Daimyo

If you’re looking for a place to drink with Western vibes and a hip young crowd, look no further than Fukuoka’s Daimyo neighborhood. Nestled in the heart of southern Fukuoka Prefecture’s capital city of the same name, Daimyo’s stylish streets are perfect for young travelers.

Visitors to this city on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu usually flock to Fukuoka for its famed nighttime food stalls, extra-creamy ramen, and friendly locals. Daimyo just adds to Fukuoka’s reputation as a chill and laid back locale with its abundance of swanky cafes, vintage shops, and bars.

Often likened to Tokyo’s Shimokitazawa, the streets of Daimyo are lined with contemporary shops and diners touting American sized burgers and beer—that means they’re huge.

Where to drink in Daimyo

The posters of Beyonce, Tupac, and Run DMC plastered on the walls of Baldy Diner (Map) flaunt Fukuoka’s love for the American hip-hop scene.

One glance at this joint’s menu and decor will have you wondering if you’re still in Japan or somehow got transported to California.

Chow down on greasy burgers, “All-American Sandwiches,” and a half yard of towering ale.

Prefer a British pub instead? Head to British Pub Morris Red Fox (Map) or British Pub Morris Black Sheep (Map) for a pint. Both have reasonably-priced drinks, flat-screen TVs showing sports games, and English-speaking staff.

Interestingly, they’re only a minutes’ walk down the street from each other. If the vibe isn’t right at one, just pop on over to the other!

Daimyo isn’t all about huge beers and fat burgers though—a lot of the neighborhood’s charm lies in its classy vintage boutiques.

Vintage hunting in Daimyo

A stroll down Daimyo’s tightly packed streets will lead you from one vintage shop to another. Rummaging through the clothing racks at each one will have you either laughing at the silly t-shirts, or mesmerized at the collection curated by the shop owners.

Everything from Christian antiques to denim vests and leather cowboy boots straight from the wild wild west can be found here. We once found a t-shirt with the late ‘90s Taco Bell chihuahua mascot on it—talk about a throwback!

If you’re into scouring vintage shops for unique and quirky finds, you’re going to love this neighborhood. Make sure you have lots of cash though, as buying vintage in Japan isn’t cheap.