Easy Transportation Guide to the "Largest Outlet in Kyushu" Closest to Fukuoka City

▲ Dubbed the largest outlet in Kyushu—"Marinoa City Marinepia" (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-jun, same below)

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Fukuoka Reports

If you're heading to Tokyo or Osaka and want to shop at an outlet for bargains, you can choose Mitsui Outlet Park or Premium Outlets—opened in collaboration between Mitsubishi Estate and U.S. partners. Although Kyushu doesn’t yet have branches of these two outlet brands, if you’re looking for deals...Marinoa City Marinepia...is your best bet.

According to Asako Oda, Sales Planning Manager at Fukuoka Real Estate Co., Ltd., Marinoa City is known as the largest-scale outlet shopping center in Kyushu, with mostly well-known Japanese brands among its tenants. The mall houses a total of 120 outlet shops and 50 regular stores.In recent years, Marinoa City has also joined the Fukuoka Shopping Festival, where some shops offer discounts upon presenting a passport.

▲ %? Marinoa City covers a vast area, and another section offers views of the ocean. With fewer crowds, it provides a comfortable and spacious shopping environment.

Our reporter visited the site: while it spans a large area, the lower foot traffic allows visitors to shop in comfort. Staff members often provide one-on-one service, and along the first-floor storefronts, seating areas are available for travelers to rest anytime. Plus, another side of the mall faces the sea, offering beautiful views of Hakata Bay while dining at the restaurants.

There are two easiest ways to get to Marinoa City Outlet.

First method:Go to the A bus stop right in front of Hakata Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus 303 and ride it all the way to the terminal station—that’s Marinoa City. No transfers are needed, and the one-way trip takes about 40 minutes, around an hour during peak hours.

% Head to the A bus stop in front of Hakata Station. “Marinoa City Fukuoka” is Marinoa City.

Second method:Take the Airport Line subway to “Chikushi Station,” then transfer to a Showa Bus from the South Exit, which goes directly to Marinoa City. The entire journey takes about 30–40 minutes.

% This photo shows Chikushi Station (Photo / from Wikimedia Commons)

Travelers can purchase the "Fukuoka Tourist One-Day Pass"in advance at the Comprehensive Information Counter on the 1st floor of Hakata Station. It allows unlimited rides on subways, JR (limited to local and rapid trains), Nishitetsu Buses, and Showa Buses for one day. The adult fare is 820 yen, and the child fare is 410 yen, but it’s only available to foreign tourists, so a passport must be shown when purchasing.

The Fukuoka Tourist One-Day Pass is like a scratch card—the top part shows the month, the bottom part the date. Just scratch off the date you intend to use, and show the pass to the bus driver when boarding. For the subway, you cannot use the automatic ticket gates; instead, go to the manned gate and show your pass to the station staff to enter and exit.

% This photo from August shows the back of the ticket (see right image below) and the instruction manual. The one-day pass is like a scratch card—you just scratch off the current month and date to use it.

% You can also purchase the one-day pass at the Comprehensive Information Counter on the 1st floor of Hakata Station.

Additionally, when buying the one-day pass, you’ll also receive a guidebook. On the day of use, you can enjoy various entry discounts at 19 attractions including Fukuoka Tower, Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and the Oendoh Baseball Museum inside Fukuoka Dome.

Marinoa City Marinepia
Address: 2-12-30, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Official Website:http://www.marinoacity.com/
Business Hours: Stores 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Restaurants 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Ferris Wheel 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM