Where to shop in Fukuoka

Just a short 3.5-hour direct flight from Hong Kong, it’s no wonder Fukuoka is a serious contender for the most popular Japanese travel destination after Osaka and Tokyo. Shopaholics, especially, won’t want to miss out on Fukuoka’s wide array of shopping malls, outlets, niche boutiques, and covered arcades. You’re sure to return with a full load of spoils. 

Shopping malls

JR Hakata City 

As soon as you step off the train to Fukuoka, you can head straight on a shopping spree at JR Hakata City , a mega-mall with a direct connection to JR Hakata station. Here, you’ll find department stores such as Amu Plaza Hakata, Hakata Hankyu, Amu Est and Hakata Deitos, all magically packed under one roof. While you’ll no doubt be flitting from shop to shop, don’t forget to stop by Hakata Ichibangai, a restaurant area on the B1 basement level of JR Hakata City, to replenish your energy with local eats. 

Canal City Hakata

Canal City Hakata is a complex filled with a range of entertainment facilities, from a shopping mall and a cinema to a theatre and amusement arcades. In addition to over 200 popular brands such as cosmetics and drug store Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Muji, Sanrio Gallery and Disney Store, there is a canal weaving through the complex, making it a true urban oasis. 

Lalaport Fukuoka 

When the first LaLaport in Kyushu opened in April 2022, it attracted a lot of attention with its monumental Gundam figure sitting at the entrance. Inside the mall is a treasure trove for serious shoppers to explore,  with more than 220 stores selling everything you might need or want, including fashion and jewellery pieces, makeup and lifestyle goods, and more. 

Ropponmatsu 421

If you’re looking for stylish yet Zen-like surrounds to focus on your shopping, Ropponmatsu 421 is an excellent option. Located right in front of Ropponmatsu station, it features a distinctive collection of design-led lifestyle stores that hipsters and romantics-at-heart will love. Here, you can also find bazaars, cafés and even a branch of the revered bookstore Tsutaya Books.

Branded outlets

The Outlets Kitakyushu

The Outlets Kitakyushu is the largest outlet mall in Kyushu. Opened in 2022, it’s  a stone’s throw away from Space World station on the Kagoshima Main Line. There are 140 outlet stores in total, along with 170 select shops, which include trendy local brands like mont-bell, Beams Outlet and Oriental Traffic Outlet. Shopping aside, you can also treat your taste buds to local delicacies from around Fukuoka Prefecture.  

Marinoa City Fukuoka Outlet 

Located in a charming location next to one of the marinas in Fukuoka, Marinoa City Fukuoka Outlet is accessible by bus from both Hakata and Tenjin stations. This open-air outlet is popular not just for shopping but also for sightseeing. There is even an annual sales schedule for shoppers to stock up on their favourite brands at the best prices.

Tosu Premium Outlets

Fancy bringing home something from a luxury label? Do the rounds at Tosu Premium Outlets . This destination boasts more than 170 brands, including both international and Japanese high-end labels. Take the direct-to-destination highway bus from Nishitetsu Tenjin Expressway Bus Terminal – just a 45-minute ride away from a premium shopping spree. 

Niche Boutiques

B.B.B Potters

Established in 1991, the triple ‘B’ in  stands for ‘brew’, ‘bake’ and ‘boil’ – the name itself hints at its home-oriented product catalogue. The two-storey flagship store has a retail space that shares room with a café serving dishes with ingredients and homeware sold in the shop. If you liked what you tried at the café, it’s the easiest thing in the world to nab the very same products from the shop.

Fukumono Shop

Tucked away in a residential building, Fukumono Shop is a select shop specialising in stationery, kitchenware and homeware. This hidden gem, with an eye for both form and function, is for hipsters who love their knick-knacks.

Covered arcades

Tenjin Chikagai 

Designed to resemble a 19th century European boulevard, this underground shopping arcade is replete with chic clothing outlets, restaurants and bookstores. It’s a one-stop destination for shopping and dining, perfect for a rainy day or for when you want to stay out of the sun. The arcade is in the commercial district of Tenjin  – with direct access to Tenjin subway station, Tenjin-Minami subway station, Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station and Nishitetsu Tenjin Highway Bus Terminal – making it perhaps the most convenient location on this list.

Kawabata Shopping Arcade

Halfway between Nakasu-Kawabata subway station and Canal City Hakata, Kawabata Shopping Arcade is the oldest covered arcade in Hakata. The 400-metre stretch contains 130 shops selling local specialty produce. On Fridays and weekends, or during special occasions, you can enjoy the famous Kawabata red bean soup with mochi here – get there early or they will all be gone.

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