Fukuoka at Night: Exploring the City after Dark
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Fukuoka is one of Japan’s top 5 most famous cities, and just like every other big city, there is exciting nightlife to be explored. Whether you’re planning your trip in advance ahead of arrival or whether you have already reached your city destination, Fukuoka has a lot of things to do after the sun sets.
Known as the food capital of the country, of course, we will be naming certain dishes you simply have to try. Not to mention some of the hottest places to check out as a visitor to this bustling south-western city.
Enjoy bumping shoulders with locals, people-watching along the water and best of all, enjoy simply being in the port city of Fukuoka after dark.
| Country: | Japan |
| Currency: | Japanese Yen / JPY |
| Do you need a visa to visit as tourists? | Check here |
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Find Yatai & street food
Location: 〒810-0801 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, Nakasu, 8, 那珂川 通り
Fukuoka has an abundance of street food to be enjoyed as part of city nightlife. So of course, when thinking about what to do in Fukuoka at night, experiencing food will be one of the options.
In Hakata, Fukuoka, a common type of street food vendor you’ll see is a Yatai. A Yatai is a mobile stall like those pictured above, that serves visitors with quick – but delicious local food. Many of these Yatai gather in specific areas of the city early in the evening (after 6 pm) so that visitors have a choice and know exactly where to find them when they want to give them repeat customs. The stalls are usually packed away and moved late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
The region’s most well-known foods such as yakitori (chicken skewers), okonomiyaki (teppanyaki-fried savoury pancakes), mentaiko (chilli-infused fish eggs), oden (hot pot) and the most famous Hakata -or tonkotsu- ramen (noodle dish in a pork bone soup). These stalls can seat between 5-8 guests at a time and often serve beers and sake too.
Some of these stalls only accept cash so make sure to carry some with you.
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Try more local dishes
Since Fukuoka is known as one of the top 3 foodie destinations in Japan, the Yatai food stalls can’t be the only food-related recommendation. When trying to narrow options and decide what to do in Fukuoka during the night time, trying local specialities simply HAS to be on your radar.
The food scene in Fukuoka goes way beyond the small, mobile stalls and street food. With izakayas and restaurants on almost every corner, there is an incredible abundance of food establishments for you to experience. Yes, you’ll be able to find places to eat common dishes you’ll find elsewhere in Japan such as katsu curry, sushi, and ramen, but what about speciality dishes that originate from the region?
Motsunabe (beef or chicken hot pot cooked with offal), Hakata gyoza (minced meat dumplings served with citrus yuzu), Mizutaki (chicken & vegetables slow-cooked hot pot).
Plus, this is a port city so seafood dishes like Goma Saba (raw mackerel in soy sauce) and Unagi no Seiromushi (steamed eel and soy dish) are highly sought after.
Some Fukuoka nightlife tours tick off multiple activities in this list, check one of them out here.
Sing Karaoke
If you’ve spent any length of time in Japan (or other countries in Asia for that matter) it should be no surprise that karaoke is on our list of things to do in Fukuoka at night. It’s one of the most popular activities to be enjoyed after dark in most cities in Japan and Fukuoka is no different.
There are two different types of karaoke bars in the city: Karaoke-only venues and karaoke bars. What’s the difference you ask?
Well, karaoke-only venues allow you to rent a private room by the hour with just your friends, with a karaoke TV screen, song choices and a food and drink tab for your group.
Karaoke bars on the other hand are regular bars first, with added karaoke singing options. These bars don’t separate the individual groups of singers. Instead, everyone is in the bar and those who want to sing can do so in front of everyone. This is the more common karaoke venue and a staple of Fukuoka nightlife.
Walk along the River
Arguably one of the most popular streets in the city at all times of day, The Naka River “canal street” is a colourful lined walkway along the canal where you can enjoy views of the city. We’ve added this to our list of things to do in Fukuoka at night because it’s also a very central location in Hakata in the city and easy to reach many of the other spots on the list on foot from here.
Just a few minutes from the collection of food stalls, and the famous Canal City Mall, you’re in a fantastic spot here to see the best that the city has to offer at night. Almost every Fukuoka nightlife adventure begins or ends by the river.
Much of the river is artificial (man-made) and has been maintained with plenty of places to sit down and take in the sights. This is a welcome change from many cities in Japan where seating options outside seem to be far between. If you’re a fan of people-watching, this is a great place to do it. If you’d like to combine a river walk with a few other things to do, check out this tour which has 4 nighttime activities.
