Fukuoka travel guide

Fukuoka is Kyushu's biggest city and one of the easiest places in Japan to enjoy. It is compact, friendly and close to the sea, with an airport almost in the city centre and a food scene that locals elsewhere in Japan talk about with envy.

The city grew from two towns, the merchant port of Hakata and the castle town of Fukuoka, on either side of the Naka River. Hakata gave its name to the main station and to the rich tonkotsu ramen that is now famous around the world. Fukuoka is also the gateway to the rest of Kyushu, with hot springs, volcanoes and Nagasaki all within easy reach.

Top things to do in Fukuoka

1. Eat at a yatai. Fukuoka has more open-air food stalls than anywhere else in Japan. Squeeze onto a bench at a yatai along the river in Nakasu or in Tenjin for ramen, grilled skewers and a beer.
2. Slurp a bowl of Hakata ramen. Creamy pork bone broth and thin noodles. Order kaedama, an extra serving of noodles, when you are halfway through.
3. Visit Kushida Shrine. Hakata's guardian shrine, where a towering decorated float from the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival is on display most of the year.
4. Walk around Ohori Park. A big lake with a path around it, a Japanese garden and the stone walls of Fukuoka Castle next door, lovely in cherry blossom season.
5. Go up Fukuoka Tower. The tallest seaside tower in Japan, with views over Momochi Beach, Hakata Bay and the mountains.
6. Shop in Tenjin and Canal City. Tenjin has department stores and a long underground shopping street. Canal City Hakata is a mall built around a canal, with fountain shows and a ramen food court.
7. See the Great Buddha at Tochoji. A temple near Hakata Station with one of the largest seated wooden Buddhas in Japan.
8. Make a trip to Dazaifu. Dazaifu Tenmangu, a grand shrine to the god of learning, is about 30 minutes away. Try umegae mochi, grilled rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste, on the approach.

Areas to know

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to visit, with cherry blossoms in late March. The Hakata Dontaku parade fills the streets on 3 and 4 May, and the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival runs from 1 to 15 July, ending with a dawn race of huge floats. Summer is hot, humid and can bring typhoons. Winter is mild and the best season for hot pots and oysters.

Getting there and around

Fukuoka Airport is one of the most convenient in the world, with the subway reaching Hakata Station in about 5 minutes and Tenjin in about 11. It has many flights from Tokyo and across Asia, so it is often the easiest way to arrive from the capital.

By shinkansen, Hakata is about 1 hour from Hiroshima, 2.5 hours from Shin-Osaka and 5 hours from Tokyo. In the city, the subway and buses cover most places, and the centre is flat and easy to walk. IC cards work on the subway, trains and buses.

Where to stay

Stay in Hakata for trains, the airport and day trips, or in Tenjin for shopping, restaurants and walks to the yatai. Nakasu is central but can be loud at night.

What to eat

• Hakata tonkotsu ramen, the city's signature dish
• Motsunabe, a hot pot of beef offal, cabbage and garlic in a soy or miso broth
• Mentaiko, spicy cod roe, eaten with rice or in pasta and onigiri
• Hitokuchi gyoza, crispy bite-sized dumplings
• Mizutaki, a gentle chicken hot pot
• Yaki ramen and grilled skewers at the yatai

Tips for eating at a yatai

• Go early. Stalls open from around 6pm, and the most popular ones fill quickly.
• Bring cash. Some take cards now, but many still prefer cash.
• Order, eat and move on. Seats are limited, so do not linger for hours when people are waiting.
• Check the weather. Stalls may not open in heavy rain or strong wind.

Day trips and next stops

Ride a punt along the canals of Yanagawa, about an hour south. The hot spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu are about 2 hours away. Nagasaki is about 1.5 hours by limited express and shinkansen, and Kumamoto Castle is about 35 minutes by shinkansen. For a beach day, head west to the cafes and coast of Itoshima. Heading back east, Hiroshima is about an hour away.

Opening hours, prices and transport details change. Check the official sources before you travel: Fukuoka City official tourist guide.