Love travelling but hate planning your trip? This article has it all planned; from hotels, attractions to specific directions to make your planning much more efficient! All you need to do is book the hotel and tours and show up!
Shopping, sightseeing and good food await you on this 8-day itinerary in Fukuoka, Japan! Below is a model plan for a fun, relaxing and fulfilling trip!
Day 1 - Welcome to Fukuoka!
Begin your holiday on a relaxing note, and try some of the signature food in the city!
1. Airport transfer (from 47 USD)
Don’t bother yourself with the complicated subway lines on the first day! Instead, kick back and enjoy being chauffeured to your hotel in a luxurious van or coach! This is especially useful after a long, tiring flight! You can also arrange for transport to the airport on your last day!
Enjoy Transfer to/from Fukuoka Airport
Price: from 47 USD
2. Taste Karashi-Mentaiko - 12.00 pm - 1.00 pm (from 29 USD)
Fukuoka is the birthplace of Karashi-Mentaiko, a savoury accompaniment to rice, made of pollack roe! The dish is one of the most beloved in Japan, and is best eaten with rice or sake. Many restaurants also combine Karashi-Mentaiko with other dishes like pasta! This tour will present you with 5 different styles of fresh Karashi-Mentaiko, and also teach you about food and culture in Kyushu!
Taste Karashi-Mentaiko in Fukuoka, Kyushu!
Address: 1-2-29, Imaizumi, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 29 USD
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 11 am - 2 pm.
Duration: around 1 hour required.
Access: 5-minute walk from Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station.
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
3. Blind tasting of rice wine and sake - 1 pm/2 pm/3 pm (from 34 USD)
Sake has varying tastes and aroma depending on the water, rice and climate in which they are brewed in. During this experience, you will sample the best local sake, and then blind tasting them again to find out which sake best suits your taste! Also, Fukuoka is famous for producing shochu, another kind of distilled spirit that you cannot miss while in the city.
Enjoy a Blind Tasting of Rice Wine and Sake in Fukuoka!
Price: from 34 USD
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday: 1 pm - 4 pm.
Duration: around 1 hour required.
4. Maizuru Park - 3.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Visit this gorgeous park that is especially scenic during the Hanami season (late March to early April), when you can walk through a cherry blossom tunnel and check out hanami parties beneath the beautiful trees. Explore the network of walking trails, some of which will lead you to picturesque locations! Look out for the ruins of the Fukuoka Castle, which was once the largest castle in Kyushu. You can still see the walls and several turrets that were built in the 17th century.
Maizuru Park (舞鶴公園)
Address: 1 Jonai, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture
Price: Free!
Opening Hours: 24/7.
Duration: around 1.5 hours required.
Access: 8-minute train ride from previous destination. Ohorikoen Station on the Kuko Line.
Contact: +81 92-781-2153
5. Sushi restaurant Ryu no tsubo - 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Dine at this exotic-looking restaurant that serves authentic sushi and seared dishes. After being greeted by the friendly staff, you will be escorted to an enormous red counter, where you can watch the master chefs perform their art of sushi preparation with the freshest fish caught from the Genkai-Hada Sea. Another specialty is the Kuroge Wagyu beef from Hokkaido!
Sushi to Aburi Ryu No Tsubo
Address: 1F, 1st Line Bldg. 2-5-15 Nakasu Hakata-Ku, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 103 USD
Opening Hours: 6 pm - 2 am. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Duration: around 1.5 hours required.
Access: 10-minute train ride from previous destination. 5-minute walk from Nakasukawabata Station on the Kuko Line.
Contact: +81 92-282-1010
Day 2 - Get local
Today is all about getting local - going to the iconic park, drinking Japanese beer, wearing Japanese clothing and eating authentic street food!
6. Morning tour - 9.00 am - 12.20 pm (from USD 39.0)
Start the day with a rickshaw tour of Kitakyushu and pick a tour length that is best suited. Each tour is customisable to your preference of traditional and older architecture or modern architecture.
Kitakyushu Rickshaw Tour
Duration: 30 to 120 minutes
7. Asahi brewery Hakata tour - 1.00 pm - 2.30 pm
While in Fukuoka, do not miss the free tour and beer at Asahi’s Hakata Brewery! Get a professional tour by the courteous staff at the brewery, and learn about the history and brewing process for the famous Asahi Beer. You will be rewarded with a refreshing glass of Super Dry beer at the end! Do note that while walk-ins are entertained, it is best to book a tour to avoid the crowd!
Asahi Breweries Hakata Brewery
Address: 3-1-1 Takeshita,Fukuoka-city
Price: Free!
Opening Hours: 9.30 am - 3 pm. Closed on year end and New Year’s day.
