In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Tosu
鳥栖
Spend a half‑day in Tosu, mainly for the Shinkansen stop and quick park visits; one night only if you need a rest before heading to Fukuoka or Saga.
Tosu is a transport hub on the Kyūshū Shinkansen with easy links to Fukuoka (13 min, ¥2,310) and Saga (20 min, ¥1,280). Its attractions – Azumaya pool, Asahiyama Park, Kawachi Dam – are within a 20‑minute bus ride, making a half‑day visit feasible. Overnight stays are only needed for train‑timing convenience.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 鳥栖
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, possible service delays)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Ramen bowl | ¥700–¥1,200 |
| Beer (draft) | ¥500–¥800 |
| Bus ride (city) | ¥250–¥330 |
| Shinkansen ticket Hakata ↔ Tosu | ¥2,310 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- FUK · Fukuoka Airport
- ≈40 min by car; subway to Hakata then JR to Tosu.
- HSG · Saga Airport
- ≈1 h 20 min by limousine taxi (¥1,200) or bus + train.
Typical fares
- Fukuoka Airport → Tosu (limousine taxi)
- ≈ ¥1,200, 1 h 20 min
- Shinkansen Hakata → Tosu
- ¥2,310, 13 min (check)
- Local Rapid Tosu → Hakata
- ¥560, 30–35 min
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR local and Limited‑Express trains (30–35 min to Hakata, ¥560) plus city buses (8‑20 min rides, ¥250‑¥330). No car needed for main sights.
See and do
Known for
- Kyūshū Shinkansen junction
- Azumaya natural pool
- Asahiyama Park hill
- Kawachi Dam area
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Azumaya natural pool | Bus from Tosu Station to Azumabashi, 20 min, ¥250 | ≈30 min total |
| Asahiyama Park | 5 min walk from Shin‑Tosu Station | ≈10 min total |
| Kawachi Dam area | Bus to Shimin‑no‑mori, 30 min, ¥330 | ≈45 min total |
Sleep
- Tosu Station area
- Convenient for Shinkansen transfers; several business hotels within 5 min walk.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited‑Express trains run roughly two per hour; check latest timetable for peak‑season changes.
- Bus frequencies drop after 19:00; plan return trips earlier.
- Shinkansen tickets may require reservation during holidays; consider a nimai‑kippu day pass (¥2,260).
Tosu is generally safe; stay alert on trains after midnight and watch bus timetables for late service.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tosu yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kyūshū Shinkansen junction
- Azumaya natural pool
- Asahiyama Park hill
- Kawachi Dam area
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Tosu city official site: www.city.tosu.lg.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Tosu, revision 5042206 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5042206
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tosu). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.