First-Time Visitor Must-Read! The Complete Guide to Traveling in Fukuoka

The “FUKUOKA1DAY PASS” is a ticket that gives you unlimited rides for one day on Nishitetsu trains and buses in certain areas.
While it says “certain areas,” it covers almost all major areas, making it recommended for travelers visiting multiple places in a single day.
From Tenjin, you can reach spots like “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine,” “Fukuoka Castle Ruins,” and “Yanagawa City,” so planning ahead is the key to getting the most out of it. The valid areas are shown in the table below.

You can buy it at stations along Nishitetsu lines, including Fukuoka Station, as well as at places like the Hakata and Fukuoka Airport bus terminals. The price is 2,800 yen for adults and 1,400 yen for children.
Note that late-night buses, subways, and JR lines are not included.

Fukuoka City is home to the air gateway “Fukuoka Airport” and the terminal station “Hakata Station.”
It has not only popular attractions like “Fukuoka Tower” and “BOSS E・ZO FUKUOKA,” where you can enjoy a wide range of entertainment, but also plenty of restaurants, shopping facilities, and accommodations.
You can also enjoy local Fukuoka cuisine—one of the best parts of any trip—right in the city.
With easy access to other cities and areas, it’s recommended that first-time visitors explore mainly around Fukuoka City.

“Itoshima” is an easy day trip from Fukuoka City.
Blessed with both sea and mountains and dotted with a variety of scenic spots, it has become a popular sightseeing area in recent years.
However, public transportation in Itoshima is inconvenient, so if you want to sightsee efficiently, it’s recommended to rent a car in Fukuoka City.
From central Fukuoka to Itoshima takes Approx. 35–50 minutes via expressway. Since you can also loop around Itoshima in about half a day, consider renting a car if you plan to visit.

If you want to enjoy food in Fukuoka, you can’t miss the yatai street food stall areas, where many stalls gather in one place.
Fukuoka cuisine enjoyed amid rows of red lanterns and the area’s unique atmosphere is something special.
Another plus is being able to try a variety of foods in one spot.
Here are the features of some of Fukuoka City’s best-known yatai areas—be sure to add them to your itinerary.

In general, it’s recommended to stay either around Hakata Station or in Tenjin.
If you plan to explore other parts of Kyushu beyond Fukuoka Prefecture, base yourself near Hakata Station. If you plan to visit both inside and outside Fukuoka City, make Tenjin your hub.
From Hakata Station, it’s easy to get around not only within Fukuoka Prefecture but also outside it.
Meanwhile, “Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station” in Tenjin makes it easy to reach popular areas outside Fukuoka City, such as Dazaifu and Yanagawa.
Another reason to recommend these areas is the wide range of accommodation options.
For recommended places to stay in Fukuoka, check the article below as well.

Hakata Station area and Tenjin are convenient places to stay, and they’re also packed with large commercial facilities for shopping.
There are plenty of places where you can shop all day, such as “JR Hakata City,” Kyushu’s largest station building connected directly to the station, “Canal City Hakata,” a complex where you can also enjoy entertainment, and “Tenjin Underground Mall,” lined with 150 shops.
If you’re based in one of these two areas, it’s also convenient to drop off any extra shopping bags at your hotel along the way.
For shopping spots around Hakata Station and in Tenjin—as well as in other areas—check this article too.

If you’re traveling in Fukuoka Prefecture, you can’t skip “Fukuoka City,” the prefecture’s central city.
Along with popular attractions, Fukuoka City is where you’ll find local specialties from across the prefecture—starting with Hakata ramen, plus motsunabe, mizutaki, seafood, yakitori, and more.
At night, yatai stalls line the downtown streets, letting you enjoy food in a lively atmosphere.
With downtown areas like “Tenjin” and “Nakasu,” plus commercial facilities for shopping and entertainment, you’ll find plenty of diverse experiences.
You could say Fukuoka City is where the “classic Fukuoka” highlights are packed in.
It’s also easily accessible from outside the prefecture, thanks to “Fukuoka Airport” with international flights and the terminal station “Hakata Station.”
It’s recommended to use Fukuoka City as your base and enjoy your trip from there.

“Dazaifu” is located Approx. 45 minutes from “Hakata Station” by direct bus.
It’s also known for being home to one of Fukuoka’s most popular attractions, “Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.”
It also has other famous shrines scattered around, including “Homangu Kamado Shrine” and “Sakamoto Hachimangu Shrine.”
With the “Kyushu National Museum,” which introduces the history of cultural exchange between Japan and other Asian countries, it’s a great area to enjoy history and culture.
If you’re making the trip, be sure to visit not only Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine but other spots as well.

