How should I divide 5 days between Fukuoka and nearby cities?
With 5 days and 4 nights, you can 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 fit those dates around your accommodations and departure flight.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days, 4 nights
Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, 4 nights near Hakata Station, and departure on day 5 in the afternoon or later. Spend one day walking in the city, another traveling by JR to Uminonakamichi, and another taking Nishitetsu trains to Dazaifu, outside Fukuoka City. If staying in Tenjin, check your morning departure station and evening return route against your accommodations’ address.
Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu →5 days, 4 nights BCity sights, Momochi, and Marine World
Choose this for beach walks, sea views from an observation deck, and an aquarium visit. City exhibits, Momochi, and Marine World each have a separate day.
City sights, Momochi, and Marine World →5 days, 4 nights CCity sights, Momochi, and Dazaifu
Consider this if you want sea views and a walk along a shrine approach. Visit city exhibits, then Momochi the next day and Dazaifu the day after.
City sights, Momochi, and Dazaifu →Five days in Fukuoka: separate days for the aquarium and Dazaifu
This itinerary assumes international arrival, 4 nights near Hakata Station, and departure on day 5 in the afternoon or later. Spend one day walking in the city, another traveling by JR to Uminonakamichi, and another taking Nishitetsu trains to Dazaifu, outside Fukuoka City. If staying in Tenjin, check your morning departure station and evening return route against your accommodations’ address.
Day 1: international arrivals → Hakata → old town
- Airport international terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from international-terminal stop 5 on the 1st floor to the south side of the domestic terminal. Use entrance 1A or 1B and take the Airport line to Hakata. The official airport guide’s roughly 10-minute shuttle ride and two subway stops exclude immigration, baggage collection, and shuttle waiting time.
- Hakata accommodations → Kushida Shrine
Leave your bags at your accommodations, then explore around Kushida Shrine or eat near Hakata Station. Stay nearby if you arrive late. As you’ll use JR on day 3, also check the walk from your accommodations to the JR ticket gates.
Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine StationMarine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
Day 2: Ohori Park → science museum → dinner in Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport line from Hakata to Ohori Park Station and walk to the park. Choose how much of the roughly 2 km lakeside path to walk. Check fees before entering any separately charged park facilities.
Standard subway faresOhori Park guide from Fukuoka City’s tourism authority
- 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 station exit 3. Adult admission to the 5th-floor permanent exhibition is JPY 510. Check Tuesday and temporary closures and special exhibitions separately.
Standard subway faresScience museumPermanent-exhibition hours
- Ropponmatsu Station → Tenjin or Hakata accommodations
From Ropponmatsu, take the Nanakuma Line toward Tenjin-minami or Hakata. For dinner or a yatai in Tenjin, check whether it is open that day and how you’ll return to your accommodations. The Tenjin camera shows only part of the street.
Standard subway faresScience museumPermanent-exhibition hoursFukuoka City guide to using yatai
Day 3: transfer on JR for a day at Marine World
- Hakata Station → Kashii Station
Take the JR Kagoshima Main Line from Hakata’s JR platforms to Kashii. Marine World’s official access map gives about 11 minutes on this train. JR and the Airport subway line are different operators; the subway one-day pass does not cover this section.
Standard subway faresMarine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station / Marine World
Transfer at Kashii to the JR Kashii Line and get off at Uminonakamichi. The official access map gives about 20 minutes on this train and a roughly 5-minute walk to Marine World. Transfers, waiting for trains, lunch, and admission lines are extra. The aquarium closes January 18–21, 2027, and sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended January 12–April 9. If visiting for the shows, check the reopening notice first.
Marine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
- Marine World → Hakata Station
Standard Marine World admission is JPY 2,500 for adults and JPY 1,200 for elementary and junior high school students. Check hours for your visit date first, then return via Uminonakamichi → Kashii → Hakata. Look up the last train and round-trip JR fare for your travel date.
Marine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
Day 4: Tenjin → Dazaifu → Tenjin
- Hakata Station → Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station
Take the Airport line from Hakata to Tenjin, then follow signs and a map on foot to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. Airport-line Tenjin, Nanakuma-line Tenjin-minami, and Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) are different stations. The subway one-day pass does not cover Nishitetsu trains.
Standard subway faresNishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station → Dazaifu Station
Search for a journey from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) to Dazaifu. The usual route involves a transfer to the Dazaifu Line at Nishitetsu Futsukaichi, but check the results for your date to see whether your train is direct or requires a transfer. Enter your origin, destination, and date in Nishitetsu’s official search for times and round-trip fares.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Walk along the approach from Dazaifu Station to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. The shrine’s official guide gives about 5 minutes on foot. Worship on the 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. Regular hours are 09:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next day instead. Check the calendar for your date. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is JPY 700; special exhibitions cost extra. Museum admission is excluded from the itinerary subtotal. Leave large bags at your accommodations; the shrine cannot store them.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worshipKyushu National Museum: access from the shrine approach via the connecting tunnelKyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin / Hakata accommodations
Look up a return train from Dazaifu to Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin), then take the subway back to your Hakata accommodations. 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 sequence: Airport line from Hakata → Fukuoka Airport Station → free shuttle at domestic-terminal stop 1 → international terminal. Don’t choose your departure time based only on two subway stops. Add time to reach the ticket gates, wait for the shuttle, and complete check-in and security.
