How should I divide 5 days between Fukuoka and nearby cities?
With 5 days and 4 nights, explore Fukuoka at a relaxed pace or visit cities such as Nagasaki, Yufuin and Beppu. Decide whether to return the same day or stay overnight, then divide the days around accommodation bookings and your departure flight.
Choose a 5 days / 4 nights itinerary
5 days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, 4 nights near Hakata Station and an afternoon or later departure on day 5. Allow a day for city walks, then visit Uminonakamichi by JR and Dazaifu by Nishitetsu on separate days. Dazaifu is outside Fukuoka City. If you stay in Tenjin, check the morning departure station and evening return route against your hotel address.
5 days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu →5 days / 4 nights BCity, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium
Choose this for beach walks, sea views from above and an aquarium visit. City exhibitions, Momochi and Marine World each have their own day.
City, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium →5 days / 4 nights CCity, Momochi and Dazaifu: sea views and shrine walks
Choose this for sea views and a walk along the shrine approach. Visit city exhibitions first, Momochi the next day and Dazaifu the day after.
City, Momochi and Dazaifu: sea views and shrine walks →5 days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, 4 nights near Hakata Station and an afternoon or later departure on day 5. Allow a day for city walks, then visit Uminonakamichi by JR and Dazaifu by Nishitetsu on separate days. Dazaifu is outside Fukuoka City. If you stay in Tenjin, check the morning departure station and evening return route against your hotel address.
Day 1 · International arrivals → Hakata → old town
- International terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from international-terminal floor 1, stop 5, to the south side of the domestic terminal. Use entrances 1A or 1B for the Airport Line to Hakata. The airport's approximate 10-minute shuttle ride and two subway stops exclude immigration, baggage collection and shuttle waits.
- Hakata hotel → Kushida Shrine
Leave your luggage at the hotel, then walk around Kushida Shrine or have dinner near Hakata Station. Avoid travelling far if you arrive late. You will use JR on day 3, so also check the walk from your hotel to Hakata's JR gates.
Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine StationMarine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
Day 2 · Ohori Park → Science Museum → dinner in Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Ohori-koen and walk to Ohori Park. Choose how much of the roughly 2km lakeside circuit to walk. Check charges before entering any separately ticketed park facilities.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority: Ohori Park
- Ohori Park → Science Museum in Ropponmatsu
Find a walking or bus route from your lunch spot to Fukuoka City Science Museum in Ropponmatsu. The museum is near Ropponmatsu Station exit 3; adult admission to the fifth-floor Basic Exhibition is 510 yen. Check Tuesday and temporary closures, and special exhibitions separately.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Tenjin or your Hakata hotel
Take the Nanakuma Line from Ropponmatsu towards Tenjin-minami or Hakata. If you choose dinner or a yatai in Tenjin, check opening arrangements for that day and transport back to your hotel. The Tenjin camera shows only part of the street.
Standard subway faresScience MuseumBasic Exhibition hoursFukuoka City: visiting yatai
Day 3 · JR transfers and a day at Marine World
- Hakata Station → Kashii Station
Take the Kagoshima Main Line from Hakata's JR platforms to Kashii. Marine World's official access map gives about 11 minutes on this train. The subway Airport Line and JR have different operators; the subway one-day pass does not cover this section.
Standard subway faresMarine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station and Marine World
Transfer at Kashii to the JR Kashii Line and get off at Uminonakamichi. The official access map gives about 20 minutes on the second train and a 5-minute walk to Marine World. Transfer walks, train waits, lunch and admission queues are additional. The aquarium is closed on 18–21 January 2027; sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended from 12 January to 9 April. Check the reopening notice if you are going for the shows.
Marine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
- Marine World → Hakata Station
Standard Marine World admission is 2,500 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for elementary and junior high school pupils. Check opening and closing times for your visit. Afterwards, take the train from Uminonakamichi to Kashii, then change for Hakata. Search for the last train and return JR fare for your travel date.
