river between high rise buildings during night time

Fukuoka

Fukuoka is the largest city on Kyushu, known for yatai street food stalls, Hakata tonkotsu ramen and the stone walls of Fukuoka Castle in Ohori Park.

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Fukuoka is the capital of Fukuoka Prefecture and the largest city on Kyushu, the only city on the island with more than one million residents. It sits on Hakata Bay in western Japan and has long been a gateway to the country, being the nearest major Japanese city to the Asian mainland. Korea and China can be reached by sea and air, and Busan is about 200 km away over the water.

Yatai, open-air street food stalls, are a major draw for visitors, and they set up most evenings in Tenjin, Nakasu, Hakata and Nagahama. Fukuoka is known for mentaiko, Hakata tonkotsu ramen, motsunabe and mizutaki. Nakasu, an entertainment district on an island in the Naka River, is one of Japan's three largest nightlife districts. In daylight, Ohori Park holds the remaining walls and ramparts of Fukuoka Castle, and Shofuku-ji, founded by the monk Eisai, is known as Japan's oldest Zen temple. Autumn is mild and dry, while typhoons mostly hit the city from August to September.

Fukuoka in five

Base in Hakata for trains, Tenjin for eveningsHakata Station has the shinkansen and the airport subway, about 5 minutes away. Tenjin is a few stops on and has the shopping and the walkable evenings.Where to stay in Fukuoka
Go to a yatai early and bring cashThe open-air stalls set up in the evening in Nakasu, Tenjin and Nagahama. Each seats only a handful of people, so arrive when they open or expect a wait.
Skip the rail pass for a Fukuoka-only tripCity subway, buses and Nishitetsu trains cover Fukuoka, Dazaifu and Yanagawa. A JR Kyushu pass pays off only with several long rides in 3–5 days.Is the JR Pass worth it?
Add the accommodation tax to your budgetFukuoka City charges ¥200 per person, per night, on rates under ¥20,000, and ¥500 from ¥20,000. Hotels collect it at check-in or check-out.Where to stay in Fukuoka
Reach Dazaifu before the tour groupsDazaifu Tenmangu is about 30 minutes from Tenjin on Nishitetsu trains. Go in the morning, then walk the approach lane for lunch.

Things to do in Fukuoka

See all attractions in Fukuoka

Viewpoint · FukuokaFukuoka TowerGo around sunset and stay into the evening to see both the daylight view and the night view.

Sight · FukuokaNokonoshima Island

Shrine · FukuokaKushida ShrineFestival teams line up at the start line in front of the shrine on July 15, just after 1 AM. Expect large crowds if you come for that morning.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to FukuokaPut the places you like in Fukuoka on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: Airport to Hakata about 5 min, to Tenjin about 11 min by subway
Getting around: Subway, buses and Nishitetsu trains; IC cards work
Best base: Hakata for trains, Tenjin for evenings
Time needed: 2 days; 3–4 with Dazaifu, Yanagawa or Beppu
Accommodation tax: ¥200 per person, per night; ¥500 if the rate is ¥20,000 or more Read more

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low4°Cold, dry
FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Plum blossom
MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Blossom late
AprilRain11 rainy daysHigh19°Low11°Cherry blossom
MayRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Golden Week
JuneRain15 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Rainy season
JulyRain18 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Yamakasa, humid
AugustRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hottest, typhoons
SeptemberRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low17°Clear, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Autumn color
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cold, clear

Average daily high and low in Fukuoka, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: May Hakata Dontaku · Jul Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival

Right now in Fukuoka

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 10°
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Kyushu

07:42 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today19°16°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 19°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed19°15°11%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 19°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 11%.
Thu22°17°90%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 90%.
Fri18°13°41%Friday: Drizzle. High 18°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 41%.
Sat13°9°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun15°8°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 05:33 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Fukuoka

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Every year

MayHakata DontakuFukuoka
JulHakata Gion Yamakasa FestivalFukuoka

Day trips by train

Dazaifuabout 30 minutes by Nishitetsu trainTenmangu shrine and a shop-lined approach, best in the morning.
Yanagawaabout 50 minutes by Nishitetsu expressCanal boat rides through an old castle town, then a local lunch.
Beppuabout 2–2.5 hours by Sonic expressSteaming hells and public baths; a night here beats a rushed day.Read the guide
Kumamotoabout 35–45 minutes by shinkansenA castle still being rebuilt, and the road to Aso.Read the guide

Before you go to Fukuoka

Kyushu rail: pass or singlesPrice Nagasaki, Kumamoto, BeppuSee pass prices

Day tours from FukuokaDazaifu, Yanagawa, Beppu, guidedCompare day trips

eSIM for JapanData on arrival, no counter queueRead the guide

Travel insuranceMedical cover for visitors to JapanRead the guide

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Rules for Fukuoka, checked

Check visa and entry rules on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website before you fly.Source
Complete the Visit Japan Web arrival forms online before you land, and keep the confirmation with your passport.Source
Check the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare rules before you carry prescription medicine, as some drugs are restricted.Source
Carry your trash with you, because public bins are scarce on the street.
Follow Japan Meteorological Agency warnings in heavy rain; Hakata Station and its underground flooded in June 1999 and July 2003.Source

All Fukuoka guides

a group of people standing around a food stand

Where to stayWhere to stay in Fukuoka: Hakata, Tenjin, Nakasu or OhoriChecked Oct 3, 2026

Plan around Fukuoka

Is the JR Pass worth it?

Price your Kyushu legs before you buy a pass.

Read the guide Beppu Hells guide

The seven hells, ticket, buses and onsen etiquette.

Read the guide Best time to visit Japan

Blossom, autumn color, rainy season and typhoons.

Read the guide Money in Japan

Cash, cards and IC cards, and where cash still rules.

Read the guide Best eSIM for Japan

Data plans compared, installed before you fly.

Read the guide

Fukuoka FAQ

Is Fukuoka worth visiting?

Yes, especially for food. Fukuoka has the yatai stalls, ramen, an easy airport and enough temples, parks and shopping for a relaxed two days. It also works as a base for Dazaifu, Yanagawa, Nagasaki and Beppu.

How many days do you need in Fukuoka?

Two days covers Hakata, Tenjin, Ohori Park and an evening at the yatai. Add a half day for Dazaifu, another for Yanagawa, and a night each if you continue to Beppu or Nagasaki.

Where should I stay in Fukuoka?

Hakata if you ride trains or fly early, Tenjin for food and shopping, Nakasu for the river and nightlife. All three sit on the same subway line to the airport.

Are the yatai in Fukuoka worth it?

Yes, for the atmosphere and a bowl of ramen or a few skewers, but seats are few and many stalls take cash. Arrive early, order one or two dishes, and move on so others can sit.

Can you visit Beppu or Nagasaki as a day trip from Fukuoka?

Both are possible but long. Nagasaki is about 1.5 hours each way by train, Beppu about 2–2.5 hours. Stay a night in Beppu if you want an evening soak.

Do I need a Kyushu Rail Pass for Fukuoka?

Not for Fukuoka itself or for Dazaifu and Yanagawa. Consider a Northern Kyushu pass only if you plan three or more long rides, such as Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Beppu, within 3–5 days.