Budget Travel in Fukuoka with Nishitetsu Discount Passes
Photo by Pixta
Fukuoka is an area with an irresistible charm. It attracts thousands of visitors every month, whether it's for shopping, Hakata cuisine, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, or Yanagawa Punting.
Fukuoka Prefecture has the fourth largest airport in Japan and sightseeing destinations that are connected through a highly developed public transportation network. Visitors should take advantage of the public transportation system in Fukuoka and travel around efficiently using the trains, buses, and highway express buses.
In this article, we'll introduce several discount passes that allow travelers unlimited rides for a day for more efficient and economical Fukuoka sightseeing using Nishitetsu trains and buses.
FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS: Explore Fukuoka to the Fullest!
We were told that if we calculated the distance a bus travels in a single day, it would lap around the Earth eleven times.
You might think, “Do they mean around the entirety of Japan?” Actually, this statement refers to a bus company that mainly operates in Fukuoka.
Picture courtesy of LOVE FM International Broadcasting
This transportation company is Nishitetsu Bus. Compared to other regions in Japan, Fukuoka has the most advanced bus routes. Naturally, these bus routes spread over both long and short distances.
If you're wondering how far you can travel aboard a bus, rest assured as you can travel anywhere on a bus in Fukuoka. This prefecture also offers a discount travel pass that allows visitors to travel to their heart's content.
This cost-effective ticket is the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS, an unlimited ride pass that is great for those who plan to travel widely around Fukuoka. You'll have unlimited rides for one day aboard Nishitetsu trains and buses! It costs 2,650 yen for adults and 1,330 yen for children.
This multi-use pass is extremely convenient for a city like Fukuoka, which has a multitude of bus routes. You can travel directly to your destination by bus. The entire network covered by the pass also includes a portion of Saga Prefecture. This pass is a great deal taking into account how many wonderful places you can visit by using it.
The pass can be used aboard Nishitetsu buses and trains. The train routes will allow you to access major Fukuoka sightseeing destinations such as the cities of Dazaifu and Yanagawa.
Unlimited rides on JR trains and subways are not included in the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to cross off many must-visit and must-do activities in the Fukuoka suburbs just by taking the Nishitetsu trains and buses.
Tip 1. Visit the Famous Destinations in Fukuoka!
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Photo by Pixta
When it comes to travel in Fukuoka, one of the first places that come to mind is Dazaifu. Whether you depart from Fukuoka Airport, Hakata Bus Terminal, or even the shopping district of Tenjin, Dazaifu is easily accessible from any location!
Some of the buses have unique designs! Traveling on such a bus will make you feel excited before you arrive in Dazaifu.
| Stop | Unique Buses/Trains |
| Fukuoka Airport | Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito” |
| Hakata | Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito” |
| Tenjin | Dazaifu Sightseeing Train "Tabito" |
Tip 2. Visit Popular Leisure Spots
Marinoa City Fukuoka. Photo by Pixta
You can also use the travel pass to visit places recommended for couples. Some of these include the famous aquarium Marine World Uminonakamichi and Marinoa City Fukuoka, Kyushu’s largest outlet mall.
| Leisure Spot | Route | Travel Time |
| Marine World Uminonakamichi | Tenjin → Marine World Uminonakamichi | 32 minutes (bus) |
| Marinoa City Fukuoka | Tenjin → Marinoa City Fukuoka | 25 minutes (bus) |
| Fukuoka Castle Ruins (Japanese) | Tenjin → Ohori Park | 8 minutes (bus) |
Tip 3. Take a Detour from Central Fukuoka
Yanagawa Punting. Photo by Pixta
Are you interested in visiting various destinations and not just central Fukuoka? We suggest heading to Yanagawa, a city famous for river punting and eel.
Yanagawa is located in southern Fukuoka so it's slightly far from Hakata and Tenjin. However, it can be accessed using the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS.
Kurume tonkotsu ramen. Photo by Pixta
After a stop in Yanagawa, take the train to Kurume. Here you can indulge in a bowl of tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen—a savory dish that originated in this area—for lunch!
