Fukuoka is home to a variety of unique establishments where you can enjoy sweets and dishes made with carefully selected honey. From popular souvenir spots directly connected to Hakata Station, to pancakes enjoyed in a serene Japanese garden, and an authentic honey café run by beekeepers in Yame, the options are truly diverse.
This time, Shiro will introduce four selected places in Fukuoka where you can enjoy honey gourmet. These spots are also popular among inbound travelers, so they will surely help you plan your culinary adventures while sightseeing in Fukuoka.
Each shop offers a one-of-a-kind experience where you can fully savor the sweetness and aroma of honey. Let’s take a look right away.
1st Place: BUTTER&bee (Hakata Station, Mying 1F)
Located on the first floor of the shopping mall “Mying,” directly connected to JR Hakata Station, “BUTTER&bee” is a specialty store focused on baked goods made with fermented butter and honey, operated by the Kujukushima Group from Nagasaki. With its excellent access inside the station, it is loved by both tourists and local business people alike.
Attraction of the Shop
The signature product, “Butter Financier,” is made by combining carefully selected fermented butter and clover honey. It can be stored at room temperature and is easy to carry, making it a popular souvenir from Hakata. The rich aroma of freshly baked butter and the elegant sweetness of honey match perfectly, creating a taste that is hard to stop at just one. English-speaking staff are always on hand, allowing overseas travelers to purchase smoothly. The photogenic package design is also highly regarded on social media.
Shop Information
- Address: 1-1 Hakata Station Chuo-gai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Mying 1F
- Access: Directly connected to JR Hakata Station, just a short walk
- Business Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM (every day)
- Closed: According to the closure days of Mying Hakata (generally open every day)
- Tip for Visiting: It’s conveniently located for a quick stop before boarding the Shinkansen or airplane. Popular items may sell out early, so visiting in the morning is recommended.
Shiro’s Tip
The flavor of the Butter Financier changes from the day it is baked to the following days. On the day of baking, it is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, while a few days later, it becomes even more moist, offering a different deliciousness. If you plan to give it as a souvenir, aim for 1-2 days after purchase for the perfect eating time.
Check reviews and English menu on Tabelog
2nd Place: Honey Button (Shime Town, Kasuya District)
“Honey Button,” located in Shime Town, Kasuya District, just east of Fukuoka City, is a unique lunch café themed around honey. It has garnered strong support from local regulars and offers creative dishes using honey. Although it is a hidden gem rooted in the community, its unique concept is spreading through social media.
Attraction of the Shop
The main feature is the menu centered around honey, with plenty of honey used in everything from meals to desserts. They use carefully selected honey, including local varieties, and their meticulous cooking that brings out the flavors of the ingredients is well-regarded. Shime Town has a history of coal mining dating back to the Edo period, and after your meal, you can enjoy a tourist course that combines a stroll around nearby coal mine ruins and old railway tracks.
Shop Information
- Address: 1-25-11 Beppu, Shime Town, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Access: Convenient by car (about 1.1 km from Fukuoka Airport Station)
- Business Hours: Mon-Tue 11:30 AM – 4:00 PM / Fri-Sun 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM (closed from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
- Closed: Wednesdays and Thursdays
- Tip for Visiting: Shime Town is along the JR Kashii Line. After your meal, take a stroll around the nearby Shime Coal Mine’s vertical shaft for a unique industrial heritage experience.
Shiro’s Tip
This hidden gem has been loved by locals for many years. Be sure to check the business days and hours on social media or by phone before your visit. Since there are few seats, it’s best to aim for earlier times on weekends.
Check reviews and English menu on Tabelog
3rd Place: SHIROKANE SABO (Fukuoka City)
“SHIROKANE SABO,” located in Fukuoka City, is a café where you can enjoy pancakes loaded with honey in a Japanese-style space overlooking a Japanese garden. Sweets enjoyed while gazing at the seasonal views of the Japanese garden provide a special experience for both the eyes and the palate.
