Is Fukuoka safe?
Very safe, even at night. Late-night yatai and Nakasu bars bring drunks and touts, but violent crime against visitors is rare.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Fukuoka at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Minor: bicycle theft, occasional pickpocketing in Tenjin and Nakasu, and bar touts overcharging in Nakasu's back streets. |
| At night | Streets and yatai are busy until late and feel safe; last subway runs around midnight, taxis are cheap afterwards. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nakasu; usual drink care. |
| Other risks | Typhoons and heavy rain Jun–Oct; Summer heat above 35°C in Jul–Aug; Earthquakes; same advice as the rest of Japan |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Nakasu touts steering visitors to bars with inflated bills
- Strangers inviting you to private bars after yatai
Take care
- Nakasu back streets after midnight: touts, drunks, spiked drinks
- Heavy rain: river and underpass flooding
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Fukuoka compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Fukuoka safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nakasu; usual drink care.
Is Fukuoka safe at night?
Streets and yatai are busy until late and feel safe; last subway runs around midnight, taxis are cheap afterwards.
What is the crime rate in Fukuoka?
Minor: bicycle theft, occasional pickpocketing in Tenjin and Nakasu, and bar touts overcharging in Nakasu's back streets. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Fukuoka?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Fukuoka
Going to Fukuoka solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Fukuoka Airport
- Yokanavi Fukuoka (official tourism)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.