Fukuoka Travel: Access, Transportation and Orientation

How to travel between Fukuoka and Tokyo

By shinkansen

Tokyo and Fukuoka (Hakata Station) are connected with each other by the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. The one way trip by direct Nozomi trains takes five hours and costs around 22,000 yen. Japan Rail Pass holders cannot use Nozomi trains, and have to ride Hikari and Sakura trains instead. This adds about one hour to the total travel time and requires a transfer of trains at Shin-Osaka Station.

By air

Tokyo-Fukuoka is one of the world's busiest air routes with dozens of departures per day, operated by JAL, ANA, Starflyer and Skymark. Flight duration is about 110 minutes. Most flights between Tokyo and Fukuoka use Tokyo's Haneda Airport, and only a few flights use Narita Airport. Fukuoka Airport is Japan's most easily accessible airport, only a five minute subway ride from Hakata Station.

The regular one way fare by JAL and ANA is around 37,000 yen, but discount fares are typically available for 12,000 to 28,000 yen. Starflyer is somewhat cheaper with a regular one way fare around 33,000 yen and typical discount fares around 12,000 to 22,000 yen. The cheapest option is Skymark with a regular one way fare around 18,000 yen and discount fares around 6,000 to 17,000 yen.

By bus

Nishitetsu operates a daily night bus between Fukuoka and Tokyo (Shinjuku Keio Highway Bus Terminal). The one way journey takes 14.5 hours and costs between 8,000 and 19,000 yen depending on the seat quality and season. Discounted round trip tickets are also available.

By ferry

Ocean Tokyu Ferry operates daily ferries between Tokyo (Tokyo Ferry Terminal on Odaiba) and Kitakyushu (Shin-Moji Port). The one way journey takes 34 hours and costs around 15,000 yen in the cheapest class. From Shin-Moji Port, Fukuoka can be reached in about 90 minutes and 1,700 yen by local trains or 60 minutes and 3,000 yen by shinkansen. Please visit or ferry page for more details.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

Fukuoka is served by Japan Railways (JR), Nishitetsu Railways, three subway lines and a bus network. The city's main station is Hakata Station with direct connections to Honshu and across Kyushu, including Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima.

The local railway company Nishitetsu is useful for visiting Dazaifu. Nishitetsu trains depart from Tenjin Station (also known as Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station) in the central entertainment and shopping district of Tenjin. Most city buses in Fukuoka are also operated by Nishitetsu.

The subway connects Hakata Station, Tenjin Station and Fukuoka Airport with each other and provides access to many of the city's tourist attractions. Fukuoka Airport is Japan's most centrally located airports, only a five minute subway ride from Hakata Station.

The 100 Yen Bus is a convenient, frequently running bus line that loops through the city center between Hakata and Tenjin Stations, passing by Canal City and the food stalls of Nakasu Island. Buses run at least once every 10 minutes, and the fare is 100 yen per ride.

The Fukuoka City Loop Bus "Green" is another loop bus for tourists, but it runs only on weekends and holidays. It connects Hakata Station with most major sightseeing spots, including Canal City, Ohori Park and the Momochi Seaside Park. The bus operates once every 30 minutes and costs 250 yen per ride or 700 yen for a 1-day pass.