Day Trips in Fukuoka
Part of the Fukuoka travel guide — see every topic in All Fukuoka Guides.
Fukuoka is a good base for northern Kyushu. These four trips work by train in a day, though Beppu, Yufuin and Nagasaki are better with a night.
Dazaifu
Dazaifu is about 30–40 minutes from Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station by train, for about ¥420. The Kyushu National Museum, in a modern glass building in the hills, shows art and trade across Asia. The main street has a Starbucks designed by Kengo Kuma, with a wall of about 2,000 wooden sticks, and stalls selling umegae-mochi rice cakes. Plum blossoms bloom in February.
Yanagawa
Yanagawa, about 50 minutes south by Nishitetsu train, is a water town crossed by canals. Flat boats, pushed by boatmen with long poles, glide under willow trees for 60–70 minutes; tickets cost about ¥1,800. Eat unagi seiro-mushi, eel steamed with rice in a wooden box. Nishitetsu sells discount tickets that combine Dazaifu, Yanagawa and the boat.
Beppu and Yufuin
Beppu, about 2 hours away by the Sonic limited express, is one of Japan's biggest onsen towns, with steaming 'hells' (jigoku) and sand baths. Yufuin, about 2–2.5 hours by the Yufuin no Mori train or by bus, is a smaller town with craft shops, a misty lake and ryokan. Do both in two days.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki is about 1.5 hours away by train and shinkansen. It is a hilly port city with one of Japan's best-known night views from Mount Inasa, the old hillside houses of Glover Garden and Dejima, the old trading island. Try champon noodles and castella sponge cake.
Day Trips at a glance
| Dazaifu | Nishitetsu 30–40 min, about ¥420 |
|---|---|
| Yanagawa | Nishitetsu about 50 min; boat about ¥1,800 |
| Beppu | Sonic limited express about 2 hours |
| Yufuin | Yufuin no Mori train or bus, 2–2.5 hours |
| Nagasaki | About 1.5 hours with one change |
| Tip | Nishitetsu sells Dazaifu + Yanagawa combo tickets |