How to access from Fukuoka airport to downtown Hakata and Tenjin.

Airport Access
Fukuoka subway train (C) JP Rail
2012.03.18
Fukuoka subway train (C) JP Rail

Fukuoka subway train (C) JP Rail

Some of you may arrive at Fukuoka International Airport (FUK) from your countries directly. You may transit at Haneda and take domestic flight to Fukuoka. I have received questions about Fukuoka airport and Hakata (博多) station. I have just visited Fukuoka airport by subway. I would like to share what I got with you.

Fukuoka Subway

There are lots of sign both Hakata station and Fukuoka airport. You cannot miss it. (C) JP Rail

I think Fukuoka airport (FUK) is most convenient and accessible airport in Japan. Most of airports in Japan are away from downtown core for more than 30 minutes. But Fukuoka airport is only 5 minutes and 2 stations away from Hakata. Another downtown core in Fukuoka, Tenjin (天神) is away for 11 minutes and 5 stations. As of March 2012, the fare is 250 yen from Fukuoka airport to Hakata or Tenjin.

If you need more information about Fukuoka Subway, please check the website.

Photo Gallery

Hotels in Hakata, Tenjin, Fukuoka airport
Hotels in Kurume

Time required

I estimate the actual required time from the time of flight arrival time to the time of Hakata station arrival time is 30 minutes. I usually spend 20 minutes to get off the flight and pick up the baggage. Language barrier is not big issue at the airport. So it takes another 10 minutes to buy ticket and take train. Subway trains are operated every 5 to 10 minutes.

Free shuttle bus looks like commute city bus. (C) JP Rail

However this time required is for the case of domestic flight arrival. If you arrive by the international flight, you need to spend at least another 15 minutes because the international terminal is located at different from domestic terminal. Free shuttle bus connect both terminal in 15 minutes. This shuttle is operated every 6 to 10 minutes. And also you need to clear custom and immigration. I estimate to do this for 45 minutes at least. So you may spend more than 1.5 hour to get Hakata station in case of international flight arrival.

If you think about exchange Japan Rail Pass at Hakata station after arrival at Fukuoka.

Travel Center and ticket office at Hakata station

There are several ticket gate at Subway Hakata station. Hakata station is the biggest station in Kyushu. So you need to know which direction you need to go. both Travel Center and JR Kyushu ticket office (pass exchange office) are located at central ticket gate. So you need to go through Central ticket gate after you get off subway train. After go through subway’s Central ticket gate, you will see the stairs to JR Kyushu’s Hakata station Central ticket gate. Go up the stairs, you will see both Travel Center and ticket office on your left side.

All ticket gates are connected each other. But if you go through other ticket gate, you might waste lots of time.

Bus and taxi

There is no shuttle bus service between airport and downtown because it is very close. If you will stay in Hakata and look for the direct transfer to the accommodation, you need to take taxi. The fare is 1500 yen to 2000 yen. You can take city bus also to get downtown Fukuoka. But subway is faster and easier.

And also there are many express bus service to many places in Northern Kyushu. Most of buses are operated by Nishitetsu Bus. If you need more information, please refer Nishitetsu bus website.

Comments

  1. Young says:
    February 9, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Dear JPRail,

    I am arriving at the Fukuoka international airport and going to Yufuin. I hear that there is a train that goes there. Can you tell me the time table and the price.

    Thank you.

  2. Kris says:
    November 18, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    Good morning,

    I will be arriving in Fukuoka on 13th Mar 2014 morning and would like to know whether I can buy a one day pass to go to my hotel and then use the same pass to sight-seeing.

    I know about your one day pass but not sure whether it can start from hotel and then to other tourist attractions.

    Kindly enlighten me. Thanks

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      JPRail says:
      November 18, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      Hi Kris,

      You can purchase one day at 600 yen at any vending machine in any station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  3. Al says:
    November 9, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    If i buy a rail pass can i use it in fukuoka @ tokyo and what can i use it on?

    Tank you aloha

  4. David Chua says:
    March 18, 2013 at 5:54 pm

    Dear sir,

    I’m traveling to Japan Fukuoka coming June. Have booked a hotel Richmond Hotel at Tenjin. How to take the japan rail from domestic airport to Richmond Hotel? Should drop at which station near to the hotel?

    Thanks

    David Chua

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      JPRail says:
      March 19, 2013 at 12:17 am

      Hi David,

      There is no Japan Railway from Fukuoka airport to Tenjin. On;y subway is available.I don’t know about the detail location of your hotel. But if it’s located in Tenjin, subway Tenjin station is the nearest station. Please check your hotel website or ask your hotel to make sure.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. Paul says:
    November 15, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Hi
    I will have a trip to Japan in Christmas, the return flight will depart at 1130am at international Fukuoka airport, May I get the Mizuho Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka that depart from Osaka at0600AM and arrive at Hakata at 0825AM that day.

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      JPRail says:
      November 15, 2012 at 8:00 pm

      Hi Paul,

      If you want, you can do it. But I don’t recommend you to do this. If Shinkansen delay or cancel, JR do not compensate your flight.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. sonny says:
    August 28, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    With a standard class japan rail pass, can I travel from Fukuoka to Kyoto and then to Tokyo? I am a little confused about which train I cannot use the Japan rail pass. will appreciate your help.. Thanks.
    Sonny

  7. Alan says:
    August 6, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    Dear Sirs,

    I will be travelling to Fukuoka from Singapore and will be staying for 5 nights. I heard that i have to take a free shuttle bus from the International airport to the domestic airport and then I have to take a train to Hakata Station which is most probably near my hotel. Is this correct? I have also heard there is a Green Bus service which drives around to alot of different tourist attraction spots, e.g Ohori Park and Canal City. Is this correct also? This will be our first time travelling without a tour so i’ll need as much help as I can. Sorry for any trouble..

  8. ann says:
    June 11, 2012 at 5:10 am

    can you give me the right track where to get shinkansen ticket from hakata station to okayama?

    • Takeshi Shimomura, Author of JPRail.com
      JPRail says:
      June 11, 2012 at 12:39 pm

      Hi Ann,
      You can get many many places to get Shinkansen ticket. If you get it at Hakata, ticket offices, Midori no madoguchi (reservation window), and even vending machine. There are so many places to get it. You cannot miss it.
      Cheers,
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. APK Research Institute
    Rso says:
    April 12, 2012 at 5:15 am

    hello, as I can go from Hakata to Kokura (shinkansen line)??…. thanks

  10. Rina says:
    March 19, 2012 at 12:02 am

    Dear Sir,

    I bought the Japan Rail Pass for my travel to Japan in April. Intend to travel fm Tokyo to Takayama (2 nites) and Gero (1 nite). Gero is my last stop before proceeding back to Tokyo.

    I will take the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya, then take another train to Takayama. Please advise the train line that run from Nagoya to Takayama / Gero (same train line?).

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