Five days in Fukuoka: how should I divide my time?
With four nights and five days, you can explore Fukuoka at a relaxed pace or visit another city such as Nagasaki, Yufuin or Beppu. Decide whether to return the same day or stay overnight, then fit the days around your hotel bookings and departure flight.
Choose a 4 nights, 5 days itinerary
Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, four nights near Hakata Station and departure on the afternoon of day 5 or later. Spend a day on city walks, with separate days for Uminonakamichi by JR and Dazaifu by Nishitetsu. Dazaifu is outside Fukuoka City. If you stay in Tenjin, use your hotel’s address to check your starting station each morning and your route back each evening.
Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu →4 nights, 5 days BCity sights, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium
This route suits a trip combining beach walks, sea views from above and an aquarium visit. Give city exhibitions, Momochi and Marine World a separate day each.
City sights, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium →4 nights, 5 days CCity sights, Momochi and Dazaifu: coast and shrine approach
Choose this route for sea views and a shrine approach walk. Visit Momochi the day after the city exhibitions, followed by Dazaifu the next day.
City sights, Momochi and Dazaifu: coast and shrine approach →Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, four nights near Hakata Station and departure on the afternoon of day 5 or later. Spend a day on city walks, with separate days for Uminonakamichi by JR and Dazaifu by Nishitetsu. Dazaifu is outside Fukuoka City. If you stay in Tenjin, use your hotel’s address to check your starting station each morning and your route back each evening.
Day 1 · International arrival → Hakata → old town
- Airport international terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from stop 5 on the international terminal’s 1st floor to the south side of the domestic terminal. Use subway entrance 1A or 1B and take the Airport Line to Hakata. The airport’s roughly 10-minute shuttle ride and two subway stops exclude immigration, baggage collection and waiting for the shuttle.
- Hotel in Hakata → Kushida Shrine
Leave your bags at the hotel, then visit the area around Kushida Shrine or eat near Hakata Station. Do not travel far after a late arrival. You will use JR on day 3, so check the walk from your hotel to the JR ticket gates at Hakata.
Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine StationOfficial Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours 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 Station and walk to Ohori Park. Choose how much of the roughly 2 km pond circuit you want to walk. Check the fees before entering any separately charged facilities in the park.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority’s Ohori Park guide
- Ohori Park → Science Museum in Ropponmatsu
Find a walking or bus route from your lunch spot to Fukuoka City Science Museum in Ropponmatsu. It is near exit 3 of Ropponmatsu Station, and adult admission to the standard exhibition on the 5th floor is JPY 510. Check Tuesday and temporary closures, and special exhibitions separately.
Standard subway faresScience MuseumStandard exhibition opening hours
- 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 stall in Tenjin, check that day’s opening arrangements and your transport back to the hotel. The Tenjin camera shows only part of the street.
Standard subway faresScience MuseumStandard exhibition opening hoursFukuoka City’s guide to eating at yatai
Day 3 · Transfer by JR for a day at Marine World
- Hakata Station → Kashii Station
From the JR platforms at Hakata, take the Kagoshima Main Line to Kashii. Marine World’s official access map gives about 11 minutes on this train. JR and the subway Airport Line have different operators; the subway one-day pass does not cover this section.
Standard subway faresOfficial Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours and construction works
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station and Marine World
At Kashii, change to the JR Kashii Line and get off at Uminonakamichi. The official access map gives about 20 minutes on the second train and about 5 minutes on foot to Marine World. Walking between platforms, waiting for trains, lunch and admission queues are excluded. The aquarium is closed on 18–21 January 2027. Sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended from 12 January to 9 April 2027. Check the reopening notice before a trip focused on the shows.
Official Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours and construction works
- Marine World → Hakata Station
Standard Marine World admission is JPY 2,500 for adults and JPY 1,200 for primary and junior high school pupils. Check opening and closing times for your date, then return after your visit via Uminonakamichi → Kashii → Hakata. Search for the last train and JR return fare for your travel date.
Official Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours and construction works
Day 4 · A trip to Dazaifu from Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station
Take the subway Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin, then follow signs and your map to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. 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 searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station → Dazaifu Station
Search for a route from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) to Dazaifu. Usually you change to the Dazaifu Line at Nishitetsu Futsukaichi, but use the results for your date to confirm whether your train runs directly or requires a transfer. Enter your starting point, destination and date in Nishitetsu’s official search for timings and return fares.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu
From Dazaifu Station, follow the shrine approach to Dazaifu Tenmangu, about 5 minutes away on foot according to the shrine’s guide. Visiting the grounds is free. If time allows and the museum is open, follow the grounds’ signs and connecting passage to Kyushu National Museum · 九州国立博物館. Normal hours are 09:30–17:00, with admission until 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; if Monday is a public holiday, the closure moves to the following day. Check the calendar for your date. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is JPY 700, with special exhibitions charged separately. Museum admission is excluded from the itinerary subtotal below. Leave large bags at your hotel; the shrine cannot store them.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worshipKyushu National Museum: shrine approach and connecting tunnelKyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition fees
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Search for your return train from Dazaifu to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin). On reaching Tenjin, take the subway back to your Hakata hotel. It is useful to check the last train before starting your shrine visit.
