Les meilleurs hôtels à Fukuoka

On the upper tip of Japan's southern island of Kyushu, Fukuoka is one of the few large cities in Japan that can actually be described as "laid back." Leaving the hustle and bustle of Tokyo behind, Fukuoka is sunny and warm most all the time and its residents -- not unlike L.A. dwellers -- adapt their lifestyles to the climate. At the same time, Fukuoka is one of Japan's most colorful and fun cities, famous for its raucous nightlife and world-class restaurants. If you're headed here, though, put off the fancy restaurants for a day or two and head to the ya-tai alley. Ya-tai, in Japanese, means "covered restaurant" -- basically, a cart with a canopy extending out over four or five stools. Ya-tai alley is a lengthy strech of dozens of these charming and quintessentially Japanese places, serving every indigenous delight from yakizakana (grilled fish -- always with the head) to Fukuoka's famous ramen noodles. And of course, they all serve Japanese beer (Kirin, Asahi or Sapporo) in frosty, tall bottles. Be sure to follow Japanese custom: never pour your own beer. Always pour for a friend. Then raise a glass with a hearty "kampai" (the Japanese equivalent of "Here's to you!") Ramen (which is actually Chinese in origin) is one of Japan's most popular dishes, generally served from hole-in-the-wall shops or tiny ya-tai, in huge bowls brimming with flavorful soup and heaps of noodles. But nowhere in Japan is the ramen tastier than in Fukuoka. Walk into a ramen shop in Tokyo or any Japanese city and you'll find an owner proud to annouce that he serves his ramen "Fukuoka style." And like most Japanese cities, Fukuoka is eager to modernize. So catch a ball game at the Fukuoka Dome, rain or shine. The dome has a retractable roof, similar to Toronto's Sky Dome, insuring that the hometown Hawks will always play under optimum conditions.