Car Rental in Fukuoka: Airport and Hakata Station's 39 Branches Compared

Choosing a rental car in Fukuoka

Fukuoka Prefecture has two main places to compare rental branches: Fukuoka Airport with 23 branches from 11 companies, and Hakata Station with 16 from nine. Neither has a 24-hour branch.

This guide shows which place suits your trip, how pickup differs between the domestic and international terminals, which branches take cars rented elsewhere, and how rates differ on Japanese and foreign licences.

• Landing on a domestic flight: the domestic terminal has no rental counters. The main branches you can walk to are Nippon and Nissan (3 minutes), Toyota Fukuoka Airport (about 5 minutes), Nico Nico Fukuoka Kukomae 3-chome (6 minutes), and Toyota Usui and Times Fukuoka Airport (8 minutes). Most others are reached by shuttle.
• Landing on an international flight: most companies check you in at a counter on the first floor of the international terminal, then take you to the branch by shuttle. Eight branches serve the international side.
• Arriving at Hakata Station by Shinkansen or JR: only Eki Rent-a-Car is inside the station; until 19:00, it checks you in at the general information centre on the first-floor concourse. Outside the station, Nissan Hakata Station Marui (connected to the Hakata Exit) and Nissan Hakata Shinkansen Ekimae (straight across from the Chikushi Exit) are 2 minutes on foot.
• Staying in Hakata or Tenjin first: you can take the train into the city on arrival and rent at Hakata Station on the morning you leave. Compare the rental charge and hotel parking for unused days against renting at the airport from day one.
• Renting at the airport and returning at Hakata Station: Nippon, Toyota and Orix accept cars rented elsewhere at both places. Nissan's two Hakata Station branches and Times do not accept cars rented elsewhere.
• Arriving or returning late: the latest closing is 21:00, at Nissan Fukuoka Airport (weekdays), Nico Nico Fukuoka Airport Shime (Monday to Saturday) and Nissan Hakata Station Marui (returns until 20:30).
• Keeping the cost down: on standard compact rates before discounts for a Japanese licence, Eki Rent-a-Car at Hakata Station (¥8,470 for 24 hours) and Toyota (¥8,580) are lowest among the major companies. Among smaller companies, Guts at Hakata Station is ¥4,070, Carsta at the airport ¥4,500, Suzuki at the airport ¥5,500 and Nico Nico ¥5,610. Guts includes no vehicle damage cover and limits you to 300 km per 24 hours. Foreign-licence prices and eligibility differ; see the rates section.

Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station compared

Fukuoka Airport's branches are split between the domestic and international sides. Some can be reached on foot from Exit A of the domestic terminal, and others by shuttle. The international terminal is some way from the domestic terminal, linked by a free airport shuttle bus. Nippon's and Nico Nico's international-side branches do not collect from the domestic terminal, so book a branch on the side where you land.

Hakata Station has Eki Rent-a-Car inside the station, 10 branches on the Chikushi side (east) and five on the Hakata side (west), most 2–10 minutes on foot. Choosing a branch on the same side as your hotel or next destination saves crossing the station.

The return differs as well. At the airport, watch your flight time and terminal. At Hakata Station, watch for branches that do not accept returns or handle departures only.

The first table compares the two places. The tables after it list every branch, with each name linking to its branch page. Hours are the regular ones. For rentals in Kitakyushu (Kokura Station or Kitakyushu Airport), use the branch search on each company's website.

Fukuoka Airport branches

Hakata Station branches

Rental companies in Fukuoka compared

The two places have 39 branches from 13 companies.

One-way fees and company rules are in the Japan rental-company comparison. The five companies below show how Fukuoka branches and cover differ.

Reference rates and cover

The table shows standard compact rates for companies with branches at Fukuoka Airport and Hakata Station: regular season, before discounts, for a Japanese licence.

On a foreign licence, Toyota uses a separate rate list: C1 is ¥10,340 for the first 24 hours and ¥8,690 for each additional 24 hours, against ¥8,580 and ¥7,260 in the table. To rent on a foreign licence, bring an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention and your passport, or, for licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, the licence with a Japanese translation and your passport.

Nico Nico requires the renter to complete the contract in Japanese, without an interpreter or translation app, and some branches do not accept an IDP; Guts generally does not rent on an IDP.

The cover names and prices that remove the NOC are compared in CDW and NOC.

