Tweet
Follow @asianbeat_en

An event promoting Chikugo started (today) on 15th Jan at the "Fukuoka Yokamon Hiroba," which is located on the 11th floor of the Prefectural Office building. The "Koi nochi, Tokidoki Chikugo" (lit.: Love after, sometimes Chikugo) exhibition is sure to touch your heart and fill you with love for the local region! Maybe some of you already know that Chikugo City is home to the "Kyushu Geibunkan," a visually stunning facility that the well-known architect Kengo Kuma worked on. It is also home to a sports ground called the "HAWKS Baseball Park Chikugo" which was completed in 2016. The stadium is used by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks farm team. The current exhibition aims to highlight aspects of Chikugo that people might not be so familiar with through experience-based workshops and exhibiting pieces that provide insight into the area's charming appeal.

The efforts are part of the "Koi no Kuni - Hito Omoumachi Chikugo (lit. The Region of Love - The Caring Town Chikugo)" program, which aims to attract tourists to the city.

An event took place on 15th January to officially open the exhibition. Chiggo (Chikugo) Tourist Ambassadors and the city's mascot Hanemaru-kun were in attendance!

During the exhibition, a special event will take place every Wednesday! The "Yokamon Cafe," which is also located on the 11th floor of the Fukuoka Prefectural Offices (North Building) will serve a "Koi Guru O-bento (lit: Love Gourmet Lunchbox)" that is prepared with freshly sourced vegetables. The menu is only usually available in the Chikugo area! There will only be 20 bento available, so make sure you try it! Inside the South Building, the "Fukuoka Yokamon Hiroba" will be running a total of nine interactive workshops that will give visitors the chance to learn more about how local crafts and textiles, such as "Kurume Gasuri" are manufactured. If you are interested in participating in one of these events, please refer to the bottom of this page for more details. (* Please be aware that each workshop will have a limited number of participants. Reservations are required) Organizers have collaborated with Kurume University to put on a special event! Students from the school will be involved in staging the "Kurume Gasuri Fashion Show," which will take place on Wednesday 14th February! Entrance will be free and there will also be gifts prepared for guests! Make sure you not miss it!

Chikugo sweets and seasonings are available in the Yokamon Cafe!
Kurume Gasuri items are on display and on sale!
There are a number of awe-inspiring, spiritual spots in the Chikugo City, which are said to have the capacity to fill visitors with a sense of vitality and energy. Known in Japanese as “power spots,” tourists are sure to be amazed by Koinoki Jinja (Shrine). Also known as the Mizuta Tenmangu, this shrine is dedicated to the god of love. Another well-known site, is the Awashima Jinja (Shrine), which is known for its mini-torii gates. It is also said to bless pregnant women. The exhibition will run until Friday 23rd March 2018! Be sure to stop by and find-out more about the wonders of Chikugo City! (Editorial Dept.: Gon)