Standard subway faresNishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
Day 5 · Prepare for departure in Hakata
- Hakata Station → Airport international terminal
Follow this route: Airport Line from Hakata → Fukuoka Airport Station → free shuttle from domestic terminal stop 1 → international terminal. Allow for reaching the station and ticket gates, waiting for the shuttle, check-in and security, rather than planning around just two subway stops.
Decide when you need to reach the international terminal based on your airline’s check-in deadline. Have lunch or shop near the station only if there is enough time for the Airport Line, the free shuttle from domestic stop 1 and international departure formalities. Go straight to the airport for a morning flight. Do not add Dazaifu or Marine World to departure day.
Included items: Science Museum standard exhibition: JPY 510; Marine World: JPY 2,500
Costs excluded from the subtotal: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as planetarium shows, special exhibitions and museums. Remove an attraction’s admission fee if you skip it.
To include Momochi, replace another day’s destination rather than combining it with the aquarium or Dazaifu. If the coast is your priority, replace Dazaifu on day 4 with the Momochi route from the four-day itinerary. If you prefer the observation deck to the aquarium, you can replace Marine World on day 3 instead. Neither option adds a day. In this itinerary, the standard Science Museum exhibition costs JPY 510 and Marine World JPY 2,500 for an adult, totalling JPY 3,010. Dazaifu Tenmangu’s grounds are free. If you replace Marine World with Fukuoka Tower’s observation deck, the two paid admissions total JPY 1,510. Neither subtotal includes subway, JR or Nishitetsu fares, museum admission, flights, accommodation, meals or shopping.
Which train or bus should I take? Departure times can vary by travel date. Search for the date of your trip to confirm JR and Nishitetsu departures, transfers, last trains, Momochi buses and fares. Recheck attraction admission before visiting.
City sights, Momochi and Marine World: coast and aquarium
This route suits a trip combining beach walks, sea views from above and an aquarium visit. Give city exhibitions, Momochi and Marine World a separate day each.
Day 1 · Airport → Hakata hotel → dinner in Hakata
- Airport international terminal → Hakata Station
Take the shuttle from stop 5 outside international arrivals to the south side of the domestic terminal, then use subway entrance 1A or 1B for the Airport Line to Hakata.
- Hotel in Hakata → Meal or old town
Leave your bags at the hotel and have a meal 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 Station and walk around part of the park.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority’s Ohori Park guide
- Ohori Park → Science Museum
After lunch, walk or take a bus to the Science Museum in Ropponmatsu for the standard exhibition on the 5th floor. If it is closed, skip the museum and spend longer in the park.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Hotel in Hakata
Take the Nanakuma Line from Ropponmatsu towards Hakata to return.
Standard subway faresScience MuseumStandard exhibition opening hours
Day 3 · Bus from Tenjin → Fukuoka Tower → Momochi Beach → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Bus stop in Tenjin
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin. Use Nishitetsu’s search to check the boarding stop, destination and fare for a bus towards the tower.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission fees and opening 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. After your visit, walk on Momochi Beach to the north. The tower is closed on 28–29 June 2027. On those dates, skip the deck and visit the beach only if the weather is suitable.
Momochi accessAdmission fees and opening hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Return by bus to Tenjin for dinner, or continue on the Airport Line to your Hakata hotel. The roughly 15-minute bus ride excludes waiting 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, then change to the JR Kashii Line.
Official Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours and construction works
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station and Marine World
Walk from Uminonakamichi Station to Marine World. Check opening time, last admission and your return JR train for the date of your visit. The official access map lists train rides of about 11 minutes and 20 minutes and a walk of about 5 minutes; transfers and waiting are excluded. The aquarium is closed on 18–21 January 2027. Sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended from 12 January to 9 April 2027; check the reopening notice before planning a visit for the shows.
Official Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours and construction works
- Uminonakamichi Station → Kashii and Hakata stations
After your visit, return from Uminonakamichi to Hakata via Kashii.
Official Marine World access map for 2026AdmissionOpening hours 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 the free shuttle from domestic terminal stop 1 to international departures.
Leave time for the Airport Line, the ride and wait for the free shuttle from domestic stop 1, and international check-in and security. For a morning flight, go to the airport without further sightseeing.
Included items: Science Museum standard exhibition: JPY 510; tower observation deck: JPY 1,000; Marine World: JPY 2,500
Costs excluded from the subtotal: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as planetarium shows, special exhibitions and museums. Remove an attraction’s admission fee if you skip it.
Adult admission subtotal: JPY 510 for the Science Museum + JPY 1,000 for the tower + JPY 2,500 for Marine World = JPY 4,010. Remove the relevant fee if you skip the deck or museum. Subway, Nishitetsu buses, JR return fares, meals, accommodation and flights are extra.
City sights, Momochi and Dazaifu: coast and shrine approach
Choose this route for sea views and a shrine approach walk. Visit Momochi the day after the city exhibitions, followed by Dazaifu the next day.
Day 1 · Airport → Hakata hotel → old town
- Airport international terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from international stop 5 to the south side of the domestic terminal, then the subway Airport Line to Hakata.
