Tenjin Underground Mall

The Tenjin Underground Mall or Tenjin Chikagaiis a marvelous subterranean shopping hub with Baroque-style corridors covered by an elegant ceiling. Along these submerged halls are eclectic selections of high-end boutiques and affordable stores just beneath the Tenjin downtown district. Stroll through the 12 corridors and visit some of the 150 shops in this underground labyrinth.

Try on outfits in the upscale designer outlets and fashion boutiques. Purchase cooking tools and ingredients from the gourmet shops. Choose from the books, souvenirs and stationery available in other stores.

Running along the ceiling is an Arabesque design, while the storefronts are more ornate and old-world European than you might expect in an underground lair. Bring your family to dine at one of the restaurants dotted along the subterranean avenues, whose stone floors are lined with patterns and cobbles.

Note that the shopping center is connected to about 20 different sites in the downtown Tenjin district. On rainy days, get around the city via these pathways, without getting a drop of water on you. Reach the Mitsukoshi, Daimaru and Solaria Plaza department stores and malls.

The site opens daily from early in the morning until mid evening, with restaurants staying open a bit later. The mall can get rather busy at rush hour, as commuters use the corridors to access the subway system. Come to this underground shopping haven in December to see it illuminated in festive decorations.

The Tenjin Underground Mall is submerged beneath the surface of the city center of Fukuoka. Take the train or bus to the Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station, which is just south of the mall. You can also access the site directly from the Tenjin Minami Station.

If you choose to drive to Tenjin Underground Mall, drop off your car in the 355-space parking lot. Make your way around the area for other gems such as Tenjin Central Park, the Fukuoka Red Brick Culture Museum and the Kego Shrine.