Transport in Fukuoka-Kitakyūshū - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Transport in Fukuoka-Kitakyushu is similar to that of other large cities in Japan, but with a high degree of private transport. The region is a hub of international ferry services and has a high degree of air connectivity and a considerable rail transport network, complemented with highways and surface streets. It includes public and private rail and highway networks; airports for international, domestic, and general aviation; buses; motorcycle delivery services, walking, bicycling, and commercial shipping. The foci of the public transport system are Hakata Station

Hakata Station

Hakata Station , located in Hakata-ku, is the main railway terminal of the city of Fukuoka, Japan. It is the largest and busiest station on Kyūshū, and is a gateway to other cities in Kyūshū for travellers from Honshū. The Sanyō Shinkansen from Osaka ends at this station...

, Tenjin Station

Tenjin Station

is a subway station located in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, Japan. Its station symbol are 5 green dots arranged in a circle, representing a plum blossom. The station is located directly under in Tenjin, Fukuoka...

, and Kokura Station

Kokura Station

in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. It is part of the JR Kyushu network and the Sanyo Shinkansen stops here. It is the second largest station in Kyūshū with 120,000 users daily...

, in Fukuoka

Fukuoka

Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...

and Kitakyushu cities respectively. Between these two cities lies a more sparse weblike regional rail network.

The transit network consists of 32 surface and subterranean railway lines (see section on rail transport) operated by several and private operators. Monorails, trams, fixed-guideway lines and buses support this primary rail network. Like other cities in Japan, walking and bicycling is common.

Overview

The passenger rail network in Fukuoka-Kitakyushu

Fukuoka-Kitakyushu

Greater Metropolitan Region is the most common name given to the region comprising the metropolitan areas of the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan and in between...

metropolitan area (see also Northern Kyushu

Northern Kyushu

is a subregion of Kyūshū.This northern region encompasses the prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Ōita.-History:The northern region of Kyūshū was the first to be colonized by the Chinese and Koreans....

) is dense around the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki, declining in density between and around the two primary cities. Passenger railway usage and density is lower than that of Greater Tokyo or Greater Osaka, with the region having a little less than 6 million people. Similar to other areas of Japan, few free maps exist of the entire network; only stations of a their respective company and key transfer points are shown. The Sanyō Shinkansen

Sanyō Shinkansen

The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...

serves as the backbone of intercity rail transport connecting Hakata and Kokura Stations to Honshu. Kyūshū Shinkansen

Kyushu Shinkansen

The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...

lines are completed on March 12, 2011 running to Kagoshima.

There are 33 operating passenger rail lines and a tourist-oriented cable car line in the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu area .