Marine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
Day 4 · Dazaifu from Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin, then use signs and a map to walk to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin). Airport Line Tenjin, Nanakuma Line Tenjin-minami and Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) are separate stations. Nishitetsu trains are not covered by the subway one-day pass.
Standard subway faresNishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits
- Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station → Dazaifu Station
Search for a route from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) to Dazaifu. The usual journey involves changing to the Dazaifu Line at Nishitetsu Futsukaichi, but check whether your chosen service is direct or requires a transfer. Enter your origin, destination and date in Nishitetsu's official search for times and return fares.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu
Walk along the approach from Dazaifu Station to Dazaifu Tenmangu. The shrine's official guide gives a walk of about 5 minutes. The shrine grounds are free to visit. If time allows and the museum is open, follow signs and the connecting passage to Kyushu National Museum · 九州国立博物館. Usual hours are 09:30–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next day. Check the calendar for your visit. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is 700 yen; special exhibitions cost extra. Museum admission is excluded from the itinerary subtotal below. Leave large luggage at your hotel because the shrine cannot store it.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visitsKyushu National Museum: official shrine-approach and tunnel accessKyushu National Museum: hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Search for your return train from Dazaifu to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin). On arrival in Tenjin, take the subway back to your Hakata hotel. Check the last train before starting your shrine visit.
Standard subway faresNishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits
Day 5 · Prepare to leave Hakata
- Hakata Station → International terminal
Travel from Hakata on the Airport Line to Fukuoka Airport Station, then take the free shuttle from domestic-terminal stop 1 to the international terminal. Do not plan your departure around the two subway stops alone: add time to reach the station gates, wait for the shuttle, check in and clear security.
Start with your airline's check-in deadline and the time you need to reach the international terminal. Have lunch or shop near the station only if you have allowed for the Airport Line, the free shuttle from domestic stop 1 and international departure procedures. For a morning flight, go straight to the airport. Do not add Dazaifu or Marine World to departure day.
Included: Science Museum Basic Exhibition: 510 yen; Marine World: 2,500 yen
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions and museums. Remove the admission charge for any attraction you skip.
If you also want Momochi, do not squeeze it into the same day as the aquarium or Dazaifu. If the coast matters more, replace Dazaifu on day 4 with the Momochi route in the 4-day itinerary. If you prefer the observation deck to the aquarium, replace Marine World on day 3 with Momochi. Either way, swap a destination rather than add another day's activities. With the Science Museum Basic Exhibition and Marine World, adult admission is 510 yen + 2,500 yen = 3,010 yen. Dazaifu Tenmangu's grounds are free. Replacing Marine World with Fukuoka Tower's observation deck gives an adult admission subtotal of 1,510 yen for the two paid attractions. Neither subtotal includes subway, JR or Nishitetsu fares, museum admission, flights, accommodation, meals or shopping.
What time should you take the trains and buses? Departure times can vary by travel date. Search for JR and Nishitetsu departures, transfers, last trains, Momochi buses and fares for your date. Recheck attraction admission before your visit.
City, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium
Choose this for beach walks, sea views from above and an aquarium visit. City exhibitions, Momochi and Marine World each have their own day.
Day 1 · airport → Hakata hotel → dinner in Hakata
- International terminal → Hakata Station
Take the shuttle from stop 5 outside international arrivals to the south side of the domestic terminal, then use subway entrances 1A or 1B for the Airport Line to Hakata.
- Hakata hotel → Meal or old town
Leave your luggage at the hotel and eat in Hakata. If time remains after arrival, walk around Kushida Shrine; skip it if you arrive late.
Day 2 · Ohori Park → Science Museum in Ropponmatsu → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Ohori-koen and walk through part of the park.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority: Ohori Park
- Ohori Park → Science Museum
After lunch, walk or take a bus to the Science Museum in Ropponmatsu for the fifth-floor Basic Exhibition. If it is closed, skip the museum and spend longer in the park.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Hakata hotel
Return on a Hakata-bound Nanakuma Line train from Ropponmatsu.
