Travel tips · Fukuoka · Japan
Fukuoka travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nryate, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Fukuoka has been Japan's gateway to the Asian mainland for more than 1,500 years, with Korea's Busan only about 200 km away. Hakata was a self-governing merchant city and Fukuoka the castle town across the river; the two merged in 1889, and locals still use both names. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival and the Hakata dialect are points of local pride, and the city has an easygoing, outgoing reputation.
Key facts
- Language
- Japanese
- Currency
- JPY
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 100 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
Things to know
- At yatai, share the bench, keep bags small and pay before you leave; cash is still common.
- Queue for ramen shops and trains rather than crowding the entrance.
- At temples and shrines, keep voices low and follow signs about photography.
- Don't eat while walking along busy shopping streets; finish food at the stall.
- Stand on the left of escalators in Fukuoka.
- Book SoftBank Hawks baseball game ahead: Popular weekend games sell out; buy tickets online in advance.
- Fukuoka is one of Japan's more affordable big cities; business hotels around Hakata Station and Gion are good value.
Tipping
Tipping is not practised in Japan. High-end hotels and some restaurants add a service charge to the bill.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Konnichiwa | Hello |
| Arigatō gozaimasu | Thank you very much |
| Barikata de | Very firm noodles, please |
| Kaedama kudasai | Extra noodles, please |
| Okaikei onegaishimasu | The bill, please |
| Sumimasen | Excuse me |
What to wear
Casual dress is fine everywhere. Summers are hot and humid, so bring light clothing and a hat; winter needs a warm coat but rarely snow gear.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 100 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink.
- Emergency number
- 110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- Free public Wi-Fi is available in many stations, malls and public spaces; SIM cards, eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi are sold at Fukuoka Airport.
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
Fukuoka has low crime. Avoid touts in Nakasu late at night, take care at beaches outside lifeguarded seasons, and watch for typhoon warnings from August to September and heavy rain during the June–July rainy season.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Japan's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Fukuoka?
Tipping is not practised in Japan. High-end hotels and some restaurants add a service charge to the bill.
+Can you drink the tap water in Fukuoka?
Tap water is safe to drink.
+What plugs are used in Fukuoka?
Type A and B sockets, 100 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Fukuoka?
Japanese.