List of passenger railway lines in operation

JR Kyushu and JR West
- high speed rail
  - Sanyō Shinkansen
    Sanyō Shinkansen
    The is a line of the Japanese Shinkansen high-speed rail network, connecting Shin-Ōsaka in Osaka with Hakata Station in Fukuoka, the two largest cities in western Japan...
  - Kyūshū Shinkansen
    Kyushu Shinkansen
    The ' is a Japanese high-speed railway line between the Japanese cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima in Kyushu, running parallel to the existing Kagoshima Main Line and operated by the Kyushu Railway Company . The southern 127 km opened on 13 March 2004...
- Intercity (Honshu part)
  - Chikuho Main Line
    Chikuho Main Line
    The is a railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Part of Kyushu Railway Company , it runs from Wakamatsu Station in Kitakyūshū to Haruda Station in Chikushino.-Line data:*Company: JR Kyushu*Distance: Wakamatsu–Haruda 66.1 km...
    - Fukuhoku Yutaka Line
      Fukuhoku Yutaka Line
      The is the collective name for four sections of railway lines operated by Kyushu Railway Company in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It runs between Kurosaki Station and Hakata station .The sections called Fukuhoku Yutaka Line are:...
    - Haruda Line
  - Gotōji Line
    Gotoji Line
    The is a Japanese railway line located in Fukuoka Prefecture connecting Tagawa-Gotōji Station in the city of Tagawa and Shin-Iizuka Station in the city of Iizuka...
  - San-in Main Line
  - Sanyo Main Line
  - Mine Line
    Mine Line
    The is a railway line of West Japan Railway Company between San'yō-Onoda and Nagato all within Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Due to heavy rainstorm flooding in July 2010, although repairs are underway, service on the whole Mine Line has been suspended for the foreseeable future .-Stations:All...
  - Yamaguchi Line
    Yamaguchi Line
    The is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company in western Japan connecting Shin-Yamaguchi Station in Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi Prefecture and Masuda Station in Masuda, Shimane Prefecture.-Basic data:*Operator:*Gauge: 1,067 mm...
  - Onoda Line
    Onoda Line
    is a railway line of West Japan Railway Company between Ube and San'yō-Onoda all within Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.- Main Line :- Motoyama Branch Line :...
  - Kagoshima Main Line
    Kagoshima Main Line
    The is a major railway line operated by the Kyushu Railway Company between Mojikō in Kitakyūshū, and Kagoshima Station in Kagoshima City, at the southern end of Kyushu...
  - Nippo Main Line
    Nippo Main Line
    frame|Nippō Main LineThe is a railway line in Kyūshū, in southern Japan. Part of the Kyushu Railway Company system, it follows the east coast of the island. The line originates at Kokura Station in Kokura, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka...
  - Hitahikosan Line
    Hitahikosan Line
    frame|Hitahikosan LineThe is a rail line in Japan. Part of JR Kyushu, it runs from Jōno Station in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture to Yoake Station in Hita, Ōita Prefecture.-Line data:*Company: JR Kyushu*Distance : 68.7km*Gauge: 1067mm*Stations: 23...
  - Kashii Line
    Kashii Line
    is a railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Part of the JR Kyushu, it runs from Saitozaki Station in Fukuoka to Umi Station in Umi.-Line data:*Company: Kyushu Railway Company*Distance: Saitozaki - Umi　25.4km*Gauge: 1067mm*Stations: 16*Tracks: Single...
  - Umi no Nakamichi Line
  - Chikuhi Line
    Chikuhi Line
    The is a railway line in Japan running from Meinohama Station in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture to Karatsu Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture to Imari Station in Imari City, Saga Prefecture....
  - Karatsu Line
    Karatsu Line
    The is a regional railway line in Saga Prefecture, Japan running from Kubota Station in Saga to Nishi-Karatsu Station in Karatsu. It was originally constructed to carry coal from the Karatsu coal field to the Port of Karatsu.-Route data:*Operators and distances...
  - Hakata Minami Line
    Hakata Minami Line
    The is an 8.5 km railway line in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, connecting Hakata Station in Fukuoka with Hakata-Minami Station in Kasuga. It is operated by the West Japan Railway Company .-Service:...
  - Nagasaki Main Line
  - Kyudai Line
  - Sasaguri Line
    Sasaguri Line
    is a rail line in Japan. Part of the JR Kyushu, it runs from Keisen Station in Keisen, Fukuoka Prefecture to Yoshizuka Station in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture.-Track data:*Company: JR Kyushu*Distance: 25.1 km*Gauge: 1067 mm*Stations: 11*Tracks: Single...

Nishi-Nippon Railroad
Nishi-Nippon Railroad
The , also called or NNR, is one of Japan's "Big 16" private railroad companies. With headquarters in Fukuoka, it operates local and highway buses, supermarkets, real-estate and travel agencies, as well as railways in Fukuoka Prefecture. In addition, from 1950 to 1972, the company owned the Lions...

