No viable domestic connecting flight

Hi!

Our final destination is Fukuoka, and we're flying into Narita first from the US. However, our US flight only arrives at 7pm and from what I've checked from ANA/JAL and some other smaller airlines there don't appear to be any viable domestic flights shortly after our arrival. For instance ANA's latest Narita-FUK flight is at 7pm, and one of the smaller airlines has an 8pm flight out of Haneda.

So unless I'm missing something, we're not going to be able to fly to FUK that same night we arrive in Narita.

The next logical option would be to fly the next morning. If we do so however, what does everyone suggest in terms of how to spend the night at Narita itself or really close to it?

Thanks in advance!

You understand the situation correctly. There is no way to get to Fukuoka on the same day.

For comfort, I recommend to stay overnight at a hotel near the airport (there are over half a dozen with free shuttle buses) and the fly to Fukuoka the next day. Low-budget travelers could consider staying the night in the airport terminal.

If you are feeling adventurous, there is one option, albeit quite bothersome. You can take the 19:40 limo bus to Haneda, then the 22:00 flight to Kitakyushu, then a bus to Kokura. But you will arrive at Kokura station after 1am, long after the last train to Fukuoka, so you can either just spend the night in Kokura (would probably be much cheaper than in Narita), wait a couple hours for the first train, or take a taxi.

Keep in mind that while possible, catching the 19:40 limo bus is a rather tight connection. Fast travelers should be able to make it presuming everything goes as planned, but any delay and you've missed your connecting flight.

Landing at 7PM and catching the 7:40 bus is almost impossible. Unless you fly first/business class and get your luggage right away. Even so, it's super tight.

Thanks all, especially Firas with the 'adventurous' option hehe. We'll probably just take it easy and spend the night in or around Narita. As much as I'd like to get our flights out of the way in one shot, I could also deal without the stress of worrying about flight delays and potentially missing connections.

If you haven't booked your flight to Japan yet you could consider taking a flight that arrives earlier in the day, thus allowing you to get a connecting flight to Fukuoka the same day.....

Thanks Dutchann, but we've already booked our flight. We were pretty set on the airline and they only had this one flight per day too. So even if I wanted to pay a rebooking fee to change it to a flight arriving earlier it wouldn't be an option...

Fukuoka airport has a curfew of 10pm, so no arrivals or departures past that time.

I would just take a flight the next day and spend the night at a business hotel like Toyoko Inn, which is about 15 minutes ride from the airport. Actually it's across the road from Narita 3, but traffic patterns make it a 15 minute drive.

That'll give you time to decompress a bit and relax for your early a.m. flight the next morning.

Unless you are blessed with the means for a nicer seat, or ability to sleep in Cattle Class, you will most likely arrive a brain dead zombie like a lot of people. Staying overnight near Narita is your best bet. Get a good night's sleep and the next day you can get a low cost carrier flight like Jet Star or Peach, or try the ANA Experience Japan Fare.
You should arrive in Fukuoka in less than 2 hours and you'll find enough to keep you quite busy and happy. The Nanzoin Temple is one place you should not miss. For a good regional guide and preview of what there is, take a look at:
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/fukpic.html
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7LcPcmoSg-j4RLa6iC7ayvBAbOn8-0...
Try the tonkotsu ramen while there. The yatai or ramen stalls near the Naka River in Nakasu give a much better scenery, but plenty of locals choose to eat in the Nagahama area near Tenjin.

Just in case anyone is interested, we've made a reservation at the Richmond Hotel Narita.

Factors considered:
-availability of shuttle from Narita to hotel (and failsafe train station just a few minutes' walk away in case we miss the last shuttle)
-minutes' walk from a supermarket "Yaoko Narita Ekimae" -- the other option was the supermarket at the Aeon mall, but it would take more time to take the bus/cab there and they close at 2200hrs.