Visiting a place during the night is said to provide a totally different experience from visiting in the daytime, and one of the distinct pleasures of travel. In Fukuoka the famous “yatai” food stalls are a known staple, but in recent years exciting and new ways to experience the nighttime scenery and “deep spots” unknown to even the locals have been becoming increasingly popular.

So let’s jump right in, and see the ways you can make your night in Fukuoka one to remember!

Neo Yatai Are Popping Up Left and Right! Hakata Nightlife and Yatai are Synonymous.

If you ask anybody about Hakata’s nightlife, chances are yatai will be the first thing that springs to mind. Often filled with both locals and visitors, yatai are among the most representative aspects of the city. Taking the two major areas of Tenjin and Nakasu together there are over 100 stalls currently in operation. Aside from the classic tonkotsu ramen, oden, and yakitori options, French and other cuisines as well as yatai with bar-like atmospheres help make the dining experience interesting and varied. In particular, a new generation of “neo-yatai” have been growing in popularity. Here we will list a few that are located in front of the Bank of Japan.

In the Tenjin area of the city along Showa Avenue in front of the Bank of Japan building you will find “Yatai Bar Ebi-chan”. This establishment prides itself on its cocktails and western spirits. The combination of dim lighting and rows of bottles make you feel as if you’re visiting a local bar, and we’re confident you’ll fall in love with the bartender’s tasty creations.  

[Yatai Bar Ebi-chan]

Address: Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Tenjin 4-2-1 (In front of the Bank of Japan)

Access: Take the subway to Tenjin Station and leave from exit 12.

This international restaurant is run by the owner, who has traveled to more than 100 regions in about 30 countries. In particular, you can enjoy cuisine from Spain, Jamaica, and the Caribbean, as well as other Middle and South American bites. The world’s street foods, right here in Fukuoka.

[El Bajon]

Address: Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Tenjin 4-2-1 (In front of the Bank of Japan)

Access: Take the subway to Tenjin Station and leave from exit 12.

With its truly unique design this yatai looks more like an actual store than a food stall. Their specialty is, as their name suggests, coffee. The prominent aroma of the ground coffee beans helps to create a warm and convivial atmosphere. We also recommend arriving slightly before opening hours so you can watch the proprietor assemble the award-winning yatai design.

[megane coffee&spirits]

Address: Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Tenjin 4-2-1 (In front of the Bank of Japan)

Access: Take the subway to Tenjin Station and leave from exit 12.

Apart from Fukuoka’s classic spots, there are many stores and hole-in-the-walls that are known to none but the connoisseurs. As you wander through the streets of the city in search of a bite perhaps you’ll find yourself stumbling upon a small alleyway. Entering it, you’ll then find it to be brimming with charm and unique experiences to try. While these kinds of deep spots are spread throughout the city, here we’d like the opportunity to introduce two of them.

This small alley is located just two minutes away from exit 16 of the Tenjin subway station. Running perpendicular to Meiji Avenue and across from the ACROS building, The Street of Hakata Delicacies sits right next to the Suikyo Tenmangu shrine. Despite its location in the middle of the busy downtown area of Tenjin this small street oozes a quiet charm and features several stores representative of the best of food in Fukuoka. At the moment of writing there are 10 stores located here. (December 2022)

Surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city and the constant building projects accompanying the Tenjin Big Bang project, this small street is about as “deep” as you can get. During lunchtime expect to see plenty of salarymen, while during the night tourists and those out for drink come to fill their bellies.

There are a wealth of dining options here; from Japanese fish dishes, yakitori, tempura, and ramen, to Indian curries and tea houses, there are a lot of options for you to keep in mind.

The Street of Hakata Delicacies

Address: 1-15-3 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City (next to Suikyo Tenmangu Shrine)

Access: Tenjin Station (Exit 16) on the Airport Subway Line

This next spot is close to Yakuin station on both the Nanakuma subway and Nishitetsu commuter rail lines. The Sankaku Ichiba is a small and nostalgic shopping street that features a bevy of dining options, perhaps most notably the old school udon institution Inaba Udon. Once a black market on Watanabe Avenue, it moved to Yakuin in 1950. For this reason it is considered historical, as it retains its old name from those days.

Upon passing through the narrow entranceway you would have found many stores tidily lined up next to one another, and today roughly 20 establishments are tucked into this well-kept Fukuoka secret. Expect to be able to find food and drink, small businesses, and other one-of-a-kind shops. 

Sankaku Ichiba

Address: 2-3-2 Watanabe-dori, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City

Access: Subway Nanakuma Line, Yakuin Station Exit 1, Nishitetsu Commuter Rail, Yakuin Station, Central Exit

Fukuoka has open-top buses and river cruises where you can enjoy the night view to the fullest. In either case you can enjoy an exciting and absorbing night view unique to the city downtown. Whether by bus or by boat, let us introduce two night cruises for you to enjoy. .

If you want to enjoy Fukuoka’s dazzling nighttime cityscape we recommend a night cruise on the open-top bus. While sitting on top of the roofless bus you will be treated to an exhilarating cruise around the city's famous landmarks. The "Fukuoka Kirameki (Fukuoka Tower) Course" offers an approximately 80-minute cruise that includes evening and night views of Fukuoka, including views of the Hakata district, Bayside Place, paypay dome, and Fukuoka Tower, and the urban expressway.

As you enjoy the thrilling ride you’ll make your way towards the paypay dome and Fukuoka Tower via the urban expressway. The view from the urban expressway is definitely worth seeing!

Exit the urban expressway and head for the Momochi district. The Fukuoka Tower’s illumination display changes with the seasons and holidays, adding a splash of color to the night skyline.

Fukuoka Open Top Bus

Course: Fukuoka Kirameki (Fukuoka Tower) Course
Duration: 80 minutes
Departure/Termination: Tenjin/Fukuoka City Hall
Departure time: 18:30 daily
Fare: Adults 1,570 yen / Children 790 yen (4 years old and up to elementary school students)

Fare is subject to change depending on the season and weather. For details, please check the website below.
https://fukuokaopentopbus.jp/en/

If you want to enjoy a special night out in Nakasu, we recommend the Nakasu Night Cruise. This sightseeing boat runs along the Naka River, which flows through the center of the city. The cruise departs from "Tenjin Chuo Park Wharf" located along the Fukuhaku Deai-bashi Bridge and takes about 30 minutes.

The cruise takes passengers on a tour of Hakata's representative tourist attractions such as Canal City Hakata, Nakasu food stalls, Red Brick Cultural Museum, Boat Race Fukuoka, and Bayside Place Hakata. The night cruise is a particularly luxurious way to enjoy the neon lights of Nakasu.

With the glittering lights of Nakasu illuminating the night, the cruise offers passengers the opportunity to see the city at its most vibrant and brilliant. Highly recommended!

River Cruise

Route: Nakasu Cruise (Fukuhaku Deai Bridge - Canal City Hakata - Hakata Port)
Duration: 30 minutes
Departure/Termination: Fukuhaku Deai Bridge
Departure Time: 11:00/12:00/13:00/14:00/15:00/16:00/17:00/18:00/20:00/21:00
Fee: Adults 1,000 yen / Children 500 yen (elementary school students and younger)

*Subject to change depending on the season and weather. For details, please check the website below.
https://river-cruise.jp/