Believe it or not, Fukuoka has outranked every single city we’ve ever been to in Japan. It’s got everything you need in a Japan town, but right at your fingertips. It’s big, but small. City, but country. Not only is it two stops from the airport to the main station, it’s the home of Ichiran (if you know, you know!), still has yatai on the streets at night and is literally 30 minutes from the coast.
HERE’S OUR FUKUOKA QUICK GUIDE
quick tips!
Hakata Station is the main station in Fukuoka, connecting you to essentially every part of Kyushu.
Getting there from Fukuoka Airport is a breeze!
We’ve tried 3 ways to get from the airport to station:
Taxi
“We travel for long periods of time which means we often come with bigger luggage than most. Catching a cab from Fukuoka Airport is simple. It take no more than 17 minutes in traffic to Hakata Station and it costs less than $20 for a ‘luxury’ taxi and can fit up to 5 people and 6 suitcases.”
Train
“We travel light and often stay outside of the main city. Getting to Hakata Station by train takes no more than 5 minutes, just 1 stop away on the rapid train. It costs less than 300 yen per person and you can use your credit card to tap in! Once there, we can on the JR to our final destination.”
Airport Bus
“We travel for short periods of time and have a 7-year old, so convenience is king. We stay right at Hakata Station and discovered the Airport Bus just outside of customs. It drops off at Hakata Station, just outside of the Oriental Hotel. It takes 15 minutes and costs 370 yen per person, children under 6 are free!”
eat
When it comes to food, Japan ranks #1 ichiban in our passport. Sweet (THINK: dango, donuts and daifuku mochi), savory (hello ramen capital!) and so, SO good…
Here’s some of our must haves when you visit Fukuoka:
• Hit up RAMEN ALLEY at Hakata Station A total must for Fukuoka, ramen is the cornerstone to this city!
Hakata is known for their “Hakata Ramen” style – a thick, creamy, white broth so delish that you’ll make room for ramen… always!
• Start the day with croissants from Forno del Mignon and donuts from Mister Donut ’cause sugar first thing in the AM is a good idea, right?
• Be sure to find a Hoshino Coffee and grab the signature “Hoshino Spaghetti”. Seriously, so good.
• Somehow you’ll always find room for a snack and the konbini will be the place to be. Grab a musubi, sando or amazingly perfect fried chicken (boneless, nugget style!).
Here’s our take!
FORNO DEL MIGNON
• Look for the long queue line in the middle of the station and you’ll find Forno del Mignon.
• They’re CASH ONLY, be sure to have yen! Each croissant is under 150 yen.
• If you want to expedite the wait, head LEFT of the stand. You’ll find the seasonal flavors here!
BRYS
“I love trying new foods. Be sure to hit up a YATAI STAND when you’re in Fukuoka. These pop up food stalls have the best local flavors and serve up the most unique local dishes.”
KAREN
“Besides the sushi, ramen and sweets, Fukuoka has some amazing hot pot! If you love shabu and nabe, be sure to find an all you can eat spot. They’re great for hosting and large gatherings!”
KONBINIS
• Japanese convenience stores are absolute gems. Charlise b-lines for the musubi wall and will always grab a “salmon rice ball” for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
• Whether part of the meal or just as a snack, convenience store “fried chicken” (bonare an easy go to. They’re located near the cash registers and there’s a bunch of flavors (spicy, cheese, original).
HOSHINO COFFEE
• We can’t get enough of Hoshino Coffee. It’s not native to Fukuoka (phew!) but it’s DELISH. This Hoshino “Spaghetti” is an all around team favorite with its light sauce, heavy veggie and savory sausage blend. Be sure to stir in the soft boiled egg, it’s chefs kiss!
• While at Hoshino, sip on some iced coffee! You’ll be served up a teeny tiny shot of creamer but trust us, it’s as good as it is cute!
there’s so many good grinds in fukuoka!
shop
One of Fukuoka’s greatest perks is that it has the shopping scene of Tokyo without the crowds!
Here’s some of our favorites shops to visit in Fukuoka:
Our love for glasses started at JiNS! Have you been? You’ll be in and out with an eye exam, new lenses and frames and a price tag coming in under $200 (some are even under $100!) in less than an hour. After our first trip to Fukuoka we discovered ZOFF. Comparable to JiNS but with a deeper selection (and made for bigger faces! LOL!)
No trip to Japan is complete without stopping at a Don Quijote.
Lucky for us, Fukuoka has a huge DQ in Tenjin, near Kawabata Arcade. Souvenirs, snacks and all the trending things. Egg thing? Yup, they’ve got it! Gatsby cooling wipes? In droves. Snacks? That’s what they’re known for! I love the Tenjin location because there’s an actual wall of individual candies and snacks so you can buy, try and grab a pack.
Be sure to check out HANDS, one of Japan’s major department stores.
Formerly known as Tokyu Hands, this department store has everything! Over 9 floors of things you didn’t know you needed including: luggage, beauty (nail clippers and nail polish are our go tos!), stationery, pens, stickers, toys, blind boxes, shower heads (that are the best!), dishes, bedding and more.
Our picks? Nail clippers, nail polish, pens galore.
This might be one of our greatest finds… HONEYS. We actually stumbled upon this boutique when we were in Hokkaido but FOUND ONE IN FUKUOKA! Located in Tenjin, it boasts the best elevated basics.
Accessory stores?
Oh, Fukuoka has a ton! One of our favorite finds? 3 COINS! Everything is roughly 3 COINS and Charlise loves finding magnetic earrings (and accessories for her sloth).
And lastly… no trip is complete without 100 yen store hopping, right?!
Fukuoka has all the big names: Daiso, Seria and CanDo. Don’t ask for our favorite, we plead the 5th.
see
OHORI PARK
Spend the day strolling through Ohori Park and catch a quick sip ‘n snack break at this darling restaurant centered at the middle of the lake. The park is dog friendly, too!
TAKE A TRIP TO UMINONAKAMICHI SEASIDE PARK
We love renting bikes from Umi-no-nakamichi Seaside Park and going out of the park to Shikashima Island It’s a scenic ride to an old school Japanese town by the ocean about 20 minutes by bike.
You can rent bikes directly from the park. They have a wide range of cruisers with baskets, kids seats, even tandem style bikes! You can ride on a flat surface in the park too, which is perfect for families who don’t want to ride on the road.