Living in Fukuoka
for 3 months

Before you arrive 出発前

Visitors from the United States and many other countries can stay in Japan for up to 90 days without a visa as a temporary visitor, which lines up with our 90-day minimum. The rules depend on your passport, and a visitor stay is for things like travel and visiting, not paid work in Japan. Check the Japanese embassy website for your country before you book flights.

If you work remotely and want to stay longer than 90 days, Japan also has a digital nomad visa with its own income requirements. It's worth reading up on early if that's your plan.

Get travel insurance that covers medical care. As a short-term visitor you won't be on Japan's national health insurance, and you'll want cover for the whole stay.

Getting online ネット

The studio has high-speed wifi, so you only need mobile data for when you're out. The easiest option is an eSIM you install on your phone before you fly. It works the moment you land, with no SIM shop and no paperwork.

Make sure your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM before you buy one.

Money, cash and cards お金

Card payments are much more common in Japan than they used to be, but plenty of places are still cash only: small ramen shops, yatai food stalls, neighborhood izakaya, shrines and some taxis. You'll want both.

• The nearest 7-Eleven is about 3 minutes from the studio, open 24 hours.
• When the ATM asks, choose to be charged in yen, not your home currency. Converting in your home currency usually costs more.
• Check the fee on screen before you confirm, and tell your bank you're traveling.
• Keep some coins for vending machines, shrines and lockers.

Getting around 交通

Fukuoka is compact, and you'll walk a lot. From the studio, Gofukumachi Station on the Hakozaki subway line is a 6-minute walk, Hakata Station is about 20 minutes away, and Fukuoka Airport is about 25 minutes door to door. The airport is one of the closest to a city center anywhere in the world.

The city subway has tap-to-pay gates: touch a contactless credit card or your phone on the way in and out. You can also add an IC card like Suica to Apple Wallet and use it on the subway, buses and most trains.

For longer trips, the shinkansen leaves from Hakata Station. Our day trips guide has 15 places worth the ride.

Working remotely while you're here? See Fukuoka for digital nomads for coworking spaces and the startup scene.

Groceries and everyday life 暮らし

Everything you need day to day is within a 5-minute walk of the studio: a 7-Eleven and a Lawson, a FamilyMart, a MaxValu supermarket and SUNNY, which is open 24 hours. Konbini are more useful than you'd think: hot meals, coffee, bill payment, printing and parcel pickup.

Bring a small towel and a reusable bag. Plastic bags cost a few yen, and many public restrooms don't have paper towels.

See the neighborhood map for walk times to everything nearby, and our conbini hacks for the fun stuff.

Trash, Fukuoka style ゴミ

Trash rules are the one thing that surprises everyone. In Fukuoka City, household garbage goes out at night, between sunset and midnight on your collection day, in city-designated garbage bags that you buy at supermarkets and konbini. Burnables, non-burnables and bottles or cans go in separate bags.

Don't worry about memorizing it. We'll walk you through the studio's collection days and sorting when you arrive, and the city publishes an English guide too.

Health and emergencies 緊急

• 119 for an ambulance or fire. 110 for the police.
• Drugstores are everywhere and carry most everyday medicines. Bring any prescription medication from home, in its original packaging.
• Keep your insurance details on your phone, and save the studio address in Japanese for taxis and clinics. We'll send it to you before check-in.
• Our local co-host is close by, and we're one LINE message away during your stay.