Overview
The Fukuoka City Subway is a three-line metro system operated by the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau. It is the primary rapid-transit option for visitors navigating Fukuoka. To ride end-to-end, you will purchase a ticket or tap an IC card at an entry turnstile, board your chosen line, and exit by tapping or inserting your ticket at the destination station. The system is fully automated with automatic platform gates at all stations and ATO (Automatic Train Operation) technology, though drivers are present as a safety measure. Stations feature unique logo symbols for easy navigation, and all signage includes English. Downtown Fukuoka and the airport are both accessible within minutes on the network.
The network
The Fukuoka City Subway comprises three lines, with a total of 36 individual stations (some stations serve multiple lines and are counted more than once in line totals).
- Kūkō Line (Airport Line) – Connects Fukuoka Airport directly to Meinohama, passing through major central stations. This is the only subway line in Japan that directly links to an airport. The journey from Hakata Station to Fukuoka Airport takes approximately 5-6 minutes.
- Hakozaki Line (博多南線, Hakozaki-sen) – Runs from Nakasu-Kawabata to Kaizuka, serving the northeastern districts.
- Nanakuma Line (七隈線, Nanakuma-sen) – Extends from Tenjin-Minami to Hashimoto, serving residential and southwestern areas. The final section from Tenjin-Minami to Hakata opened in March 2023.
Key interchange stations are Hakata (where the Airport Line and Nanakuma Line meet) and Nakasu-Kawabata (where the Airport Line and Hakozaki Line meet). All three lines allow straightforward transfers between each other.
Tickets & fares
Ticket prices for the subway are determined by distance traveled, ranging from ¥200 to ¥340 (these fares are approximate and subject to change). Tickets are purchased at automatic ticket machines available at all subway stations. You may pay with cash only at these machines.
Payment options
- Single journey tickets – Distance-based fares purchased at station machines
- Contactless credit card – Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners, and Discover cards are accepted at blue tap-to-pay turnstiles. You are charged no more than ¥640 per day; daily charges are applied the following day.
- Contactless mobile payment – Smartphones with compatible tap-to-pay functionality may be used at blue turnstiles.
Passes and smart cards
- One Day Pass (一日乗車券, Ichinichi jōshaken) – Unlimited travel on all three subway lines for one day, priced at ¥640. Available to all passengers.
- Two Day Pass (二日乗車券, Futsuka jōshaken) – Unlimited travel for two consecutive days, priced at ¥720. Limited to foreign tourists only.
- Fukuoka Tourist City Pass – A one-day pass offering unlimited subway access at ¥2,500 (¥1,250 for children), with additional discounts at select sights.
- Hayakaken (はやかけん) – A rechargeable contactless smart card introduced in March 2009. The card itself costs ¥500 (deposit), and you must load a minimum of ¥1,000 for initial travel. It is compatible with other major IC cards nationwide, including Suica (Tokyo), PASMO (Tokyo), ICOCA (Kyoto/Osaka), nimoca (Nishitetsu), and SUGOCA (JR Kyushu).
- Commuter Pass (定期券, Teikiken) / Chika Pass (ちかパス) – Unlimited travel passes available in 1-month (¥12,000), 3-month (¥34,200), and 6-month (¥64,800) durations. These are designed for regular commuters and can be loaded onto a Hayakaken card.
- Chikamaru Ticket (ちかまるきっぷ) – Priced at ¥100, available only to children during school vacation periods. A voucher attached to the ticket may be exchanged for a McDonald's hamburger.
Child fares (ages 6–11) are half the adult fare, rounded to the nearest 10 yen. Children ages 1–5 ride free (maximum two per paying passenger). Hayakaken cards and other IC cards may be purchased or recharged at subway station ticket kiosks (cash only) or at Fukuoka Airport.
From the airport
Fukuoka Airport is exceptionally well connected to the city center by public transport. The Kūkō Line (Airport Line) departs directly from Fukuoka Airport Domestic Terminal, serving as the only subway line in Japan with a direct airport connection.
- By subway to Hakata Station – Approximately 5-6 minutes. Hakata Station is located beneath JR Hakata Station and offers connections to the shinkansen (bullet train) network, as well as interchange with the Nanakuma Line.
- By subway to Tenjin – Approximately 11 minutes. Tenjin is Fukuoka's primary downtown district and a major commercial and transport hub.
- International Terminal access – If arriving at the International Terminal (on the opposite side of the runway from the Domestic Terminal), a free shuttle bus operates every 10 minutes and takes 10–15 minutes to reach the Domestic Terminal, where the subway entrance is located.
A single subway ticket from the airport to central Fukuoka costs approximately ¥260–¥300, depending on your final destination. Downtown Fukuoka is reachable in approximately 10 minutes from the airport.
Etiquette & customs
Fukuoka subway passengers follow standard Japanese transit etiquette. Keep these customs in mind during your visit:
- Priority seating – Designated seats (typically marked with symbols or colored differently) are reserved for elderly passengers, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and passengers with young children. Do not occupy these seats unless you qualify.
- Quiet travel – Conversations should be conducted quietly. Avoid phone calls on the train.
- Standing position – When standing in crowded cars, position yourself toward the back and center of the train, leaving space near the doors for boarding and alighting passengers. Keep backpacks held in front of you in crowded conditions.
- Eating and drinking – Eating is not permitted on the subway. Drinking water is generally acceptable, but other beverages are discouraged.
- Escalator etiquette – Stand on the left side of escalators to allow faster-moving passengers to pass on the right (this is the standard convention in most of Japan, though regional variations exist).
- Queuing – Queue in an orderly fashion at ticket machines and turnstiles. Wait for passengers to exit before boarding.
- Bicycles and luggage – Bicycles must be stored in bags with dimensions not exceeding 250 cm in perimeter and 30 kg in weight, and are only permitted outside rush hours. Luggage may be placed on overhead racks or by your feet; avoid blocking aisles.
Official links
Survival terms
- 地下鉄 (Chikatetsu) – Subway/Metro
- 切符 (Kippu) – Ticket
- 線 (Sen) – Line
- 入口 (Iriguchi) – Entrance
- 出口 (Deguchi) – Exit
- 乗り換え (Norikae) – Transfer
- 普通運賃 (Futsū unchin) – Single fare
- 一日乗車券 (Ichinichi jōshaken) – Day pass
- はやかけん (Hayakaken) – Smart card (local IC card)
Download a transit app or take a screenshot of the Fukuoka City Subway map before you travel, as offline access to line and station information will help you navigate confidently and avoid the need for internet connectivity during your journey.