Traveling Within Fukuoka

Fukuoka’s manageable size means getting around is not too difficult. Helping this are the centralized layout, great public transport network, and recent moves to label all street signs in English as well as Japanese. English maps are readily available.

The school is located in the heart of the city, very close to the central train, subway and bus stations. Fukuoka has a very defined centre in the area called Tenjin (天神), home to most of the major shopping and entertainment complexes. This is where everyone comes on their day off! So getting from Tenjin to anywhere is very easy.
Fukuoka has three subway lines, all radiating from the central Tenjin area, and connected to other transport networks at their last stop. Fukuoka International Airport, the easiest way to get to Fukuoka, has its own subway station, and so is less than 10 minutes from downtown! Plus, this being Japan, the trains are always on time.
For less major destinations, the comprehensive bus network will take you to virtually any location within the city and surrounding area.
For longer trips, Japan’s nationwide rail network is fast and convenient. Fukuoka’s “shinkansen” (bullet train) station will take you to the center of most other cities within just a few hours, perfect for a weekend trip.
All of these transport systems offer discount prepaid cards, in addition to monthly passes.

Taxis aren’t cheap, but a strict regulation system means you won’t be ripped off, so travel with peace of mind!

Fukuoka has a variety of transport networks, each with a variety of ticket options, so it can be difficult to know the cheapest method of traveling from your accommodation to the school and back, and also traveling on the weekends or vacations. This page provides some information to give you an idea of what to expect.

Fukuoka's transport networks:

There are 3 main networks, and generally you will have the choice

• Subway
  3 subway lines serve most major destinations in the central area of the city. Not cheap, but very convenient, and the fastest method of getting around. Prices from 200-300 yen. Trains run from 5:30am till 12:30am.
  Official subway site (in English) - includes detailed usage information
• Bus
  Very thorough network of Nishitetsu buses run to almost all locations, with Tenjin (where Genki Japanese school is) as a central hub. Cheapish fares, run from early morning until about 12:30am.
  Official bus site (in English)
  
• Train
  The Nishitetsu Omuta train line runs South from Tenjin (location of our Japanese school) through the middle of the city. Trains run from early morning until about midnight.
  Official train site (in English)
  There are also Japan Rail trains, running from remote locations to the central Hakata Station. Be aware that it is a bus or subway ride from Hakata Station to Tenjin, where the school is, so this is not the most convenient method of travel.

Google Maps offers a service to identify how to travel between any two locations using public transport. To use it, enter the start and end points as Japanese text addresses. For example, here are the directions from Genki Japanese school to the main dormitory.

Ticket Options Available

General

Yoka-Net card: A pre-charged card that can be used on the subways, trains and buses. Available in several denominations, with an additional bonus (for example, pay 5,000 yen to get a 5,500 yen card) that gets bigger as the card denomination increases.

Subways

The cards below can be bought from either ticket machines or station staff.
1. F-card: A pre-charged card that can be used only on the subways.
2. Waiwai card: A pre-charged card that can be used on the subways and one train line. These cards are available in a variety of denominations, with an additional bonus (for example, pay 5,000 yen to get a 5,500 yen card). The bonus is higher than for the Yoka-Net card.
3. One-day pass: 600 yen for all the subway travel you can do in a day. As a single trip can cost up to 300 yen, this can be economical if you plan to do a lot of traveling.
4. Commuter pass: A 1- or 3-month pass for travel within a general area. If you will travel the same route every day for a month or longer, this is generally the cheapest option. You can buy these from station staff at the main subway stations (for example, Tenjin).

Buses

1. Bus card: A pre-charged card that can be used only on the buses. These cards are available in a variety of denominations, with an additional bonus (for example, pay 5,000 yen to get a 5,500 yen card). This card offers the highest bonus of all.
2. Commuter pass: A 1- or 3-month pass for travel between two specific stops. If you will travel the same route every day for a month or longer, this is generally the cheapest option. You can buy these from station staff at the main bus stations (for example, Tenjin).

Trains

1. Ticket book: 11 tickets between any two stations for the price of 10.
2. Commuter pass: A 1- or 3-month pass for travel between two specific stops. If you will travel the same route every day for a month or longer, this is generally the cheapest option. You can buy these from station staff at the main train stations (for example, Tenjin).