Duration: around 1.5 hours required.
Access: 8 minutes from previous destination by train. 3-minute walk from the Takeshita Station on the Kagoshima Line.
Contact: +81 92-431-2701
8. Open top bus tour - 3.00 pm - 4.00 pm (from 24 USD)
One of the top things to do in the city is to enjoy a relaxing open-air bus tour that offers stunning panoramas of Fukuoka! There will also be a friendly guide to tell you all about the attractions. Of the three options provided, opt for the seaside route where you can enjoy the sea breeze and great views of the Fukuoka Yahoo! Dome, the Fukuoka Tower and more!
Enjoy Fukuoka's amazing sights with an open top bus tour
Address: 1 Chome-8-1 Tenjin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka-city, Fukuoka Prefecture
Price: from 24 USD
Duration: around 1 hour required.
Access: 23 minutes from previous destination by train. 6-minute walk from the Tenjin Station on the Kuko Line.
9. Kimono experience - 4.30 pm - 5.30 pm (from USD 33.29)
Your Japan experience is not complete without donning the traditional kimono! Staff will help you wear your kimono. You can enjoy a cruise down the river in your Kimono or walk around town in style and get free entrance to selected attractions.
Fukuoka Kimono Rental
10. Fukuoka Yatai tour and local food - 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm (from 30 USD)
Complete the local experience with authentic street food! The open-air food stalls, called Yatai, are unique to Fukuoka and usually sell ramen, beer and other snacks or finger food. The guide will bring you to the main Yatai places such as Nakasu, Tenjin and Nagahama, and teach you how to order the food in Japanese! Stalls usually open until the wee hours, so you can even have supper here!
Take a Fukuoka Yatai Tour and Taste the Best Local Food
Address: 2-12-2, Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 30 USD
Opening Hours: 5 pm - 2 am.
Duration: around 4 hours required.
Access: 11-minute walk from previous destination.
Day 3 - Travelling all around
Bike rides, train rides and amazing sights await you today! There will also be a tantalising reward at the end of the day for all that travelling!
11. Fukuoka bike tour - 9.00 am - 1.15 pm
Why walk when you can roll? Go on a refreshing bike tour with professional guides, who will bring you to historic sites, architectural gems, shopping venues and scenic places in the city! Some attractions include the Tochoji Temple, Acros Fukuoka Building, Korokan Historical Museum, Momichi Beach and Genko Bulwark Ruins. For lunch, sink your teeth into Hakata ramen, a popular and beloved dish in Fukuoka!
Fukuoka Bike Tour
Address: 9-35, Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ward, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 51.66 USD
Opening Hours: 9 am - 1.15 pm.
Duration: around 4 hours 15 minutes required.
Access: 4-minute walk from the Nakasukawabata Station on the Kuko Line.
Contact: +81 92-984-3202
12. Kawachi Fuji-en/Mojiko Retro - 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm (from 4.70 USD (depending on season).)
Kawachi Fuji-en is an enchanting floral wonderland guaranteed to leave you bewildered! The garden is filled with wisteria flowers that form a nearly continuous roof over the whole garden, and one of the most stunning attraction in the gardens is the 100 meter (328 feet) long tunnel made up of wisteria trees! The best time to visit is when the flowers are in full bloom from late April to early May!
Kawachi Fuji-en
Address: 2 -2-48 Kawachi, Yahatahigashi Ward, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka Prefecture
Price: from 4.70 USD (depending on season).
Opening Hours: 8 am - 6 pm.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 1 hour 15 minutes from previous destination by train. Free shuttle bus from Yahata Station on the Kagoshima Line. Alight at Ajisainoyu bathhouse.
Contact: +81 93-652-0334
If it isn’t during the wisteria season, an alternative is to visit the charming old town of Mojiko Retro. A notable attraction is the Mojiko Station, which is the oldest station on the Kagoshima Line! Walk along the waterfront and admire the rustic old buildings that are over 100 years old! There are also plenty of restaurants, shops and museums to keep you entertained!
Mojiko Retro
Address: 1-5-31 Nishikaigan, Moji Ward, Kitakyushu-city, Fukuoka Prefecture
Price: Free!
Opening Hours: 24/7
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 1 hour 6 minutes from previous destination by train. Mojiko Station on the Kagoshima Line.
Contact: +81 93-332-0106
13. Tenzushi Kyomachi - 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm
One of the best sushi restaurants in the country, Tenzushi Kyomachi offers an exquisite sushi dining experience you won’t forget! Using fresh ingredients from the renowned, 100 year old Tanga fish market, the restaurant serves sushi with kabosu and Japanese citrus instead of the conventional soy sauce. Do make a reservation if you do not want to wait for hours in line!
