Dec 23, 2015
How much does it cost to travel from Tokyo to Fukuoka?
Updated May, 2107 - Fukuoka is one of Japan’s most international cities due to its proximity to mainland Asia. In fact, guide books are often at pains to quip that it’s quicker to get to China or Korea than it is Tokyo. Whilst this may be true, the city also handles plenty of visitors from the capital, serving to make Fukuoka’s airport one of the busiest in the country. So, how much does it cost to get there from Tokyo?
Flights from Tokyo to Fukuoka
Prices here are based on booking one month before departure, directly with the airlines. Booking earlier than this will likely make things cheaper.
Fukuoka is serviced by Fukuoka Airport (FUK). The flight time between Tokyo and Fukuoka is around 1 hrs 45 mins - 2 hrs.
Low Cost Carriers
Budget airlines Peach and Jetstar have flights to Fukuoka departing from Tokyo's Narita Airport. Skymark and Starflyer operate out of Haneda Airport, Tokyo.
| One way | Return | |
| Peach | 5,230 - 7,730 | 12,060 - 16,260 |
| Jetstar | 4,970 | 9,940 |
| Skymark | 10,790 - 22,190 | 19,580 - 44,380 |
| Starflyer | 12,990 - 36,790 | 26,480 - 73,580 |
NB* - The fares for Skymark and Starflyer should be taken with a pinch of salt. Both websites are tricky to negotiate due to a lack of English, and final fares are difficult to arrive at unless you complete your booking details / passenger profile.
Flag Carriers
Most ANA and JAL services operate between Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND) and Fukuoka Airport.
Fares (one way/round trip) (taxes/surcharges included)
ANA (Haneda to Fukuoka)
| Fare type | One way | Return |
| Flex Fare | 41,390 | 82,780 |
| Flex Round trip Fare | n/a | 75,180 |
| Basic Fare | 25,790 | 51,580 |
| Value Fare | 20,590 | 36,880 |
| Premium Class | 34,290 - 50,390 | 68,580 - 100,780 |
Prices from Narita are about the same but services are very limited.
JAL (Haneda to Fukuoka)
Cheaper. Easier (or limited) seating choice. Flights below are from Haneda (Tokyo). There are limited flights from Narita.
| Airport | One way | One way J Class | Return | Return J Class |
| Haneda | 20,590 - 26,690 | 21,590 - 33,890 | 34,280 - 44,780 | 36,380 - 67,780 |
From Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station (for Shinkansen) ...
Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line trains take six mins. Fares - 260 yen
From Fukuoka Airport to Tenjin Station (downtown Fukuoka) ...
Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line trains take 12 mins. Fares - 260 yen
Shinkansen from Tokyo to Fukuoka
For Fukuoka, the station to look for is Hakata, a short hop from Fukuoka’s downtown districts. At this kind of distance the choice between flying from Tokyo to Fukuoka or taking the Shinkansen becomes harder to make.
The JR Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Sanyō Shinkansen have services between Tokyo (depart Tokyo Station) and Shin-Osaka Station, through to Hakata. Nozomi trains will make the journey without need for changing trains. A Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakata takes around five hours.
| Unreserved seat | Reserved seat | Green seat |
| 21,810 | 22,950 | 30,080 |
Another option would be to take the Tōkaidō Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka, and change there onto the Sakura or Mizuho Shinkansen to Hakata. If using the Hikari trains for the first leg, expect to make savings or around 600 yen.
Tokyo to Hakata with a change at Shin-Osaka (Nozomi to Shin-Osaka / Sakura to Hakata)
Journeys using this route will take around 20 mins longer depending on time between trains at Shin-Osaka.
| Unreserved seat | Reserved seat | Green seat |
| 21,810 | 22,640 | 29,770 |
You’ll find few special deals or complicated discounts with the Shinkansen. Prices remain fairly standard no matter when or how you book. However, look for the Platt Kodama (ぷらっとこだま). Run by JR Tokai Tours, this plan can save 2,000 yen on fares for the Kodama Shinkansen down to Shin-Osaka where you could then change to the Sakura or Mizuho Shinkansen for Hakata. Tickets available from JR Tokai Tours offices.
To get back from Fukuoka to Tokyo, double the price of getting there as there are no ‘return fares’ when it come to the Shinkansen.
The Japan Rail Pass is valid for Hikari and Kodama trains as far as Shin-Osaka. Not Nozomi trains. It’s also valid for the Sakura Shinkansen.
Highway bus from Tokyo to Fukuoka
Buses between Tokyo and Fukuoka (Hakata Bus Terminal) take ~ 14 hrs (overnight). In Tokyo, some services depart Shinjuku BUSTA. One way fares are in the 9,000 - 14,000 yen range. At this kind of distance, services are more limited. Book in advance if you want as much comfort as possible.
@バスで (@Bus De) is a useful resource for booking Kyushu bound/based highway buses. Reservations can be made online in English, Korean, Chinese, and, Taiwanese. Using this service we were directed to weekday journeys (overnight) from Shinjuku Busta to Hakata Bus Terminal (Fukuoka) for 13,000 - 14,000 yen (business seat).
Night bus booking sites Bus-Channel can get you started in English, but you’ll be directed to Japanese language sites when making bookings. It's through this intermediary booking service that we found those cheaper 9,000 yen fares to Fukuoka. However, using this service could be a challenge without a good grasp of Japanese and sometimes the links appear broken. Proceed with a pinch of salt.
Alternative transport from Tokyo to Fukuoka
During holiday periods, tight budgets and those up for an adventure might make use of the Seishun 18 Kippu which could see you travel as far as you can on local trains for as little as 2,370 yen. The trip from Tokyo to Hakata will need a couple of days. Check out our earlier article about this ticket here.
How much does it cost to drive from Tokyo to Fukuoka?
If driving, expect to pay 22,000 - 23,000 yen in highway tolls (source: NEXCO - Nippon Expressway Company - those who look after Japan's highways). You'll get closer to the 22,000 yen mark with an ETC card. The drive takes about 12 hrs (if you know where you’re going) but this is only from highway junction to highway junction and doesn't take into account negotiating one's way to / from those points.
How much does it cost to rent a set of wheels? Our, admittedly light, search turned up a k-car option for one day at around 90,000 yen (pick up central Tokyo / drop off Hakata Station). If you were to pick up and drop off in Tokyo, you could rent a car for, say, four days for around 20,000 yen. In Japan it emphatically pays to pick up / drop off at the same place.
(NB* This post was updated as of May 2017)
If you have any answers to the question, How much does it costs to travel from Tokyo to Fukuoka?, please leave your comments below.
See us on YouTube
<Subscribe to the City-Cost Japan YouTube channel here>
See our ‘How Much | Travel’ series for more destinations from Tokyo.
0 Comments