Month guide · Fukuoka · Japan
Fukuoka in May
What May is really like in Fukuoka: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Tomomarusan, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Fukuoka. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.9 hours of daylight. Warm and sunny; the Hakata Dontaku festival fills the streets during Golden Week.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea temperature
- 19°C (66°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Fukuoka: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 16°C (61°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (20°C (68°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 27°C (81°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:18
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:11
- Daylight
- About 13.9 hours
- Sea
- 19°C (66°F)
Spring (March–May). Cherry blossom in Maizuru and Ohori parks, Hakata Dontaku in early May, and comfortable, sunny weather.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Hakata Dontaku — parades and street performances (3–4 May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Island · Nokonoshima
Nokonoshima Island Park
Time your visit for spring or the autumn cosmos, and check the bus connection from the ferry pier to the park.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- Nature
Beach · Momochi
Momochi Seaside Park
An artificial sandy beach in front of Fukuoka Tower, with the wedding-chapel-style Marizon complex on a pier, a boardwalk and sunset views over Hakata Bay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Views
Experience · Nakasu
Yatai food stalls
Go early in the evening to get seats, order a drink plus one or two dishes per stall, and move on to try several.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
Religious site · Gion and Hakata Old Town
Kushida Shrine
Hakata's guardian shrine, founded in the 8th century, is the home of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Iconic
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 16°C and 9 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Fukuoka?
One of the best months to visit Fukuoka, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are March–April and October–November. Compare every month.
Fukuoka in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Fukuoka?
It is one of the best months to visit Fukuoka. Warm and sunny; the Hakata Dontaku festival fills the streets during Golden Week.
+How warm is Fukuoka in May?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 16°C (61°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Fukuoka in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.