Best places to stay in Fukuoka for tourists

If you are traveling to Fukuoka, you might be wondering What are the best neighborhoods to book your accommodations? Should I stay in Hakata or Tenjin or Nakasu? Which hotels are the best?

These questions can be a bit challenging, especially for first-time visitors. But no need to worry! In this article, I will help you find the best places to stay in the city.

Fukuoka is the central hub and the largest city of Kyushu (Japan’s third-largest island). Located very close to China, and South Korea, it is also a gateway to mainland Asia. It has an international airport, a port, and a shinkansen Hakata Station, making it easily reachable by air, train, and ferry.

The city is best known for its food scene with many yatai food stalls at night, especially in the areas of Tenjin, Nakasu, and Nagahama. If you are a foodie, you must check out Tonkotsu-Ramen, Shin Shin Ramen, and Canal City’s ramen stadium.

Apart from the famous food culture, Fukuoka has lots of shopping opportunities and a vibrant nightlife scene. The city nightlife’s hub is in the Nakasu area, filled with bars and adult entertainment. It is one of the biggest red light districts in Japan, along with Kabukicho in Tokyo and Susukino in Sapporo.

If you are interested in cultural attractions, museums, and art galleries, be sure to check out the Kushida Shrine, Dazaifu Tenmangū Shrine, the teamLab Forest, and Fukuoka Art Museum. The city also hosts several green spaces like Uminonakamichi Par, Ohori Park, and the Momochi Seaside Park area.

There are plenty of day trips from Fukuoka. You can visit Nanzoin Temple, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine/ Kyushu National Museum, and Yanagawa for a canal boat tour. The islands of Shikanoshima and Nokonoshima are also worth visiting and are only a short ferry ride away.

My Overview of best areas to stay in Fukuoka for tourists

When visiting Fukuoka, most visitors choose to stay either in Hakata, Nakasu, and Tenjin district. These areas are the heart of the city that has the highest concentration of accommodations, major attractions, and tourist amenities. Staying here puts you close to many shopping, dining, nightlife, and sights.

I personally like staying in Hakata due to the convenience in terms of taking public transportation for day trips to other places in Kyushu. It’s home to the city’s main train station and is only a few subway stops away from Tenjin. I would say Tenjin is better than Hakata if you’ll stay mainly in Fukuoka.

Both districts have tons of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, but I feel that Tenjin has more and better choices. Tenjin has all the restaurants, yatai stalls, nightlife, and several shopping malls.

In terms of shopping, both are great. Hakata has Canal City, JR Hakata City, and Kawabata Shopping Arcade. Tenjin also has Tenjin Chikagai underground shopping mall and Daimyo shopping quarter.

They both offer excellent links to public transportation, but Hakata has better subway/shinkansen/ JR access. Hakata is more convenient for taking day trips around Kyushu like Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. If you’re in Tenjin, you’ll need to go to Hakata station, and change lines.

If you want to stay in the center of the nightlife, Nakasu is the top choice. It is one of the largest red light districts in Japan, and is conveniently located between Tenjin and Hakata. I don’t recommend this area for those traveling with children though.

Generally, Fukuoka is a very small city compared to Tokyo or Osaka, so you can’t go wrong between Tenjin or Hakata or Nakasu. Hakata is more convenient for the shinkansen and day trips to other parts of Kyushu, but Tenjin has more local shops, eateries, and nightlife.

In terms of safety, Fukuoka is one of the safest places in Japan. The city has a very low violent crime rate and is relatively safe from earthquakes and typhoons compared to other parts of the country.

Where to stay in Fukuoka for first-time visitors

1. Hakata

Hakata Ward, particularly the area around Hakata Station, is one of the most popular places to stay in Fukuoka for tourists and first-time travelers. Hakata Station is the major transport hub of the city, offering direct services to many other parts of Kyushu and Japan.

The ward is also the location of the airport and the port that has ferry connections to other islands and Busan of South Korea. You can take a day trip on a ferry to Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Shikanoshima island and Nokonoshima island.

This area is a 30 mins bus ride from the Momochihama seaside area where you can find Fukuoka Dome, Fukuoka Tower with an observation deck, and Fukuoka City Museum. Fukuoka Airport is easily accessible by train, while the lively Tenjin and Nakasu area are only a few stops away on the subway.

There are tons of restaurants, shops, convenient stores like 7-11, Family mart, Lawson. You can go shopping at Canal City which has cool shops like Gundam Base, Ultraman and a water show every 30 minutes. There are many Yutakis outside the mall, along the canal, great for dining out in the evening.

If shrines and temples are your things, Hakata has several places to visit. You can take a look at the Sumiyoshi Jinja Shinto shrine, Kushida Shrine, Tochoji Temple, Shofukuji buddhist temple. Kushida Shrine hosts the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival. It is more beautiful during the Spring cherry blossom season.

Hakata Ward is quite spread out. The best areas to book your hotel are around Hakata Station, Canal City, Gion Station, Gofukumachi Station, Kushida Shrine Station, and Nakasu Kawabata Station.

Here are my recommend hotels in Hakata:

The Royal Park Hotel Fukuoka, this is a great mid-range hotel located close to the Hakata Station and Canal City, Izakayas, Lawson convenience store, and several temples. It is only a 10 mins subway ride to the lively Tenjin district. You can go to shopping centers and temples nearby on foot. They have rooms for families and couples. There is also an onsite coin laundry and an ice-making machine.

JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Hakata Central, a great 4-star hotel set in an unbeatable location, only a 5 mins walk from JR Hakata Train Station, and a 10 mins train ride from Fukuoka Airport. Many guests said that the hotel room’s are more spacious compared to other standard Japanese hotels. Lots of shops, stores are within walking distance. It has a coin laundry, which is convenient to keep your clothes clean.

Miyako Hotel Hakata, a luxury 5-star hotel, is conveniently located just right across the central train station, a 30 mins train ride to the Nanzoin Temple. It has a hot spring bath, a pool, and a very good breakfast.

2. Nakasu

Nakasu is the best location in Fukuoka for those who are after nightlife. This area is the nightlife hub of the city and is one of the most famous red light districts in all of Japan. It is centrally located between Hakata and Tenjin, making it a convenient base to explore the city.

This area is very lively at night, with lots of bars, adult entertainments, eateries, and food stalls. You can check out the Kawabata Shopping Arcade, for ramen, artisan gifts, and clay Hakata dolls. This covered street has a similar vibe to Asakusa in Tokyo and Sinsekai in Osaka.

You can wander around Nakasu Yatai Yokocho (Food Stalls Street) and check out food stalls serving Japanese street food like ramen, yakitori and oden. It is located along Nakagawa River near the Haruyoshi Bridge.

At the northern tip of Nishi-Nakasu, you can find the Ship’s Garden and a small Suijo Park. Ship’s Garden is a dining building home of the Bills Australian restaurant and Seikei Tsai Chinese restaurant. You can visit the rooftop for free to view the city.

Here are some of the best places to stay in Nakasu:

Mitsui Garden Hotel Fukuoka Nakasu, a great 4-star hotel on the island of Nakasu, a short distance from NakasuKawabata subway station. You can walk to Tenjin station, which is only 15 mins away. I think it is a great base for travelers with cars and without a car. You can find a Family mart and a range of restaurants nearby, and all open till very late hours.

The Millennials Fukuoka, 2-star capsule hotel in the center nightlife district of Fukuoka, easy distance from many bars, pubs, the nightly food stalls, and Kawabata Shopping Arcade. It has pods for females only, and mixed options. They have a free beer happy hour, which is a good way to meet other fellow travelers.

Hotel Resol Trinity Hakata, a mid-range hotel located in the center of the redlight district of Nakasu, only a few mins walk from Nakasu-kawabata Subway Station, offering trains to other parts of the city. They have a stunning lobby area and a nice onsen on the top floor.

3. Tenjin

Tenjin is undoubtedly one of the best areas to stay in Fukuoka for first-timers and returning travelers. This is a bustling downtown area of Fukuoka, packed with shops, restaurants, bars, and department stores. This is a great base for shopping, dining, nightlife, and exploring the city.

Tenjin is well-served by Nishitetsu-Fukuoka Tenjin Station, one of the major train stations of the city after Hakata. There are numerous bus and subways lines serving the area, making it convenient to get around on public transportation.

Popular points of interest in Tenjin are the youth district of Oyafuko Street. Tenjin Chikagai – the largest underground shopping mall in Kyushu, the ramen area of Nagahama, the trendy Daimyo area, and Watanabe street with many department stores like Solaria, Loft, Parco, Mitsukoshi, and Daimaru.

Tenjin’s location offers easy access to the nightlife area of Nakasu. You can even walk from Hakata across the bridge into Tenjin. The riverside is beautiful at night and lined with the Yatai stalls.

There are several green spaces in Tenjin where you can take a rest or go for a stroll after shopping. They include the Tenjin Central Park, Ohori Park, and Maizuru Park that has a large pond, and the ruins of Fukuoka Castle. You can walk to Fukuoka Tower, Fukuoka Dome, and Momochi Beach from Ohori Park.

Here are some of the best hotels in Tenjin:

Lamp Light Books Hotel Fukuoka, popular and great value for money hotel in the heart of Fukuoka, easy distance from Nishitetsu Fukuoka station, Solaria Plaza, and Solaria Stage. The hotel has a nice lobby and coffee shop as well as well-equipped and clean rooms.

lyf Tenjin Fukuoka, a nice 3-star hotel in a great location, close to Kego Shrine and Nishitetsu Fukuoka station. They have well-appointed rooms, laundry machines, and a nice breakfast. You can find great food and shopping in its surroundings. I think this hotel is great for solo travelers and backpackers.

Tokyu Stay Tenjin, a great budget-friendly hotel in Downtown Fukuoka, close to shopping malls and department stores. Good base for exploring the city. It has easy access to Solaria Plaza, Canal City, and Daimyo. There are numerous nice coffee shops and restaurants on the same street. You can choose a room with a washing machine inside, like many guests.

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There you have it, all the options for your holiday in Fukuoka. Remember that the city is small and it has excellent public transportation infrastructure, so you can easily get around no matter which district you decide to stay in. Pick any hotel that suits your budget, and you’ll be good to go!

If you find a place to stay in Fukuoka, or if you want to share your thoughts, feel free to comment down below. I’d love to read it. Stay safe!