Day 3 · Bus from Tenjin → Fukuoka Tower → Momochi Beach → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Bus stop in Tenjin
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin, then use Nishitetsu's search to check the departure stop, destination and fare for a tower-bound bus.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Tenjin → Tower and Momochi Beach
If your bus calls at Fukuoka Tower Minami, get off there and walk to the tower. Afterwards, walk on Momochi Beach to the north. The tower is closed on 28–29 June 2027; on those dates, skip the deck and walk on the beach only if the weather permits.
Momochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Take a bus back to Tenjin for dinner or continue on the Airport Line to your Hakata hotel. The approximate 15-minute bus ride excludes waits and walking.
Day 4 · JR from Hakata → Kashii → Uminonakamichi → Marine World
- Hakata Station → Kashii Station
Take the JR Kagoshima Main Line from Hakata to Kashii and transfer to the JR Kashii Line.
Marine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station and Marine World
Walk from Uminonakamichi Station to Marine World. Check opening times, last admission and return JR trains for your visit date. The access map's approximate train rides of 11 and 20 minutes and a 5-minute walk exclude transfers and waits. The aquarium is closed on 18–21 January 2027; sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended from 12 January to 9 April. Check the reopening notice if you are going for the shows.
Marine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
- Uminonakamichi Station → Kashii and Hakata stations
After your visit, return from Uminonakamichi via Kashii to Hakata.
Marine World: official access map for 2026AdmissionHours and construction works
Day 5 · Hakata Station → international terminal
- Hakata Station → Fukuoka Airport international terminal
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Fukuoka Airport Station, then transfer to the free shuttle at domestic-terminal stop 1 for international departures.
Allow for the Airport Line, travel and waiting for the free shuttle from domestic stop 1, and international check-in and security. For a morning flight, go to the airport without extra sightseeing.
Included: Science Museum Basic Exhibition: 510 yen; tower observation deck: 1,000 yen; Marine World: 2,500 yen
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions and museums. Remove the admission charge for any attraction you skip.
Adult admission subtotal: Science Museum 510 yen + tower 1,000 yen + Marine World 2,500 yen = 4,010 yen. Remove the relevant charge if you skip the observation deck or Science Museum. Subway, Nishitetsu bus and return JR fares, accommodation, meals and flights are extra.
City, Momochi and Dazaifu: sea views and shrine walks
Choose this for sea views and a walk along the shrine approach. Visit city exhibitions first, Momochi the next day and Dazaifu the day after.
Day 1 · airport → Hakata hotel → old town
- International terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from international-terminal stop 5 to the south side of the domestic terminal, then the Airport Line subway to Hakata.
- Hakata hotel → Old town or a meal
Leave your luggage at the hotel and take a short walk around Kushida Shrine if time allows. If you arrive late, keep to dinner near Hakata Station.
Day 2 · Ohori Park → Science Museum → Tenjin or Hakata
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Ohori-koen and walk in the park.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority: Ohori Park
- Ohori Park → Science Museum
Have lunch in Ropponmatsu and visit the Science Museum. Skip the indoor visit if it is closed.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Tenjin or your Hakata hotel
Take the Nanakuma Line from Ropponmatsu to Tenjin-minami for dinner, or continue to Hakata and your hotel.
Day 3 · Bus from Tenjin → Momochi tower and beach → Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Bus stop in Tenjin
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin and use Nishitetsu's search for your date to find the departure stop for a tower-bound bus.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Tenjin → Tower and Momochi Beach
If your route stops at Fukuoka Tower Minami, visit the tower, then walk on the beach to the north. The tower is closed on 28–29 June 2027; on those dates, skip the deck and walk on the beach only if the weather permits.
Momochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Hakata hotel
Return to Tenjin by bus, then take the Airport Line to your Hakata hotel. Check departure stops and last services separately for the outward and return journeys.
