Fukuoka makes for a wonderful day trip from Kumamoto, with beautiful beaches, a deep culture, fascinating history, and excellent food. It is a magnet for Kumamoto youth who find our town too small (it's said that the town has the most beautiful women in Japan as it attracts many Kyushu lasses who long for city life but don't want to venture so far as Kansai or Kanto). And no trip is complete without an evening meal at the yatai located at the southern end of Nakasu Island.
To my surprise, the yatai have a deep connection with Kumamoto: virtually all of them were built by a husband-wife team who hail from Amakusa. If you see Akagi -san prowling the stalls, give her a big ”どうかい！" shout out. The Asaihi has the story: https://ajw-origin.potaufeu.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15304295 - William