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Seaside Momochi and Fukuoka Tower on Hakata Bay

No. 64 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Fukuoka

Japan

Kyushu's easy-going harbour city: Hakata ramen, open-air food stalls, shrines and a seaside tower.

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Photo: 新幹線, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Fukuoka is No. 64 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The largest city on Japan's southern island of Kyushu lies on Hakata Bay, and its airport is unusually close to the centre.

It is famous for its food, above all Hakata tonkotsu (pork-bone) ramen and the open-air yatai food stalls that open in the evening.

The main hall of Dazaifu Tenmangū shrine
The main hall of Dazaifu Tenmangū shrine. Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

Spring (late March to May) and autumn (October and November) are the most pleasant; cherry blossom usually peaks in late March.

June and July bring the rainy season and then hot, humid weather; typhoons are possible from August to September. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival is held from 1 to 15 July.

Top sights

  • 1

    Yatai food stalls

    Small open-air stalls serving ramen, yakitori and oden in the evenings, especially in Nakasu and Tenjin.

  • 2

    Ohori Park

    A large park around a lake with a walking path, a Japanese garden and the ruins of Fukuoka Castle next door.

  • 3

    Fukuoka Tower

    A 234 m tower in Seaside Momochi with an observation deck over the bay and the beach.

  • 4

    Kushida Shrine

    Hakata's main Shinto shrine, where a towering decorated float from the Yamakasa festival is displayed.

  • 5

    Canal City Hakata

    A large shopping and entertainment complex built around a canal, with a ramen stadium of noodle shops.

  • 6

    Dazaifu Tenmangu

    A famous shrine dedicated to the scholar Sugawara no Michizane, about 40 minutes away by Nishitetsu train, with plum trees and a street of snack shops.

Getting there

Fukuoka Airport (FUK) is very close to the city; the subway reaches Hakata Station in about 5 minutes.

Sanyo Shinkansen trains run from Osaka to Hakata Station in about 2.5 hours, and the Kyushu Shinkansen continues south to Kagoshima. Ferries sail to Busan in South Korea.

Getting around

Three subway lines and frequent Nishitetsu buses cover the city; IC cards such as Hayakaken or Suica work on both.

The centre, between Hakata and Tenjin, is compact enough to walk or cycle.

Practical tips

Currency
Japanese yen (JPY). Cards are widely accepted, but carry some cash for small restaurants, shrines and markets.
Language
Japanese. Signs on public transport are also in English.
Safety
Fukuoka is very safe. Dial 110 for the police and 119 for an ambulance or the fire service.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and EU countries, can visit Japan visa-free for short stays. Register on Visit Japan Web (vjw.digital.go.jp) before you fly to get QR codes for immigration and customs. Check Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the rules that apply to your passport.
Power
100 V, 60 Hz; plug types A and B.

Official information: Fukuoka City Official Tourist Guide. Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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