Fukuoka to Hiroshima Travel Guide and Vlog | Traveling with our Best Friends

Fukuoka to Hiroshima Travel Guide and Vlog | Traveling with our Best Friends

[Music] Nestled on the northern coast of Kyosho, an island in the south of Japan, Fukuoka is a vibrant port city with deep historical roots and a laid-back charm. Once a key gateway for trade with Asia and even the site of Mongol invasions, it’s now known for its tonkatsu ramen, riverside food stalls, and a friendly vibe. In this travel log, we explore Fukuoka and make a 1-hour journey by a high-speed train to Hiroshima with our best friends and frequent travel companions, David and Judith. So, come along. We’re John and Beth, and we are the retirement travelers. If you’re just finding us, we are an American senior travel couple who are on the adventure of our lives. We’re traveling China, Japan, and South Korea on this leg. So, hit subscribe and follow along. We’re also planning some small groupoup upscale travel adventures for like-minded travel enthusiasts. Scan the link with your phone’s camera or check our website to join us on a trip. After five incredible stops across South Korea, it was time to swap kimchi for karaoke and hop the short flight across the Korea Straight to Japan. Our destination was Fukuoka. But this wasn’t just any leg of the journey. This was the week we’d been looking forward to exploring one of Japan’s most significant and sobering sites, Hiroshima. We touched down in Fukuoka after a breezy 1-hour flight from Busousan and checked into the Grand Hyatt, where our room was beautiful with a stunning view of the city skyline and a soaking tub that Bev immediately claimed. With steady rain falling that first day, we happily settled into the lounge, sipping cappuccinos and glasses of wine while catching up on David and Judith’s latest adventures. If you’re looking for daily travel inspiration, they are a mustfollow on Instagram at Rush Roamings. Judith’s stories are like postcards with personality, and her eye for beauty makes every destination feel like a dream. You do. You have the prettiest Instagram. You travel for months on end and then you meet up with your besties and it’s like a therapy session. Everybody needs therapy. We need therapy. They need therapy. They’ve solved our marital problems. Right. That’s right. We’ve solved theirs hardly. I think it’s going to take more than one trip. It’s going to take a lot more than one trip. Well, that they just have to come travel with us again. Huh. That’s right. Their therapy is not working very well is what we’re going to tell I think we’re going to need like a, you know, a long cruise maybe. Yeah, which we’re doing in the fall with them. Though Fukuoka has plenty to offer, one destination unanimously topped the list, Hiroshima. The next morning, we were up early in route to Hakata Station where Japan’s famous Shinkansen highspeed train whisked us to Hiroshima in under an hour. I’ve never seen a high-speed train. So, this this is the first time. This is This is the first one. All right. First time to take it high speed. It’s smooth. The train was everything it promised to be. Fast, quiet, comfortable, and almost meditative. Perfect for mentally preparing ourselves for a day steeped in history. From Hiroshima Station, we caught the Hiroshima Electric Railway, hopped on line 2, and headed toward Peace Memorial Park. Okay, where to James? All right, we had the high-tech couple. They used their phones. We had our card, but we all got we all made it. So, we’re using up our money. We’re using up our money cuz I don’t know how to get money off the card. I don’t know how to get a refund. Once we exited, we crossed the street and our first sight was the haunting silhouette of the atomic bomb dome. A skeletal remnant of the 1945 blast. It stands frozen in time, a powerful reminder of the city’s resilience. So, we’re standing here in Hiroshima, and it’s kind of an interesting spot. Right where we’re standing, about a half mile above us is where the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6th, 1945. From there, we stepped underground into the National Peace Memorial Hall for the atomic bomb victims, where the silence spoke louder than words. The space filled with stories and names pulled us deep into reflection. We continued through the park, stopping by the Flame of Peace and the Children’s Peace Monument. [Music] We continued on to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The exhibits were raw, real, and respectfully presented. It wasn’t an easy visit, but it was a necessary one. We left with heavy hearts, grateful for the experience. For lunch, we found a cozy little pizza shop complete with a beautiful woodfired oven that stole the show. It turns out that Japanese can toss dough with the best of them. Right up there with the South Koreans and dare we say, the Italians [Music] We walked a mile to the Hiroshima Castle, a reconstruction surrounded by a wide moat, stately trees, and once again were provided slippers that didn’t fit John’s size 13 ft. Okay, let me get my They hate you. They do. Ouch. Okay. There was Did you hit your head? Yep. There was the first There was the first Okay, that’s first time. First head knocker. Yeah. A climb to the top of the castle rewarded us with sweeping views of the city. A small moment of levity