Set your airline check-in deadline and target arrival time at the international terminal first. Add lunch or shopping near the station only if you can still allow time for the Airport line, the free shuttle from domestic stop 1, and departure procedures. For a morning flight, head straight to the airport. Don’t add Dazaifu or Marine World on departure day.
Included in this subtotal: Science museum permanent exhibition: JPY 510; Marine World: JPY 2,500
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR, and Nishitetsu fares; accommodations, meals, flights, and shopping; optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions, and museums. If you skip a facility, omit its admission fee.
To include Momochi, avoid squeezing it into the aquarium or Dazaifu day. If the waterfront matters more, replace day 4’s Dazaifu trip with the Momochi route in the 4-day itinerary. If an observation deck appeals more than the aquarium, replace day 3’s Marine World visit with Momochi. These are substitutions, not extra sightseeing days. Visiting the science museum’s permanent exhibition and Marine World costs JPY 510 and JPY 2,500 in adult admission, totaling JPY 3,010. Dazaifu Tenmangu’s grounds are free. Replacing Marine World with Fukuoka Tower’s observation deck brings the two paid admissions to JPY 1,510. Neither subtotal includes subway, JR, or Nishitetsu fares, museum admission, flights, accommodations, meals, or shopping.
When should I take the trains and buses? Departure times vary by travel date. Look up departures, transfers, last services, and fares for JR, Nishitetsu, and buses to Momochi using your travel date. Recheck attraction admission before visiting.
City sights, Momochi, and Marine World
Choose this for beach walks, sea views from an observation deck, and an aquarium visit. City exhibits, Momochi, and Marine World each have a separate day.
Day 1: airport → Hakata accommodations → 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.
- Hakata accommodations → Meal or old town
Leave your bags at your accommodations and have a meal in Hakata. If time allows after arrival, walk around Kushida Shrine; skip it if you arrive late.
Day 2: Ohori Park → Ropponmatsu science museum → Hakata
- Hakata Station → Ohori Park
Take the Airport line from Hakata to Ohori Park Station and walk through part of the park.
Standard subway faresOhori Park guide from Fukuoka City’s tourism authority
- Ohori Park → Science museum
After lunch, walk or take a bus to the science museum in Ropponmatsu for its 5th-floor permanent exhibition. If it is closed, skip the museum and spend longer in the park.
- Ropponmatsu Station → Hakata accommodations
Take the Nanakuma Line toward Hakata from Ropponmatsu.
Standard subway faresScience museumPermanent-exhibition 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, then use Nishitetsu’s search to check the boarding stop, destination, and fare for a bus toward the tower.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Tenjin → Tower / Momochi Beach
If the bus serves Fukuoka Tower South, get off there and walk to the tower. After your visit, walk along Momochi Beach to the north. The tower closes June 28–29, 2027. On those dates, skip the deck and walk along the beach only if the weather suits.
Momochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Tenjin / Hakata accommodations
Return by bus to Tenjin for dinner, or take the Airport line to your Hakata accommodations. 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 transfer to the JR Kashii Line.
Marine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
- Kashii Station → Uminonakamichi Station / Marine World
Walk from Uminonakamichi Station to Marine World. Check opening and last-entry times and return JR services for your visit date. The official map’s train rides of about 11 and 20 minutes and roughly 5-minute walk exclude transfers and waiting. The aquarium closes January 18–21, 2027, and sea lion and dolphin shows are suspended January 12–April 9. If visiting for the shows, check the reopening notice first.
Marine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
- Uminonakamichi Station → Kashii Station / Hakata Station
After your visit, return from Uminonakamichi via Kashii to Hakata.
Marine World official access map, 2026AdmissionHours and construction
Day 5: Hakata Station → airport 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 and free shuttle from domestic stop 1, including waiting, plus international check-in and security. For a morning flight, head to the airport without extra sightseeing.
Included in this subtotal: Science museum permanent exhibition: JPY 510; tower observation deck: JPY 1,000; Marine World: JPY 2,500
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR, and Nishitetsu fares; accommodations, meals, flights, and shopping; optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions, and museums. If you skip a facility, omit its admission fee.
Adult admission subtotal: science museum JPY 510 + tower JPY 1,000 + Marine World JPY 2,500 = JPY 4,010. Omit the corresponding fee if you skip the deck or science museum. Subway, Nishitetsu bus, and round-trip JR fares, meals, accommodations, and flights are extra.