(Nishitetsu)
- Tenjin Ōmuta Line
  Tenjin Omuta Line
  The is a heavy rail line in Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyūshū, Japan, being the main line of a Japanese private railway company Nishi-Nippon Railroad . The line is from Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station in Chūō-ku, Fukuoka, stretching south to Ōmuta Station in Ōmuta...
- Dazaifu Line
  Dazaifu Line
  is a Japanese rail line operated by Nishi-Nippon Railroad that runs between Chikushino City and Dazaifu City in Fukuoka Prefecture.- Stations :...
- Amagi Line
  Nishitetsu Amagi Line
  The is a Japanese railway line operated by Nishi-Nippon Railroad , which runs between Kurume and Asakura in Fukuoka Prefecture.- Stations :-History:...
- Kaizuka Line
Fukuoka City Subway
Fukuoka City Subway
The serves Fukuoka, Japan. It consists of three subway lines, the Kūkō, or Airport Line, the Hakozaki Line and the Nanakuma Line).The lines are operated by the . Unlike most other public operators in Japan, the company only operates subways without any bus lines....
Amagi Railway Amagi Line
Chikuhō Electric Railroad Line
Chikuho Electric Railroad Line
The is a Japanese railway line of in Fukuoka Prefecture between Kurosaki-Ekimae in Kitakyūshū and Chikuhō-Nōgata in Nōgata. The line does not have an official name. The company or the line is also called . The company is a subsidiary of Nishi-Nippon Railroad...
Heisei Chikuhō Railway
Heisei Chikuho Railway
The is a third sector operator of four railway lines in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Its headquarters are in the town of Fukuchi, Tagawa District. The railway's nickname is Heichiku.-Principal investors:...
Kitakyūshū Monorail
Kitakyushu monorail
The Kitakyushu monorail is a monorail in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka, Japan, run by the Kitakyushu Urban Monorail Co. Ltd. ....

Bridges

The bridge over the Kanmon Straits

Kanmon Straits

The Kanmon Straits or the Straits of Shimonoseki is the stretch of water separating two of Japan's four main islands. On the Honshū side of the water is Shimonoseki and on the Kyūshū side is Kitakyūshū, whose former city and present ward, Moji , gave the strait its "mon"...

plays an important connectivity role in the region, supporting automobile, rail, and ferry traffic between Honshu

Honshu

is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...

and Kyushu

Kyushu

is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....

islands.

Local and regional highways

Route 2
Route 2 (Japan)
National Route 2 is a major highway on the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū in Japan. It follows the old Sanyōdo westward from the city of Osaka, Osaka Prefecture in the Kansai region to the city of Kitakyūshū in Fukuoka Prefecture, passing through the San'yō region en route...
Route 3
Route 3 (Japan)
National Route 3 is a major highway on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It connects the prefectural capital cities of Kagoshima National Route 3 is a major highway on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. It connects the prefectural capital cities of Kagoshima National Route 3 is a major highway on the...
Route 9
Route 9 (Japan)
National Route 9 is an important highway in the Kansai and Chūgoku regions. It connects the prefectural capitals of Kyoto, Tottori, Matsue , and Yamaguchi. Other significant cities along the route include Yonago, Tottori and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. Route 9 also passes through parts of Hyōgo...
Route 10
Route 10 (Japan)
thumb|240px|right|Route 10, Oita, Oitathumb|240px|right|Route 10, Fukuoka, KandaNational Route 10 is a Japanese highway on the island of Kyūshū. It originates at the intersection with Route 2 in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka and passes through the prefectural capitals of Ōita and Miyazaki, terminating at the...
Route 34
Route 190
Route 190 (Japan)
National Route 190 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi and San'yō-Onoda, Yamaguchi in Japan, with a total length of 43.6 km ....
Route 191
Route 191 (Japan)
National Route 191 is a national highway of Japan connecting Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and Naka-ku, Hiroshima in Japan, with a total length of 284.1 km ....
Route 198
Route 198 (Japan)
National Route 198 is a national highway of Japan connecting Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū and Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū in Japan, with a total length of 0.6 km ....
Route 199
Route 199 (Japan)
National Route 199 is a national highway of Japan connecting Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū and Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyūshū in Japan, with a total length of 33.2 km ....
Route 200
Route 200 (Japan)
National Route 200 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyūshū and Chikushino, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 60.4 km ....
Route 201
Route 201 (Japan)
National Route 201 is a national highway of Japan connecting Higashi-ku, Fukuoka and Kanda, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 64.5 km ....
Route 202
Route 202 (Japan)
National Route 202 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hakata-ku, Fukuoka and Nagasaki, Nagasaki in Japan, with a total length of 199.6 km ....
Route 208
Route 208 (Japan)
National Route 208 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kumamoto, Kumamoto and Saga, Saga in Japan, with a total length of 84.7 km ....
Route 209
Route 209 (Japan)
National Route 209 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ōmuta, Fukuoka and Kurume, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 35.5 km ....
Route 210
Route 210 (Japan)
National Route 210 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kurume, Fukuoka and Ōita, Ōita in Japan, with a total length of 136.2 km ....