Tenzushi Kyomachi (天寿し京町店)
Address: 3 Chome-11-9 Kyomachi, Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu-city
Day 4 - Venturing out
There are tons to see outside the city as well! Moreover, you will be treated with an awesome shopping experience at night!
14. Fukuoka prefecture in one day - 9.00 am - 4.30 pm (from 371 USD)
Tour around the Fukuoka prefecture and visit other cities such as Dazaifu, Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu! Visit some of the most prominent attractions such as the Dazaifu Tenman-gu Shrine, Kanmon Tunnel, Karato Market, Kanmon Ferry, Mojiko port and the Kanmon Straits Museum. Also, buckle up for an exciting lunch experience with fugu (blowfish)!
Explore Fukuoka Prefecture in One Day!
Address: 3-2 Shimokawabatamachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 371 USD
Opening Hours: 9 am - 4.30 pm.
Duration: around 7 hours required.
Access: Hotel Okura Fukuoka.
15. Hakata Hankyu - free and easy
Strap on your most comfortable shoes and pull up your socks. Your shopping spree begins today! Hakata Hankyu is a massive department store filled with endless shops conveniently located next to the Hakata Station. For a gourmet meal, you do not have to splurge on a fancy restaurant, as the food hall sells a wide variety of food, and the ramen is one of the top recommended dishes!
Hakata Hankyu
Address: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka-city
Opening Hours: 10 am - 9 pm.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 10 minutes from previous dismiss point (Hotel Okura Fukuoka)
Contact: +81 92-461-1381
16. Bar-hopping journey in vibrant Nishijin - 5pm - 8 pm (from USD 119.0)
Dive deep into Fukuoka’s hidden nightlife with a bar-hopping journey in vibrant Nishijin, just a 10-minute train ride away from the city’s heart. This exclusive tour unveils the undiscovered gems of the local bar scene, from izakayas (pubs) to trendy Okinawan bars frequented by locals.
Guided by a knowledgeable English-speaking expert, you will be able to indulge in a three-hour-long whirlwind of authentic dishes, from Takoyaki (minced octopus fried) to fried chicken, paired with a diverse beverage selection, as well as an hour of unlimited drinks.
Fukuoka After Dark: Bar Hopping and Street Food Adventure
Duration: 3hours
Day 5 - Wildlife galore!
Spend the day with animals at two of the city’s most prominent wildlife parks! At night, continue with your shopping spree!
17. Uminonakamichi Seaside Park - 10.00 am - 1.00 pm
The Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a perfect place for a fun family outing and to have hours of fun at! The park consists of playgrounds, flower gardens, sports fields, a water park, a zoo and an amusement park with a ferris wheel to keep you entertained! If you want to explore the place, you may rent a bicycle at the park’s entrance and cycle along the cycling trails all over the park.
Uminonakamichi Seaside Park
Address: 18-25 Saitozaki, Higashi-ward, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 3.85 USD
Opening Hours: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm. Closed on Dec 31, New Year’s day and the first Monday and Tuesday of February.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: Uminonakamichi Station on the Kashii Line.
Contact: +81 92-603-1111
18. Marine World Umino-Nakamichi - 1.30 pm - 4.30 pm
Just opposite the Uminonakamichi Seaside Park is a massive aquarium featuring the marine life around Kyushu! The main tank is a whopping 7 meter (23 feet) deep pool where you can observe over 100 sharks and many more curious creatures of the deep! There are also outdoor tanks where you can feed dolphins and sea lions, and a stadium pool where dolphin and sea lion shows are scheduled regularly!
Marine World Uminonakamichi
Address: 18-28 Saitozaki, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 20.29 USD
Opening Hours: March-July & September-February: 9.30 am - 5.30 pm; July-August, weekends & holidays: 9 am - 9.30 pm. Closed on the first Monday and Tuesday of February.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 11-minute walk from Uminonakamichi Station on the Kashii Line.
Contact: +81 92-603-0400
19. JR Hakata City Amu Plaza Hakata - free and easy
After a long, tiring day, you may either retreat back to the hotel, or get dinner at the Amu Plaza Hakata which is just 40 minutes away! Most of the restaurants are located on the top floor, while the food court and other food stores are at the basement. There are plenty of shops for some retail therapy, and if you plan to catch them all, check out the Pokemon center on the 9th floor!
Amu Plaza Hakata
Address: 1-1 Hakataekichuogai, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka-city
Opening Hours: 10 am - 9 pm.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 40 minutes from previous destination by train. Hakata station on the Kagoshima Line.
Contact: +81 92-431-8484
Day 6 - Sights by the sea
Visit 2 picturesque islands, one of which is also a popular shopping haven! Be treated to one of the best restaurants in the city at night.
