Pickled cod eggs are called tarako, and by adding them to a unique spicy sauce, they are taken to a new level and become known as mentaiko, one of Fukuoka's great local delicacies. Think of it as a kind of spiced-up caviar that tastes great when added to plain rice.

This special kind of unglazed doll is one of Hakata's unique traditional crafts. Like Barbie, they come in an impressive variety of different styles, from beautiful women to kabuki actor, to noh singer and child. What they all have in common is their careful creation at the hand of a practiced artisan, who gives them all a unique yet distinctive facial expression.

Along with Hakata Ningyo, Hakata Ori is one of Fukuoka's great traditional crafts. A kind of patterned cloth, Hakata Ori was originally given as tribute to Japan's ruling bakufu, a reflection of its great value. Its delicate patterns and colors make Hakata Ori loved by people of all ages, and it can be used to make belts, kimono accessories, men's articles and interior-design goods.

Tea leaves from the Yame area, nestled among cool, misty mountains, are known throughout Japan for making a thick and aromatic high-quality tea. Yame teas frequently take top prize at national tea-tasting contests, with traditional Hongyokuro tea being recognized as a tea of the very finest class.

During Japan's long period of isolation, precious sugar was transported from the trading port of Nagasaki to Kokura along the Nagasaki Kaido road, leading to the creation of confectioneries along the path. When the Chikuho coalfields brought economic prosperity in the early 20th century, countless shops dealing with sweets and manju (bun filled with sweet beans) sprung up. Many confectioneries from that era have survived to this day, recognized throughout Japan for their quality.