Fukuoka & Hakata money guide 2026: where to exchange yen in Kyushu's gateway

What about Fukuoka Airport (FUK)?

Fukuoka Airport is 15 minutes by subway from downtown Tenjin — exceptionally close for a major international airport. This proximity makes airport exchange counters less critical:

• Travelex FUK — typical airport rates, roughly 3–6% below mid-market
• Bank counters at FUK — slightly worse rates

For arriving FUK passengers: exchange ¥10,000 at the airport, exchange the bulk in Tenjin (15-minute subway ride).

What about rural Kyushu?

Many travelers go beyond Fukuoka to:

• Yufuin (onsen town, 90 min by limited express)
• Kumamoto (city + castle)
• Nagasaki (cultural day trip from Fukuoka)
• Mount Aso (volcano area)

Outside major urban centers, exchange options are scarce. Bring extra cash from Fukuoka:

7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs are present at major train stations on each route, but daily volumes drop and not all stations are 24/7.

What's the right card strategy for Fukuoka?

Same as Tokyo:

• No-FX-fee card (Wise, Revolut, Capital One, Schwab) for ~80% of urban spending
• ¥15,000–¥25,000 cash for cash-only situations (yatai, small restaurants, festivals, rural transit)
• 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs for cash top-ups

Card acceptance in Tenjin and Hakata: ~80% at major chains, ~50% at family-run small restaurants (similar to Kyoto's traditional districts).

What about Hakata's famous yatai (street food stalls)?

Fukuoka's most distinctive cultural experience: ~150 yatai in Hakata and Tenjin operate as open-air food stalls. All yatai are cash-only. Typical bill: ¥1,500–¥3,000 per person.

For yatai, withdraw cash before walking to the stall area. Tenjin Yatai cluster (Tenjin Square) and Nakasu Yatai cluster (Hakata Riverside) are the main destinations; both have 7-Eleven ATMs within 200 m.

What this means for your visit

• ✅ Use Travelex Tenjin for daytime exchanges over $200.
• ✅ Use Hakata Station options for in-transit exchanges.
• ✅ For airport exchanges: limit to ¥10,000; do bulk in Tenjin.
• ✅ Carry ¥15,000–¥25,000 cash for cash-only restaurants and yatai.
• ✅ Use 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs for after-hours and rural Kyushu top-ups.
• ⚠️ Skip rural exchange shops outside Fukuoka — bring cash from the city.

Frequently asked questions

Are Fukuoka rates better than Sapporo or Naha?

On USD, Fukuoka's downtown counters are usually slightly better than Sapporo and noticeably better than Naha, though the gap is small and shifts day to day. For most Kyushu-anchored trips, Fukuoka Tenjin is the main exchange hub.

Can I use my Suica IC card in Fukuoka?

Yes — since the 2020 IC integration, all Japanese major IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA, Kitaca, manaca, TOICA, PiTaPa, SUGOCA, nimoca) work interchangeably nationwide. Fukuoka's local cards (SUGOCA, nimoca, hayakaken) also work in Tokyo.

What about Fukuoka's English-speaking exchange staff?

Travelex Tenjin and Travelex Hakata Station have English- speaking staff. JR ViewCard exchange centers similarly. Smaller pawn shops have limited English support.

Can I exchange large amounts (over ¥1,000,000) at Fukuoka?

Yes — Travelex and JR ViewCard handle large amounts. Identity verification required for amounts over ¥2,000,000.

What about Fukuoka's relationship with Korean tourists?

Fukuoka has high Korean tourist volume, especially via Busan (2-hour ferry). KRW exchange in Fukuoka is competitive — close to Tokyo levels. Travelex Tenjin and Travelex Hakata both carry KRW.

Does my Wise card work at Fukuoka ATMs?

Yes — all 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATMs in Fukuoka accept Wise debit. Note that Wise's own free withdrawal allowance is only ¥25,000/month (a ¥100 + 1.75% fee applies above that, since a May 2026 policy change) — the ATM itself still charges its usual ~¥220 on top. → article #76.

Can I use SUGOCA or nimoca to pay for anything besides transit in Fukuoka?

Yes — like Suica in Tokyo, SUGOCA and nimoca work as tap-to-pay at most konbini, vending machines, and many chain restaurants in Fukuoka. Top-up (chāji) machines are at every subway/JR station; cash top-up always works, and IC top-up via Apple Pay is reliable with Mastercard/AMEX but can fail intermittently with Visa — carry small cash as backup if your wallet is Visa-only.

What about rural Kyushu Wi-Fi for Wise app access?

Fukuoka itself has good Wi-Fi; rural areas (Mt Aso, rural Saga) have spotty coverage. Use a Japanese SIM (Sakura Mobile, Mobal) or Korean roaming for reliable access while traveling.

See live rates before you exchange

Open Yen Finder → tap Map → switch to Fukuoka in the area selector. Tenjin and Hakata Station clusters appear with current rate badges.

See also

• What is the mid-market rate?
• Osaka money guide
• Kyoto cash strategy
• 7-Eleven Seven Bank ATM

Last verified 2026-08-24. Fukuoka's exchange ecosystem is stable; tourism growth from Korea has driven slight improvements in KRW rates.