Route 211
Route 211 (Japan)
National Route 211 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hita, Ōita and Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyūshū in Japan, with a total length of 76.3 km ....
Route 263
Route 263 (Japan)
National Route 263 is a national highway of Japan connecting Sawara-ku, Fukuoka and Saga, Saga in Japan, with a total length of 48 km ....
Route 264
Route 264 (Japan)
National Route 264 is a national highway of Japan connecting Saga, Saga and Kurume, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 27.4 km ....
Route 316
Route 316 (Japan)
National Route 316 is a national highway of Japan connecting Nagato, Yamaguchi and San'yō-Onoda, Yamaguchi in Japan, with a total length of 40.2 km ....
Route 322
Route 322 (Japan)
National Route 322 is a national highway of Japan connecting Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyūshū and Kurume, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 87.9 km ....
Route 385
Route 385 (Japan)
National Route 385 is a national highway of Japan connecting Yanagawa, Fukuoka and Hakata-ku, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 68.1 km ....
Route 386
Route 386 (Japan)
National Route 386 is a national highway of Japan connecting Hita, Ōita and Chikushino, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 46.6 km ....
Route 442
Route 442 (Japan)
National Route 442 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ōita, Ōita and Ōkawa, Fukuoka in Japan, with a total length of 162.2 km ....
Route 443
Route 443 (Japan)
National Route 443 is a national highway of Japan connecting Ōkawa, Fukuoka and Hikawa, Kumamoto in Japan, with a total length of 124.9 km ....
Route 490
Route 491
Route 495
Route 496
Route 497 part of Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
Route 500
Route 500 (Japan)
National Route 500 is a national highway of Japan connecting between Beppu, Ōita and Tosu, Saga in Japan, with total length has 160.9 km ....

Expressways

Major area expressways include:

Fukuoka Urban Expressway
Kitakyūshū Urban Expressway
Kyūshū Expressway
Kyushu Expressway
' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Kitakyūshū to west of Kagoshima linking with the Higashi Kyushu Expressway and the Ibusuki Skyline. It runs through the prefectures of Fukuoka, the eastern half of the Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and the Kagoshima prefectures. The freeway runs entirely on...
Nagasaki Expressway
Nagasaki Expressway
' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Tosu to Nagasaki. It runs through the prefecture of Saga, and the southern half of the Nagasaki prefecture...
Ōita Expressway
Ōita Expressway
' is one of the Expressways of Japan from Tosu to Oita linking with the Higashi Kyushu Expressway. It runs through the southern half of Fukuoka prefecture, and the northern half of the Oita prefecture...
Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
Higashi-Kyūshū Expressway
Chugoku Expressway
Chugoku Expressway
The is an expressway in Japan from Suita, Osaka to Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. It connects Kansai and Chūgoku regions in the western Honshū, Japan's largest island. Other major cities on the expressway are Tsuyama, Kobe and Hiroshima...
Sanyō Expressway
Sanyo Expressway
The is an expressway in Japan, running from Kobe through Hiroshima along the Inland Sea and terminating in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The entire length of the expressway was opened in 1997...