after such an emotionally charged morning. See, you girls could ride in there and David and I would carry you on the front and back. Okay, sounds great. What do you think? He’s gonna get you girls can get in there and David and I will carry you on the front and the back. It’s a My word, that’s so tiny. I know. We walked a mile back to the train station where we caught a train to Fukuoka where we called it a night. So, we have one problem. We’ve had it all for the last couple of hours. Where do we throw away our empty bottle? Japan doesn’t have trash cans. They don’t believe in trash. They believe in hauling it out on your own, carrying it around. Bring a plastic bag and carry it around. Yeah, we’ll find us a trash can, baby. If I have to march this whole station, we will find it. The next day, back in Fukuoka, we took things in a lighter direction. Karaoke. We passed one of those iconic karaoke box buildings, exchanged curious glances, and after some serious negotiation, we stepped into the front lobby. The cost was only $8 for 30 minutes and included free drinks. So, we have 30 minutes of karaoke, but it’s taken us 10 just to find our room. We’ve already used up a lot of the minutes, but that’s okay because David’s a little bashful about singing. Once we found our room, we picked out some songs and sang our hearts out. Y’all hold the microphone close to drown us out. [Music] I’m running down the road trying to loosen my load. I got seven women on my mind. boy that want to hold me too, that want to me. She’s a friend of mine. Hello, it’s me. I was wondering if after all these years to go over everything. We are walking amongst a star. A star is born. Thank you. We had so much fun at the karaoke. That was craziness fun. It would have been even more fun if we had even more people and a bigger room with an air conditioner. The problem was Judith’s skill level was on a different level than I. Yeah. So like there’s no comparison. But we were in awe. The next morning brought one of Japan’s most beloved staples, 711. And no, and not the one you’re thinking of. In Japan, these stores are foodie havens. We loaded up on oniiri, matcha lattes, sweet buns, and even some crispy fried chicken before heading to Ohi Park for a picnic. Oh Park, whose name literally means big moat, is a lush urban escape built around what was once part of Fukuoko Castle’s defenses. A massive central pond reflects the trees and sky, while little wooden bridges connect the walking paths across the water. Locals jog, paddle swan boats, and feed ducks. We found a shaded bench, unpacked our picnic hall, and settled in for deep chats about family dreams and future rendevous. So Judith heard online that the delicacy at 7-Eleven is to mix and match egg salad with chicken. And so she mixed them up and we’re going to give them a try. That’s a nice combo. That evening, still basking in the magic of good friends and good food, we wandered through the streets of Kushida Shrine, one of Fukaoka’s oldest Shento shrines, quietly tucked into the city. Built in the 8th century, it’s the spiritual heart of Fukuoka and the center of the city’s wild Hakata Gillion Yamakasa festival. The grounds were peaceful and beautiful. [Music] As night fell, there was one last thing to do. Eat more. Enter the Nakasu Yati stalls, a line of openair food stands flanking the Naka River. These post-war era yachti have been serving hungry night owls for decades. And tonight we join the crowd. Tonkatsu ramen, grilled yaki, steamy Odin. Each stall was a little story of its own. The scene was lively, fragrant, and full of character. Not everything we did made it into this video, but the heart of this trip was in the moments in between. Long walks, shoe shopping, inside jokes, shared memories, and future plans. This leg reminded us that travel isn’t just about the destination. It’s about the people you’re lucky enough to share it with. Next stop, Hakonei. for Misty Mountains, sulfur springs, and a few mysterious black eggs. Mount Fuji, here we come. We’ll see you next week. Be sure to hit subscribe and follow along on our retirement journey around the world.

Next Stop: Fukuoka, Japan
After five incredible stops across South Korea, it was time to swap kimchi for karaoke and hop the short flight across the Korea Strait to Japan. Our destination was Fukuoka, Japan. But this wasn’t just any leg of the journey. This was the week we’d been looking forward to exploring one of Japan’s most significant and sobering sites—Hiroshima.
We touched down in Fukuoka after a breezy one-hour flight from Busan and checked into the Grand Hyatt, where our room was beautiful—with a stunning view of the city skyline and a soaking tub that Bev immediately claimed. With steady rain falling that first day, we happily settled into the lounge, sipping cappuccinos and glasses of wine while catching up on David and Judith’s latest adventures. If you’re looking for daily travel inspiration, they are a must-follow on Instagram at @ruchroamings. Judith’s stories are like postcards with personality, and her eye for beauty makes every destination feel like a dream.
We hope you enjoy this travelogue with friends as we explore Fukuoka, with a day trip to Hiroshima.

Thanks for following along with us and happy journeys,
John and Bev

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