Fukuoka Travel Guide

Fukuoka (福岡) is the capital of Fukuoka prefecture and the largest city on the island of Kyushu. Fukuoka is a good starting point for first-time visitors to Japan. As a historic port city, Fukuoka is more welcoming of foreigners than other parts of Japan, and has significant numbers of residents and tourists from abroad, particularly from China and Korea.

From Tokyo, flying to Fukuoka is much faster than the Shinkansen, and not significantly more expensive. The usual one-way fare onSkymark Airlinesfrom Tokyo Haneda is ¥19,800, compared to ¥22,320 from Tokyo Station on theNozomiShinkansen, and steep discounts are available if you book in advance (as low as ¥5,300 with Skymark's "SKY Bargain" discount). The flight takes 2 hr while the train takes 5 hr. If you have a JR Pass, of course, you will still want to take the train.

Want to try out the bullet train, but put off by those high fares? Ride theHakata Minami Line(博多南線) from Hakata Station. Built to connect to the train depot, the 8½-km, 10-min ride uses Shinkansen equipment and costs all of ¥290.

There are several hotels around Hakata Station, and in the Gion area, Nakasu, and Tenjin. Hotel options range from capsule hotels and reasonably priced western hotel rooms to more expensive tourist hotels.