Fukuoka trip blog — The super Fukuoka travel guide for the first-time to visit

Last May I had an unexpected trip to Fukuoka, Japan. Why is it a unexpected? One day, while I was sitting and checked to see where to go at cheap tickets, then suddenly found Fukuoka. The round-trip ticket of Cebu Pacific airline included luggage is only nearly $130, so… pick up backpack and go, LOL. So, is Fukuoka worth visiting? Yes, definitely! Let’s check out our Fukuoka trip blog and Fukuoka travel blog (Fukuoka blog) with the super, fullest Fukuoka travel guide (Fukuoka guide, Fukuoka guidelines) from how to get there, best time to go, where to stay, things to do in Fukuoka Japan, things to see in Fukuoka (what to see in Fukuoka), what to do in Fukuoka, what to visit in Fukuoka Japan to find out the answer!

In this article, I will share my Fukuoka travel experiences from A—Z through my this Fukuoka trip blog. I did not find much useful information about Fukuoka during the pre-departure preparations, so I hope this article will be able to help you make a perfect itinerary for upcoming trip to Fukuoka.

>> Read more: Visiting Fukuoka & enjoy specialties of the Southern Japan.

Fukuoka trip blog: Overview Fukuoka

Fukuoka is a coastal city in the Kyushu region in the south of Japan. Fukuoka has something that makes me feel it’s quite similar to Busan of South Korea.

Coming to Fukuoka, you will see a lot of Korean tourists because from Korea to Fukuoka is very close and can even getting there by boat. Korean visitors are extremely crowded that you can mistake yourself are staying in Korea, not Japan =)).

Fun fact: Fukuoka is the first place to grow green tea in Japan. And from here, green tea expanded to all over Japan and became a typical culture feature of this country.

>> Read more: Hokkaido travel itinerary in 9 days in autumn.

Fukuoka has full of four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, and each season has its own unique beauty. Fukuoka is an extremely ideal place to enjoy flowers in all four seasons in Japan. If you already know Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) flowers, Wisteria flowers, Fukuoka is a famous city with Baby Blue Eyes flower fields that make storms on social networks.

I really fell in love with Fukuoka for its peace, gentle. Fukuoka is not too noisy and crowded like Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka, but there are enough landmarks to admire. I feel the people of Fukuoka friendlier a lot than the cities I’ve been to.

Fukuoka city guide (Fukuoka guide): How to get to Fukuoka?

One of the obstacles that makes Fukuoka not really attractive to Vietnamese tourists is that there is no direct flight from Vietnam to here. From Hanoi or Saigon you can only fly directly to Tokyo, Osaka, Busan, Seoul, Bangkok or Kualar Lumpur and then fly to Fukuoka. I recommend some airlines such as: Jeju Air, AirAsia, Jin Air …

From Manila, Philippines you can choose fly with Cebu Pacific or Philippines Airlines which have direct flights to Fukuoka. Cebu Pacific especially has very cheap tickets to Fukuoka.

From Tokyo or Osaka, you can take the JR Shinkansen to Fukuoka for about 6 hours of riding (if traveling from Tokyo) or 2 hours and 30 minutes (from Osaka).

>> Read more: Should I buy a JR Pass?

Fukuoka travel blog (Fukuoka blog): What to do in Fukuoka, best places to visit in Fukuoka

I will list the most popular tourist destinations in Fukuoka so that you can choose from to make the best itinerary for you.

Nokonoshima Island Park

Nokonoshima Island is an ideal place to see flowers and take virtual living photos. This park covering an area up to 150.000 square meters with all kinds of flowers blooming all year round.

Late February – mid-April: You will be admired the vast field of yellow canola flowers. March-May is the season of cosmos flowers and of course the cherry blossom season. In the summer, there are immense sunflower fields.

Address: Japan, 〒819–0012 Fukuoka, Nishi Ward, 能古島
Hours: 9AM–5:30PM

How to get there: Take bus 301 or 302 from Tenjin station to ferry station Nokonoshima 能 古 渡船 場. Here, take a ferry to Nokonoshima island and take a bus to the park.

Uminonakamichi Seaside Park

Uminonakamichi Park is a very famous place with Baby blue eyes flowers and cherry blossoms every spring comes. In addition, in the autumn and summer season, it is also famous for its rose garden of all kinds, and the vast fields of cosmos flowers .

This place is also very suitable for children because besides the flower park, there is also Marine World – Aquarium with tens of thousands of large and small marine lifes.