Canal City Shopping
Location: 1 Chome-2 Sumiyoshi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0018
With stores and late-night shopping closing at 9 pm, this is a great place to start your night before moving on to other late-night activities. With everything from brand-name stores and luxury boutiques to loved local chains, there’s something for everyone to buy at Canal City.
If you’ve run out of space in your suitcase for souvenirs but still want to visit the mall, you’ll be able to enjoy the famous 3-minute fountain show that takes place every 15-30 minutes. This fountain show is one of the highlights of the mall experience and is a great way to start an evening in Fukuoka before moving on to enjoy the rest of the local nightlife
In addition, there are restaurants inside the mall too so if you need any more convincing to try local foods at night in Fukuoka, this is another place you can consider.
Night cruises
Considering Fukuoka was built around a large port there are a number of waterways that weave through the centre of the city. If you’re ever unsure about what to do at night here, you can consider exploring Fukuoka from these waterways.
With different types of boats and experiences available, you could find yourself on a journey through the heart of the city, surrounded by bright lights that reflect onto the water. What’s also great about night cruises is they just require you to sit down and relax once you’ve arrived on the boat. This means anyone and everyone can participate, regardless of their physical abilities. Book your 30-minute boat cruise here.
Some cruises will only have you on the water for 30 minutes as just one activity on a busy excursion, whereas other options will have you cruising for 2 hours to maximise what you see as the cruise IS the highlight of the tour.
Yuisentei Park – Japanese Garden
Location: 1-46 Yusentei, Jonan Ward, Fukuoka, 814-0122
This is the first Japanese-style garden situated on a lake in Fukuoka. During the evenings, this park is lit up with colourful lights to illuminate the foliage and plant life. If you’re looking for a peaceful way to enjoy the nightlife in Fukuoka, this is one of the top-rated places to visit. It’s family-friendly so regardless of your age or who you are travelling with, you’ll be able to enjoy strolling through the park at night.
This park was created by the 6th Lord of Fukuoka, Kuroda Tsugutaka, in 1754 and it has been a popular attraction in the food city ever since. Accessible during the daytime when everything is highlighted in green, it just happens to be a little more exciting in the evening with the LEDs brightening up the park for all visitors to see.
Ningyo Shoji Bar Alley
Location: 4-chōme-1 Nakasu, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0801
Known as the tiny alleyway of local bars (which doesn’t look like much at first glance), Ningyo Shoji is a popular area after dark for those wanting to experience places that the locals go to. With many old-fashioned bars and restaurants tucked away, it’s truly amazing how many establishments have been squashed into this area of just 100 metres.
With so many places on each other’s doorsteps, it’s really easy to bar-hop without leaving the area. Many of these bars only have space for 5 or 6 visitors at a time which is partly how there are able to be so many different bars here. They’re all so small!
You can start on the top floor, and each subsequent floor you reach will be a different establishment – or 2 which means you can cover a lot of ground, without actually travelling very far. If that doesn’t sound like the perfect bar crawl and nightlife experience in Fukuoka, I don’t know what does.
Visit some shrines
Kushida-Jinja Shrine: 1-41 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0026
Sumiyoshi Shrine: 3 Chome-1-51 Sumiyoshi, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0018
Japan is a very spiritual nation so there are shrines practically everywhere. This is also the case for Fukuoka, and since many of these shrines need to be maintained, the vast majority of temples have daytime opening hours.
However, for those visitors looking for things to do at night, you’ll be pleased to know some of these Fukuoka shrines are accessible at night.
Some examples of shrines worth visiting after hours are: Kushida-jinja Shrine, and Sumiyoshi Shrine, both of which have
See the city from Hakata Station
Location: 〒812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, 博多駅中央街1−1
If Fukuoka Tower seems a little too far away, you can enjoy views of the city from the 11th floor of Hakata Station. This takes you to the station’s roof and is a view over the city from the centre of one of its busiest districts. This is one of the easiest – and cheapest – ways to experience nightlife in Fukuoka.
Entry to the rooftop is free so this is a budget-friendly activity and on a nice night, you can really appreciate the bustling streets below. Simply follow signs from the station floor, up through the mall, past the food courts and to the final escalators on the 10th floor. This will take you to an adorable seating area and deck space before you take a final stairway up to the 11th floor. From here you can enjoy 360-degree views of the Hakata District below.
