Why Moving to Hakata (Fukuoka) Is Great
Many YouTubers and websites already talk about the good and bad points of living in Fukuoka City.
In this article, I will summarize them, and I will also add my own comments from my 3 years of life in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City.
I hope this helps people who will move to Hakata in the future.
Pros (Good Points)
1. The airport is very close
From Hakata Station to Fukuoka Airport, it is about 5 minutes by train.
When I first arrived, I felt, “Is the airplane flying into the city?”
The airport is very close to downtown. This is rare in the world.
To Haneda: about 1 hour 40 minutes by plane.
To Narita: about 2 hours by plane.
2. There are many beautiful people
Yes, “Hakata beauties” are real.
I feel Tenjin has more young people than Hakata.
If you go to a Starbucks in Tenjin, you may understand what I mean.
3. Rent can be cheaper near Hakata Station
Even within 15 minutes on foot from Hakata Station, you can find rent around 50,000 yen.
In Tokyo (Ueno / Tokyo / Shinagawa area), it is hard to find that price.
4. Fish is very good
This is true.
You can eat raw mackerel in Fukuoka.
Goma-saba is really delicious.
5. Garbage collection is at night
In Fukuoka City, garbage is collected at night.
You don’t need to wake up early.
You can put out garbage before you sleep.
Once you get used to it, you can’t go back.
6. The Shinkansen is convenient
If you live near Hakata Station, you can use the Shinkansen easily.
Even if planes are not available, you can go to Tokyo by Shinkansen.
It takes about 5 hours, but if you take the first train, you can arrive in the morning.
7. Korea is close
I have not been to Korea yet, but I want to go someday.
There are many cheap flights from Fukuoka Airport to Asia.
8. You can go fishing easily
Even if you live in the city, you can access good fishing spots.
The balance of city and nature is great.
9. The sea and mountains are close
Mountains are close, so it is easy to go camping.
Again, the balance of city and nature is very good.
10. Commute time is short
Many people commute by walking, bicycle, or train.
I think about 30 minutes door-to-door is common.
In my workplace, people with a 1+ hour commute are a minority.
11. You don’t worry about the last train
If you work in Fukuoka City, many people live in or near the city.
So taxi costs are not too high.
You can enjoy going out without worrying about the last train.
12. The Hawks are here
Fukuoka has the home stadium of the SoftBank Hawks.
If you like baseball, it’s great.
13. Local TV shows are fun
There are unique local TV programs in Fukuoka.
For fresh local information, TV is sometimes better than the internet.
I like a show called “Fukuoka-kun.”
It is not easy to watch outside Fukuoka and Saga, so it feels special.
14. Food is delicious
I rarely fail when I eat out in Fukuoka.
Even a random izakaya is often good.
In Tokyo, I sometimes feel I need to research first.
15. Hot springs are close
Fukuoka has hot springs too: Harazuru, Chikugogawa, Futsukaichi, etc.
Also, you can go to Yufuin or Beppu (Oita) by highway bus in about 2 hours.
16. There are many women
Statistically, there are more women.
Whether this is a “pro” depends on you.
17. The subway is simple
Fukuoka subway has only 3 lines, so it is easier than Tokyo.
Cons (Bad Points)
1. Trains can be crowded
Morning commute is crowded, but not like Tokyo.
If you stand in the middle of the train, it is often less crowded.
Also, it is crowded on Hawks game days, even on weekends.
2. It is colder than you think
Fukuoka is almost the same latitude as Tokyo.
Winter feels similar to the Tokyo area.
If you want a warm winter, it can be a downside.
3. Few direct flights outside Asia
Fukuoka has fewer direct international flights than Narita.
Also, Haneda has more domestic flights.
Still, for a regional airport, Fukuoka has many flights.
4. Not many “big” city sightseeing spots
People often say there are few city attractions.
But actually, there are many places in Fukuoka City:
Kushida Shrine, Sumiyoshi Shrine, the Gold Seal (National Treasure),
Yanagibashi market, Kawabata shopping street, and more.
It’s not only Dazaifu.
5. In winter, cloudy and rainy days are common
This is true. Winter weather is often not great.
6. Sometimes you need a car
For trips outside the city, a car is useful.
For nature spots like Itoshima and Shikanoshima, trains and buses can be hard.
But if you are single and live in the city center, car sharing may be enough.
Inside Fukuoka City, a bicycle is often enough.
7. Many people smoke while walking
I feel “walking smoking” is more common than I expected.
8. There are some “yankees”
To be honest, I don’t think safety is bad, and I didn’t worry much.
9. Some drivers do not use turn signals
Many drivers don’t use blinkers unless it is very necessary.
10. Tokyo has better tsukemen (for me)
Fukuoka has fewer tsukemen shops.
I personally like Tokyo-style tsukemen more.
But tonkotsu ramen is 100% Fukuoka.
11. There was no real Ramen Jiro
There were only “Jiro-style” shops.
(Updated: A real Ramen Jiro shop opened near Asakuragaido Station in Dec 2024.)
12. No famous theme park
Fukuoka does not have a national-level theme park like Disney or USJ.
There are small amusement parks.
For bigger ones, there is Greenland (Kumamoto) and Huis Ten Bosch (Nagasaki).
If you love Disney, moving to Fukuoka may be hard.
13. Tokyo is far
Even if the airport and Shinkansen are close, Tokyo is still far.
Online information is similar everywhere, but physical distance matters.
“2 hours by car” feels closer than “2 hours by plane.”
If something happens to family or friends in Tokyo, it may be hard to go quickly.
14. Fewer places to “play” than Tokyo
Tokyo has many areas with different cultures: Ueno, Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc.
In Fukuoka, the main areas are often Hakata and Tenjin.
But if you explore deeply, Tenjin and Hakata have many small cultures too.
So maybe fun places are unlimited.
Summary
The best point of moving to Hakata is this:
You can enjoy both city life and nature, with less “Tokyo stress.”
Some people say, “Move to the countryside for a stress-free life,”
but a place with no trains and a car-only lifestyle is not for everyone.
Fukuoka City is a strong choice:
not too big, not too rural — a great balance.
Comments are closed.