Fukuoka Transportation

The best and cheapest way travelling around Fukuoka....
This 600 Yen pass allows you unlimited rides on the Subway, which I think, very affordable. Look for a vending machine with the sign "One-day Pass" or for some stations which they don't have one, just ask someone at the control / ticket booth.

Well...the bus maybe another option, but I don't really recommend it. First, A bus ticket costs at least 100-160 Yen for short rides and up to 420 Yen++ for longer ones. Though the bus system covers most part of the city (that means less walk comparing with Subway), but the thing is all the information on the bus routes are in Japanese!! and there's almost no way to figure out yourself where the bus's heading to. Also you have to carry lots and lots of coins travelling by bus, since you have to pay the EXACT amount of the ticket price, no changes are available on board.

Download a city map, or check online for subway routes. Get a map from your hotel or at the subway itself. Service in English at the kiosks is very spotty at best, so check your route carefully first. It can get very expensive taking taxis, with the meter starting at a few dollars before the driver even moves. Having said that, the cabs are first-rate, as are the drivers, white-gloved service and all. But the subway is clean, efficient, and reasonably priced, as are the buses (which shut off at red lights, very evironmentally-friendly). Transpo is zone based, prepare your fare, get your tickets accordingly. Have someone at your hotel explain it to you and point you in the right direction, and consider getting a hotel near the subway, if you're going to be doing any degree of sightseeing. A fifteen minute taxi ride can cost around 20 USD equivalent, if memory serves me correctly.

There are a number of different services to Busan from Fukuoka. We used the fast ferry beetle.

We managed to get a cheap package deal through HIS in Fukuoka which got us ferry tickets and accommodation for 20000 yen per person.

For those of you wanting to get from Korea to Japan, or vice versa, I would definitely recommend this route. There are several routes between Japan and Korea, and of course domestic routes for both countries as well.

The ferry take about three hours between Fukuoka and Busan. It's admittedly a little longer than a flight, but immigration and customs is less crowded, and check-in is quick and close to the terminals, so you can check-in late and still make it to your sailing.

For those of you who get motion sickness, this may not be the best way to go. Although it is generally smooth, because of the contact with the water, there is a lot more bumping around than your typical airplane turbulance.

Cost for a round-trip ticket from Busan to Fukuoka runs about 120,000W. It is more if you are travelling from Fukuoka. Ferries depart everyday from the Busan International Ferry Terminal, right behind Busan Station near Nampo-Dong. Be aware that ferries will be cancelled on short notice due to extreme weather (had this happen to me! My trip was delayed two weeks).

The Shinkansen is by far the most convenient way to travel around Japan. Unfortunately it isn't very cheap! Luckily there is a Japan JR Rail Pass available to foreign travellers. See the JR East website for details:

It must be bought abroad and stamped in Japan before you can use it. There are several options including one week (unlimited JR travel except for the super fast Nozomi service), two week, JR East and JR West passes. Check with your local travel agent for the best option or click on the link to see for yourself!

Here is a link to a very cool page that lets you see the routing between cities/stations/ports within Japan. It will tell you the route and includes the cost and time. http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/.

Fukuoka Airport is located just a fifteen to twenty-five minute drive from the
Hakata Station and Tenjin downtown areas. Fukuoka Airport is one of the most conveniently located international airports in
Japan. The subway connects to the Aiport for 200 yen from Hakata.

Fukuoka has an international airport which was recently upgraded. It is connected to the domestic terminal by free bus. The easiest way to get to the domestic terminal from Hakata train station is by subway but there is also a Nishitetsu bus.
Hakata (the center of Fukuoka) is the end of the Shinkansen line which connects north with Osaka and Tokyo etc.

Avoid taxis like the plague.... VERY EXPENSIVE!!
I would take a bus or use the subway (starts at 200yen a trip). Recently Nishitetsu bus started a 100yen service around the center of Fukuoka. This will get you from Hakata to Canal City- a great shopping mall.

If you want to visit Fukuoka Tower, take Fukuoka subway (Kuko Line) up to Nishijin Station, then take bus going to Fukuoka Tower.

Fukuoka Airport - Nishijin Station
Estimated Time - 19 mins.
Train Fare - 290 Yen

To tell the truth, I didn't expect that there is a subway system in Fukuoka, but there is! ... excuse me, locals ; )...
The network is broaded as passing through very touristy spots and important business centres west and north-east and south-east from Nakasu area. Very reasonable and useful for a traveller.
But I found that the price of the ticket is little bit higher than in Tokyo. It costs 200yen to the next station.