Bus
Buses in Fukuoka
Three major bus companies operate in Fukuoka: Nishitetsu, Showa and JR Kyushu. Nishitetsu Bus covers almost all of Fukuoka, while Showa Bus operates in the western region such as Itoshima and Karatsu, and JR Kyushu operates lines in the eastern region. Express buses are also available through Nishitetsu and JR Kyushu, and they connect Fukuoka to other major cities within and outside Kyushu.
The fares vary depending on the routes and distance taken. Nishitetsu Bus offers a flat “100 yen bus” service for travelling downtown Fukuoka and for travels between major train stations. For more information, please visit their website. The fare system is as follows: junior high school students and those who are aged 12 or older are subject to adult fare; children who are aged 6 to 11 are charged at the child’s rate, or, half the adult fare rounded to the nearest 10 yen; and infants who are aged 1 to 6 and babies may ride for free. However, in the case of more than two infants (or more than one on the express bus) per accompanying adult, an additional child's fare must be paid.
Bus Stops and Schedule
The main bus terminals for inner-city and express buses are located inside the Solaria Terminal Building (where Mitsukoshi Department Store and Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station are found), inside the Fukuoka Kotsu Center Building next to JR Hakata Station, and inside the building above the Fujisaki Subway Station.
Although bus stops are usually found on the main roads of the city, you need to make sure to catch the right bus for your destination in Tenjin and Hakata Station area, for there are many bus stops that are in close proximity but serve different routes. It is best to confirm your route and bus stop on the Nishitestu Bus website (available in English, Chinese, and Korean) before boarding the bus. Timetables are posted at bus stops, and are distinguished by colors of green, orange, and pink to indicate the different times for weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays respectively. Most bust stops also have detailed charts showing the route of each bus and its fare. Also keep in mind that due to traffic jams on the road, your bus may not always arrive on time.
How to Use Nishitetsu Bus
When the bus arrives, check the destination and the route number that appear on the upper front panel of the bus, and board through the rear door. Take a small, numbered ticket (seiri-ken), indicating where you boarded, from the automatic dispenser inside the door. Even if you have an all-day pass or a commuter pass, you will still need to take this ticket. However, if you have a prepaid card such as a bus card, you can simply insert it into the card reader and avoid this step. Inside the bus, you will see a panel above the front windshield that indicates the next stop, and an announcement will be made as it approaches. When you come near your stop, notify the bus driver by pressing the “stop” button and pay your fare once the bus comes to a complete stop. When paying in cash, drop the numbered ticket and correct fare into the fare collection box; if you have a bus card, insert it into the card reader next to the driver. For an all-day pass or a commuter pass, drop the numbered ticket into the collection box and present your pass clearly to the driver. The panel above the bus driver also indicates the fares for each ticket number, so check the number shown on your ticket and pay the corresponding amount. If you do not have the correct change, use the change machine next to the driver that accepts 50 yen, 100 yen, 500 yen coins and 1,000 yen notes (but excludes 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen notes) to pay for your fare.
＜Inquiries＞
◇Nishitetsu Bus
Tel: 0570-00-1010
*Interpretation service is available in English, Chinese, and Korean
http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/
◇Showa Bus
Tel: 092-322-2561
http://www.showa-bus.jp/
◇JR Kyushu Bus
Tel: 092-642-8121/8125
http://www.jrkbus.co.jp/
＊SUNQ Pass
This is an unlimited ride pass for travelling on almost all highway and local buses (and some ferry services) within Kyushu and Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Depending on your choice of travel days and regions to travel, you can choose from four different types of SUNQ passes which include “All Kyushu 4 Days”, “All Kyushu 3 Days”, and “Northern Kyushu 3 Days”. This is a very convenient ticket for those wishing to travel and sightsee within Kyushu by bus, and can be purchased at counters of major bus service operators, travel agencies, or on the Internet. For more information, refer to website below.
SUNQ Pass
http://www.sunqpass.jp/ （Japanese/English/Chinese/Korean）
Subway/Train
Subway
The subway system in Fukuoka has three lines. Line 1 (Kuko Line) runs west from Fukuoka Airport to Meinohama, and connects with the JR Chikuhi Line. Line 2 (Hakozaki Line) runs from Nakasu-Kawabata to Kaizuka, and connects with Nishitetsu Kaizuka Line. Line 3 (Nanakuma Line) links stations between Tenjin-Minami and Hashimoto. Each station has multiple exits, so check the posted maps to determine the appropriate exit for your destination. While the subway fare is usually proportional to the distance you travel, travelling only one station is discounted at 100 yen (otonari kippu). The fare system is as follows: children who are 12 or older are charged adult fare, elementary school students between age 6 and 11 pay half the adult fare rounded to the nearest 10 yen, and infants between age 1 and 5 may ride for free, but only up to two infants when accompanied by a paying passenger. Any extra children must pay the child fare. In addition, a child fare must also be paid if the infant is travelling unaccompanied.