Once you're full, head on over to Dazaifu. Take a stroll around the shrine road and snack on umegae mochi (rice dumplings filled with red bean paste).
When you’re fully satisfied, head home. Whether it's a bus to Fukuoka Airport or a train to a Hakata or Tenjin hotel, you can access both areas using this single pass. In other words, you can easily travel anywhere no matter the distance. There are no additional charges no matter how many times you ride the train or bus.
| Detour Spot | Route | Travel Time |
| Yanagawa | Tenjin ⟶ Nishitetsu Yanagawa | 49 minutes (train) |
| Kurume Ramen | Nishitetsu Yanagawa ⟶ Nishitetsu Kurume | 16 minutes (train) |
| Dazaifu | Nishitetsu Kurume ⟶ Dazaifu | 41 minutes (train) |
| Tenjin | Dazaifu ⟶ Tenjin | 27 minutes (train) |
Where to Buy the Pass
The FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS can be purchased at any station on the Nishitetsu Line such as Nishitetsu-Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. It's also available at the Fukuoka City Tourist Information Center (Sightseeing Plaza Tenjin), Hakata Bus Terminal, and Fukuoka Airport Bus Terminal.
How to Use the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS
First, scratch off the date when you plan to use the pass. Just as you would do with a scratchcard, use a coin to scratch off the appropriate month and date on the travel pass.
Afterward, you simply show your pass to the station or bus attendant when boarding! You won’t have to worry about wasting time paying cash with this convenient pass.
Display your pass so that the date of use is clearly visible. Please note that the pass cannot be used at automatic ticket gates.
This pass will give you unlimited rides on Nishitetsu trains and buses in the designated areas. Have a pleasant trip in Fukuoka!
FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS Summary
The areas where the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS can be used are listed below.
| Transportation | Designated Areas |
| Train | Stations on the Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line between Fukuoka (Tenjin) and Yanagawa. The Dazaifu Line and Amagi Line are also covered. |
| Bus | Nishitetsu Route Buses operating in Fukuoka, Kurume, Saga, and Chikuho |
Fare: 2,650 yen for adults; 1,330 yen for children (with tax)
Where to Buy: Nishitetsu-Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, Fukuoka Airport Bus Terminal, Hakata Bus Terminal, Fukuoka City Tourist Information (Sightseeing Plaza Tenjin), and other Nishitetsu Line stations.
Note:
You will need to pay a separate fare when traveling on overnight buses or outside of the designated areas. The pass does not cover the Fukuoka City Subway and JR lines.
Official website: http://www.ensen24.jp/kippu/en/1day-pass/
Customize Your Trip! Other Value Travel Passes
In addition to the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS, Nishitetsu offers other convenient travel passes.
Tosu Premium Outlets Ticket: Enjoy Shopping!
Photo by Pixta
The Tosu Premium Outlets Ticket is a set that comes with a passenger ticket for the train and bus as well as a coupon for 1,000 yen that can be used at Tosu Premium Outlets.
The price of the ticket varies depending on your departure station. From Nishitetsu-Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station, it will cost 2,000 yen for adults. The fare is usually 1,620 yen for the train and bus (520 yen + 290 yen round-trip) plus 1,000 yen for the shopping coupon, which comes out to 2,620 yen. This means you get a discount of 620 yen with the pass! It can be purchased at every station (excluding Oguri Station and uncrewed stations) on the Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line.
Official website: http://www.ensen24.jp/kippu/en/tosu-outlet/
Dazaifu Gourmet Stroll Ticket Pack: Sample the Flavors of Fukuoka
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine. Photo by Pixta
Get the Dazaifu Gourmet Stroll Ticket Pack for an all-encompassing experience in Dazaifu! This pack is a set of three tickets: the Nishitetsu Roundtrip Train Ticket, the Select Gourmet Meal Ticket, and the Dazaifu Special Coupon Ticket (it covers the entry to the shrine and bicycle rental).
