What the Fukuoka?

The destination was worth the journey, even the extended trip in this case, though many museums were closed for the weeklong-observed New Year (such as the Fukuoka Art Museum, which displays works of Warhol and Dali). The Lonely Planet guide was also a bit deceptive when it came to hotspots: Van Beeru, boasting 1,000 beers and free popcorn, was not to be found, and Pik’s Coffee Shop, open 6 p.m.-3 a.m. and offering free bean refills in a fifties diner-style atmosphere, was out of business. But enough complaining.I visited shrines and temples permeated with the smell of sandalwood incense…Rested on a sunny bench beside a canal...
Found a fine Irish pub (though I selected an Oregon brew) on the Oyafuko-dori—translates as “street of unruly children”—where clubs were stacked in multi-story buildings and a group of boys wanted to armwrestle Davin for a drink… Ate ramen from a yatai (food cart on wheels) along a canal at 2 a.m. (amongst the Japanese, Fukuoka is famous for its ramen)… Touched the waters of the Sea of Japan and looked across toward South Korea...

And cursed the obnoxious Americans that I encountered (three in total; one extremely drunk in the adjacent hotel room, yelling, “Put on your kimono, mo-fo!” and cackling insanely to her fellow roommates)...I never saw her (the group didn't wake for the 8 a.m. traditional breakfast, obv), but I imagine her something like this (that's sake in the glass of course): But the weather was lovely, most experiences superb, and the icing was a surprisingly flawless return trip!