*Map of Subway Lines
Using the Subway
Check the fare to your destination on the route chart at the station, and buy the ticket from the ticket machine. Insert the ticket into the automatic ticket gate, retrieve it on the other side, and proceed to the platform. This is the same procedure when you use a one day pass, prepaid card (F-Card, Yoka-Net Card, etc.), or a commuter’s pass. Confirm your train’s arrival time on the information board and wait at the correct numbered platform. When the train arrives, check the destination by the sign on the train or by listening to the announcement. The name of each station is announced inside the train and is indicated on the message panel (in Japanese and English) just above the door. Once arriving at your destination, insert the ticket into the station’s automatic gate and exit. All tickets except for one day passes and card types are collected at the gate, so if you ride with any of those cards, please make sure to retrieve it before exiting the gate.
JR/Nishitetsu Trains
There are two railway companies in Fukuoka City: JR Kyushu and Nishitetsu (Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd., which includes the Omuta Line). Nishitetsu operates several lines in Fukuoka Prefecture. JR Kyushu is one of the privatized companies of Japan National Railways—which used to control all major lines in Japan—that provides a network of railway lines to the whole of Kyushu and connects Hakata to Osaka via Sanyō Shinkansen operated under JR West as well as connecting to other JR lines found in the country. The central station in the city for JR Kyushu is Hakata Station while Fukuoka Station (Tenjin) is the central hub for Nishitetsu. Train fares are calculated on the distance traveled; however on JR, a surcharge of express fare, reserved seat fare, and others may apply depending on the type of train and car you board.
The payment method is basically the same as the subway. Since stations like Hakata Station have multiple platforms, board the correct train by checking its destination, departure time, and platform on the information display available by the gate (in Japanese and English). Please be advised that express and limited express trains only stop at major stations. Tickets and seat reservations on JR can be made at Green Window booking offices (midori no madoguchi) at JR stations, travel agencies, or on the Internet.
＜Inquiries＞
◇Fukuoka City Subway
Tel: 092-734-7800 (telephone center)
http://subway.city.fukuoka.lg.jp/
*Telephone interpretation service is available in English, Chinese, and Korean at every station counter and at the telephone center.
9:00 – 20:00 7 days a week
◇JR Kyushu Hakata Station （for trains within Kyushu）
Tel: 092-471-8111
*English speaking staff is available
8:00-20:00
http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/
◇JR West Hakata Station（Shinkansen lines）
Tel: 092-472-8426
http://www.jr-odekake.net/
◇Nishitetsu （Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.）
Tel: 0570-00-1010
*Interpretation service is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/
＜Train information in foreign languages＞
JR East offers information regarding train schedules, the shortest route to your destination, and other services in English, Korean, and Chinese.
◇JR East Info Line
Tel: 050-2016-1603
10:00～18:00 Everyday except for the year-end and New Year holidays
Fares and Discounts
Public transportation companies offer discounts and prepaid cards with extra credits—which you can use more than the actual amount paid—if you purchase your fares at a set price in advance. The discount rate and the amount of credits will vary depending on the card purchased. There are also cards that allow you to travel the same route as many times as you like during a certain time frame for a set price.
＜Major Discount Tickets/Passes＞
|
Booklet Coupons (kaisuken) |
ＪＲ、Nishitetsu |
|
F-Card |
Prepaid card: Fukuoka City Subway |
|
Wai-wai Card |
Prepaid card: Fukuoka City Subway, JR Kyushu（Fukuoka City and its vicinity） |
|
One-day Pass (ichi-nichi-josha-ken) |
Nishitetsu Bus: Unlimited one-day travel within a specified area of Fukuoka City and can be purchased at bus centers or directly from bus drivers for 600 yen. |
|
|
Subway: Unlimited travel on the day the ticket is punched; 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. |
|
Daytime Pass (hiru pasu) |
Nishitetsu Bus: Unlimited travel during a specified time in the daytime. |
|
Ecole Card |
Nishitetsu Bus: Unlimited travel throughout Fukuoka urban area for students only |
|
Commuter Pass |
JR Kyushu, Nishitetsu Omuta Line, Nishitetsu Bus, Subway: |
|
Round-trip Discounts |
JR Kyushu and Nishitetsu Bus: A number of discount round-trip tickets to various destinations within Kyushu, as well as Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo, etc. are offered. Such tickets usually have an expiration date and do not permit stopovers en route to the final destination. |
ＩＣ Card (Smart Card) ticket
Since 2008, each rail and subway company in Fukuoka began issuing rechargeable IC card tickets. They can be used in place of regular tickets within the amount charged and a commuter pass function can also be added on. It also features a prepaid electronic money function for shopping at participating stores, in which points are accumulated based on how much you ride the train or shop, and are redeemable as additional credit towards your IC card ticket. The three cards below and JR East’s Suica will be integrated in the spring of 2010.
nimoca： Nishitetsu Omuta Line and Nishitetsu Bus
SUGOCA ： JR Kyushu (Note: as of April 2009, service is limited within Fukuoka Prefecture only;
however, it is due to expand in the future. For details: http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/sugoca/
Hayakaken： Fukuoka City Subway
Bringing Pets and Bicycles onto Public Transportation
Special care must be taken when boarding a public transportation with pets or bicycles as there are various rules that come into play.