You will be given a choice of four locations (reservations required) that serve high-quality cuisine such as nigirizushi (hand-pressed sushi) and motsunabe (hot pot made with beef or pork tripe). This ticket set can be purchased at Nishitetsu stations, such as Nishitetsu-Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station. The price varies depending on your departure station. From Tenjin Station, it will cost 1,860 yen for adults.
Official website: http://www.ensen24.jp/kippu/en/dazaifu-gourmet/
Fukuoka City One-Day Pass: Travel in the Heart of the City
Marine World Uminonakamichi
The Fukuoka City One-Day Pass is perfect if you want to travel efficiently within Fukuoka to places like Fukuoka Airport, Tenjin, and the Marine World. This pass gives you a day of unlimited rides on buses that operate in the city.
It costs 900 yen for adults and 450 yen for children. It would normally cost 1,800 yen to travel to Marine World Uminonakamichi or Marinoa City Fukuoka from Tenjin. With this budget pass, you’ll get up to 900 yen discount! (*)
The pass can be purchased at Fukuoka Airport Bus Terminal, Nishitetsu Tenjin Expressway Bus Terminal, Hakata Bus Terminal, and along bus routes in Fukuoka City. Similar to the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS, you'll need to scratch off the date when you plan to use it.
Official website: http://www.nishitetsu.jp/en/ticket/1daypass/
*: Tenjin ⟶ Marine World Uminonakamichi (1,040 yen for round-trip bus ride), Tenjin ⟶ Marinoa City Fukuoka (760 yen for round-trip bus ride)
SUNQ Pass: Travel throughout Kyushu!
Steam rising from the streets of Beppu. Photo by Pixta
The SUNQ Pass is great if you want to travel to various regions in Kyushu. This value ticket covers unlimited rides on select buses, highway buses, and ferries.
The ticket is available in four versions: the Northern Kyushu Three-Day Pass (9,000 yen), the Southern Kyushu Three-Day Pass (8,000 yen), the All Kyushu Area Three-Day Pass (11,000 yen), and the All Kyushu Area Four-Day Pass (14,000 yen).
It includes unlimited rides on highway buses, so travelers can visit sightseeing spots all across Kyushu. Some of the most popular destinations include Yufuin or Beppu Onsen in Oita, Amakusa (Japanese) in Kumamoto, and Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki.
Takachiho Gorge. Photo by Pixta
How about using the All Kyushu Area Four-Day Pass (14,000 yen) for the itinerary listed below to immerse yourself in all that Kyushu has to offer? This sample itinerary would normally cost 18,290 yen for the highway bus fares alone, so you’ll be getting a total discount of 4,290 yen with the pass.
| Destination | Route | |
| Day One | Kagoshima | Fukuoka → Kagoshima |
| Day Two | Kumamoto | Kagoshima → Kumamoto → Takachiho |
| Day Three | Takachiho | Takachiho → Nobeoka → Beppu |
| Day Four | From Beppu to Fukuoka | Beppu → Fukuoka |
*: These are the standard fares for the above routes (all prices are highway bus fares). Fukuoka → Kagoshima: 5,000 yen; Kagoshima → Kumamoto: 3,770 yen; Kumamoto → Takachiho: 2,410 yen; Takachiho → Nobeoka: 1,820 yen; Nobeoka → Beppu: 2,040 yen; Beppu → Fukuoka: 3,250 yen. The total is 18,290 yen.
Check out the official SUNQ Pass website for details on how to purchase this convenient discount travel ticket and reserve highway buses. Remember that you can customize your itinerary to include special destinations that you'd like to visit in Kyushu.
Official website: http://www.sunqpass.jp/english/index.html
Enjoy Budget Travels in Kyushu Using Discount Passes
Nishitetsu offers a variety of value travel passes and tickets such as the FUKUOKA 1-DAY PASS and the others introduced above. If you’ll be venturing out to Fukuoka in Kyushu, take advantage of these convenient passes to travel efficiently.
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Main image by Pixta
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