, available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Why not access the Fukuoka City website and make use of these cool downloads?

Inquiry: Fukuoka City, Public Information Section
Tel: 092-711-4016
Fax: 092-732-1358

Mo-Mo Land Aburayama Ranch is located in Minami ward, about a 30 minute drive from downtown Fukuoka. How about spending a pleasant autumn day at the ranch?

On the spectacular 47-hectare ranch, both kids and adults can enjoy various outdoor activities in nature. For example, you can touch the animals, such as horses, sheep, goats and pigs. You can also experience horseback riding, milking and butter making.

Bring your friends and family to the ranch where you can also enjoy a great panoramic view of Fukuoka City!

Inquiry: Mo-Mo Land Aburayama Ranch
Tel: 092-865-7020

The “Hakata Culture” section on the Fukuoka City website tells about the culture, history and attractions of Hakata.
With about three new articles a month, the site gives full information on festivals, food culture, and the townscape of Hakata.
“Hakata Culture” is available in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. Why not visit the website and become a Hakata connoisseur?

Inquiry: Fukuoka City, Public Information Section
Tel: 092-711-4016
Fax: 092-732-1358

Date: 1st & 3rd Thursday (every month), 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: “Attaka-Salon”, the 5th floor of the Fukuoka City Hall, North Annex

The “Japanese Chatting Salon” is open for international students. Why don’t you have a friendly chat with Japanese volunteers, using Japanese learned at school?  You can stop by the salon anytime during a session.
If you would like to participate, please make a reservation in advance.

Admission: Free

Inquiry: Fukuoka Foreign Student Support Association
Tel: 092-733-5630
Fax: 092-733-5635

The Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau is looking for “Welcome Supporters”, who help tourists visiting Fukuoka City, from within Japan, and outside Japan, as volunteer interpreters and guides.

People living in and around Fukuoka City and have time to do this volunteer work are welcome to apply.
Applicants must be 18 years old or older, be willing to take on the responsibility as a volunteer, and not be hindered by any physical limitation.

Those who wish to be a volunteer will be registered as a Welcome Supporter after an interview.
Welcome Supporters will receive no compensation but expenses such as transportation fees will be provided.

Application and Inquiry: Fukuoka Convention and Visitors Bureau
Tel: 092-733-5050

“We Love Tenjin Kyogi-kai” offers free lending service of baby buggies to parents with babies, to allow more leisurely shopping in the Tenjin area. These baby buggies can be used not only in the buildings which offer the lending service but everywhere in the Tenjin area. Enjoy walking around Tenjin with your babies.

Lending spots:
The Fukuoka City Tourist Information Center in Tenjin and the information desks on the first floor of following facilities;
- IMS Building
- Solaria Plaza
- Tenjin CORE
- VIORO

Inquiry: We Love Tenjin Kyogi-kai
Tel: 092-734-8750
Fax: 092-734-1230

Due Date of Installation: May 31 (Sun)

Have you already had a fire alarm system installed in your house?
The newly introduced law obliges you to equip your house with a fire alarm in order to protect you from residential house fires which cost many lives every year.
Some 70 % of the causes of death from house fires is said to be failing to escape. The house fire alarm system detects smoke and high heat immediately so as to announce a fire breaking by a buzzer or a voice message.
In Fukuoka City, all the houses are required to install fire alarm systems by the end of May. For those who haven’t installed one yet, please purchase a fire alarm system at your nearby electric appliance store or merchandise outlet and set it up in your house as soon as possible.

Inquiry: Fukuoka City Fire Prevention Bureau
Tel: 092-725-6611
Fax: 092-725-6604

Period: Until March 31, 2010

In honor of the 40th anniversary of establishment of Aburayama Citizen’s Forest, a discount card service has been started. This card can be used at Aburayama Citizen’s Forest, Mo-Mo Land Aburayama, and Hanahata Horticulture Garden.
Every time you pay a parking fee, you will get a stamp on your card. You will be allowed free parking on the fifth and tenth time. Moreover, when you pay for parking at one of those three places, you can use two other parking lots for free on the same day.
Don’t miss this opportunity!

Inquiry: Fukuoka City Agricultural Administration Section
1-8-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ward, Fukuoka City 810-8620
Tel: 092-711-4841
Fax: 092-733-5583