Address: 18-25 Saitozaki, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka, 811-0321, Japan
Hours: 9:30AM–5:30PM

Access: From JR Hakata Station (博 多 駅) take the Kagoshima Line to JR Kashii Station (香 椎 駅), then change to the JR Kashii Line and continue riding to Uminonakamichi Station (海 の 中道 駅) (total time approx. 40 minutes ), ticket price at 460 yen / way.

Tochoji Temple and other temples and shrines in the Hakata area

This is the oldest temple in Kyushu belonging to the Shingon Buddhism, is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan . Anyone who travels to Fukuoka will visit this temple at once and take pictures.

In Tochoji Temple there is a Buddha statue called The Great Buddha of Fukuoka because it is the largest reclining Buddha statue in Japan. This statue, nearly 11 meters high, weighs more than 30 tons, was made in 1988 and took 4 years to complete.

The Kakiyama – this palanquin with over tonne weigh in boat-shaped will be carried by a few hundred people along the main road during the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival which takes place from July 1-15 every year.

Recommend: You should join the Mysterious Temples of Hakata to explore the temples and shrines in the Hakata area of ​​Mrs. Anne and Uncle Masato on Airbnb (The Airbnb link discount up to $40). I joined this tour while in Fukuoka and it was really my memorable experience. Thanks to this experience I learned more interesting things and beautiful temples and shrines that few visitors know in Fukuoka.

Itoshima Beach and Sakurai Futamigaura Shrine

This place is suitable for those who have a lot of time in Fukuoka, love the sea and virtual live photography. Itoshima beach is a bit far from central Fukuoka, it would be great if you rent a self-drive car while watching the roadside.

How to get there: Take the orange subway line to Chikuzen-Fukae Station and walk about 1km to reach this beach.

I intented to come here but because my time is tight, so I have to cancel. This beach has a lot of cafes around with the views overlooking the sea, very beautiful and very art decorated such as: Sunset Cafe, Surfside Cafe …

Watch the sunset at Miyajidake Shrine

If you ask where to watch the sunset with beautiful views in Fukuoka, I will immediately say at Miyajidake Shrine.

Address: 7-1 Miyaji Motomachi, Fukutsu, Fukuoka 811-3309, Japan
Hours: 9AM–5PM

Fukuoka trip blog: Shopping and eating places in Fukuoka

Coming to Japan without buying skin care products, tonics and beauty tools is a waste! Shopping in Fukuoka is concentrated in two main locations: Hakata area and Tenjin area. These are also the 2 biggest stations in Fukuoka.

Tenjin area

Tenjin underground shopping mall located right in Tenjin station with all kinds of clothes, food, skin care. There is also Aeon Shoppers Fukuoka.

Next to Tenjin station, there is a BIC Camera for those who want to buy cameras and digital accessories of all kinds. Don Quijote store for cosmetics and skin care products.

There are many shops and shopping malls around Tenjin station for you to explore, so going all day is still not enough. Want some food? Ichiran Tenjin Nishidori is a very famous noodle shop in this area. Also, right the Exit 12 of the station, there is an Ippudo noodle shop just as good as Ichiran.

Hakata area

Hakata station is the largest station in Fukuoka, so inside the station there are a variety of shopping malls and food shops for you to choose from all day. Some typical malls are: AMU Plaza Hakata City, Hakata Marui…

Near Hakata station, there is a Canal City Hakata mall with all kinds of fashion brands. In the evening there is also a very beautiful and fun water music.

Also next to Hakata station is Yodobashi Hakata – this is the second largest electronics store in Japan. If you want to buy cameras, accessories and beauty tools such as Refa machine, Hada Crie face massage machine… then just come here to get it all.

If you love fashion brand COMME des GARCONS with a heart-shaped icon, you should definitely go to its outlet in Hakata. I saw Anne saying that the price at the outlet was very cheap, Koreans always came here to pick up goods and bring back Korea to sell. The day I passed, many guests lined up quite a lot even though the store is still not open yet.

For eating, inside Hakata station has a wide selection of restaurants and supermarkets selling all kinds of food. The shops are always full of customers, so don’t need to talk about whether it’s delicious or not. I would recommend some places, eateries I ate.

There is a croissants shop in Hakata station called il FORNO del MIGNON that is extremely delicious. I do not remember the exact location of the restaurant in Hakata station because at that time, I was strolling around and saw the crowd of Japanese people lining up to buy it, so I dropped by.

You will also find the famous Ichiran Hakata noodle shop after exit 18 of the station. You must eat noodles in Fukuoka. Because Fukuoka is famous for having the best noodles in Japan. The noodles here are thin, the broth is fatty enough not to make you feel greasy at all.