With coastlines, mountains, and rural landscapes, “Itoshima” is highly popular as an area where you can encounter a wide range of scenic views.
“Sakurai Futamigaura,” known for its striking scene of a white torii gate standing in the sea alongside the Meoto Iwa (wedded rocks), is especially famous.
Other highlights include “Keya no Oto,” one of Japan’s three major basalt caves, and “Tateishiyama,” where you can take in panoramic views over Itoshima from the summit.
Along the coast, stylish cafes and restaurants are scattered about, and you can also enjoy food made with local ingredients.
Since it’s Approx. 1 hour by car from central Fukuoka, be sure to include it in your itinerary.

“Kitakyushu,” in northeastern Fukuoka, is a gateway area linking Honshu and Kyushu.
The “Kanmon Bridge” and “Kanmon Tunnel,” connecting Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture (on the Honshu side) with Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture, are also popular sightseeing spots.
The Kanmon Tunnel is an undersea tunnel Approx. 780 m long connecting the “Kanmon Straits,” and it can also be crossed on foot.
Also, in the Kitakyushu area, one of Japan’s three major ports once existed alongside Yokohama and Kobe during the Meiji era (1868–1912).
That history remains strongly in “Mojiko Retro,” where you can stroll a streetscape lined with atmospheric buildings built from the Meiji period through the early Showa period.
You’ll also want to stop by “Kokura,” home to “Kokura Castle,” where you can feel Japan’s history and culture, and “Hiraodai Quasi-National Park,” one of Japan’s three major karst landscapes.
All of these are Approx. 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes from Hakata Station by train, making day trips from central Fukuoka easy.

Known as the City of Water, “Yanagawa” is a sightseeing destination with canal boats, historic streetscapes, and cultural facilities scattered throughout, creating a charming atmosphere.
The most famous activity is “Yanagawa River Cruising,” where you drift slowly down the river by boat while taking in the scenery.
With spots like “Shotoen Garden,” designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty, you’ll find plenty of places with a different feel from other areas.
It’s also nice that it’s easily accessible from Fukuoka City in 50 minutes to 1 hour by train.

On Day 1, focus on sightseeing spots in Dazaifu City and Fukuoka City, both among the most popular destinations in the Fukuoka area.
There are many places where you can feel Fukuoka’s history firsthand and learn from materials and exhibits.
Knowing the history of your destination should help you enjoy sightseeing in Fukuoka even more deeply.
Of course, you can also experience trying Fukuoka food at yatai stalls.

On Day 2, focus mainly on Kitakyushu City.
After visiting a valuable shrine registered as a World Cultural Heritage site, stroll through a retro port town known for its charming buildings.
Enjoy local food for lunch, and at the end of your trip, browse a market for souvenirs.

One of the “three major ramen styles of Fukuoka,” “Hakata ramen” has firmly established its place in Fukuoka, the home of tonkotsu ramen.
It features a rich pork-bone-based soup paired with thin, straight noodles, with a deep, savory richness from animal proteins spreading across your palate as the noodles cling to the broth.
One hallmark of Hakata ramen is that you can choose noodle firmness, and locals especially love firmer noodles.
Many shops serve smaller portions so the noodles don’t get soggy, so if you’re still hungry, try ordering kaedama—an extra serving of noodles.

One of Fukuoka’s signature local dishes, “motsunabe,” is made by seasoning broth made from ingredients like bonito, kombu, and chicken bones with soy sauce or miso, then simmering offal with garlic, chives, and cabbage.
It’s said to have originated from cooking beef or pork offal (horumon) together with chives in a soy-flavored soup.
The bold flavor is addictive and pairs perfectly with rice and drinks.
Fresh offal with a good amount of fat, carefully prepared, has no unpleasant smell and offers a rich, creamy, slightly sweet taste.
For the finishing course, it’s also recommended to add champon noodles to the remaining soup.

“Hakata udon” is commonly eaten mainly in Fukuoka City.
In contrast to typical chewy udon, it has little bite and is known for its soft, fluffy texture.
The soup is made by combining broth ingredients like dried sardines, bonito flakes, and kombu, then finished with lightly sweet, light-colored soy sauce typical of Kyushu.
The soft noodles and gently sweet broth create a comforting flavor, making it perfect for lunch or as a final dish after drinks.
Don’t forget the tempura toppings, too. Recommended options include burdock tempura and “kashiwa-ten,” chicken tempura.