Ride on the open-top bus
Just like the name describes, this journey on a bus without a roof is a prime activity for those wondering what to do in Fukuoka at night. Usually, you can expect these bus rides to take 1 hour and 20 minutes to take you around the common loop that showcases all of Fukuoka’s best attractions.
You’ll be shown the city lights, the colourful skyline and some popular attractions that call in tourists year-round, all without leaving your seat.
The most common route usually starts in Tenjin and ends at City Hall. Not only will you get to pass through Hakata, but you’ll also get to enjoy the stunning metropolitan views from the expressway and see the Fukuoka Tower illuminated. The illumination design changes with the season so you’ll never really know what you should expect!
See the City from the Tower
Location: 2 Chome-3-26 Momochihama, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka, 814-0001
As with many other towers used as tourist attractions in the country, Fukuoka Tower is yet another that can be enjoyed after the sun goes down. When people think about the best things to do in Fukuoka at night, admiring the night skyline is up there as one of the top-rated.
Fukuoka Tower is open daily from 9:30 am until 10 pm most nights which gives you plenty of time to admire the city lights from above – even after dark.
The tower has three main observation decks on the top 3 floors. These sit at 116m, 120m and 123m above sea level. From here you’ll have panoramic views across Fukuoka at night time including the port, Hakata, Teijin and more.
The bottom of the 3 decks is a play centre where you can enjoy photo ops and activities. The middle deck includes restaurants for you to enjoy a meal with a view and the top floor is just a deck where you can see the city from the highest point.
Dinner & a show at Theatre 010
Ever wanted to combine a delicious meal with an immersive show? Well, now you can at Theatre 010. This exciting restaurant is a little different to your standard food establishments in the city as it offers an outstanding performance for all those who visit. With performances taking place every 15 minutes until 11 pm before final orders are taken at 11:30 pm.
You can book a ticket here as part of a guided tour that will take you to try some Yatai for appetisers before settling down for the dinner and show portion of the excursion. Two famous chefs who regularly get featured on Asia’s top 50 restaurants list, have come together to create delicious dishes and have teamed up with a world-renowned bartender for this venue.
Another activity that includes food cannot be missed when looking for things to do in Fukuoka at night, except this one allows you to enjoy breathtaking performances as well.
Go on a Sake & Wine Tasting Tour
We already know that Fukuoka is known as the food capital of Japan, so it’s no surprise that trying drinks should be included on this list of things to do in the city at night. Japan is known worldwide for its sake and there are so many different brands and types to try.
You can either go with a local on this nighttime tour to all of the best spots to try sake and wine in the area, or you can simply bar hop on your own terms and hope you find some good bars. The great news about Fukuoka is that there are so many different establishments offering wine, cocktails and sake, that it shouldn’t be difficult to find places that
Where to Stay in Fukuoka?
Generally speaking, there are 3 main districts I’d advise guests to stay in when they visit Fukuoka. Since the majority of the Fukuoka nightlife attractions are in close range, it’s best to stay central in the city to make getting around easier.
The top 3 neighbourhoods (or technically districts) I’d suggest are:
Hakata is often recognised as the party and social region of the city in the heart of Fukuoka. Tenjin is known as the financial centre of the city where many of the corporate businesses are located along with brand-name stores and shopping centres. Finally, there is the island of Nakasu in between the two.
For budget travellers and backpackers, the most popular hostels are located in Hakata. Check them out here.
If you’re a different type of traveller who would rather not stay in a hostel, Booking.com has an abundance of accommodations in the city centre too that are in close proximity to the Fukuoka nightlife. Take a look here.
Need help planning your trip?
Check out how to plan a trip abroad & see my travel resources for more.
Skyscanner – A comprehensive comparison website showing where to purchase flights.
HostelWorld – The biggest selection of hostels & sociable accommodations.
Booking.com – The largest collection of accommodations AND flights worldwide.
Safety Wing – A travel insurance brand for long-term travellers and nomads.
Airalo – An eSIM card company that lets you stay connected during your trip.
Wise – Perfect for transferring foreign currencies.
iVisa – For applying for tourist and visitor visas.
Viator – Great for finding tours and activities worldwide.
Get Your Guide – Another company for finding activities.
Klook – Have some of the best activity deals in Asia.
