Tokyo to Fukuoka

[tidav59]

Hi guys !

It's my first post on this forum so i'll try to be as clear possible. This summer, i'm going to japan for 2 months and during august, i'd like to go to fukuoka for a week or so. I've tried to find the cheapest ways to go there (shinkansen, flight etc) but posts i've found are quite old and i'd like to get a quick refresh on what's available please ?

Shinkansen takes around 7 hours to get there i read and one way flight is near 2 hours but prices seems to be quite different right ? Have you ever been to fukuoka ? How did you travel from tokyo ? What's your recommendations ?

I'm absolutely not taking bus or boat, so i'll stick to Shinkansen and flights, which should make it easier for you to give me some advices, right ? :joyful:

Thanks for reading and see you soon !

David.

 

[nahadef]

I've been to Fukuoka a number of times, though not through Tokyo. All the same, I'd fly, unless you want the shinkansen experience. Since it's from Tokyo, it should be relatively cheap. There are discount airlines, like Skymark, that fly basically from Tokyo to everywhere in Japan for cheap. It's usually cheaper to buy well in advance, like with most flights.

In Fukuoka, I don't find the city all that exciting. I was always there for business, so I didn't have time to explore outside of Tenjin though. Tenjin is the downtown area. Fukuoka is famous for ramen and beautiful women, which is nice. There are a lot of nice onsen areas all around, so day trips would be a good idea.

Hopefully others here have more to tell you!

 

[tidav59]

Thanks for your reply, i've checked the skymark website but since i wanted to go there from 18th august to 22/23 august, i can't pay now so i'll have to wait few more weeks. As for the Shinkansen experience, i'd love to try it out, but if i can spend less money by traveling with Skymark, i'll probably go with that option. It's only 2 hours away so i'm not expecting an awesome service at all. All i want is to reach Fukuoka

Thanks again and if anyone else has other advices to provide, feel free to do so !

 

[nahadef]

Actually, check out Jetstar. They're selling tickets to Fukuoka for under \6,000. That's shockingly cheap!
Cheap Flights Japan | Cheap International and Domestic Airfares | Jetstar

 

[tidav59]

Indeed i've just checked and the prices are ridiculously low. I'm not that worried but is it safe to travel with them ? Such low priced tickets is a scary thing !

 

[nahadef]

It's Japan. Everything is safe
The thing about these discount companies, is they base everything around Tokyo, so they get volume. I live in Hokkaido , and have friends in Okinawa , but it's very hard to get a direct flight. I have travelled through Tokyo about 90% of the time, and through Osaka the other times. Nothing to worry about.

 

[tidav59]

Thanks a lot, i'll look into it !

 

[zoomingjapan]

During obon vacation in August flights can become very expensive, so I think that the Shinkansen might be cheaper.
You might want to check flight prices when the time has come and then decide what you'll do.

 

[tidav59]

Thanks for all the feedback, i'll keep looking if the project still remains till then.

 

[ArmandV]

I took the shinkansen to Fukuoka from Tokyo six years ago and I enjoyed the ride. Yes, it was long, but I enjoyed looking at the Japanese countryside. It was pretty cheap as I had the JR Rail Pass.

 

[tidav59]

It must be awesome to travel and see the japanese countryside (which i don't mind at all) and if it's cheaper than Jetstar, it's even better. I'll take some time before making up any decision, but you've all provided great help. Thanks again !

 

[tidav59]

It must be awesome to travel and see the japanese countryside (which i don't mind at all) and if it's cheaper than Jetstar, it's even better. I'll take some time before making up any decision, but you've all provided great help. Thanks again !

@ArmandV

I know there are different kind of JR Pass so i'm assuming there's a specific one to travel to fukuoka ?

 

[tokkyo]

There is a JR Rail Pass geared towards tourists, which you can only buy outside of Japan and that will let you ride the shinkansen (and some other lines) an unlimited amount of times for however long that pass is good for.
JAPAN RAIL PASS types and prices
To be honest there's not a huge difference between green cars and ordinary cars, so a 21-day ordinary JR rail pass is ~$600, which is very reasonable and well worth it, because a shinkasen ride from Tokyo-Kyoto alone can cost ~$100. In fact when I was in Japan I actually had a friend who came to visit from abroad bring me of the passes (having sent him a copy of my passport etc. when he was in the US), because it's a great opportunity to travel around and see the country.

PS I don't know if it's actual valid for where you'll be, but just in case you think about traveling around in those 2 months you're there..