Buses

Several private and public bus companies operate with hundreds of routes throughout the region. Most local bus routes complement existing rail service to form an effective intermodal transit network.

Primary

Fukuoka Airport

, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...

is the busiest airport in the region, serving international and domestic flights. Kitakyūshū Airport

Kitakyushu Airport

Kokura Airport , previously called until 2005, was a small airport in Kokura Minami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Japan. There used to be four flights to and from Tokyo International Airport every day. The runway was long, so large jets could not use it...

is an international airport built on an artificial island in the Inland Sea, and serves as a major cargo hub for Kityakyushu area factories as well as a relief airport for Fukuoka.

Secondary

Saga Airport

is an airport in the Kawasoe area of Saga, Saga Prefecture, Japan.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*...

and Kokura Airport also provide air services to the region
Just outside the region is Oita Airport

Oita Airport

is an airport in Kunisaki, Ōita, Japan, northeast of Ōita.-Airlines and destinations:...

and Kumamoto Airport

Kumamoto Airport

, also known as , is an airport in Mashiki, Kumamoto, Japan.A planned merger of municipalities will be implemented around March 31, 2010; the City of Kumamoto will be merged with the Shimomashiki District town of Jonan and Mashiki. When the merger is completed the airport will be within the City of...

.

There are also a number of Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Japan Air Self-Defense Force

The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...

airfields.

Maritime transport

Major area seaports include:

Port of Hakata
Port of Shimonoseki
Port of Kokura
Port of Shin Moji

International

Because of its geographic proximity to Korea and China, the region is the major hub in Japan for international passenger ferries. Pukwan Ferry, Camelia Line, and high speed ferry Beetle (JR Kyushu)

Beetle (JR Kyushu)

is a hydrofoil ferry service operated by JR Kyushu Jet Ferry, a division of Kyushu Railway Company.The ferry travels between Fukuoka, Japan and Busan, South Korea.-External links:* *...

, Kobee

Kobee

Kobee is a South Korean jet hydrofoil ferry line that operates services between Busan, South Korea and Fukuoka, Japan. Miraejet operates the ferry line.-See also:...

operate out of both Hakata and Shimonseki, there are also ferry services to Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

and Dalian

Dalian

Dalian is a major city and seaport in the south of Liaoning province, Northeast China. It faces Shandong to the south, the Yellow Sea to the east and the Bohai Sea to the west and south. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, Dalian is the southernmost city of Northeast China and China's...

in China, Busan

Busan

Busan , formerly spelled Pusan is South Korea's second largest metropolis after Seoul, with a population of around 3.6 million. The Metropolitan area population is 4,399,515 as of 2010. It is the largest port city in South Korea and the fifth largest port in the world...

, Ulsan

Ulsan

Ulsan , officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan to the east.Ulsan is the...

in Korea.

Regional Domestic

There are ferry services to Tsushima Island

Tsushima Island

Tsushima Island is an island of the Japanese Archipelago situated in the middle of the Tsushima Strait at 34°25'N and 129°20'E. The main island of Tsushima was once a single island, but the island was divided into two in 1671 by the Ōfunakosiseto canal and into three in 1900 by the Manzekiseto canal...

as well as major Japanese cities (such as Hiroshima

Hiroshima

is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...

, Osaka

Osaka

is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...

, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kōbe

Kobe

, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...

and Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

) from Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Shimonoseki ports.

Cross Strait/Local

Within the Kanmon-Kitakyūshū area, there are three commuter ferry lines: the Wakato Ferry, the Kanmon Straits Ferry, and the Kanmon Straits Liner. There are services to some small islands near Kitakyushu and Fukuoka from their respective cities as well.

Shipping

Shipping plays a major role moving freight in and out of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu area. Finished automobiles for export are handled by ports in the region. With just-in-time requirements of automobile manufacturers and suppliers, Kitakyūshū Airport

Kitakyushu Airport

plays an important role as a hub for cargo and logistics.

The region is home to three regasification LNG terminals.

External links

Fukuoka-Kitakyushu Railway Network Map

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