Fukuoka, where the gyoza🥟 is delicious and the service is divine👏

Although our departure was slightly delayed, we arrived at Fukuoka Airport around 9:00 PM🛬

And, actually, that was when things got difficult😅

Out of our four large suitcases, we sent two to my parents' house via courier from the airport🏠
Then, we planned to head to the hotel with the remaining luggage by taxi🏨

But just as we thought that, the courier service counter had already closed at 9:00 PM💦

In this situation, we had no choice but to transport four suitcases and four pieces of hand luggage by taxi🚕

When we checked at the airport information desk to see if there was anywhere else to send the courier, they said they weren't sure😓

They gave us the phone number for a large taxi service📞
But since I don't have a mobile phone that works in Japan, I had to use a public phone😥

Checking the taxi stand as a last resort...

I noticed a taxi larger than the standard size parked at the "Premium Taxi" stand.

A "Premium Taxi," something I'd never heard of before🚕

The "concept" of this company is...

A taxi that can only be ridden in Fukuoka, featuring motifs of the five-colored Hakata-ori offerings and conveying local history and culture, such as Fukuoka's "spirit of hospitality"🚕

Perfect for sightseeing taxis, VIP transfers, and more!
(Advance reservation is required due to limited numbers, the fare is the same as a regular taxi👏)

"Premium Taxi" drivers are only granted exclusive driver status after completing special training in hospitality and tourism🚕

"Can this taxi fit four large suitcases?"

I asked timidly...

"It's no problem!"

came the reply.

I did a fist pump in my heart as we boarded🚕
The driver was very kind and loaded the suitcases into the car himself.

The taxi that happened to be stopped at the airport was a "Premium Taxi"🤣
How lucky we were!

We had intended to go eat dinner at a food stall, but...
the driver told us there was a possibility of being overcharged if you aren't a local💦

So we decided to go to "Asahiken"🥟, a long-established gyoza restaurant (a few minutes' walk from our accommodation) that he recommended.

Arrived at the hotel, had our luggage dropped off, and checked in 🏨
Since it was past 10 PM, we headed straight to Asahiken.

Asahiken, established in 1954 🥟

First, a toast with Yebisu beer and barley tea 🥂

Vinegared offal, one order of boiled gyoza...

David seemed to prefer the pan-fried gyoza 🤣

I also ordered the kinpira burdock root.
Unfortunately, the chicken wings were sold out 💦

The bite-sized pan-fried gyoza were exquisite 💓 I couldn't help but order two more servings.

Even after eating all that, the total for the meal was 2,670 yen ✨
I was surprised by how cheap it was.

As expected, Japan is a heaven where you can eat cheap and delicious food 👏

Fully satisfied, we returned to the hotel and both fell fast asleep 🛌

🏨 Checked out of the hotel after 10 AM the next morning 🏨

Had our 'JR Pass' issued at the Hakata Station counter and
booked Green Car seats from September 5th to the 17th.

After that, we went to the shoe repair corner at Tokyu Hands 👢
and decided to have the heel of my boots and the frayed stitching on the back repaired.

A male staff member named Arakaki (I checked his name tag!) said,
"The sole is hardening and nearing the end of its life, so for this time, it's fine to just sew the frayed heel and leave the sole as is..."

Moreover, since I had paid for repairs at the Tokyo Hands branch during my last trip back to Japan,
he said he would sew it for free this time ✨

He told me it would be done in 10 minutes, so I waited right there and had it repaired.

Something like this would never happen in the UK!

Moved by his divine service...

"May I write about this on my blog?"

They readily agreed when I asked, and since they said it was fine to include their name, I
introduced them in the article.

I thought, Japanese service really is amazing 👏.