Day 4 · Hakata → Tenjin → Dazaifu Station → shrine → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin and walk to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station.
- Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station → Dazaifu Station
Use Nishitetsu's official search for Dazaifu Station and transfer to the Dazaifu Line at Futsukaichi if required.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu
Walk along the approach from Dazaifu Station to Dazaifu Tenmangu. The shrine's official guide gives a walk of about 5 minutes. Visiting the shrine grounds is free. If time allows and the museum is open, follow signs and the connecting passage to Kyushu National Museum · 九州国立博物館. Usual hours are 09:30–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next day. Check the calendar for your visit. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is 700 yen; special exhibitions cost extra. Museum admission is excluded from the itinerary subtotal below.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visitsKyushu National Museum: official shrine-approach and tunnel accessKyushu National Museum: hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Take the train from Dazaifu back to Tenjin, then continue to your Hakata hotel. Leave large luggage at the hotel; the shrine cannot store it.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchDazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits
Day 5 · Hakata Station → international terminal
- Hakata Station → Fukuoka Airport international terminal
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Fukuoka Airport Station, then transfer at domestic-terminal stop 1 to the free shuttle for the international terminal.
Allow for the Airport Line, the free shuttle from domestic stop 1 and international security before your flight's check-in deadline. For a morning departure, skip sightseeing.
Included: Science Museum Basic Exhibition: 510 yen; tower observation deck: 1,000 yen
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions and museums. Remove the admission charge for any attraction you skip.
Adult admission subtotal: Science Museum 510 yen + tower 1,000 yen = 1,510 yen. Dazaifu Tenmangu's grounds are free. Subway, bus and return Nishitetsu fares, museums, accommodation, meals and flights are extra.
Returning to the airport on departure day
To add sightseeing on the last day, leave time to collect luggage at your hotel and reach the international terminal. For a morning flight, skip sightseeing and go to the airport.
Airport shuttleSubway connectionInternational-terminal arrival and departure procedures
Frequently asked questions
Which nearby cities can I reach with the Northern Kyushu Rail Pass from Fukuoka?
The pass covers eligible JR travel from Hakata to Nagasaki, Yufuin, Beppu and Kumamoto. Choose a city for a day trip or overnight stay. Local buses, trams and accommodation are excluded. Include other days' JR journeys when comparing costs with individual tickets.
JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity period
Can I use the Northern Kyushu Rail Pass for an overnight stay in Yufuin or Beppu?
Yes. It covers eligible JR journeys from Hakata to Yufuin or Beppu and back to Fukuoka, provided both travel days fall within the pass's validity. Accommodation, hot-spring facilities and local buses are extra. Reserve a seat if taking Yufuin no Mori.
JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity periodJR Kyushu seating information
Do I need a Northern Kyushu Rail Pass to visit another city from Fukuoka?
No. You can buy individual tickets to Nagasaki, Yufuin, Beppu or Kumamoto. If you also plan JR travel on other days, compare the pass with the cost of separate tickets. Accommodation and city transport remain extra.
Relay Kamome and the Takeo-Onsen transferJR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity period
Official sources and dates checked
- Admission and hours ·
- Admission ·
- Hours and construction works ·
- Airport shuttle ·
- Subway connection ·
- International-terminal arrival and departure procedures ·
- Fukuoka City tourism authority: Ohori Park ·
- Dazaifu: official FAQ, seasonal closing times and free shrine visits ·
- JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity period ·
- Relay Kamome and the Takeo-Onsen transfer ·
- Yufuin no Mori reserved seats ·
- Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine Station ·
- Momochi access ·
- Marine World: official access map for 2026 ·
- Nishitetsu timetable and fare search ·
- Airport: official boarding-point map ·
- Fukuoka City: visiting yatai ·
- Standard subway fares ·
- Science Museum ·
- JR Kyushu seating information ·
- Basic Exhibition hours ·
- Kyushu National Museum: official shrine-approach and tunnel access ·
- Kyushu National Museum: hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission ·