Hakata Machiya 博多町家

A miniature village, where you'll hear the old language of the merchants of the city (the incomprehensible Hakata-ben), see an exhibition on Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival - with a video of the floats racing through the city - and exhibits on local crafts. You can retrace two centuries of history in Fukuoka, reliving daily life during the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926) eras.

Authentic souvenirs

The highlight of the visit: craft demonstrations! Found on the first floor of the museum, artisans are hard at work making dolls and silk work. You can try your hand at Hakata-ori, traditional weaving.

The architecture of the building itself, a restored historical building, also deserves a look.

Don't forget to make a detour to the store's gift shop before you leave, it's one of the best places to find authentic handcrafted items from Fukuoka!