Japan Guide
Kyūshū
Getting around
The easiest way of getting around Fukuoka is on its fast and efficient subway system. There's plenty of English-language information and most places of interest fall within walking distance of a station. The main Kūkō line runs from the airport through central Fukuoka, via Hakata Station and Tenjin, to Meinohama in the west, while the Hakozaki line splits off at Nakasu-kawabata (one stop east of Tenjin) for the northeast suburb of Kaizuka, and the Nanakuma Line connects Tenjin-minami, linked by underground passageways to Tenjin Station, to the southwestern suburbs. Trains run from 5.30am to around 11.45pm, every four to eight minutes depending on the time of day, and the minimum fare is ¥100; buy your tickets at the station vending machines. If you expect to make several journeys, it's worth buying a one-day subway card (¥600), which also gets you small discounts at several museums.
For those places not within immediate striking distance of the subway, such as the Hawks Town area, you'll need to use Nishitetsu city buses, most of which funnel through the Hakata Station– Tenjin corridor. Look out for the handy "100-yen bus", where you pay a flat fare of ¥100, which loops round from Hakata Station to Nishitetsu-Fukuoka Station via Nakasu and Canal City. You can also buy a day-pass (¥600) for the central zone, but you probably won't cover enough ground to make it worthwhile.