Travel Information

About Fukuoka

 

Fukuoka is located on Kyushu island, in the western part of Japan. The city is a 90-minute flight away from Tokyo, and Hakata - the city center - is easily accessible from the Fukuoka Airport, just two stops away on the subway. Historically, Fukuoka has been an important hub for trade, transport, and industry. It is also known for its delicious cuisine, such as ramen noodles. The conference will take place at Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, right on the coast. 

 

Great food and even better company reign supreme in Fukuoka, the relaxed port town that is at the heart of life on Kyushu , Japan's third-largest island. The city is the fastest growing in Japan and has engaged in cultural exchange throughout its history from its proximity to mainland Asia.

 

Don't Miss
Fukuoka City has some of Japan's best food, and tonkotsu ramen is especially popular
Fukuoka hosts Dontaku, Japan's largest festival, and various other festivals
Fukuoka's compact size makes it a great place to enjoy both the sea and the mountains


How to Get There
Fukuoka is easily accessible from both Tokyo and Osaka via direct shinkansen or air. Fukuoka is well-connected by sea (of which there are various vessels) and air to South Korea (about one hour) and is a short flight from Taiwan and Shanghai (about two hours by direct flight).

From Tokyo, it is about one hour and 45 minutes from Haneda Airport to Fukuoka Airport. The train journey from Tokyo Station to Hakata Station via the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line is about five hours.

Flights from Osaka's Itami Airport to Fukuoka Airport take one hour and 15 minutes. The shinkansen ride from Shin-Osaka to Hakata Station is around two hours and 20 minutes.

 

Delicious ramen and fish dishes
Fukuoka is renowned across Japan for its good and cheap food. A bowl of tonkotsu ramen here will set you back as little as 280 yen in some restaurants, while the city's street-side yatai stalls draw crowds from across Japan and Asia. If you're a fan of sushi and sashimi, then you must try goma saba (mackerel), a Fukuoka specialty.

Festival fun
The Hakata Dontaku Festival is held every year in May during Golden Week. It is the most popular Golden Week festival in Japan, with 2 to 3 million people attending the festival every year. The Hakata Gion Yamakasa, held each July, sees one-ton floats being raced through the streets of Hakata. Besides these two giants, many festivals take place throughout the year within the city and in the surrounding areas.

 

Getting around
The city has good local public transport with a rapid subway system and well-connected local buses. For more regional travel within Kyushu and Japan, Hakata Station is the main point of focus, with a large bus terminal and Fukuoka City's bullet train station.

The airport is conveniently located, and travel to the city center by subway from the domestic terminal takes only five to six minutes. Regular bus services also run to the airport, connecting it to both the city and the rest of Kyushu.

The Hakata Port International Terminal connects the city to some of Kyushu's most remote islands and internationally to South Korea, with a regular ferry service to the Korean City of Busan that takes as little as two hours.

Gateway to Kyushu
Many who come to Fukuoka City use it as the gateway city to see all Kyushu. The city is well-connected to other major cities in Kyushu such as Nagasaki , Kagoshima , Beppu, and Kumamoto . Bus services run to these cities from both the Hakata and Tenjin Bus Terminals, while local and long distance trains through Kyushu run from Hakata JR Station. Many connections within Fukuoka Prefecture are available through the use of local transport services including the local bus, train, and subway lines.