Fukuoka city’s winning combination of exciting nightlife, trendy neighborhoods, and hearty food is sure to win you over.
Located on Japan’s southernmost island of Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture’s capital city is actually a combination of two smaller cities divided by the Nakagawa River.
Three games will be hosted here during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium
Photo by: Wiki Easily accessible from Hakata Airport and Hakata Station.
This isn’t Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium’s first rodeo — it’s hosted rugby games during the 2013 Asian Five Nations and 2008 Pacific Nations Cup. The approximately 22,500 seat capacity stadium is housed in a large sports park complex that includes archery fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts.
What to do before and after the Rugby World Cup
Fukuoka Freedom Night Market
Photo by: haceroxane Tons of booze and food to go around.
A bustling outdoor party with live music, dancing, fortune-telling, and plenty of local food and drinks.
- Date: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until Oct. 27
- 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- 1-chome-7 Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, 810-0801 - Map
- https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/event/fukuoka-freedom-night-market-2019/
Kitakyushu Beer Cruise
Cruise by Kokura Castle while enjoying a cold brew.
Venture a bit out of the city center and cruise around nearby Kitakyushu, taking in the dazzling night view.
- Date: Every Friday until Sept. 27
- Time: 7 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. (arrive by 6:45 p.m. to board the ship)
- ¥3500 per person (Reservation may be required)
- 3-10-31 Asano, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu - Map
- https://www.fukuoka-now.com/en/event/beer-cruise-in-kitakyushu-2/
What to eat
Yatai
Japanese street food sold out of “yatai” food stalls in Hakata.
These nighttime food stalls are the perfect way to experience Fukuoka like a local. Sit along the river and chow down on grilled chicken skewers, grilled octopus balls, and more. You’ll find yatai across the city, but mostly concentrated in the Tenjin and Nakasu areas.
- Hours: Varies per stall, but most are generally open from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
- 810-0801 Fukuoka, Hakata-ku, Nakasu, 1-chome−8 - Map
Hakata Ramen
Fukuoka’s rich tonkotsu (pork bone broth) style.
The delicious Hakata-style ramen is a MUST try.
Ichiran
Enjoy your ramen in anonymous solitude — your bowl will be slipped to you under a screen where you never see the chef’s face. While you can find Ichiran branches all over Japan, this is the original location where tonkotsu ramen was born!
- Hours: Open 24 hours!
- 5 Chome-3-２ Nakasu, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0801 - Map
Sightseeing around Fukuoka
Tocho-ji Temple
Tocho-ji is beautiful from the outside, but wait till you see the tunnel to hell inside!
A quaint temple with a towering pagoda and a huge wooden buddha housed inside. Traverse the tunnel underneath the buddha for a unique journey “through hell and back” amongst images of the underworld. Halfway through, the tunnel goes pitch black before letting you out in “heaven.” See you on the other side.
- Hours: 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Fee: ¥50 to see the wooden Buddha and tunnel. (Includes a candle and incense that you are required to light before entering)
- Address: 2-4 Gokushomachi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, 812-0037 - Map
- Getting there: From the stadium, take the bus to Kamiusui. From there walk about four minutes to Fukuoka-kuko Station and take the subway to Gion Station. You’ll see the temple upon exiting the station.
Daimyo
Photo by: Randiah Camille Green A hip place to grab a drink.
Fukuoka’s hipster neighborhood, full of quirky cafes, vintage stores, and trendy coffee shops. Spend the afternoon shopping, or guzzling down craft beer. Your choice.
- Address: 2-12-1004 Tenjin Chuo-ku Fukuoka City Fukuoka Prefecture 810-0001 - Map
- Getting there: From Fukuoka-kuko Station take the subway to Tenjin Station or Akasaka Station. Many shops and cafes are centered around either station.
Canal City
A shopping mall with a cool nightly projection mapping and water fountain show that anime fans will love! The show changes periodically, with previous themes including Godzilla, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and One Piece.
- Hours: The show is nightly at 7 p.m., 8 p.m., and 9 p.m.
- 1-chome-2 Sumiyoshi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, 812-0018 - Map
- Getting there: Take the subway to Gion Station. Canal City is a five-minute walk from there.
How to get there
From Tokyo
- Take the shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo Station to Hakata Station. Transfer to the subway and get off at Hakata-kuko Station. From there you can either walk (about 20 minutes) or take the bus to the stadium.
From Osaka
- Take the shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Hakata Station. From there take the subway to Hakata-kuko Station.
From Hakata Airport
- Hakata Airport is the closest airport. From the airport, take the bus to Hakata-no-mori Kyogijo-mae (Hakatanomori Stadium). It only takes about six minutes.
