【Transportation Explained】JR, Subway, or Nishitetsu—Which Is Which?The Ultimate Fukuoka Transportation Pass Guide (Including JR Pass Price Table & Break-Even Analysis)

Cody Tse
Dec 15, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Dec 21, 2025

1. Clarifying the Terminology First: Which System Covers Which Routes?

For first-time visitors to Fukuoka, the most confusing part of transportation is not how to ride, but who operates what.In practice, transportation in Fukuoka can be divided into three major systems:

JR (intercity / Kyushu-wide travel)
Fukuoka City Subway (urban backbone)
Nishitetsu (city buses + Dazaifu direction)

Once you clearly understand the role of each system, choosing the right transportation pass becomes surprisingly intuitive.

System	Where You’ll Encounter It	Best Use Cases	One-Line Summary
JR (JR Kyushu)	Hakata Station, Shinkansen platforms, limited express trains	Day trips or multi-city travel outside Fukuoka (Yufuin, Kumamoto, Nagasaki)	The main option for leaving Fukuoka city
Fukuoka City Subway	Fukuoka Airport, Hakata, Tenjin, Nakasu-Kawabata	City sightseeing, hotel transfers, airport access	The most reliable and straightforward urban network
Nishitetsu	Tenjin (Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station), city buses, Dazaifu buses	Dazaifu and city spots better served by buses	Complements areas not covered by the subway

2. Getting Around Fukuoka City: Subway One-Day Pass vs. Contactless Credit Card Fare Cap

The Fukuoka City Subway is simple by design: few lines, clear structure.For travelers, the key question is straightforward—how much will you ride in one day?

(1) Subway One-Day Pass: Fixed Price, Easy Budget Control

Adult price: 640 yen
Single-ride fares: approx. 210–380 yen depending on distance

Break-even logic:

Short rides (starting at 210 yen): around 4 rides make the pass worthwhile.
Longer routes (e.g., airport line across multiple stations): 2–3 rides are often enough.

Common reference fares (approximate):

Fukuoka Airport → Tenjin: 260 yen
Tenjin → Hakata: 210 yen

(2) Contactless Credit Card Daily Cap (640 yen)

If you tap in and out using the same contactless credit card or supported payment method, the subway applies a daily fare cap of 640 yen. Once your rides exceed that amount, additional trips are free for the day.

Practical takeaway:

No need to buy tickets or calculate rides—just keep using the same card.
This works differently from IC cards (Suica, etc.); fare caps apply only to eligible credit card payments. Always use the same method throughout the day.

3. Nishitetsu (Buses): Two Passes You Won’t Confuse If You Remember “Dazaifu”

Some destinations—especially Dazaifu—are more direct by bus.For Nishitetsu, most travelers only need to consider two one-day passes:

Pass	Adult Price	Best For	How to Think About It
Fukuoka City One-Day Pass	1,200 yen	Heavy city bus users	Unlimited city buses
Fukuoka City + Dazaifu Liner “Tabito” One-Day Pass	2,100 yen	Visiting Dazaifu using the “Tabito” bus	City buses + Dazaifu Liner

Purchase logic (practical version):

Staying mostly within the city and using the subway? You likely don’t need a Nishitetsu pass.
If Dazaifu is on your itinerary and you plan to ride the “Tabito” bus, the 2,100 yen pass is usually the correct choice.

4. FUKUOKA TOURIST CITY PASS: Looks All-Inclusive, but Has One Critical Exception

The Fukuoka Tourist City Pass is designed for international visitors and covers multiple transportation systems in one day.

Fukuoka city only: 2,500 yen
Fukuoka city + Dazaifu: 2,800 yen

Its strength lies in mixing multiple systems in one day (subway + Nishitetsu buses/trains + selected JR Kyushu lines).

⚠️ Important exception:This pass does NOT include the Dazaifu Liner Bus “Tabito.”

As a result:

If your plan specifically includes Dazaifu + Tabito, it is often clearer and safer to use:
- Nishitetsu 2,100 yen pass (with Tabito)
- Pay separately for other routes if needed

5. The Real Budget Divider: JR Kyushu Rail Pass (Prices & Rules)

Once your itinerary includes destinations such as Yufuin, Kumamoto, or Nagasaki, the JR Kyushu Rail Pass becomes the key cost decision.

JR Kyushu Rail Pass Prices

(Based on official JR Kyushu English information)

Area	Days	Online Purchase	Overseas Agent / JR Counter
Northern Kyushu	3 days	14,000	15,000
	5 days	16,000	17,000
All Kyushu	3 days	21,000	22,000
	5 days	23,000	24,000
	7 days	25,000	26,000

Seat reservation limits:

Northern Kyushu: up to 6 reserved-seat bookings
All Kyushu: unlimited

Coverage limitations:

Does not include subways or most buses
Only valid on JR Kyushu-operated lines; non-JR sections are excluded

6. Break-Even Analysis: Plug in Common Day Trips

(1) Reference Fares (from Hakata)

Route	One-Way Fare	Round Trip
Hakata ⇄ Yufuin (Limited Express)	5,630	11,260
Hakata ⇄ Kumamoto (Shinkansen, non-reserved)	4,700	9,400
Hakata ⇄ Nagasaki (Non-reserved)	5,520	11,040
Hakata ⇄ Nagasaki (Reserved)	6,050	12,100

(2) Northern Kyushu 3-Day Pass (14,000 yen) Scenarios

3-Day Itinerary	Individual Tickets	Compared to Pass
Only Fukuoka city	Far below 14,000	❌ Not recommended
Yufuin round trip	11,260	❌ Not break-even
Kumamoto round trip	9,400	❌ Not break-even
Nagasaki round trip	11,040	❌ Not break-even
Yufuin + Kumamoto	20,660	✅ Saves ~6,660
Kumamoto + Nagasaki	20,440	✅ Saves ~6,440
Yufuin + Nagasaki	22,300	✅ Saves ~8,300

Key insight:

One long-distance trip alone usually does not justify the JR Pass.
Two long-distance day trips within 3 days almost always make the Northern Kyushu Pass worthwhile.

7. Final Purchase Guide (Decision Flow)

Two or more out-of-city trips within 3–5 days?→ Prioritize Northern Kyushu Rail Pass.
Staying within Fukuoka city only?→ Use the subway; choose either:
- Contactless credit card daily cap (640 yen), or
- Subway one-day pass (640 yen).
Visiting Dazaifu and using the “Tabito” bus?→ Choose the Nishitetsu 2,100 yen pass.Do not assume the Tourist City Pass includes Tabito.