Local Tip
Carry some 1,000-yen notes and coins: Fukuoka's IC-card machines are cash-only and bus changers won't break bigger notes. The subway does take contactless cards, and one card's fares stop at 640 yen a day.
Where to change money in Fukuoka
For changing cash in the city centre, use Fukuoka Bank's counter inside JR Hakata Station; international arrivals can also change money at the airport. Otherwise, withdraw yen from the cash machines below.
- Fukuoka Bank, JR Hakata Station In the central concourse (1-1 Hakataeki-Chuogai), it changes 19 currencies and opens 8am to 9pm every day, JR Kyushu says. Showing a JR Kyushu Rail Pass (Fukuoka Wide) cuts the fee for buying yen by 30 per cent at the counter, though not at the exchange machine.
- Fukuoka Airport, international terminalBefore security, Fukuoka Bank (first floor, 17 currencies) and Shinhan Bank (third floor, 13 currencies) both change pounds sterling.
Changing money at the airport
Fukuoka Airport (FUK) lists currency exchange only in its international terminal. Fukuoka Bank's desk opens 7.30am to 9pm and Shinhan Bank's 7.30am to 7pm. Its directory lists ATMs at one spot in that terminal and at 13 in the domestic terminal, without saying which take cards issued abroad. Hours may change.
ATMs and cards in Fukuoka
Seven Bank machines, mostly inside 7-Eleven shops, accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Discover and Diners Club and let an overseas card draw up to 100,000 yen at a time; Seven Bank's fee varies with the card brand. Japan Post Bank machines, in post offices and some FamilyMart shops, pay out up to 50,000 yen a time and may charge 220 yen a withdrawal on certain foreign cards. If either machine asks whether to settle in yen or in your card's currency, pick yen so your own bank converts it, as MoneySavingExpert advises. Fees may change.
Paying for transport in Fukuoka
The subway takes contactless cards at all 36 stations, and one card's fares stop at 640 yen a day. The city's October 2025 guide names Visa, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Diners Club and Discover but not Mastercard, so Mastercard holders may need a ticket or IC card. Hayakaken, the subway's IC card, comes from the cash-only 'Tickets' machines at stations and the airport, usually with a 500-yen deposit; Suica, ICOCA and Japan's other main IC cards work too. On Nishitetsu buses, board by the centre door and tap your card, or pull a numbered ticket out of the orange box and pay the exact fare shown on the front screen as you leave. The changer on board takes 1,000-yen notes and 50-, 100- and 500-yen coins, though not the new 500-yen coin or larger notes. Fares may change.
Good to know
- Tips aren't expected in Fukuoka's restaurants, cafΓ©s, bars, taxis or hotels; JNTO says a private guide may accept one, customarily handed over in an envelope (convenience stores sell them).
- JNTO still calls Japan very much a cash society, so don't count on paying for everything in Fukuoka by card.
Key Areas in Fukuoka
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Fukuoka travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Fukuoka?
In the city centre, Fukuoka Bank's counter in JR Hakata Station's central concourse opens 8am to 9pm daily. Flying in from abroad, you can also use the Fukuoka Bank or Shinhan Bank desks in the international terminal. Compare the rate and fee before changing a large amount.
Can I pay Fukuoka subway fares with my UK bank card?
A contactless Visa works at the gates, as do American Express, JCB and a few other brands, with one card's fares capped at 640 yen a day. Mastercard was missing from the list in the city's October 2025 guide, and buses still need an IC card or cash.
How do I pay a Nishitetsu bus fare in cash?
Take a numbered ticket as you board through the centre door, check the fare on the screen at the front, and put the exact amount in the fare box with the ticket as you leave. The on-board machine breaks 1,000-yen notes, not larger ones.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: JR Kyushu Β· Fukuoka Airport Β· Fukuoka City Official Tourist Guide Β· Nishitetsu Β· Seven Bank Β· Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
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