Fukuoka, Japan HOT SPOT FOR FOOD AND FUN

Tuck into offal hotpot and slurp up ramen at this Japanese gateway to Nagato. And you can get up close to an active volcano too

- Eunice Quek STFood Online Editor

This is Japan's new "it" city a haven for izakaya-hopping, hunting down the region's speciality food and going on day trips to soak in the area's natural beauty.

It is the gateway to Nagato on my press trip with Booking.com, a platform I use to curate my stay for another three days.

This includes booking my Singapore Airlines flights to and from Fukuoka, and accommodation at The Breakfast Hotel (bit.ly/48idHUQ) in the city's entertainment area Nakasu. I also book a day trip to the temperamental Aso Volcano and two izakaya tours with knowledgeable local guides.

For those who do not drive, day tours are the most convenient way to explore the surrounding environs, including Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Itoshima.

If you prefer a road trip, the booking platform also offers car rentals from companies such as Orix Rent-A-Car and Avis. Rates start at around $63 a day for an entry-level car, based on checks by The Straits Times.

Some of my attraction bookings do not go as planned, but both Booking.com and tour operators are quick to roll out service recovery procedures and ensure refunds are made.

Despite the hiccups, I eat my way through Fukuoka and beyond. Here are my top picks.

FOR FIRST-TIMERS: MOTSUNABE OOYAMA

If this is your first time to Fukuoka, Motsunabe Ooyama restaurant chain is where to go for your fix of the region's famed trinity of motsunabe (offal hotpot), horse sashimi and mentaiko.

This outlet in particular located at basement one of Fukuoka Parco mall - is connected directly to Tenjin Station, and has counter seating that is convenient for solo diners.