Kurume Station

Kurume on the Chikugo River in southwestern Fukuoka Prefecture is the city where tonkotsu ramen was born, and the cluster of long-running shops near Kurume Station remains a destination for serious ramen eaters. Beyond ramen, the city produces Kurume-gasuri, a traditional indigo-dyed cotton with intricate geometric patterns that has been woven here for over 200 years. The Ishibashi Cultural Center combines a well-tended Japanese garden with an art museum and the ruins of Kurume Castle. The Minou Mountains offer hiking and hot springs nearby, and in August the Suiten-gu Festival brings water-themed floats and fireworks along the river.