Fukuoka Airport to Hakata and Tenjin (Fukuoka): Subway, Bus and the Free Terminal Shuttle

Fukuoka Airport is one of the closest major airports to a city center anywhere in Japan: the subway reaches Hakata Station in about five minutes. There's one catch for international travelers. The subway station is under the domestic terminal, not the international one. This guide explains, from the airport's, the subway's and the bus company's official pages, how to get from either terminal (and from the ferry port) into the city, and how to keep fares down once you're there.

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First, which terminal are you at?

Fukuoka Airport has a domestic terminal and an international terminal, some distance apart. According to the airport, the domestic terminal is directly connected to Fukuoka Airport Station on the city subway. From the international terminal, you first ride a free shuttle bus to the domestic terminal (about 10 minutes, according to the airport's access map).

• From the international terminal to the subway: after the arrivals gate, board the free shuttle at bus stop 5. Get off at the next stop, "Domestic Passenger Terminal Building / South Bus Boarding Area"; subway entrances 1A and 1B are nearby.
• The shuttle is free, has wheelchair ramps, and you can get on and off by either door. The timetable shows buses every few minutes through the day, from about 6 a.m. until after 11 p.m.

Subway or direct bus?

From the domestic terminal, the subway is the obvious choice: JNTO says the Airport Line reaches Hakata Station in about 5 minutes and Tenjin (Fukuoka) in about 11. From the international terminal you have two good options:

• Shuttle + subway: best if you're going to Tenjin (Fukuoka) or anywhere else on the subway.
• Direct bus: Nishitetsu runs route A from the international terminal to Hakata Station (Chikushi Exit) in about 18 minutes, for 400 yen (children 200 yen), with no change of vehicle. You can pay in cash, with a nimoca IC card or with several bus passes. The airport's bus page lists stops 6 and 7 for Hakata Station, and stop 8 for Tenjin (Fukuoka) and for Dazaifu.

With big suitcases, the direct bus saves one change; with light bags, the shuttle and subway are just as easy. Taxi stands are at both terminals, which JNTO suggests for larger groups or families with children.

Arriving by ferry

Ferries from overseas use the international terminal at the port in Hakata (Fukuoka). According to Nishitetsu, buses from that terminal reach:

• Tenjin (Fukuoka): about 13 minutes, 210 yen (routes 55, 80, 151, 152 and BRT);
• Hakata Station: about 17 minutes, 260 yen (routes 11, 19, 50 and BRT).

Between Tenjin (Fukuoka) and Hakata Station, Nishitetsu says any bus costs 150 yen.

Subway fares, the one-day pass and the daily cap

Fukuoka City Subway charges by distance. The regular adult fares run from 210 yen (up to 3 km) to 380 yen (over 19 km); children aged 6 to 11 pay about half. Single tickets are valid only on the day of purchase.

• One-day pass: 640 yen for adults (320 yen for children), unlimited rides on all three subway lines for the day.
• Contactless credit cards: you can also ride by tapping a contactless-enabled credit card at regular fares. The subway's fare sheet says the total charged is capped at 640 yen per day (and 12,570 yen per calendar month).

If you'll ride three or more times in a day, the pass or a contactless card is likely to save money; for one or two rides, just pay as you go. For paying with IC cards and cards elsewhere in Japan, and for travel manners on trains, see trains and buses in Japan.

Quick plan

1. Landed at the international terminal? Shuttle from stop 5, then the subway; or bus A straight to Hakata Station.
2. Landed at the domestic terminal? Follow the signs down to the subway.
3. Arrived by ferry? Bus to Tenjin (Fukuoka) in about 13 minutes or to Hakata Station in about 17.
4. Riding a lot today? Tap a contactless card (capped at 640 yen) or buy the one-day pass.

Once you're in town, try a yatai food stall, or, in July, the Yamakasa festival in Hakata (Fukuoka). More on our Fukuoka (Fukuoka) destination page.

Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Fares, routes and timetables change. Please check the official pages below before you travel.

References

• Fukuoka Airport: Subway access (English)
• Fukuoka Airport: Inter-terminal shuttle and timetable (English)
• Fukuoka Airport: Buses (English)
• JNTO: Fukuoka Airport access (English)
• Nishitetsu: Buses from the airport's international terminal and the port's international terminal (English)
• Fukuoka City Subway: Single tickets and fares (Japanese)
• Fukuoka City Subway: Discount tickets, one-day pass (Japanese)
• Fukuoka City Subway: Fare sheet, contactless payment cap (Japanese, PDF)