20. Nokoshima Island Park and Marinoa City Outlets - 9.10 am - 5.10 pm (from 119 USD)
This tour is all about shopping and sightseeing! You will first be brought to the Nokoshima Island Park, where you can get stunning panoramic views of the seasonal flowers and ocean! Next, the tour will head to one of the largest outlet malls in the Kyushu, the Marinoa City! This place is a shopping haven housing over 170 shops selling inexpensive merchandise!
Tour Nokoshima Island Park & Marinoa City Oulets, Fukuoka!
Price: from 119 USD
Opening Hours: 9.10 am - 5.10 pm.
Duration: around 8 hours required.
Access: Hotel Nikko Fukuoka or Hotel Okura Fukuoka.
21. Chikae Fukuoka - 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm
Just a short distance away is one of the best restaurants in the city, Chikae Fukuoka! This place serves authentic Japanese cuisine fresh from the restaurant’s fish tanks! Must tries include the sashimi (sea urchin, octopus and more), and for a bigger bang for your buck, order from the set menus! Enjoy great food, wonderful service and a lovely ambience.
Chikae Fukuoka shop
Address: 2 Chome-2-17 Daimyo, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 18.78 USD
Opening Hours: 11 am - 10 pm.
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Access: 14 minutes from previous destination by train. 5-minute walk from the Akasaka Station on the Kuko Line.
Contact: +81 92-721-4624
Day 7 - Time to unwind
22. Yanagawa River Cruise and Tea Tasting - 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Hop onboard a Donko boat and float down the Yanagawa River. Along the way you will be amazed by the gorgeous seasonal flowers and the antique warehouses along the river banks! After the river cruise, the tour will lead you to the Yame Central Tea Garden, where the country’s most popular tea producer grows their tea leaves! Feel refreshed as you saunter through the fragrant garden, and also try making and tasting the Hoiro Baisen tea!
Yanagawa River Cruise and Tea Tasting
Price: from 127 USD
Duration: around 8 hours required.
Yanagawa River Cruise and Tea Tasting - Klook
Duration: 1 Day(s) Duration
23. Yoshizuka Unagiya - 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm
End the day at one of the highest-rated restaurants in Fukuoka, Yoshizuka Unagiya. A must-try is their unagi (eel) rice, a humble, satisfying and delectable set meal that draws in a large crowd, so be prepared to queue! You can choose to take away your food and enjoy it in the comforts of your hotel!
Yoshizuka Unagiya (吉塚うなぎ屋本店)
Address: 2-8-27 Nakasu, Hakataku, Fukuoka-city
Price: from 9 USD
Opening Hours: 11 am - 8.30 pm. Closed on Wednesdays.
Duration: around 1.5 hours required.
Access: 8-minute walk from Hotel Okura Fukuoka; 11-minute walk from Hotel Nikko Fukuoka.
Contact: +81 92-271-0700
Day 8 - Cat Island!
Sail for the feline paradise and go on a shopping spree at night!
24. Cat Island Aino-Shima - 12.00 pm - 5.00 pm (from 72 USD)
Just off the coast from Shingu is a little feline paradise! After a relaxing 20-minute ferry ride, you will find yourself on Cat Island (Ainoshima), and as its name suggests, cats are everywhere on the island! Feel free to pet and take photos of the adorable and very friendly felines! Additionally, there are tons of nature trails, temples, and other attractions to explore on the island as well!
Discover Amazing Cats Heaven Island "Aino-Shima"
Address: 1382-2 Ainoshima, Shingu, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture
Price: from 72 USD
Duration: around 5 hours required.
Access: Nishitetsu-Shingu Station on the Nishitetsu-Kaizuka Line.
25. Tenjin Underground City - free and easy
I didn’t think I would, but I absolutely loved the underground city. It was vibrant and fun and has great shops, and perfect for walking when it was too hot or raining too much. Amrita J
Tenjin underground shopping center
Address: Basement of 2 Tenjin, Chuo-ward, Fukuoka-city
Opening Hours: 10 am - 9 pm.
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Access: 43 minutes from previous destination by train. 4-minute walk from the Tenjin Station on the Kuko Line.
Contact: +81 92-711-1903
NINJA WiFi
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Data: unlimited (high speed data of 3GB, 5GB, 10GB per day)
Collection/Return: Delivery service to your hotel/accommodation. Collection and return at airport.
A holiday without the hassle!
It is highly recommended to stay in Hotel Okura Fukuoka/ Hotel Nikko Fukuoka (near Hakata) for this itinerary. The hotels are only a 10-minute drive or 12-minute bus ride apart! Also, you can always alter the plan to suit your ideal vacation!
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