Kyushu Bike Adventure 1 – Fukuoka
Hey, it’s your boy here, Tucker Eats, at the start of an epic 18 episode journey around Kyushu, Japan’s southern lands. Mountainous, volcanic, coastal, and hopefully a good place for a cycle tour. A cycle tour by Foldi. Meet Foldi. I’ll be rolling this guy and his little 16-in wheels around this stunning Japanese island. From big foodie cities to quaint Japanese towns, castles, temples, tory gates, and isizakayas. So many isizakayas where I get a taste of what Kushu is all about. It’s Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kagashima, Kumamoto, the whole damn island. A little disclaimer, I’ll be catching trains, too. But hey, I’m here for the food, not the saddle saws. So, 18 episodes starting right here in Fukuoka with no bike yet and honestly no plan. But don’t worry, it’s your boy Tucker, the king of wing in it. And it all comes together real nice. So, day one in Fukuoka and I really should be trying to fix this no bike problem, but you know, I’m a foodie, so I kind of get sidetracked, like eating these delicious Tasaki chicken wings and Namban chicken and all of this stuff. Later that night, I end up in this cozy little isizakaya in Tenjinizumi, a bustling nightlife spot in downtown Fukuoka. Hope it’s legit. I picked it randomly and encouragingly I’m treated to my own private booth. There was fresh sushimi, kushiyaki, potato saba, and going regional, hakata style vinegar off and tempura menntico. It was legit. Earlier that night, I was hyped to hit Fukquoka’s famous yatai. You know, the iconic street food stores I dreamed about for years. But one look at the crowds and the tourist vibes. I’m calling it people. It’s a tourist trap. A street foodie vlogger in Fukuoka rejects yatai. Am I dumb? Drop it in the comments. The next morning, I get my act together and rent a bike from Future Bikes. After a long conversation with the charismatic store owner, he informs me that I can’t take a normal bike onto the trains. A foldy, however, that could work. This is the kind of thing you’d have thought that I’d have figured out before coming here, right? Am I dumb? That just may well be a recurring motif in this series. Anyway, a foldy it is. We struck a deal. He stores my luggage and I ride off, awaiting the start of my big journey tomorrow morning. For now, let’s explore Fukuoker, I guess. Muchi seaside, Aorei Park, Hakata Oldtown. Actually, this looks like a good place to find my first postcard. Almost. [Music] Not quite. Yes. And it’s in the post. Coming your way. A decent day of city exploration. And I’m getting to know this Baldi a little better. Me and this bike, we’re going to go places. And my ass, it’s already sore. Fun fact, tonkatsu ramen, you know, everyone’s favorite ramen. It was invented here. So, I should probably go eat some then at this place. Last night it had a queue going down the street. That’s a good sign, right? Well, then, take it away, Tuckerits. That’s also me, by the way. So, I’m in the Tangin district in Fukuoka and I’m starting with the classic tonkatu ramen with that rich forky broth and the ramen noodles. Loved the world over, but this is where they originate in Fukuoka. So, let’s try. Yum. Nice and hot. Those noodles very al dente. And that broth. Oh, so good. Delicious and creamy porky. On the side, we’ve got some some chili paste and some garlic paste as well. Oh, yum. Oh, that’s got a punch now. And that lovely garlic, it’s really made that soup. So, Fukuoka, of course, the home of Tonkatu ramen, but also Ichiran and those chains have gone global. And so, they’re originally from this city. However, I haven’t chosen one of those. I’ve chosen a more local place. I don’t know what this is called, but I walked past it last night and there was a massive line. So, I thought, you know what? I’m going to hit this place up for lunch and didn’t disappoint. Porky butter. So, you got some very thin bits of chasu on the side. Oh, yum. Bamboo shoot. And here you also get a little bit of pork fat or lard. Very good. And you’ve got a well done egg. No onen egg here. So this comes in a set with some guoza pan fried steamed gyoza. Porky kind of garlic chive vibe. Nice and crispy on the base and then nice and soft through the center. A lovely dumpling. Also in the set oni. I don’t really understand noodles and rice but you know carbs are carbs. I’m on a bike, so I need them. Super simple. Just a triangle of rice and that’s it. Back to the bike. So, I guess I’m all set then. I guess that means tomorrow I’ll be tackling the first leg. Fukquoka to Karatu. My first day under load. But it doesn’t all go to plan. However, rest assured, we’ll be treated to a gem of an iseka come nightfall. Anyway, 18 episodes. It’s going to be big. So, if you’d like to tag along, you know what you got to do. And I’ll see you tomorrow. [Music]
Flying from Jakarta Indonesia to Fukuoka Japan for a bicycle tour on a Brompton folding bike. Expect to see Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kitakyushu, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Kumamoto and plenty of towns in between. I ride, I eat, I ride, I eat, I rinse, I repeat. 18 episodes.
Ramen, gyoza, onigiri, miso black cod, Imari beef, Takuro rice, kushiyaki, sashimi, combini, okonomiyaki, sushi, yakitori, yakiniku, tonkatsu, tonkotsu, tempura, soba, udon, matsunabe, sake, keiseki, not gonna lie, I do a lotta eating.
Against all odds:
Music: Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: FNMIBM8CMBB3SHOL
@Japan @Kyushu @Ramen @gyoza @onigiri @miso black cod @Imari beef @Takuro rice @kushiyaki @sashimi @combini @okonomiyaki @sushi @yakitori @yakiniku @tonkatsu @tonkotsu @tempura @soba @udon @matsunabe @sake @keiseki @Fukuoka @Nagasaki @Kitakyushu @Miyazaki @Kagoshima @Kumamoto @drone @foldy @Brompton @bike @bicycle @biketour @oita @Imari @karatsu @kashima @isahaya @miyajidake @beppu @nakatsu @hells @azamui @saiki @nobeoka @takachiho @takachihogorge @sakurajima
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