- Hotel in Hakata → Old town or meal
Leave your bags at the hotel. If time allows, take a short walk around Kushida Shrine. After a late arrival, have dinner near Hakata Station instead.
Day 2 · Ohori Park → Science Museum → Tenjin or Hakata
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Ohori-koen Station and walk in the park.
Standard subway faresFukuoka City tourism authority’s Ohori Park guide
- Ohori Park → Science Museum
Have lunch in Ropponmatsu, then visit the Science Museum. Skip the indoor visit on a closed day.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Tenjin or your Hakata hotel
Take the Nanakuma Line from Ropponmatsu to Tenjin-minami for dinner, or continue to Hakata and return to your hotel.
Standard subway faresScience MuseumStandard exhibition opening hours
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 dated journey search to check the boarding stop for a bus towards the tower.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission fees and opening hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Tenjin → Tower and Momochi Beach
If you choose a route stopping at Fukuoka Tower Minami, visit the tower and then walk to the beach to the north. The tower is closed on 28–29 June 2027. On those dates, skip the deck and visit the beach only if the weather is suitable.
Momochi accessAdmission fees and opening hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Hotel in Hakata
Return by bus to Tenjin, then take the Airport Line to your Hakata hotel. Check the boarding stops and last buses for each direction separately.
Day 4 · Hakata → Tenjin → Dazaifu Station → shrine → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Tenjin, then walk to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station.
- Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station → Dazaifu Station
Search Nishitetsu’s official site for a train to Dazaifu and change to the Dazaifu Line at Futsukaichi if required.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu
From Dazaifu Station, follow the shrine approach 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 in the grounds and the connecting passage to Kyushu National Museum · 九州国立博物館. Normal hours are 09:30–17:00, with admission until 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the following day. Check the calendar for your date. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is JPY 700; special exhibitions cost extra. The museum fee is not included in the itinerary subtotal below.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worshipKyushu National Museum: shrine approach and connecting tunnelKyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition fees
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin and Hakata hotel
Take the train from Dazaifu back to Tenjin, then return to your Hakata hotel. Leave large bags at the hotel because the shrine cannot store them.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
Day 5 · Hakata Station → international terminal
- Hakata Station → Fukuoka Airport international terminal
Take the Airport Line from Hakata to Fukuoka Airport Station, then the free shuttle from domestic terminal stop 1 to the international terminal.
Allow time for the Airport Line, the free shuttle from domestic stop 1 and security at the international terminal before your airline’s check-in deadline. For a morning departure, skip sightseeing.
Included items: Science Museum standard exhibition: JPY 510; tower observation deck: JPY 1,000
Costs excluded from the subtotal: Subway, bus, JR and Nishitetsu fares; accommodation, meals, flights and shopping; and optional paid visits such as planetarium shows, special exhibitions and museums. Remove an attraction’s admission fee if you skip it.
Adult admission subtotal: JPY 510 for the Science Museum + JPY 1,000 for the tower = JPY 1,510. Dazaifu Tenmangu’s grounds are free. Subway, bus and Nishitetsu return fares, museums, meals, accommodation and flights are extra.
Returning to the airport on departure day
Extra sightseeing on the last day must still leave time to collect your bags and reach the international terminal. For a morning flight, skip sightseeing and go straight to the airport.
Airport shuttleSubway connectionInternational arrival and departure procedures
Frequently asked questions
Which nearby cities can I reach from Fukuoka with the Northern Kyushu Rail Pass?
The pass covers eligible JR travel from Hakata to Nagasaki, Yufuin, Beppu and Kumamoto. Choose a city for a day trip or an overnight stay. Local buses, trams and accommodation are excluded. Compare the pass with individual tickets across your JR journeys on other days.
JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity
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. Both travel dates must fall within the pass’s validity. Accommodation, hot-spring facilities and local buses are separate. Yufuin no Mori requires a reserved seat.
JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validityJR Kyushu seat information
Do I need a Northern Kyushu Rail Pass to visit other cities from Fukuoka?
No. You can buy individual tickets for Nagasaki, Yufuin, Beppu or Kumamoto. If you also plan JR travel on other days, compare the pass price with the cost of separate tickets. Accommodation and local transport are extra.
Relay Kamome and the transfer at Takeo-OnsenJR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity
Official sources and dates checked
- Admission fees and opening hours ·
- Admission ·
- Opening hours and construction works ·
- Airport shuttle ·
- Subway connection ·
- International arrival and departure procedures ·
- Fukuoka City tourism authority’s Ohori Park guide ·
- Official Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship ·
- JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity ·
- Relay Kamome and the transfer at Takeo-Onsen ·
- Yufuin no Mori reserved-seat information ·
- Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine Station ·
- Momochi access ·
- Official Marine World access map for 2026 ·
- Nishitetsu timetable and fare search ·
- Official airport boarding-stop map ·
- Fukuoka City’s guide to eating at yatai ·
- Standard subway fares ·
- Science Museum ·
- JR Kyushu seat information ·
- Standard exhibition opening hours ·
- Kyushu National Museum: shrine approach and connecting tunnel ·
- Kyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition fees ·