In addition, there are 2 places I strongly recommend you must-go to enjoy delicious food in Fukuoka: Eat Unagi grilled eel in Yoshizuka Unagi. The unagi is the main and most famous dish in this restaurant. Everyone who comes here just calls Unagi. So tasty, delicious guys !!! Must eat it !!!

The second place you must definitely visit when traveling to Fukuoka is: Yatai – small food stalls specializing in street food, night drinking in Japan. The famous Fukuoka Yatai concentration area is next to Canal City Mall, open at 6pm to midnight.

Due to Yatai eatery don’t have a specific address, So I don’t know how to guide it properly. I leave the map and photo link below for you easy to navigate.

Another dish in Fukuoka that reminded me of and brought it back to eat is Kamaboko – a delicious fish cake dish: ((. The Kamaboko shop that Anne brought us to is a shop specializing in making Kamaboko. The next generation is hereditary. The shop in Japanese: 西門 蒲 本店, I leave the link here for you to find.

Coming to Japan, most people should think of buying mochi as gifts, right ?! There is a very famous homemade mochi shop in Hakata is Mochikichi, located at Exit 1 Gion station.

Fukuoka blog: Where to stay in Fukuoka?

If you come to Fukuoka, you should stay at a hotel or airbnb near the subway stations around Tenjin or Hakata area.

Fukuoka city center is quite small so every shopping mall, store is next to these two large stations. You can completly walk or rent a bike to cycling around.

The airbnb I stayed in was near Chiyo-Kenchōguchi Station. However from here I can walk to the Hakata station area.

In addition, you can refer to one of the best Airbnb in Fukuoka: Residential apartment overlooking the sea at $10/night or Disinfected☆Sta walk 0mins!!Near Hakata,Tenjin!2 at $20/night.

–> Airbnb link discounts up to $35 for the first booking here: https://www.airbnb.com/c/anht5185

You can find more, check rates, availability & book for Fukuoka hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.

I recommend some guesthoues, hotels for those who not like staying in airbnb:

• Hotel Sunline Fukuoka Hakata-Ekimae (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Dormy Inn Hakata Gion Natural Hot Spring (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Nine Hours Nakasukawabata Station (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• The Gate Hostel fukuoka (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Yamamoto Ryokan (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Plaza Hotel Tenjin (Agoda.com or Booking.com)
• Valie Hotel Tenjin (Agoda.com or Booking.com)

Below we recommend more best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels from $22/night with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Chuo: A top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $117/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel WBF Fukuoka Tenjin Minami: A top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $49/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Fukuoka: A top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $123/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hakata Tokyu REI Hotel: A top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $101/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

The Royal Park Hotel Fukuoka: A top rated 4-star hotel with room rates from $134/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Dormy Inn Hakata Gion: A top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $56/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hakata Gion: A top rated 3-star hotel with room rates from $58/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Fukuoka trip blog: Getting around Fukuoka city

The most convenient means of transportation in Fukuoka is subway. You can download the subway map for Fukuoka here. Subway in central Fukuoka has 3 main lines, making it easy to navigate.

You should buy 1 day subway pass for 620 yen for unlimited travel in a day (covering the day of ticket purchase, after 12pm, the ticket is no longer valid). In addition, you can buy the Fukuoka City Pass for subway, train and bus for unlimited travel at 820 yen. A city pass is more beneficial if you use it during the day you need to move out of the city center and take a train, bus, for example to get to Uminonakamichi Park.

Fukuoka Subway 1 or 2-day Unlimited Pass

To fully explore Fukuoka, you should spend at least 3 days to be able to explore and enjoy the dishes and famous tourist attractions here.

Hopefully this article will help you who are going to Fukuoka in the near future or at least make you want to planning a trip to this gentle city. Love !!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Fukuoka you can refer to

• Private Fukuoka Airport (FUK) Transfers for Fukuoka City
• Private Fukuoka Airport (FUK) Transfers for Fukuoka and Surrounding Cities
• Yanagawa and Tosu Premium Outlets Day Trip from Fukuoka
• Iki Island Trip from Fukuoka
• Historical Hakata Tour
• 3/5 Day JR All/North/South Kyushu Pass (Japan Pick Up)
• Fukuoka Subway 1 or 2-day Unlimited Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more top things to do in Fukuoka: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Fukuoka travel blog — The fullest Fukuoka travel guide for a great trip to Fukuoka on a budget for the first-timers.