Japan 5 days adds Beppu Hells (8 colorful hot springs day trip) + Itoshima coast (Sakurai Futamigaura sunset + winter oyster huts) + Nokonoshima Island (cosmos/sakura).
Five days hits the sweet spot for Fukuoka — three days for the major districts, plus two days for nearby destinations that show a different side of the country. The pace stays relaxed, you get more variety in your photo album, and the day trips break up the urban intensity nicely.
5-Day Total Budget at a Glance
Budget
$500
Per person, flights excl.
Mid-Range
$1,000
Per person, flights excl.
Luxury
$2,280
Per person, flights excl.
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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule
Hakata + Ichiran + Yatai
Day 1 from 3-dayActivities
Meal Recommendations
Same as 3-day Day 1.
DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Dazaifu + Tenjin + Motsunabe
Day 2 from 3-dayActivities
Meal Recommendations
Same as 3-day Day 2.
DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Yufuin Onsen Day Trip
Day 3 from 3-dayActivities
Meal Recommendations
Same as 3-day Day 3.
DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Beppu Hells Day Trip
8 colorful hot springs + onsen + Beppu BayActivities
- 08:00 Sonic limited express Hakata → Beppu (2h) 2 hours each way
JR Sonic limited express 2h each way. ¥6,470 RT or JR Kyushu Pass.
Cost: ¥6,470 ($47) RT or JR Kyushu Pass TIP: Reservations recommended weekends. Pass covers entirely. - 10:30 Jigoku Meguri (8 Hells of Beppu tour) 3-4 hours
8 colorful hot springs — Umi Jigoku (cobalt blue), Chinoike Jigoku (blood red), Tatsumaki Jigoku (geyser every 30 min), Oniishibozu Jigoku (mud bubbling).
Cost: ¥2,200 ($16) 7-hell combined ticket TIP: Walking + bus combination. Start at Umi Jigoku (Kannawa area), end at Chinoike + Tatsumaki (Shibaseki area, 10-min bus). - 15:00 Lunch + Jigoku-mushi (steam cuisine) at Kannawa 1.5 hours
Jigoku-mushi (cooking food using natural hot-spring steam) at Kannawa onsen town. Steam basket of seafood + vegetables ¥1,500-3,000.
Cost: ¥1,500-3,000 ($11-22) TIP: Jigoku Mushi Kobo Kannawa is the public steam kitchen — rent steamer ¥300 + buy ingredients. - 17:00 Beppu Onsen soaking — Takegawara Onsen or Yamada Bessou 1.5 hours
Takegawara Onsen (1879 historic bathhouse, ¥300 cash) for canonical Beppu experience. Or Yamada Bessou for boutique ryokan day-use ¥1,500.
Cost: ¥300-1,500 ($2-11) TIP: Takegawara is the iconic 1879 wooden bathhouse — atmospheric. Cash only ¥300. - 19:30 Train back to Hakata + dinner 3 hours
Sonic limited express back 2h. Late dinner Hakata gyoza at Tetsunabe (1955).
Cost: ¥1,500-3,000 ($11-22) TIP: Sonic 19:30 + 20:30 departures from Beppu. Tetsunabe Nakasu main shop 17:00-24:00.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel + train bento
Hakata + train · ¥1,000-2,500 ($7-18)
Lunch
Jigoku-mushi (steam cuisine) at Kannawa
Beppu Kannawa · ¥1,500-3,000 ($11-22)
Steam cooking using natural hot-spring steam.
Dinner
Hakata Gyoza Tetsunabe (1955)
Nakasu · ¥1,500-3,000 ($11-22)
Hakata gyoza skillet birthplace.
Sonic limited express 2h each way. Beppu day trip total 10-11 hours.
DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Itoshima Coast + Nokonoshima + Farewell
West coast peninsula + flower island + farewellActivities
- 08:30 Rental car to Itoshima (40 min) or bus + bike 1 hour transit
Rental car ¥6,000/day easiest. Or train+bike: Chikuhi line to Chikuzen-Maebaru + bike rental ¥1,000/day at station.
Cost: ¥6,000 ($43) rental car day TIP: Rental car at Hakata Station Toyota Rent-a-Car. Driving 40 min via Route 202. - 10:00 Sakurai Futamigaura (white torii in sea) 1 hour
Iconic Sakurai Futamigaura 'meoto iwa' (couple rocks) + white torii standing in the sea. Sunset photo spot.
Cost: Free TIP: Best at sunset 17:00-19:00 (varies seasonal). High tide for water-level shot. Free parking. - 11:30 Itoshima oyster huts (winter Nov-Mar) 2 hours
Funaya + Kokoraku oyster shacks — all-you-can-grill oysters + scallops + clams. Winter only Nov-Mar.
Cost: ¥2,000-3,000 ($14-22) all-you-can-grill TIP: Nov-Mar only. Weekend queues. BYO drinks (small fee). Cash + card. - 14:00 Beach café crawl — Palm Beach + Sunset Cafe 2 hours
Itoshima coastal beach cafés — Palm Beach (palm trees + Bali feel) + Sunset Cafe + Beach 56. Instagrammable shots.
Cost: ¥800-2,000 ($6-15) per café TIP: All open year-round. Palm Beach is iconic. Closed Tue-Wed depending café. - 16:30 Return to Fukuoka + Nokonoshima ferry (if time) 3 hours total
Nokonoshima 10-min ferry from Meinohama Pier. Flower park (cosmos in October, rapeseed in March, sakura late March).
Cost: ¥460 ($3) ferry RT + ¥1,200 ($9) park TIP: Last ferry 18:30. If short on time, skip Nokonoshima and head to dinner. - 19:00 Farewell mizutaki at Hakata Hama (1905 birthplace) 2 hours
Hakata Hama invented mizutaki 1905. Reservation essential 1-2 weeks ahead. Iconic farewell.
Cost: ¥5,000-7,500 ($36-54) TIP: Reservation essential. Tatami seating. Add zosui rice porridge finish ¥800.
Meal Recommendations
Breakfast
Hotel buffet
Hakata · ¥1,000-2,000 ($7-15)
Lunch
Itoshima oyster huts or beach café
Itoshima · ¥2,000-3,000 ($14-22)
Winter oyster all-you-can-grill or beach café lunch.
Dinner
Hakata Hama mizutaki (1905)
Tenjin · ¥5,000-7,500 ($36-54)
1905 birthplace farewell.
Rental car or train + bike to Itoshima. Ferry to Nokonoshima from Meinohama.
DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)
Book Fukuoka Tours & Tickets
Packing Checklist
- ✓ Comfortable walking shoes (subway + walking + Itoshima beach)
- ✓ Cash ¥15,000-30,000 (yatai + Itoshima oysters + Takegawara cash-only)
- ✓ Spring/Autumn: light layers + light jacket
- ✓ Summer: t-shirt + shorts + umbrella + SPF 50
- ✓ Winter: warm coat + sweater + scarf
- ✓ Swimsuit + towel for onsen (Yufuin + Beppu)
- ✓ JR Kyushu Pass ¥15,000 5-day if combining Yufuin + Beppu
- ✓ Pasmo/Suica IC card
- ✓ Driver's License (international) if renting car for Itoshima
- ✓ Power adapter Type A/B (100V)
- ✓ Travel insurance
Fukuoka 5-Day Itinerary FAQ
Yufuin vs Beppu — which to choose? ▼
How to get to Itoshima? ▼
When are Itoshima oyster huts open? ▼
Is rental car necessary? ▼
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Why you can trust 5-day itinerary
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.