Fukuoka Airport to Hakata and Tenjin | Subway or Nishitetsu Buses (by International and Domestic Terminal)

Overview

Fukuoka Airport has two buildings: the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal. How you get to Hakata Station or Tenjin depends on which terminal you arrive at. Only the Domestic Terminal has a subway station.

1. Shuttle bus and subway: From the International Terminal, take the free shuttle bus to the Domestic Terminal, then board the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line. It runs to Hakata Station and Tenjin Station with no change of trains. If you arrive at the Domestic Terminal, you can board the subway directly without taking the shuttle bus.
2. Nishitetsu buses: In front of the International Terminal, you can board a bus to Hakata Station or the Airport Express limited express to Tenjin. Neither bus makes any stops along the way.

Your options

The adult fares in the table are the fares without any discount. The shuttle bus from the International Terminal to the Domestic Terminal is free.

Approximate travel times

• Subway: 5 minutes from Fukuoka Airport Station to Hakata Station, and 11 minutes to Tenjin Station. If you arrive at the International Terminal, add about 10 minutes for the shuttle bus.
• Airport Express limited express: According to the timetable, it takes 30 minutes from the International Terminal to Tenjin.

Bus operating hours

Nishitetsu buses leave the International Terminal at the following times.

• Bus to Hakata Station: Departs the International Terminal from 8:00 to 21:00.
• Airport Express limited express: There are 17 departures a day. The last departure from the International Terminal is at 18:35.

According to the timetable, the last shuttle bus from the International Terminal leaves at 23:21. It runs later than the last Nishitetsu buses.

Child fares

• Fukuoka City Subway: The child fare is ¥130 and applies to children aged 6 to 11. Children aged 1 to 5 ride free, up to 2 children for each adult or child who pays a fare. A child aged 1 to 5 riding alone pays the child fare.
• Airport Express limited express: The child fare is ¥250. For children who have not yet started elementary school and ride without using a seat of their own, Nishitetsu says "the first child rides free." A child who has not yet started elementary school still pays the child fare if they use a seat of their own. If you have two or more children who have not yet started elementary school, check the fare with Nishitetsu before you ride.
• Bus to Hakata Station: The child fare is not shown in Nishitetsu's route information. Check the official Nishitetsu website before you ride.

Step by step

If you arrive at the Domestic Terminal

The subway ticket gates are in the Access Hall on the second basement floor (B2F) of the Domestic Terminal. You go down to the Access Hall from the south side of the terminal.

1. If you leave through the south arrival gate, go down by the nearby South Elevator or by the escalator that goes directly to the Access Hall.
2. If you leave through the north arrival gate, turn right after you exit, walk to the south side, and then go down.

If you arrive at the International Terminal

To take the subway, transfer to the Domestic Terminal by shuttle bus.

1. After leaving the arrival gate, board the free shuttle bus at stop 5.
2. Get off at the next stop, "Domestic Passenger Terminal Building/South Bus Boarding Area". Subway entrances 1A and 1B are nearby.
3. From entrance 1A or 1B, go down to the underground level by escalator or stairs and board the subway.

To take a Nishitetsu bus, leave the arrival gate and board at stop 6 or 7 for the bus to Hakata Station, or at stop 8 for the Airport Express limited express.

Paying for the subway

• You can buy a ticket at the ticket machines in the station. You can also ride with a transit IC card such as Suica.
• You can also ride using contactless credit card payment. Hold a card or smartphone that supports Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, Discover or UnionPay contactless payment over the reader on the ticket gate.

Paying for the bus

• Bus to Hakata Station: As a rule, you pay with a transit IC card (such as Suica or nimoca) or contactless credit card payment. If you pay on board with either of these, the adult fare is ¥20 cheaper. If you only have cash, tell the driver when you board and you can pay in cash. From the International Terminal, board through the front door and pay as you board.
• Airport Express limited express: Credit cards are not accepted. Pay in cash or with a transit IC card. If you pay with a transit IC card, the adult fare is ¥20 cheaper. Board through the front door and pay as you board. If you put a suitcase in the bus's luggage compartment, you load it yourself.

Costs

If you arrive at the Domestic Terminal, the subway is the cheapest way to both Hakata Station and Tenjin, at ¥260 for an adult.

If you arrive at the International Terminal, the options compare as follows.

• To Hakata Station: ¥260 for an adult by shuttle bus and subway, or ¥400 for an adult by the bus to Hakata Station.
• To Tenjin: ¥260 for an adult by shuttle bus and subway, or ¥500 for an adult by the Airport Express limited express.

The bus to Hakata Station and the Airport Express limited express involve no transfers. They suit travelers with a lot of luggage. The shuttle bus and subway are cheaper and can still be used after the last Nishitetsu bus has left.

Good to know

• Taxi stands are on the 1st floor of both the Domestic Terminal and the International Terminal.
• Travel times are approximate. Bus travel times vary with road traffic.
• For where transit IC cards such as Suica can be used in Kyushu, see Where in Japan can you use Suica and ICOCA? | IC card areas and what to know when riding between areas.
• Fares and timetables may change. This article is based on official information as of the date it was retrieved, so check the latest timetables and fares on each operator's official website before you set out.