Fukuoka Subway first began operation in 1981. The subway system consists of thirty-five stations and three lines called the Kuko, Hakozaki, and Nanakuma lines. Also, the subway system is run by the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau.
Fukuoka Subway lines and stations
The Hakozaki and Kuko lines run on the 1000 and 2000 series trains while the Nanakuma line was most recently introduced in February of 2005 and runs sixty-eight 3000 series cars. These 3000 series trains are twenty-five percent shorter than their 1000 and 2000 series counter-parts and have a capacity of three hundred seventy-eight compared to the capacity of over seven hundred and fifty of both the 1000 and 2000 series trains.
Kuko Line
The Kuko Line will appear orange on subway maps and runs from Meinohama to Fukuokakuko (Fukuokakuko Airport). Starting from Meinohama, the line will stop at Muromi, Fujisaki, Nishijin, Tojinmachi, Ohorikoen, Akasaka, Tenjin, Nakasu-Kawabata, Gion, Hakata, and Higashi-Hie before arriving at the airport. It takes approximately 25 minutes to travel the distance of the line. From Meinohama station passengers will be able to transfer to the JR Chikuhi line in order to board trains to Karatsu where tourists may be interested in sightseeing Karatsu Castle, which is a beautiful historic landmark.
Hakozaki Line
The Hakozaki Line will appear blue on subway maps and runs from Nakasu-kawabata to Kaizuka. Starting from Nakasu-Kawabata, the line will stop at Gofukumachi, Chiyo-Kenchoguchi, Maidashi-Kyudaibyoinmae, Hakozaki-Miyamae, and Hakozaki-Kyudaimae before arriving at Kaizuka. It takes approximately 10 minutes to travel the distance of the line. Kaizuka station is also a connecting point, from which passengers can transfer trains to the Nishitetsu Line in order to travel to Nishitetsu-Shingu.
Nanukama Line
The Nanukama Line will appear green on subway maps and runs from Hashimoto to Tenjin-minami. Starting from Hashimoto, the line will stop at Jiromaru, Kamo, Noke, Umebayashi, Fukudai-mae, Nanakuma, Kanayama, Chayama, Befu, Ropponmatsu, Sakurazaka, Yakuin-odori, Yakuin, and Watanabe-dori before arriving at Tenjin-minami. It takes approximately 24 minutes to travel the distance of the entire line.
It’s also noteworthy that all of these lines intersect at Tenjin station. If you are transferring from one line to another, then this will be the stop you don’t want to miss!
Timing, Hours of Operation and frequency
All of the trains run from 5:30am until 12:25am with a frequency of every 4 to 8 minutes.
Fares and tickets
Standard Tickets and Fares
A ticket between a single pair of stations (otonari) can be purchased for 100 yen for an adult or 50 yen for a child or disabled individual and tickets may range up to 340 yen to travel the distance of one line. A more economic option may be one-day passes, which are sold for 620 yen between Monday through Thursday and 520 yen between Friday and Sunday. Up to two children age six and under may travel for free when accompanied by a paying adult. Any additional children will require the purchase of a child fare ticket.
Commuter and Chika Passes
If you wish to purchase a pass for a more extended period of time, then you may be interested in the commuter and chika (child) passes that can be purchased for periods of one month, three months, or six months at a time. These passes allow free boarding onto any of the subways and are significantly cheaper per day than one-day passes. The card that you are given with these passes will also accrue loyalty points.
To use these passes (called “Hayakaken”) just touch the card to the card reader at a ticket gate and you will be allowed through. Registered cards can be reissued if it is lost for a fee of 1,010 yen.These cards can be used at the following stations: All city Subway lines (Kuko, Hakozaki, and Nanakuma lines) Nimoca, Sugoca, Kitaca, Pasmo, Suica, Manaca, Toica, Pitapa, and Icoca.
Tourist One-Day Passes and Discounts
If you are a tourist, then you may also be interested in the one-day tourist passes, which give you unlimited access to both the buses and trains in Fukuoka (Nishitetsu bus, JR Kyushu bus, Showa bus, Nishitetsu train, and the Subway system). These tickets cost 820 yen for an adult and 410 yen for a child (does not include access to the Nishitetsu train). If you wish to include access to the Nishitetsu train, then these passes are 1,340 yen for an adult and 670 yen for a child.
Another added benefit of the tourist pass is that many great tourist locations offer discounted prices to individuals who have purchased one of these tickets, such as the Fukuoka City Museum, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, Yusentei Garden, Shofuen Garden, Rakusuien Garden, Fukuoka Tower, Namiha No Yu, Oh Sadaharu Baseball Museum, Yahuoku! Dome Tour, Marine World, Uminonakamichi Seaside Park, Asahi Beer Community Hall, Dazaifu Tenmangu Treasure Hall, Dazaifu, Tenmangu Kanko History Museum, Kanzeonji Temple, Dazaifu Amusement Park, Dazaifu Station Bike Rental, and Pleasure Boat “Yumin Tomato”.
For more information about potential sites you may want to visit while in this area you can call the Fukuoka City Tourist Information line (Tenjin) at 092-751-6904.
