Fukuoka

Fukuoka, on Kyushu's northern coast, is a laid-back city known for its food. Locals have eaten tonkotsu ramen at the yatai stalls of Nakasu for generations; Tenjin has the modern towers and old Hakata the temple lanes. It is also an easy base for day trips: Dazaifu in plum-blossom season, the canals of Yanagawa, and the hot-spring towns of Yufuin and Beppu, about two hours away.

Top places

Hakata Station

Tenjin

Nakasu

Ohori Park

Fukuoka Castle Ruins

Kushida Shrine

Fukuoka Tower

Momochi Seaside Park

Canal City Hakata

Nokonoshima Island Park

Hotels

The Ritz-Carlton, Fukuoka

5-Star

Grand Hyatt Fukuoka

5-Star

Hotel Nikko Fukuoka

5-Star

Hotel Okura Fukuoka

5-Star

Miyako Hotel Hakata

5-Star

Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk

5-Star

The Blossom Hakata Premier

4-Star

Mitsui Garden Hotel Fukuoka Gion

4-Star

Mitsui Garden Hotel Fukuoka Nakasu

4-Star

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka

4-Star

Restaurants

Yakiniku Sudo Haruyoshi

Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze

Restaurant Aréna

Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze

L'Ermita

Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze

Yakitori Koto

Tabelog Award 2026 Bronze

Hakata Issou (Hakata Station East)

Tabelog Hyakumeiten 2025 · Ramen

Hakata Gion Tetsunabe

Tabelog Hyakumeiten 2024 · Gyoza

Karo no Uron

Tabelog Hyakumeiten 2024 · Udon

Sushi Sakai

Tabelog Award 2026 Silver

Hakata Genki Ippai

Tabelog Hyakumeiten 2025 · Ramen

Hakata Motsunabe Tokunagaya

Popular Hakata motsunabe (beef offal hot pot) specialist

Things to do

Fukuoka Tower Observation Deck Ticket

E-ticket for the observation deck of Japan's tallest seaside tower.

teamLab Forest Fukuoka Ticket

Digital art museum inside BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA, next to PayPay Dome.

Uminonakamichi Marine World Admission Ticket

Seaside aquarium with a giant shark tank plus dolphin and sea lion shows.

Yanagawa River Boating Experience

Ride a donko boat through Yanagawa's Edo-era canal town.

Aso Volcano & Kusasenri Day Tour

Minami Aso Railway ride and Kusasenri grassland, then Kumamoto Castle or Kurokawa Onsen.

Dazaifu, Yufuin & Beppu Day Tour

Full-day trip pairing Dazaifu Tenmangu with the onsen towns of Yufuin and Beppu.

Sanrio Harmonyland Ticket

1-day pass to Sanrio's theme park in Oita, with shows, rides and Hello Kitty.

Itoshima Day Trip: Shiraito Falls & Couple Rocks

Coastal day trip to Itoshima's waterfall and Couple Rocks.

Nakasu River Cruise

30-min cruise past Nakasu's yatai stalls and Canal City, or a 45-min Hakata Bay route.

Huis Ten Bosch Day Tour from Hakata

Round-trip bus from Hakata Bus Terminal to Huis Ten Bosch, Japan's Dutch-style park.

Getting there

JR Kyushu Rail Pass

Unlimited JR Kyushu trains: All Kyushu 3/5/7 days, Northern 3/5 or Southern 3.

JR Kyushu Fukuoka Wide Area Mobile Pass

2-day mobile pass for JR trains in the Fukuoka suburban area, including Mojiko.

Fukuoka Tourist City Pass

1-day unlimited pass for subway, JR, Nishitetsu and ferry in Fukuoka.

Kyushu SUNQ Bus Pass

Unlimited highway and local buses in All, Northern or Southern Kyushu areas.

Nishitetsu Airport Bus Ticket

Direct Nishitetsu bus between Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station.

Hakata-Nagasaki Highway Bus

Direct highway bus linking Hakata and Nagasaki in about 2.5 hours.

Fukuoka–Busan Ferry (New Camellia)

Hakata–Busan ferry: about 6 hours by day to Busan, overnight on the way back.

Kyushu Car Rental with Driver

Chartered car and driver for custom day trips around Kyushu.