One of Japan’s most enchanting characteristics is its mixture of ancient and new, modern buildings and temples and shrines full of history. This is particularly true for Fukuoka, which never fails to offer its visitors futuristic landscapes making them feel ancient Japan’s atmosphere at the same time. A tour on a “jinrikisha” (Japanese traditional rickshaw) wearing a kimono is one of the best ways possible to appreciate this city’s beautiful sceneries. At the shop named “Mine Cube” in Kawabata Shopping Arcade, one of Japan’s oldest shopping streets, you can choose among many beautiful and colorful kimonos for all ages and a kind shop assistant will help you wearing it. As an option, you can also ask for a traditional hairstyle.

Even if abroad the word “kimono” is often associated with the image of a beautiful and elegant woman, there are also beautiful men’s kimonos like the one my friend Davide wore during this experience. Once you wear the kimono, the tour on the jinrikisha can start.

Jinrikisha driver took us around the Hakata area stopping us at some special spots to explain us more in detail their characteristics. Strolling around Fukuoka on a jinrikisha wearing a traditional dress is an experience that heals you from the rush of the city, making you imagine to have the chance to meet a samurai or some important historical character.

During this experience we also tasted a Japanese traditional dessert called “zenzai” (sweet red bean soup) accompanied with the famous japanese green tea at the “Hakata Machiya Folk Museum”. At the Museum Building are also displayed short movies, photos and drawings about the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, so you’ll have the chance to learn a lot more about Hakata area’s culture and history.

Unfortunately, it always comes the time when you have to come back to reality, and so we did at the end of this experience, but with the feeling to have had understood something more about Fukuoka and its tradition and to have been part of it, even for a small amount of time.

If you are interested in doing this experience please apply through SUiTO FUKUOKA website.

● If you’d like to apply for both the experience of the kimono and the jinrikisha: https://suito.inboundhub.jp/ja/experiences/25　

●If you’d like to apply for the kimono experience and the visit at the museum with the “zenzai” tasting experience【COMING SOON】