Getting Around Fukushima City
Fukushima City is compact and easy to navigate, with a mix of trains, buses, taxis, shared bicycles, and walkable districts. Most visitors will find that the area around JR Fukushima Station, the central shopping arcade, and the evening bar and restaurant district can be covered comfortably on foot, while buses and trains are the practical choice for heading out of the city to the surrounding hot spring areas.
Rail and Shinkansen Connections
Fukushima is a stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Sendai, and it is also served by the JR Tohoku and Yamagata lines. The Yamagata Shinkansen branches off at Fukushima, travelling over conventional lines toward Yamagata and Shinjo. Note that the Shinkansen only calls at Fukushima Main Station, so if you are arriving by bullet train, that is where you will get off.
From Tokyo, the Shinkansen ride to Fukushima takes roughly an hour and three-quarters, with departures several times an hour. Non-reserved seats are the simplest option if you have not booked ahead. Local JR trains also serve the station for shorter regional trips.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses and trains are the convenient way to reach destinations outside the city centre, including the surrounding hot spring areas. For longer-distance travel, Fukushima is connected to Tokyo and other major cities by highway and overnight buses. JR Bus operates the Abukuma service from Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, as well as the overnight Dream Fukushima from Tokyo and Yokohama. Tohoku Bus runs an overnight service called the Suite, and Kintetsu Bus together with Fukushima Kotsu operates the overnight Galaxy bus from Kyoto and Osaka. Willer Express also serves Fukushima from Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Osaka, and its online bookings are available in English, with prices varying by travel date and bus class.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are abundant around the station, though they may be harder to find elsewhere in the city. For most visitors, the station area is the reliable place to pick one up.
Walking and Cycling
Walking is sufficient around the station, the central shopping arcade, and the evening bar and restaurant area. Downtown Fukushima is compact with few changes in elevation, which makes it pleasant to explore on foot. If you want a longer walk or jog, there are paths along rivers about 15–20 minutes away.
Be aware that the city has many underground pedestrian walkways. Access is via stairs, escalators, and elevators, but you may have to hunt around for them. Aside from the necessary and very long underground walkway beneath JR Fukushima Station, most of these are just optional shortcuts.
For exploring the city by bike, Momorin Share Cycles are a good option. They cost a small coin fee per 30 minutes, and there are unmanned bicycle ports located around the city, including one on either side of JR Fukushima Station. The bicycles are motor-assisted and come with a large basket, bell, key/lock, and automatic light, and they can be borrowed 24 hours a day. The catch is that you need to install and use a Japanese-only app on your device to use them.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Fukushima Airport serves northern and central Fukushima Prefecture. From the airport, it is a 40-minute bus ride to Koriyama Station. From Koriyama, you continue to Fukushima Station either by Shinkansen or by local train. Because of this two-leg journey, it may be more convenient to arrive in Tokyo and take the Shinkansen from there instead.