Trains

Two companies operate trains in Fukuoka, Japan Railways and the private bus/train company Nishitetsu.

JR

The JR central station is Hakata and it is the main hub from travel to major desintations in Kyushu.  Fares are determined by distance and speed. www.japanrail.com

There are four types of JR trains in Fukuoka:
? Local (futsu ??) trains stop at all stations. Many of the smaller lines only run this kind of train.
? Express (kaisoku ??) skips smaller stations but cost the same as local trains.
? Limited Express (tokkyu ??) only stops at major stations and incur an extra fee.
? Bullet Train/Super Express (shinkansen ???) are best suited for fast, long distance travel, but can be useful for fast hops between Kokura and Hakata. A bullet train line south towards Kagoshima is scheduled to be completed in 2010.  If you take the shinkansen towards Tokyo, you may not always need a seat reservation: as Hakata is the first stop, there are often seats in the unreserved cars at the end of the train- first come, first served!

Nishitetsu

Nishitetsu’s main hub is Tenjin and this line operates in Fukuoka Prefecture only. There are three types of trains similar to JR’s local, express and limited express services (except that express on Nishitetsu is known as kyuko). In the morning there is also a fourth service for commuters called rapid express (kaisoku), an orange train that is faster than an express but slower than a limited express.

HOWEVER, unlike the JR lines, a flat fare is charged based on distance.  You can take a limited express for the same price as a local, the only difference is in time!

How to use the trains

1. Purchase a ticket from a machine or at the window. If there is no English button or you don’t know the kanji for your destination, ask at the window. Large bills are accepted at either.
2. Confirm your platform (noriba), put your ticket in the turnstile and board the train.
3. Do not lose your ticket. You will have to insert it into the turnstile at your destination.
4. Underpaid? Fare adjustment machines are located at station exits. Note: On JR limited and super express trains, be prepared to show your ticket on board. If you’ve underpaid, you will be required to pay on the spot.

Useful vocabulary:

 Ticket ?? kippu

 Oneway ?? katamichi

 Round trip ?? ?fuku

 Platform ??? noriba

 Read more in “Discount Passes.”

www.hyperdia.com Hands down the most useful website for planning trips on any train is hyperdia.com. Simply input your starting point and destination and the site will give you the exact cost, time and transfers required for your journey—in English. Be aware that some station names are not the same as the city you want to go to, e.g. you must input “Hakata” or “Tenjin” if you want to go to Fukuoka-shi, “Hainuzuka” for Chikugo, and “Kokura” for Kitakyushu. To find a route on a Nishitetsu line, type “Nishitetsu” and the station name as one word, as in “Nishitetsukurume.”