Canal City

Canal City Review

To see where the hipsters do their fair share of serious shopping or to while away the hours people-watching, go for a stroll around the astounding Canal City. Restaurants range from upscale dining to takeout, and there are countless cafés, shops, hotels, and a huge cinema in the area. At one end is a zigzagging water-lined patio-scape where folks go to see and be seen. At the other end is a futuristic half-dome structure ingeniously tiered with balconies lined with shops and cafés, and it's all done up in an eye-catching palette of salmon pinks and pastel blues. The tantalizing sightlines, liberal use of glass, open space, and clever angles make it seems as though you can see into, over, and under everything else in the structure. To experience this M.C. Escher-esque structure yourself follow the street leading from the west exit of Hakata Station; it's a 15-minute walk.