{"id":169839,"date":"2025-03-27T18:47:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T09:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=169839&lang=en"},"modified":"2025-03-28T11:46:30","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T02:46:30","slug":"fukuoka-airport-renewal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/en\/fukuoka-airport-renewal\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Upgrades at Fukuoka Airport: New Departure Area, Duty-Free Zone, and Food Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fukuoka Now Attends Exclusive Press Preview<\/strong>
\nFukuoka Airport, located just minutes from the city center, continues to strengthen its position as a key gateway to Kyushu. In 2024, the airport welcomed a record-breaking 26.76 million passengers, including 8.5 million international travelers\u2014the highest number ever recorded (Osaka Aviation Bureau, preliminary data).<\/p>\n

To meet growing demand, the airport opened its second runway on March 20, and from Friday, March 28, the newly expanded north-side section of the International Terminal will open to the public.<\/p>\n

Fukuoka Now joined a press-only preview tour of the new facilities on March 27. Here\u2019s a summary of what\u2019s new and what travelers can expect:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Expanded Arrival Lobby and Japan\u2019s First Arrival Duty-Free Shop<\/strong>
\nThe arrival lobby has been enlarged and updated, giving it a brighter and more open appearance. One of the key new features is Japan\u2019s first-ever arrival duty-free shop, which opened on March 19. Located near baggage claim on the 1st floor, the shop offers a selection of liquor, tobacco, TWG Tea, BACHA Coffee, and other popular international items.<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

Departures Area Upgrades (Opening March 28)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Security and Immigration Enhancements (3F Departures)<\/strong>
\n\u2022 The security screening area has been moved to the north side and significantly expanded.
\n\u2022 Seven smart security lanes have been introduced, doubling processing capacity.
\n\u2022 The system is expandable to 11 lanes as needed.<\/p>\n

A new priority lane has been added, available to:
\n\u2022 First and business class passengers
\n\u2022 Travelers requiring assistance
\n\u2022 Members of the new Fukuoka Biz (FukuBiz) corporate program offered by Fukuoka Airport<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

New and Expanded Duty-Free Area (3F Departures)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 The duty-free shopping area has increased in size from 1,500 m2 to 6,000 m2\u2014roughly four times larger than before.
\n\u2022 In addition to standard duty-free items like fashion, cosmetics, liquor, and tobacco, a strong focus is placed on Japanese designer brands.<\/p>\n

A total of 45 new brands have been added, including:
\n\u2022 ISSEY MIYAKE
\n\u2022 KENZO
\n\u2022 Onitsuka Tiger
\n\u2022 PORTER
\n\u2022 Maison MIHARA YASUHIRO
\n\u2022 BLUE BLUE JAPAN FUKUOKA<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

Food Hall Showcasing Local Flavors (3F Departures)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

A new Food Hall features eight food and drink establishments, offering a variety of dishes representing Fukuoka and Kyushu. Tenants include:
\n\u2022 Kamakiri Udon<\/strong> \u2013 Fukuoka-style udon with izakaya fare
\n\u2022 Reilly<\/strong> \u2013 Hamburg steak and caf\u00e9
\n\u2022 Takenoya<\/strong> \u2013 Charcoal-grilled yakitori and grilled eel
\n\u2022 Umino Shokudo<\/strong> \u2013 Seafood rice bowls using ingredients from Nagahama
\n\u2022 Yatai Maruni<\/strong> \u2013 Tempura and pan-fried gyoza
\n\u2022 Rakutenchi<\/strong> \u2013 Fukuoka\u2019s signature motsunabe hotpot
\n\u2022 Anzu<\/strong> \u2013 Tonkatsu made with domestic pork
\n\u2022 Kochan Ramen<\/strong> \u2013 Produced by the popular Hakata-style ramen chain Ikkousha<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

\"FukuokaKochan Ramen, produced by Ikkousha, known for its rich and creamy Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen.<\/p>\n

\"FukuokaKamakiri Udon, a popular Fukuoka shop that blends traditional udon with izakaya-style dishes.<\/p>\n

\"FukuokaTender pork fillet cutlet from a specialty tonkatsu shop, made with domestic pork. Best enjoyed with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce\u2014classic style.<\/p>\n

Cultural Landmark: YAGURA Installation<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In the center of the new duty-free area stands an impressive 8.7-meter-tall YAGURA, constructed from sake barrels and decorated with Hakata-ori image textiles and Yame paper lanterns. The symbolic installation highlights traditional local crafts and serves as a cultural focal point in the departures area.<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

Additional Improvements Across the Terminal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Arrival Baggage Claim<\/strong>
\nThe number of arrival baggage carousels has been increased from 4 to 8 to reduce waiting times and improve overall flow.<\/p>\n

Access and Transportation
\nA new Access Hall (opened in December 2024) will serve as a central hub for arrivals. It will include:
\n\u2022 Shuttle bus<\/a>, taxi, and car rental facilities
\n\u2022 Tourist information center and foreign currency exchange
\n\u2022 Wi-Fi rental and digital guidance systems
\n\u2022 Design accents using locally sourced wood and materials<\/p>\n

A dedicated shuttle bus road is also being implemented to reduce transfer time between the domestic and international terminals:
\n\u2022 Currently: approx. 15 minutes
\n\u2022 After dedicated shuttle lane opens (by the end of FY2025): approx. 10 minute
\n\u2022 Future target (by 2027): approx. 5 minutes<\/p>\n

Self Check-In and Baggage Drop<\/strong>
\n\u2022 By May 2025, the number of Self Baggage Drop (SBD) machines will increase from 26 to 38.
\n\u2022 Combined with CUSS self-check-in kiosks, these upgrades aim to reduce congestion at airline counters.<\/p>\n

Business and Lounge Facilities<\/strong>
\n\u2022 The IME International paid lounge was renovated in June 2023 with upgraded furniture and interior design inspired by Hakata-style hospitality.
\n\u2022 Two meeting rooms were added in July 2023 for use before or after flights. These are equipped with monitors, microphones, Wi-Fi, and sofa seating.<\/p>\n

A renovated airline lounge will open in September 2024, featuring:
\n\u2022 Expanded seating with views of the runway
\n\u2022 Regional dishes and sake from Fukuoka<\/p>\n

Design Concept: \u201cFukuoka-ness\u201d and Japanese Sensibility<\/strong>
\nThe design throughout the terminal emphasizes a sense of place. Local wood, traditional craftsmanship, and seasonal themes are featured prominently, including:
\n\u2022 Okawa furniture, Hakata-ori textiles, and Yame lanterns
\n\u2022 Garden-style spaces and seating areas
\n\u2022 Lighting and displays inspired by the four seasons<\/p>\n

The result is a terminal that not only improves function but also reflects Fukuoka\u2019s character and hospitality.<\/p>\n

\"Fukuoka<\/p>\n

Facility Information<\/strong>
\nFukuoka Airport International Passenger Terminal
\n\u2022 739 Aoki, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City<\/a>
\n\u2022 Open daily: 5:00 AM \u2013 9:30 PM
\n\u2022 Website: https:\/\/www.fukuoka-airport.jp\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fukuoka Airport, located just minutes from the city center, continues to strengthen its position as a key gateway to Kyushu…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29305,"featured_media":169872,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/?p=169839&lang=en","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4912,5173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-169839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-places","category-travel","location-fukuoka-prefecture","en-US"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/airport-renewal-SNS-025.jpg?fit=1400%2C1050&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169839","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29305"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=169839"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":169879,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/169839\/revisions\/169879"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/169872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=169839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=169839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fukuoka-now.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=169839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}