Gold Coast Travel: Power of the tower in Japan

IT’S the tallest seaside structure in the world but where else other than Japan would a tower have a ‘love sanctuary’?

Fukuoka Tower.

DOMINATING the shore line of the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka is the impressive mirrored Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside structure in the country.

Fukuoka is on the island of Kyushu and is actually closer to Seoul than Tokyo.

The city has a population of 1.42 million and opens out onto the Sea of Genkai which features many islands and clean beaches.

The best way to take it all in is from the Tower’s observation deck, 123m above sea level.

Going up in the glass elevator, you realise that all that shimmers on the outside is not what it seems with the structure mostly hollow inside of the 8000 mirrored panels.

The Fukuoka Tower’s main purpose is to serve as television broadcast facility with an overall height of 234m.

Reaching for the clouds: Fukuoka Tower. Photo: Bob Anthony

Tourists can’t get to the top but the journey to the observation levels is worth it, offering great views of the bay and the city.

However being Japan, there is always something a little quirky to amuse western travellers and the Tower does that with it ‘Love Sanctuary’ — a little corner where couples can enter through a heart shaped flower arch and then proclaim their love by securing a heart shaped lock to one of the wires.

Judging from the number of locks there, this is a very popular place and can be booked for weddings as well.

There’s a cafe just below — a great spot to enjoy a cold (or hot drink) and some special photo spots — ideal for Instagram.

At various times of the year, the Tower is illuminated and becomes a captivating light show marking the change of seasons and special days such as Valentine’s Day and Halloween.

At the base of the structure, there are souvenir stores, eateries and a ‘Robot Zone’ showing all manner of ingenious robots doing everything from performing dances to showing human-like qualities.

“Fukuoka might not be on the main tourist route but it is very easy to get with a large international airport and a shinkansen (bullet train) station.” Photo: Bob Anthony

One of the appeals of the Fukuoka Tower is that they offer a reduced rate for foreign tourists — 640 yen and oppose to the standard 800 yen entry.

Being on the shore line, Aussies or Gold Coasters would be drawn to the beach and its boardwalks which lead to a host of little diners offering and range of foods.

One such establishment is the Big Banana — no not the same as the attraction at Coffs Harbour — but a ‘barbecue garden’ offering some of the biggest hamburgers I have seen as well as cold drinks and beer.

In summer the place is full and Gold Coasters would not feel out of place at all.

Fukuoka might not be on the main tourist route but it is very easy to get with a large international airport and a shinkansen (bullet train) station.

The Shinkansen in Fukuoka.

Like many Japanese cities, the real adventure starts in the side streets where you will find delicious food and quirky little bars where you can discover the difference between ordinary sake and “good sake” or even funky intimate music bars where you can get up close and personal with musos — mainly because of the size of the places you don’t have an option.

Cities such as Fukuoka have a much slower more relaxed pace to Osaka or Tokyo and while we might think they are still frantic, there are plenty of places to escape the crowds — even the Japanese appreciate a bit of space.

The best way to get around is on the tourist bus which takes you on a loop of city with stops nears all the major attractions, from beautifully manicured gardens and parks to the Fukuoka Tower, the local baseball team’s home dome, a major shopping complex and arts and craft precincts.

IF YOU GO

Air Asia flies daily to Kuala Lumpur from the Gold Coast and then to Japan; daily to Tokyo and four times a week to Osaka

airasia.com

Jetstar flies direct to Tokyo from Coolangatta

jetstar.com.au

ONLINE

Tourism information on Fukuoka

yokanavi.com

Japan National Tourism Organisation

jnto.org.au