Exploring FUKUOKA, JAPAN: A Day and a Half Itinerary
Planning a trip to Japan and looking beyond Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto? Consider exploring Fukuoka! Situated in the southwest of Kyushu Island, Fukuoka is Japan’s largest city on the island and ranks among the top ten most populous cities in Japan. Wondering if Fukuoka is worth visiting compared to Tokyo? Definitely, we loved it and want to go back! Discover our day and a half itinerary for Fukuoka below
Getting to Fukuoka
First, we got to Fukuoka via plane. We were in Korea for the weekend and started off our Japan trip in Fukuoka. Another way to travel to Fukuoka is by ferry from Busan, South Korea. If you are in Japan, you can also take the shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukuoka, which takes about 5 to 6 hours and costs around 23,000 yen. Alternatively, domestic discount flights within Japan can cost between 6,000 and 35,000 yen and take approximately 4 hours.
Tip: Consider a JR Kyushu Rail Pass if you are planning to travel through out Kyushu. This pass offers unlimited travel on local trains, limited express trains, and Kyushu Shinkansen.
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Day 1 – Half Day
HAKATA STATION
From Fukuoka airport, we took a free shuttle bus that would take us to the train station nearby. Once at the train station, we made our way to Hakata Station. The station is massive and quite impressive! With numerous stores both inside and outside, we could have easily spent the whole day there if we had wanted to.
CANAL CITY
- RAMEN
At the top of our agenda after arriving was…RAMEN! Our favorite comfort food during the cold winter months in Japan! Our destination was the Ramen Stadium in Canal City, a shopping complex featuring a section specifically for different ramen shops. Our goal was to try the renowned Original Tomato Ramen Sanmi 333, the highest-rated ramen spot according to Google reviews in this venue. It was delicious and a fantastic beginning to our journey in Japan. Unfortunately this location is temporarily closed. There are plenty of other ramen choices available, so enjoy exploring your options.
- SHOPPING/FOUNTAIN SHOW
After that, we ventured into Canal City itself, which is a spacious open-air mall area. We enjoyed the water fountain show, known as Canal City Hakata Sun Plaza Stage. Check out our YouTube video to get a better look at what we did!
- GUNDAM BASE FUKUOKA
Then we headed to the Gundam Base Fukuoka located within Canal City. The Gundam base was massive, showcasing a wide variety of gunpla kits for display and purchase. It’s a awesome destination for Gundam/Gunpla enthusiasts!
Random Tip: If you want to find more Gunpla kits, check out BookOff – an organized and better Goodwill of new and used item.
Day 2 – Full Day
BOSS E · ZO FUKUOKA
On our full day, we visited Mizuho PayPay Dome FUKUOKA. The dome houses the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks baseball field. Due to our visit taking place in February, we couldn’t go to a game. Within the dome is BOSS E · ZO FUKUOKA, a large entertainment complex offering a variety of attractions and dining options. Here are some of the places we explored there:
- TeamLab Forest Fukuoka
TeamLab Forest Fukuoka, is a digital art museum where you can capture, learn about, and release animals using your smartphone. We bought our tickets on the spot without prior reservation at the dome, but it is recommended to book in advance for weekends to secure your preferred time slots. Tickets are about 2,400 yen each.
- MLB Café Fukuoka
A Major League Baseball-licensed restaurant offering casual American dining and a sports bar experience with a flair for creative culinary entertainment. We stopped by for an early lunch and were impressed by both the delicious food and the stylish décor.
- FUK Coffee
Fuk 😉 Coffee. Needed some caffeine before going to TeamLab. Seriously delicious coffee and pudding, a must visit for us!
- ZEKKEI Brothers SMBC Nikko Securities Inc.
We decided to take a detour to the rooftop of the building after noticing a coaster! It starts from the highest point of E-ZO, approximately 60m above the ground – a single-seater suspended rail coaster. Enjoy an exhilarating ride through a course that spans over 300m! Priced at around 1,800 yen, it’s definitely worth it for the breathtaking view and thrill.
FUKUOKA TOWER
Following our visit to TeamLab, we walked for 20 minutes to reach Fukuoka Tower. Fukuoka Tower is a 234-meter tall seaside tower with the highest observation deck at 123 meters, offering a 360° view of the surrounding area, popular at sunset. We loved the views and enjoyed a love lock spot.
Tip: Getting to the closest station requires either a lengthy walk or taking a bus, as this attraction is quite a distance away. If visiting TeamLab Forest on the same day and you can show proof of purchase, the entrance fee can be discounted in person only.
FUKUOKA LIFE-SIZED GUNDAM
We visited Gundam Park at Lalaport Fukuoka, this is a separate location from the Gundam base. There is a large gunpla store and a small Gundam Side F Store nearby. However, the highlight is the Life-Size RX-93ff 𝛎 Gundam Statue located just outside the mall. It’s insanely cool!
OTHER DESTINATIONS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER
- Ohari Park
- Nakasu Yatai Yokocho (Food Stalls Street)
- Fukuoka Castle Ruins
- Pokémon Center FUKUOKA
- Beppu – A nearby onsen city – For more details check out this blog
OUR STAY/HOTEL RECOMMENDATION
We stayed at ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka, an IHG Hotel for two nights. About 13 min train Ride from Fukuoka Airport and a 4 min walk from Hakata Station. The hotel offered amazing guest services. While the rooms have a classic style, they are spacious, clean, and comfortable. Overall, we had a great stay and would return when in the area.
Conclusion
Kyushu Island boasts stunning historic treasures, modern cities, and natural beauty. Fukuoka left a lasting impression on us, and we definitely intend to revisit with more time and explore this whole region as well.
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