City sights, Momochi, and Dazaifu
Consider this if you want sea views and a walk along a shrine approach. Visit city exhibits, then Momochi the next day and Dazaifu the day after.
Day 1: airport → Hakata accommodations → old town
- Airport international terminal → Hakata Station
Take the free shuttle from international-terminal stop 5 to the south side of the domestic terminal, then the Airport subway line to Hakata.
- Hakata accommodations → Old town or meal
Leave your bags at your accommodations and take a short walk around Kushida Shrine if time allows. For a late arrival, just have 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 Park Station and walk around the park.
Standard subway faresOhori Park guide from Fukuoka City’s tourism authority
- 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 Hakata accommodations
Take the Nanakuma Line from Ropponmatsu to Tenjin-minami for dinner, or continue to Hakata and return to your accommodations.
Standard subway faresScience museumPermanent-exhibition 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. Use Nishitetsu’s date-specific search to find the boarding stop for a bus toward the tower.
Standard subway faresMomochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Tenjin → Tower / Momochi Beach
If your chosen route stops at Fukuoka Tower South, visit the tower and then walk to the beach to the north. The tower closes June 28–29, 2027. On those dates, skip the deck and walk along the beach only if weather permits.
Momochi accessAdmission and hoursNishitetsu timetable and fare search
- Momochi → Hakata accommodations
Return by bus to Tenjin, then take the Airport line to your Hakata accommodations. Check boarding stops and last services for both the outbound and return buses.
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. Transfer to the Dazaifu Line at Futsukaichi if your journey requires it.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
- Dazaifu Station → Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine
Walk along the approach from Dazaifu Station to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. The shrine’s official guide gives about 5 minutes on foot. Worship on the 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. Regular hours are 09:30–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. It closes on Mondays and at year-end; when Monday is a public holiday, it closes the next day instead. Check the calendar for your date. Standard admission to the Cultural Exchange Exhibition is JPY 700; special exhibitions cost extra. Museum admission is excluded from the itinerary subtotal.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worshipKyushu National Museum: access from the shrine approach via the connecting tunnelKyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission
- Dazaifu Station → Tenjin / Hakata accommodations
Take a train from Dazaifu back to Tenjin, then return to your Hakata accommodations. Leave large bags at your accommodations, as the shrine cannot store them.
Nishitetsu timetable and fare searchOfficial Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship
Day 5: Hakata Station → airport 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 international security before your airline’s check-in deadline. For a morning departure, skip sightseeing.
Included in this subtotal: Science museum permanent exhibition: JPY 510; tower observation deck: JPY 1,000
Costs not included: Subway, bus, JR, and Nishitetsu fares; accommodations, meals, flights, and shopping; optional paid visits such as the planetarium, special exhibitions, and museums. If you skip a facility, omit its admission fee.
Adult admission subtotal: science museum JPY 510 + tower JPY 1,000 = JPY 1,510. Dazaifu Tenmangu’s grounds are free. Subway, bus, and round-trip Nishitetsu fares, museum admission, meals, accommodations, and flights are extra.
Return to the airport on departure day
Add last-day sightseeing only if you can still collect your bags and reach the international terminal in time. For a morning departure, skip sightseeing and head to the airport.
Airport shuttleSubway connectionInternational departure procedures
Frequently asked questions
Which cities near Fukuoka can I reach with the Northern Kyushu Rail Pass?
It covers 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 accommodations are excluded. Compare the pass with individual tickets using all your planned JR journeys.
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. Accommodations, hot-spring facilities, and local buses cost extra. Yufuin no Mori requires a reserved seat.
JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validityJR Kyushu seating guide
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 will also use JR on other days, compare the pass with the cost of buying separate tickets. Accommodations and city transportation are extra.
Relay Kamome and transfer at Takeo-OnsenJR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity
Official sources and dates checked
- Admission and hours ·
- Admission ·
- Hours and construction ·
- Airport shuttle ·
- Subway connection ·
- International departure procedures ·
- Ohori Park guide from Fukuoka City’s tourism authority ·
- Official Dazaifu FAQ: seasonal closing times and free worship ·
- JR Northern Kyushu Rail Pass coverage and consecutive validity ·
- Relay Kamome and transfer at Takeo-Onsen ·
- Yufuin no Mori reserved seating ·
- Fukuoka City tourism: Kushida Shrine Station ·
- Momochi access ·
- Marine World official access map, 2026 ·
- Nishitetsu timetable and fare search ·
- Official airport boarding-stop map ·
- Fukuoka City guide to using yatai ·
- Standard subway fares ·
- Science museum ·
- JR Kyushu seating guide ·
- Permanent-exhibition hours ·
- Kyushu National Museum: access from the shrine approach via the connecting tunnel ·
- Kyushu National Museum hours and Cultural Exchange Exhibition admission ·