Hakata Station is known as the gateway to Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island. It is located in Fukuoka City, the largest metropolis on Kyushu and an important transit nexus. Rebuilt in 2011 to coincide with the completion of part of the Shinkansen bullet train network in Kyushu, Hakata Station is an enormous complex housing platforms for local and express trains as well as many shopping, dining, entertainment and information facilities.
A large clock on the facade of the west or Hakata side of the station
To find your way around Hakata Station and understand its layout, check out our article Hakata Station Map – Finding Your Way. The current article will introduce some of the facilities at Hakata Station.
Table of Contents
General Orientation
Passengers descend from bullet train platforms at Hakata Station
Hakata Station stands on north-south running railways used by JR Kyushu and JR West. The Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen through services and the Kyushu Shinkansen stop here, linking Hakata with cities such as Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo, Kumamoto and Kagoshima. The station also handles commuter and limited express services to cities such as Kitakyushu (Kokura Station), Sasebo and Oita. For Nagasaki, travelers now use the Relay Kamome service to Takeo-Onsen and transfer there to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome. The Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line and Nanakuma Line both stop beneath Hakata Station.
Hakata Station is housed in the JR Hakata City building, which is connected to several shopping and dining facilities. A central east-west corridor runs through the main floor of the station, connecting its west side (Hakata entrance) and its east side (Chikushi entrance).
Electronics department store Yodobashi Camera can be found on the east side of the station
There are hotels on both sides of the station, with Hotel Nikko Fukuoka and ANA Crowne Plaza Fukuoka among those on the Hakata side. Richmond Hotel Hakata Ekimae and JR Kyushu Hotel Blossom Fukuoka and others are on the Chikushi side.
For shopping options, Hakata Hankyu department store, AMU Plaza Hakata, HANDS and KITTE Hakata are on the Hakata side of the station. AMU EST, Hakata Deitos and Tokyo-based electronics chain Yodobashi Camera are on the Chikushi side. Ming, Hakataeki Chikagai and Hakata Ichibangai are underground shopping areas at Hakata Station.
Information
There are station maps and overhead signs aplenty at Hakata Station, and a large information desk in the middle of the central corridor.
Hakata Station Information Center
The Information Center is in the middle of Hakata Station
This well staffed center, also listed as Fukuoka City Tourist Information (Hakata Station General Information Center), is located in the middle of the central corridor at Hakata Station. Multilingual staff can provide maps and information on sightseeing, accommodation, transportation, JR services and the station building, and can also arrange rental cars. There is free Wi-Fi, and Fukuoka Bank’s foreign currency exchange machines are nearby. Look for the “Information Center” sign with the large circled question mark.
Open: 8:00 to 19:00
Information stand for foreign travelers by the Shinkansen Central Gate
The Shinkansen Central Gate area is also a useful landmark when looking for JR ticketing, rail pass exchange and Shinkansen guidance.
JR Reservation Ticket Offices
A JR Reservation Ticket Office at Hakata Station
To buy tickets for Shinkansen bullet trains and other intercity services, use the JR ticket counters or ticket machines inside Hakata Station. JR Kyushu lists Hakata Station ticketing counters as open from 7:00 to 22:00, and ticketing machines from 4:45 to 23:20, 7 days a week.
One important detail is the operator split. Hakata has both JR Kyushu and JR West ticket offices and machines, and the correct place to collect a reserved ticket can depend on which operator sold or issued the ticket. If you have bought a ticket or pass online, check whether it is a JR Kyushu or JR West reservation before joining a line.
Japan Rail Passes
The Japan Rail Pass counter at Hakata Station
You can exchange vouchers for Japan Rail passes and Kyushu rail passes at Hakata Station. Because Hakata has both JR Kyushu and JR West counters and machines, the correct counter depends on the pass type and how it was purchased. Check your pass name and operator before queueing, especially for regional passes and online reservations.
Coin Lockers
Coin lockers can be found throughout Hakata Station
If you want to store your luggage while exploring or shopping, coin lockers at Hakata Station can be found in numerous locations, including JR Hakata City, Hakata Deitos, Kooten and concourse areas. JR Hakata City also lists a temporary baggage storage service operated by JR Kyushu Shoji. For large items or longer storage, check the current terms at the station before leaving your bags.
Lost and Found
There is a lost and found office at Hakata Station. If you lose something on a JR train or inside the station, check the operator first, since JR Kyushu and JR West services both use Hakata Station.
Lost and Found Office
Open: 9:30 to 18:00
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency exchange machines near the Information Center
Fukuoka Bank’s JR Hakata Station foreign currency exchange shop is right by the Information Center in the middle of the station’s main corridor. It is open year-round from 8:00 to 21:00, but since 31-Jul-2024 it has operated with automatic foreign-currency exchange machines only. Passport identification is required.
ATM Cash Machines at Hakata Station
International ATMs at 7-Eleven by Hakata Station
There are many ATMs in and around Hakata Station, but travelers with credit, debit or cash cards issued outside Japan should look for ATMs that clearly accept overseas cards. Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank ATMs are usually the most useful options for foreign-issued cards. ATM locations at Hakata Station that can be useful include:
Japan Post ATM: First basement of the entrance to the subway by the Chikushi or east entrance to Hakata Station.
7-Eleven Hakata Eki Chikushi Guchi Branch: This convenience store is located on the east side of Hakata Station, slightly south of the Chikushi entrance.
Police Box (koban)
A police box near Hakata Station
There are police boxes (koban) around Hakata Station, including the Hakata Station Police Box near the station. Officers can help with simple directions.
Plazas & Walkways
A leafy space in City Dining Kooten
City Dining Kooten on the 9th and 10th floors of the JR Hakata City building is a restaurant zone with atriums, natural light, plants and benches. It is useful when you want a sit-down meal without leaving the station building. General hours are 11:00 to 22:00, with some restaurants open as late as 24:00.
Tetsudo Jinja railway shrine on the roof
Tsubame no Mori Hiroba plaza on the roof of the JR Hakata City building is the place to go to unwind, get some fresh air and take in views of Fukuoka, but it can be very hot in summer. The rooftop garden is generally open from 10:00 to 22:00, though it may close in bad weather. This unusual feature for a railway station in Japan has several attractions:
- Tetsudo Jinja shrine: This unique Shinto shrine is dedicated to railways; passengers can pray for safe travels here.
- Observation deck: This deck looks out over the Hakata side of the station; landmarks such as Fukuoka Tower can be seen in the distance.
- Former Tsubame Train area: The kids’ train that once ran around a loop in the plaza has ended operation.
Article by Tim Hornyak. All rights reserved. Last updated 24-Jul-2026.
