JP
Fukuoka
Kyushu’s gateway city: yatai food stalls, Hakata ramen and shrines, with an airport minutes from downtown
Kyushu’s gateway city: yatai food stalls, Hakata ramen and shrines, with an airport minutes from downtown
In the evening, small mobile stalls set up in Nakasu, Tenjin and Nagahama, serving ramen, yakitori, oden and drinks to a few customers at a time.
Most stalls open after dark and seat only around eight people.
Photo: Jacklee., CC BY-SA 3.0
A large pond with islands and bridges forms the centre of this park, popular for walking and jogging. Next to it are the ruins of Fukuoka Castle and a Japanese garden.
Photo: Hirho, CC BY 4.0
Hakata’s main Shinto shrine is the focus of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival in July, when teams race huge floats through the streets. A decorated float is on display year-round.
Photo: STA3816, CC BY-SA 4.0
This shopping and entertainment complex is built around an artificial canal, with fountain shows, restaurants and a ramen food court.
Photo: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 4.0
A short train ride from the city, this important shrine is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of learning. The approach is lined with shops selling umegae mochi rice cakes.
Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fukuoka is one of Japan’s great food cities: try Hakata ramen (tonkotsu), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), motsunabe (offal hotpot) and fresh seafood.
Yatai, izakaya and ramen shops make eating out easy and affordable.
Fukuoka Airport is a few subway stops from Hakata Station, with domestic and international flights. Shinkansen trains connect Hakata with Osaka, Hiroshima and Tokyo, and with southern Kyushu. Ferries also link Fukuoka with Busan in South Korea.
The subway, buses and walking cover most of the city.
Japan uses the yen (JPY).
Three days for the city and a day trip.
Visit Kushida Shrine, Canal City and the old temples of Hakata, then dinner at yatai in Nakasu.
Walk Ohori Park and the castle ruins, then shop in Tenjin.
Take the train to Dazaifu Tenmangu and the nearby Kyushu National Museum.
Try different shops; many use ticket machines.
The subway gets you downtown in minutes.
August and September can bring storms.
The Yamakasa festival runs in early July.
Quick answers for planning time in Fukuoka.
Its food, especially Hakata ramen and yatai food stalls.
Just a few subway stops from Hakata Station.
By Shinkansen to Hakata Station.
Open-air food stalls that appear in the evening.
Spring and autumn.
Planning a wider trip? Our Japan travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.