Mojiko is the antithesis of Japan’s big-city overstimulation. If you arrive expecting a flashy, assault-of-the-senses attraction, it may feel a little underwhelming at first. The streets are quiet, the main sights are spread around a compact waterfront, and much of the town’s appeal lies in details that do not immediately announce themselves.

Local confession: even though I live in Fukuoka, I have only been to Yamakasa’s main event, the Oiyama, a handful of times over the years. The race starts before sunrise, the crowds are intense, and I am very much not a morning person. Still, Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of those events I think is worth experiencing at least once while you are in Fukuoka.

Yame is a peaceful destination in Fukuoka known for Yame tea, premium gyokuro, the Yame Central Tea Plantation and the white-walled streets of Yame Fukushima. With renovated historic hotels, traditional crafts, local cafés and growing green tea tourism, it is an easy place to enjoy a slower side of rural Fukuoka.