Japan: Fukuoka and Saga - 5 days Itinerary and Expenses

Travel Date: 03-08 December 2022

Accommodation: Where to stay in Fukuoka

Prince Smart Inn Hakata
Address: 3-21-4 Hakataekimae Hakataku, Fukuoka, Japan
Hotel Review

Food: Where to eat?

Fukuoka, Japan: Food Crawl

Itinerary: Places to go, Things to see, What to do?

After almost three years of travel restrictions, we are going for this trip to have forest bath and catch autumn leaves.  Luckily, it's also time for the Christmas market and winter illumination in the city. 

Day	Places to See	Food and Restaurants	Optional
1	Daikozen-ji Ishibashi Cultural Center Daimaru Passage Square Tenjin Central Park Fuku-Haku Deai Bridge Canal Mall	Tenjin Christmas Village
2	Momiji Hachimangu Shrine Daimyomachi Church Don Quijote in Tenjin Gundam in Lalaport	Muji Cafe & Meal Takoyaki-doraku Hakata Christmas Market
3	Kamado-jinja Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine	Starbucks in Dazaifu Ramen Stadium in Canal City	FUK coffee
4	Mifuneyama Rakuen TeamLab Art Exhibition Takeo Library	Starbucks in Takeo Library Yebisu Bar in Hakata	Yoko Art Musuem Mifune-Jaya
5	Fukuoka Art Museum Tenjin Central Park	Ta-Te Kegomachi	@papparayray Rakusuien tea house

Expense Report: Budget Travel Guide

Category	Expenses: Autumn and Illumination in Fukuoka - 2022	Yen/ea	Yen/2pax	PHP/ea
Saturday
Transportation	Airport to Hakata	260	520	107
Food	Dinner @ Hakata Christmas Market (curry wurst set 1800, hot chocolate 500yen/ea)	2,440	4,880	1,000
Sunday
Transportation	[Train, 40mins] Hakata to Kiyama Station	480	960	197
Transportation	[Taxi, 10mins] from Kiyama Station to Daikōzen-ji temple	750	1,500	307
Activity	(open: 8:30am) Daikōzen-ji temple	600	1,200	246
Transportation	[Taxi, 10mins] from temple to Kiyama Station	715	1,430	293
Transportation	[Train + Bus] to Ishibashi Cultural Center	480	960	197
Food	(9:00~17:00) Ishibashi Cultural Center; (pizza 250yen , lemodane 140yen, Tully's coffee 140yen)	265	530	109
Transportation	[Bus + Train] to Nishitetsu Fukuoka Station (Tenjin area)	630	1,260	258
Food	(17:00~22:00) Tenjin Christmas Market (pizza+potato 1700yen, ginger ale 300yen)	1,000	2,000	410
Monday
Transportation	[Train, 25 mins] from Hakata to Fujisaki Station	300	600	123
Activity	(9:30 – 5pm) Momiji Hachimangu Shrine	-
Transportation	[Train, 25 mins] to Tenjin Station (Muji Café)	260	520	107
Food	(11am-8pm) Café&Meal MUJI (set meals, cheesecake 250yen)	1,075	2,150	441
Transportation	[Train + Bus] to Gundam, Lalaport	210	420	86
Activity	(10am-9pm) Lalaport + Gundam + Snacks (takoyaki, ginger ale)	450	900	184
Transportation	[Bus] to near Hakata Station	210	420	86
Food	Hakata Christmas Market (cheese cake 700yen, potato 500yen, croquet 400yen/ea, hot wine 1000yen)	1,500	3,000	615
Tuesday
Transportation	[Bus] Hakata Bus Station 1F to Dazaifu (est. exp only)	1,500	3,000	615
Food	red bean bun (130yen/ea)	130	260	53
Food	Starbucks (ham and cheese 510yen, butter caramel latte 530yen)	520	1,040	213
Transportation	[Bus] Dazaifu to Hakata Bus Station	1,500	3,000	615
Food	Ramen Stadium (Hakata ramen + gyoza)	1,100	2,200	451
Wednesday
Transportation	[Train] to Takeo-Onsen Station	2,850	5,700	1,168
Activity	(8am-5p, 530p-10p) Mifuneyama Rakuen	600	1,200	246
Transportation	[taxi] Takeo City Library	750	1,500	307
Food	Starbucks (creme brulle 510.4, gingerbread 530.2, uji matcha 440, ham and spinach 418)	950	1,900	389
Transportation	[Train] Takeo-Onsen Station to Hakata	2,350	4,700	963
Food	Yebisu Bar (napolitana spaghetti 1078, karage 715, strawberry beer 506)	1,150	2,299	471
Food	Hakata Christmas Market (churros 600, hot choco 1000, potato 700)	1,150	2,300	471
Thursday
Transportation	[Train/Bus] Keyaki Dori / Fukuoka Art Museum	260	520	107
Activity	Fukuoka Art Museum (1300yen/ea)	1,300	2,600	533
Food	Ta-te: pumpkin soup with grilled vegetables, juicy chicken fillet salad, Apple and plum crumble tart	1,350	2,700	553
Food	Dinner: ramen at the airport	700	1,400	287
Transportation	[Bus] to the Airport	260	520	107
Total		30,045	60,089	12,313
Category	Travel Tips	Yen/ea	Yen/2pax	PHP/ea
Food	We were able to try less local cuisine since we are always at the night market	13,330	26,659	5,463
Transportation	Learn to use buses instead of trains	13,765	27,530	5,641
Activity	Look for free activities instead of expensive theme parks	2,950	5,900	1,209

Other sample itineraries and expense reports:
For my further sample itinerary, expense, trip reports and PDF guides, please visit links below:

Japan: Traveling for the First Time
Fukuoka: Spring Itinerary (2016 May)
Fukuoka: Spring Itinerary (2017 May)
Fukuoka and Saga: Autumn Itinerary (2022 Dec)
Nagano, Hakone to Tokyo: Autumn Itinerary (2019 Dec)
Nagoya: Autumn Itinerary (2015 Nov)
Nagoya: Spring Itinerary (2019 Mar-Apr)
Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka: Autumn Itinerary (2023 Nov)
Osaka, Kyoto: Autumn Itinerary (2012 Dec)
Osaka, Okayama, Kobe, Kyoto, Japan: Spring Itinerary (2014 May)
Sasebo, Oita and Fukuoka: Spring Itinerary (2023 Apr)
Tokyo: Autumn Itinerary (2014 Oct)

*Remember, you still need to decide for yourself based upon your attraction and fascination over a place or activity.  As well as to consider the pace you want to have while traveling.  Planning too many targets on a day will either exhaust you rather than give you peace and joy on the culture and tradition.

Create your own road, rather than taking someone else's path.  

It can only be a road when one passes it.