Attraction of the Shop
The signature pancake dish is generously drizzled with honey, creating a perfect harmony between the fluffy batter and the sweetness of the honey. The seating area, which overlooks the Japanese garden, exudes an authentic Japanese atmosphere, making it particularly popular among overseas travelers. There are many posts on Instagram, and it is also known as a photogenic dish. True to its name as a tea house, it pairs excellently with tea.
Shop Information
- Address: 1-11-7 Shirogane, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City
- Access: About an 8-minute walk from Nishitetsu Yakuin Station, or about a 9-minute walk from Nishitetsu Hirao Station
- Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (L.O. 4:30 PM) / Sat, Sun, Holidays 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM (L.O. 5:30 PM)
- Closed: Irregular holidays (monthly schedule published on the official Instagram)
- Tip for Visiting: The window-side seats facing the Japanese garden are very popular and can fill up quickly right after opening. If reservations are accepted, it is recommended to book in advance. The greenery of the garden looks best during sunny daytime hours.
Shiro’s Tip
To fully enjoy the view of the Japanese garden, the best time is in the morning to early afternoon on a sunny day. Since pancakes may take time to cook, it’s a good idea to visit with some time to spare.
Check reviews and English menu on Tabelog
4th Place: Mawatari Beekeeping Farm (Kurume City)
“Mawatari Beekeeping Farm,” located in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is an authentic beekeeping farm that sells freshly squeezed pure honey cultivated through years of beekeeping techniques. The honey harvested from the rich nature of the Chikugo region is an exceptional product that condenses the nectar of flowers.
Attraction of the Shop
The biggest charm is the luxurious experience of purchasing fresh and highly pure honey directly from the farm. The freshly harvested honey has a rich aroma and deep sweetness that differs from commercial products, and once you taste it, you won’t forget its deliciousness. Kurume City is also a transportation hub, making access from Hakata easy. Spending time away from the hustle and bustle of the city in Fukuoka’s rural landscape is a popular ecotourism experience for inbound travelers.
Shop Information
- Address: 1150-3 Kokubunmachi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture
- Access: About a 6-minute walk from JR Kuju Line Minami-Kurume Station, parking available
- Business Hours: Weekdays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM / Sat, Sun 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed: Every Monday
- Tip for Visiting: If using Nishitetsu trains, Minami-Kurume Station is the nearest. There is parking available if you come by car.
Shiro’s Tip
The “freshly squeezed” honey unique to beekeeping farms varies by the type of flowers depending on the season. Enjoy the different flavors of spring clover, summer buckwheat, and autumn wildflowers, which is a true connoisseur’s way to enjoy honey. Try to find your favorite flower honey.
Check reviews and English menu on Tabelog
Comparison Table of 4 Shops
| Shop Name | Area | Features | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BUTTER&bee | Directly connected to Hakata Station | Baked goods with honey and fermented butter, perfect for souvenirs | Travelers & souvenir seekers |
| Honey Button | Shime Town, Kasuya District | Honey-themed lunch café, hidden gem | Local gourmet explorers |
| SHIROKANE SABO | Fukuoka City | Japanese garden & honey pancakes, photogenic | Instagram enthusiasts & café hoppers |
| Mawatari Beekeeping Farm | Kurume City | Freshly squeezed honey sold directly from the farm, rural experience | Authenticity seekers & ecotourism |
Conclusion
The four honey gourmet spots in Fukuoka introduced this time each have their own unique characteristics. From a souvenir shop conveniently located inside the station to a café where you can leisurely enjoy sweets in a Japanese garden, a hidden restaurant rooted in the community, and an authentic beekeeping farm selling directly from the farm, there’s a lineup to choose from based on your purpose and style.
The flavor of honey varies greatly depending on the region and type of flower. While comparing sweets and dishes made with honey from Fukuoka and Kurume, try to find your favorite spot. Shiro’s recommendation is to first secure souvenirs at BUTTER&bee at Hakata Station, and if time allows, extend your route to Mawatari Beekeeping Farm in Kurume City.
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