Subways：Small pets placed inside carry cages are permitted on subway trains. A bicycle that is placed inside a bag measuring no greater than 250cm (total of length + width + height) and weighing no more than 30kg are permitted only during non-rush hours (i.e. excludes morning and evening). No surcharge will apply for either.
Nishitetsu Bus：Small pets placed inside carry cages are permitted on city buses but not on highway buses. A bicycle that is folded and placed inside a bag measuring less than 63 cm³ square box, weighing less than 30kg, and measuring less than 2m in length are permitted. Since there are different rules for carry-on bicycles for highway buses, inquire with your bus company for more details. (No surcharge will apply)
Nishitetsu Train：Small pets placed inside carry cages that measure no greater than 70cm in length and 0.025 m³, and no greater than 10 kg are permitted (270 yen surcharge will apply) on trains. Dismantled or folded bicycles placed inside special bags are also permitted (no surcharge will apply).
JR Kyushu：Small pets placed inside carry cases that measure 70 cm in length, total size approximately 90 cm (total of length + width + height), and weigh no greater than 10 kg (combined weight of the pet and the case) are permitted on JR trains (270 yen surcharge will apply). Dismantled or folded bicycles placed inside special bags are also permitted (no surcharge will apply).
Taxi
To use a taxi, you can flag one down on the street, go to a taxi stand in front of the station or in a downtown area, or call a taxi company to get picked up. Except for occupied taxis or those that are heading to their next customer, all taxis display a “vacant (kūsha)” sign in red kanji characters on the lower left side of the windshield, and can be stopped. The left rear passenger door of the taxi will be opened and closed for you automatically by the driver, so be careful when getting in and out.
Taxi Fares
Although taxi fares are calculated based on a mileage system of distance traveled and time taken to your destination plus the basic fare, they will also vary depending on the size of a taxi. For most regular cabs, the basic fare of 550 yen will cover the first 1.2km. After that it is 50 yen for each additional 200m travelled before 1.6km and 50 yen for each additional 208m travelled after 1.6km. However, in cases where the taxi driver reduces the speed to less than 10km/hr or stops and waits at the request of the customer, a time-and-distance fare system that converts time into distance will apply in which 50 yen will be charged for every 75 seconds. Fares increase by 20 percent between 23:00 and 5:00. The fare is indicated on the meter by the driver. As tipping is not customary in Japan, only pay the amount shown on meter when leaving the cab.
＜Fares for Other Classes of Taxis＞
|
Standard |
Basic fare: 580 yen; |
|
Deluxe |
Basic fare: 750 yen until 1.6km |
*Note that the above fare system is regulated by Fukuoka City Taxi Association in which approximately 100 organizations and roughly 1800 private taxi companies from the city and the suburbs are affiliated. There are also other taxi companies that provide their own fare system different from that above.
*Fukuoka City Taxi Association
Air Transportation
There are three domestic terminals and one international terminal at Fukuoka Airport and as of February 2009, 21 domestic routes and 16 international routes are on operation. For international routes, all flights except for those bound for Guam are bound for Asian countries. For more details, consult each airline company.
The best way to reach the airport from downtown is by subway; it takes 11 minutes from Tenjin or 5 minutes from Hakata Station, and costs 250 yen, respectively. Since it only stops at the domestic terminal, you need transfer to a free shuttle bus—departing every 10 minutes, taking 10-15 minutes—to get to the international terminal. You can also take Nishitetsu Bus (No.39) departing from Fukuoka Tower South Exit via Hakata Station to get to the domestic terminal, which takes 20 minutes and costs 250 yen. In the case of taking a cab, it will take approximately 35 minutes from Tenjin (2000 yen) or 20 minutes from Hakata Station (1500 yen), although depending on the traffic condition, the fares and travel time may vary greatly.
*Airline Companies
*Fukuoka Airport Bldg.
Sea Travel
At the Port of Hakata, there are Hakata Pier (Bayside Place) with domestic passenger routes and Hakata Port International Terminal with international passenger routes. Short distance ferries bound for Shikanoshima and long distance ferries to Iki, Tsushima, and Goto in Nagasaki Prefecture are provided at Bayside Place, while high-speed jet foils (approx. 3-hour travel) and regular liners (approx. 13-hour travel) bound for Busan, Korea, are both available from the International Terminal. In addition to the above, there are also ferries bound for Nokonoshima and Umi-no-naka-michi that depart from Meinohama and Momochi ports, respectively. For the schedule of each route, contact each company.
You can take a Nishitetu Bus to get to each terminal: to Bayside Place, take bus 25, 90, or 161 from Tenjin, or take bus 99 from Hakata Station; for getting to International Terminal, take bus 80 from Tenjin or take bus 88 from Hakata Station.
*Ship Line Companies
*Terminals
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