Fukuoka is a popular destination for both tourists and business travelers, where you can purchase local specialties from Fukuoka and the entire Kyushu region at places like Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station. In addition to Fukuoka's unique classic sweets, there are mentaiko, ramen, and desserts made with Amaou strawberries in the spring.
Many visitors to Fukuoka choose some standard souvenirs. Below are products that are sure to delight those you give them to.
The classic "Hakata Torimon" is incredibly satisfying.
One of Fukuoka's most popular souvenirs is the "Hakata Torimon." This concept combines Western and Japanese confectionery, and its name derives from "Torimon," the parade of citizens during Fukuoka's Hakata Dontaku Festival.
Although Hakata Torimon is a Japanese sweet, it features unique flavors and a smooth texture, thanks to ingredients like butter and fresh cream. It is sold exclusively in Fukuoka City and its surrounding areas, making it a rare local specialty. It comes in various packages, including individually wrapped pieces, six-piece sets, and ten-piece sets, and is sometimes sold individually in direct stores.
Many tourists start by purchasing this, then try other things, but ultimately return to Hakata Torimon. You never tire of it, and anyone you give it to will be delighted.
Dazaifu's specialty "Umegae Mochi" can be stored for a long time when frozen.
The next recommended souvenir is "Umegae Mochi." Along the approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, known as the "God of Learning," you'll find numerous shops selling Umegae Mochi.
The dough is made from glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice, and it is filled with sweet red bean paste. The chewy texture and the perfect sweetness create an exquisite balance. The mochi's surface is stamped with a plum blossom motif.
In Dazaifu, you can enjoy freshly made Umegae Mochi while strolling, and at direct stores in Hakata Station and Fukuoka Airport, they also sell room-temperature products that last until the next day and frozen products with a longer shelf life. On the 17th of every month, "Kyuuhaku no Hi," black rice (ancient rice) Umegae Mochi is sold, and on the 25th, "Tenjin no Hi," mugwort Umegae Mochi is available.
This is another classic: "Mentaiko," with many varieties found only in Fukuoka.
It's no exaggeration to say that when you think of Hakata, you think of mentaiko. The specialty sections are lined with mentaiko from various brands such as "Fukuya," "Fukusaya," and "Yamaya." It's great with rice and is also recommended for pasta dishes and omelets.
From the simple, standard mentaiko flavor to variations like "Squid Mentaiko" made with squid, and "Sake Toro" made with salmon, lemon, scallops, and herring roe, there are many local specialties. Tube mentaiko and canned furikake are also convenient options. You can choose from mildly spicy, low-salt, refrigerated, or frozen to suit your needs.
The charming "Meika Hiyoko" also comes in seasonal flavors.
The adorable "Meika Hiyoko," in fact, has a history of over 100 years. It's another iconic Fukuoka product, known for its fragrant exterior, smooth yellow bean paste filling, and gentle flavor.
There are also seasonal products like "Sakura Hiyoko," "Ichigo Hiyoko," "Tea Hiyoko," and "Kuri Hiyoko," which are worth trying if you visit Fukuoka often. Additionally, there are lucky "Kouhaku Hiyoko," the impactful "Oohiyoko" paired with a large chick, and the "Hiyoko no Piinancho" financier, which has a milk flavor unique to Japan.
Reasonably priced "Menbei" is perfect as a souvenir.
Speaking of standard and reasonably priced dishes, "Menbei" is famous and highly recommended. Fukuya, a well-known mentaiko manufacturer, uses its own mentaiko to create spicy rice crackers.
They are characterized by their crunchy texture, chewiness, and rich flavor. They are perfect as snacks or as a companion to drinks. In addition to the standard flavor, the product lineup has expanded to include green onion, mayonnaise, onion, and flavored shrimp. The individually wrapped packages are also ideal for giving as souvenirs.
“Chikushimochi” is an elegant traditional Japanese confection made by a long-established shop.
If you are seeking a gift of traditional Japanese sweets, we recommend “Chikushimochi.” This is the signature product of Jusuian, a shop that once served as a supplier to shrine temples.
The mochi is made from high-quality glutinous rice grown in the Chikushi Plain, brewed with special water, and dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour) made from domestically produced soybeans that account for only 0.5% of total production. It comes with a black sugar syrup that you can drizzle to your taste, perfectly complementing the kinako. The packaging, designed like a furoshiki cloth and featuring a waka poem from the Man'yoshu anthology, makes it an ideal gift.
“Hakata no Onna” offers a simple flavor that blends Japanese and Western styles.
“Hakata no Onna” is a long-selling confection that combines yokan (sweet bean jelly) with baumkuchen, blending Japanese and Western flavors. Launched in 1972, it has since become a classic souvenir with a long history.
The moderately sweet ogura yokan wraps around the rich, egg-flavored baumkuchen. Bite-sized and moist, it boasts a nostalgic simplicity. The individually wrapped pieces have a shelf life of about a month. Additionally, it is recommended to choose packaging featuring Hakata dolls, making it easy to recognize as a Fukuoka specialty.
The delicious handmade “Mikazukiya no Croissant”
This truly delicious croissant can only be enjoyed at room temperature in Fukuoka Prefecture. The flavor of Mikazukiya's croissant has spread by word of mouth and is now a standard local specialty.
Each croissant is handcrafted by the shop's bakers, using the finest wheat, unsalted butter, natural salt, carefully selected seasonal fruits, and Miyakohada soybeans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, all of which enhance the flavor of our croissants.
In addition to the classic plain flavor, there are various options such as maple, chocolate, and mugwort. You can also purchase them at Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station.
Fukuoka Ramen “Umaka-chan” Available in Supermarkets
When it comes to Kyushu, ramen is often the first thing that comes to mind. Various types of ramen, such as Hakata and Nagahama ramen, are available as local specialties.
While ramen from famous shops is delightful, Umaka-chan instant ramen has become a staple for the people of Kyushu. Its rich, cloudy broth, flavored with vegetable extracts and seasonings based on pork bone extracts, owes its deliciousness to the fragrant pork fat.
In addition to the standard ramen, there are varieties like “Hakata Karashi Takana Flavor,” which features Hakata ramen's signature pickled mustard greens, and a new flavor enriched with thinly sliced karashi takana. You can find these in Fukuoka supermarkets at an affordable price, so it's worth trying and comparing.
“Kayanoya Dashi” Aiming to Become a Kyushu Specialty
“Kayanoya Dashi” is a best-selling product from Fukuoka’s Kyushu Kuju Group. A particularly recommended gift is the “Hakata Limited Kayanoya Ago Dashi,” which uses delicious flying fish and flavorful fish flakes.
“Kayanoya Dashi” and “Agoshi Mentaiko” are Kyushu-exclusive products. At the direct store in Fukuoka Airport, you’ll find products from both “Shoboan,” which mainly sells mentaiko, and “Kayanoya,” which specializes in seasonings made from premium dashi.
There are also other products, such as the “Mentai Senbei” developed jointly with the traditional Nagoya confectionery store “Katsushindo” and Sonboan, which make for a more luxurious gift. Why not take the time to savor the best dashi in the store?
The above introduces Fukuoka's quintessential souvenirs. There are many seasonal limited products, so be sure to check them out when you visit Fukuoka.
