Day 45 Sakura Onigiri, Mom & Dad’s Obento, Hakata Ramen in Fukuoka

Jun 14 • Blog, Kyushu • 2752 Views • 4 Comments

Having spent a few days of family time, once again, it was time to say see you soon. I left home for the second time and cycled off to Fukuoka City. I could actually cycle without a map most of the way. What a relief that was, as I’d never been good at directions.

I stopped by my friend’s house in Kurume. My friend’s mom had made these onigiri (rice balls) with real sakura in them. How beautiful! I was amazed and thanked her for such pretty treat. I’d never made onigiri this beautiful before myself. I have a lot to learn!

As I’d left home for the second time, my parents had made me an obento lunch. Inari sushi, tamago yaki (rolled eggs like omelet), pickles, and wieners. No lunch makes me happier than this. Bento is love in a box!

I stopped by Fukuoka’s famous Dazaifu Tenmangu. It is a Shinto shrine built over the grave of Michizane Sugawara venerated by the Japanese throughout the country as the God of literature or calligraphy. Many students pray here for good luck in exams. Yes, I have also done this many times when I was growing up. Did it work? …I think so.

On the way to the shrine, I walked by a few monks, chanting.

Dazaifu is famous for Umegae Mochi. It’s mochi with plum flower’s shape stamped on it.

…like so. Nice and hot Umegae Mochi! I cannot tell you how many of these I have eaten over the years. This was my first time coming to eat this by bicycle, and I have to say, it tasted better than ever!

I prayed here as everyone else to get smarter! The box in front of the praying people are saisen box, where you throw money into.

After the sacred visit to Dazaifu Tenmangu, I cycled into Fukuoka’s city center, around Tenjin area. I heard a very loud sound of drumming music from afar. It was a group of djembe players. Lots of people including kids were watching and dancing to their fun, energetic rhythm.

The mix of old and new attracts me as I cycle around Japan. Someone had put on a rain coat on a jizo. Jizo is a protector and the deity of Buddhism, which you can see all around Japan. It is  heartwarming to see them wearing little handmade hats or vests. It is quite common to see coins, flowers or drinks in front of these statues as well.

I ate the pretty sakura onigiri in the evening. These flowers and leaves were edible too. My friend’s mom had picked them when sakura was in bloom.

One of Fukuoka’s most famous food is Hakata Ramen. The pork based soup and the thin egg noodles are particularly well known and very popular all over Japan, and nowadays abroad too. Hakata is a historical name Fukuoka, which is still used today. I went to a yatai, a ramen shop on a street. Yatai only rolls out and opens at night.

The ramen chef was very funny here at Kenzo. He joked a lot as he made delicious ramen.

M-m-mmm! I have not met a single person who does not like this.

Yatai is a fun small space where you sit very closely with people eating there. It is hard not to talk with people sitting by you and share all kinds of fun stories.

I love Fukuoka not only because it’s around where I grew up, but also for its delicious food and the perfect balance of its urban and rural scenes. I like their (my) accent too.

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