Pickup and return in Fukuoka

Returning at the airport for your flight

Fukuoka Airport branches close between 18:00 and 21:00, a three-hour spread. Those that close at 18:00 are Orix International Terminal, Honda Cars Hakata Rent a Car and Nico Nico International Terminal Front (Monday to Saturday). Toyota's three airport branches close on 25 August.

If your arrival and departure terminals differ, what happens after the return changes. Nippon's domestic-side branch has no shuttle, so you walk back to the terminal. Those that take you to the international terminal after you return include Nippon International (5 minutes by car) and Times International (about 15 minutes). Refuelling on the way back to the branch saves a rush.

Returning at Hakata Station

Cars rented at Nippon Hakata Station Shinkansen Chikushi Exit go back to Tokobashi, 7 minutes on foot from the Chikushi Exit; the Chikushi Exit branch does not take returns. If you want a lift back to the Chikushi Exit branch, ask when you set off, though you cannot choose the time. On a day with a fixed train, allow for the walk from Tokobashi to the station.

Nissan Hakata Station Marui opens until 21:00, but returns end at 20:30. If you rent a large vehicle, watch for branches that cannot handle some classes because of their car parks (Nissan's two) or have an entrance height limit (Nippon Hakata Exit).

One-way rentals between the airport and Hakata Station

If you fly in and leave by Shinkansen, you can rent at the airport and return at Hakata Station. Nippon, Toyota and Orix accept cars rented elsewhere at both places. Nippon and Orix charge nothing when the branches are less than 20 km apart, and Toyota charges nothing between branches in the same prefecture and area. Name the return branch in the booking to see the actual fee.

One-way rentals to other Kyushu prefectures

If you continue to Kumamoto, Nagasaki or Kagoshima and return there, shortlist the company and return branch first. Nico Nico Fukuoka Airport and International Terminal accept one-way rentals to Nagasaki Airport, Kagoshima Airport and Kumamoto Airport by telephone booking. Sky allows returns only within the same area, and Guts does not accept one-way rentals. Branches on the Kumamoto side are compared in Car rental in Kumamoto.

Frequently asked questions

Should I rent at Fukuoka Airport or Hakata Station?

Fukuoka Airport suits you if you land and head straight out of the city. Hakata Station suits a Shinkansen arrival or a trip that starts after a night in Hakata or Tenjin. The airport has 23 branches, most reached by shuttle. Hakata Station has Eki Rent-a-Car inside and branches within walking distance of the Hakata and Chikushi exits.

Which company has the lowest rate?

On standard compact rates before discounts for a Japanese licence, Guts at Hakata Station (¥4,070) and Carsta at the airport (¥4,500) are lowest. Guts includes no vehicle damage cover and has a mileage limit. Carsta's rate list does not say whether tax is included, and its airport shuttle needs a telephone booking by the day before. Among the major companies, Eki Rent-a-Car at Hakata Station is ¥8,470 and Toyota ¥8,580. Member and online discounts change the price, so narrow your choice to two or three companies and compare them in the booking.

Can I rent at Fukuoka Airport and return at Hakata Station?

Nippon, Toyota and Orix accept cars rented elsewhere at both places. Nissan's two Hakata Station branches and Times do not. Nippon's Chikushi Exit branch handles departures only, so name Tokobashi or Hakata Exit if you return to Nippon. Check the fee in the booking.

Can I rent or return late at night?

There is no 24-hour branch. The latest closing is 21:00, at Nissan Fukuoka Airport (weekdays), Nico Nico Fukuoka Airport Shime (Monday to Saturday) and Nissan Hakata Station Marui (returns until 20:30). Nippon Fukuoka Airport cannot be booked for a flight arriving at 20:00, and Nissan does not help outside opening hours when flights are delayed. Include check-in and transfer time when you check you can make closing.

Where are the rental counters for domestic flights?

Fukuoka Airport's domestic terminal has no rental counters. After collecting your bags, leave by Exit A on the south side, then either walk to the branch or wait for a shuttle at the pickup point. The waiting place depends on the company, so check it on your branch's page in the table above.

Guides to read before booking

• Rental companies, rates and cover in Japan
• Driving in Japan with a foreign licence
• Accidents, scratches, punctures, breakdowns and parking fines
• CDW and NOC
• Refuelling and returning the car