As the sun sets in Fukuoka, the city’s once empty sidewalks come to life as the many food stalls known as yatai begin to pop up, as if out of nowhere, illuminating the city’s night streets.
Fukuoka is the only city in Japan with as many as 100 yatai stalls!
These old-fashioned food stalls blend in with the rows of modern buildings behind them to create a unique atmosphere where old meets new.
Staples of yatai stalls include ramen, oden (a type of hot pot dish), and yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), but there are also many unique stalls offering French and other international cuisines, bars, coffee stands, and more.
You can enjoy a wide variety of yatai stalls found mainly in the Nakasu, Tenjin, and Nagahama areas.
In Japan, yatai are usually thought of as a place one would “drop by” on the way home from somewhere, such as visiting a museum or shopping.
But not in Fukuoka!
There are even a number of yatai fans who visit Fukuoka specifically for the purpose of visiting these food stalls.
In recent years, the city has seen an increase in hardcore fans who even come back to Fukuoka to visit the yatai once again, or to go yatai hopping and check out the many different kinds of food stalls.
In the words of one yatai fan, “Many people might visit two or three stalls in one night, but you definitely should go to at least five!”
Rather than staying too long at any one yatai, you’re better off making your way from one stall to next, so you can enjoy the many different kinds of foods.
Many people even go to yatai alone. This way, the owner or regulars are more likely to strike up a conversation with you. This is perhaps one of the best parts of the yatai experience.
You will often notice what appears to be a couple of friends visiting the yatai together, when in reality they have just met for the very first time.
It is a good idea to pack light when you go out to explore the food stalls.
Leave your baggage in a coin locker or at your hotel to make it easier to enjoy the food stalls and go yatai hopping.
It is also a good idea to check the prices and rules before ordering.
And since yatai have a limited number of seats, be sure to be considerate and make room for others. For example, try not to leave too much space between you and other customers, and be sure to leave as soon as you have finished eating if the stall gets crowded.
Yatai food stalls are also frequented and loved by the locals themselves, who see them as a symbol of Fukuoka and of the city’s unique urban landscape.
We hope you too will explore and enjoy Fukuoka’s many delicious and symbolic yatai stalls.

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Phone number: 092-751-3490 (Fukuoka City Mobile Restaurant Association)
Fukuoka City Tourism Information Website YokaNavi　https://yokanavi.com/yatai/

Cover photograph provided by　Fukuoka City.