When comparing Hakata vs Takayama, the Slant community recommends Hakata for most people. In the question“What are the best cities to visit in Japan besides Tokyo and Kyoto?” Hakata is ranked 10th while Takayama is ranked 11th. The most important reason people chose Hakata is:
Home of tonkotsu ramen, famous chains such as Ippudo and Ichiran originated from this city. Getting off the train, you can immediately smell the thick fragrance of pork broth all around the city.
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Pros
Pro Capital of southern-style, pork-bone broth ramen
Home of tonkotsu ramen, famous chains such as Ippudo and Ichiran originated from this city. Getting off the train, you can immediately smell the thick fragrance of pork broth all around the city.
Pro Traditional crafts and shopping streets
The Hida Folk Village is modeled after a traditional town, where you can see artisans work on their crafts and go shopping.
Cons
Con Not a lot of cultural attractions besides food
There are a lot of famous foods in Hakata: motsu nabe, tonkotsu ramen, mentaiko. While there's also a few shrines and gardens, Hakata is a fairly modern city and thus doesn't have a lot of traditional cultural attractions.