Dazaifu Tenmangu
Shrine in nearby Dazaifu dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, honoured as the god of learning, so students pray here before exams. Plum trees, a pond with arched bridges and a lane of shops lead to it.
Fukuoka
On Kyushu island, this friendly city is a place for ramen food stalls and shopping, with hot-spring towns an easy outing away.
Attractive locations
Ohori Park
Large park built around a pond modelled on a famous Chinese lake, with walking and jogging paths and islands linked by bridges. A Japanese garden lies on the south side.
Fukuoka Castle Ruins
Remains of a major castle from the early 1600s in Maizuru Park, with massive stone walls and a few restored gate and turret buildings. The grounds are known for cherry blossoms in spring.
Kushida Shrine
Shrine in the old Hakata district, protector of the former merchant town. It is the centre of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, and a festival float is displayed on site throughout the year.
Fukuoka Tower
Tall mirror-glass tower on the Momochi waterfront, with an observation deck giving views over Hakata Bay and the city. It is lit up with decorative displays at night.
Nanzo-in Temple
Buddhist temple in the hills east of the city, home to a huge bronze reclining Buddha, one of the largest statues of its kind.
Shofuku-ji Temple
Zen temple founded in the twelfth century, traditionally called Japan's first Zen temple. Its quiet grounds are a calm pause in the busy city.
Airports
Fukuoka Airport FUK
It is about 5 km in a straight line from Fukuoka.
Kyushu Saga International Airport HSG
It is about 50 km in a straight line from Fukuoka.
Kitakyushu Airport KKJ
It is about 65 km in a straight line from Fukuoka.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan3.8 °C70 mm
- Feb5.2 °C88 mm
- Mar8.1 °C118 mm
- Apr13.1 °C140 mm
- May17.9 °C157 mm
- Jun21.7 °C299 mm
- Jul25.6 °C357 mm
- Aug26.4 °C204 mm
- Sep22.6 °C189 mm
- Oct17.0 °C109 mm
- Nov11.5 °C89 mm
- Dec6.0 °C79 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 65% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 110. Fire and ambulance 119.
local government
Japan Visitor Hotline (Japan National Tourism Organization)
Helps with: Hotline run by Japan's national tourism organization. It gives support in emergencies such as accidents, illness and natural disasters, plus general tourist information, in English, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours a day.
Who qualifies: Visitors to Japan, calling from inside Japan or from overseas.
Phone: +81-50-3816-2787
local government
Police emergency number 110
Helps with: Japan's police emergency number, for reporting a crime or an accident. For less urgent matters, visitors can also go to a neighbourhood police box (koban).
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan who needs the police urgently.
Phone: 110
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 119 (Fire and Disaster Management Agency)
Helps with: Call 119 for an ambulance or a fire. First say whether it is a fire or a medical emergency, then give your location; a nearby building or intersection helps if you lack the address.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Japan; the ambulance service is available to everyone.
Phone: 119
ngo
Japanese Red Cross Society
Helps with: Japan's national Red Cross society. In disasters it sends medical relief teams, sets up aid stations, gives psychological care in evacuation centres and hands out relief supplies such as blankets.
Who qualifies: People in Japan affected by disasters, through its relief work.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Japan
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Japan it supports migrants through work against human trafficking and help with voluntary return home and reintegration.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Japan, including people affected by human trafficking. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: 03 (3595) 2487
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Japan (JNTO list)
Helps with: For a lost passport, an emergency or a natural disaster, contact your own country's embassy. This Japan National Tourism Organization page gives addresses and phones, but only for some countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each listed country, through their own embassy or consulate.