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Methods and history of transport in Fukuoka-Kitakyushu, Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Transport in Fukuoka-Kitakyushu is similar to that of other large cities in Japan, but with a high degree of private transport. The region is a hub of international ferry services and has a high degree of air connectivity and a considerable rail transport network, complemented with highways and surface streets. It includes public and private rail and highway networks; airports for international, domestic, and general aviation; buses; motorcycle delivery services, walking, bicycling, and commercial shipping. The foci of the public transport system are Hakata Station, Tenjin Station, and Kokura Station, in Fukuoka and Kitakyushu cities respectively. Between these two cities lies a more sparse weblike regional rail network.
The transit network consists of 32 surface and subterranean railway lines (see section on rail transport) operated by several and private operators. Monorails, trams, fixed-guideway lines and buses support this primary rail network. Like other cities in Japan, walking and bicycling is common.
The passenger rail network in Fukuoka-Kitakyushu metropolitan area (see also Northern Kyushu) is dense around the cities of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu and Shimonoseki, declining in density between and around the two primary cities. Passenger railway usage and density is lower than that of Greater Tokyo or Keihanshin, with the region having a little less than 6 million people. Similar to other areas of Japan, few free maps exist of the entire network; only stations of a particular company are shown, along with key transfer points. The Sanyō Shinkansen serves as the backbone of intercity rail transport connecting Hakata and Kokura Stations to Honshu. Kyūshū Shinkansen lines are completed on March 12, 2011, running to Kagoshima.
There are 33 operating passenger rail lines and a tourist-oriented cable car line in the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu area .
The bridge over the Kanmon Straits plays an important connectivity role in the region, supporting automobile, rail, and ferry traffic between Honshu and Kyushu islands.
Major area expressways include:
Several private and public bus companies operate with hundreds of routes throughout the region. Most local bus routes complement existing rail service to form an effective intermodal transit network.
Fukuoka Airport is the busiest airport in the region, serving international and domestic flights. Kitakyushu Airport is an international airport built on an artificial island in the Inland Sea, and serves as a major cargo hub for Kityakyushu area factories as well as a relief airport for Fukuoka.
Saga Airport also provide air services to the region. Just outside the region is Oita Airport and Kumamoto Airport.
There are also a number of Japan Air Self-Defense Force airfields.
Major area seaports include:
See List of ferry operators in Japan.
Because of its geographic proximity to Korea and China, the region is the major hub in Japan for international passenger ferries. Pukwan Ferry, Camelia Line, and high-speed ferry Beetle (JR Kyushu), Kobee operate out of both Hakata and Shimonseki, there are also ferry services to Shanghai and Dalian in China, Busan, Ulsan in Korea.
There are ferry services to Tsushima Island as well as major Japanese cities (such as Hiroshima, Osaka, Matsuyama, Tokushima, Kōbe and Tokyo) from Fukuoka, Kitakyushu, and Shimonoseki ports.
Within the Kanmon-Kitakyūshū area, there are three commuter ferry lines: the Wakato Ferry, the Kanmon Straits Ferry, and the Kanmon Straits Liner. There are services to some small islands near Kitakyushu and Fukuoka from their respective cities as well.
Shipping plays a major role moving freight in and out of the Fukuoka-Kitakyushu area. Finished automobiles for export are handled by ports in the region. With just-in-time requirements of automobile manufacturers and suppliers, Kitakyūshū Airport plays an important role as a hub for cargo and logistics.
The region is home to three regasification LNG terminals.
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In addition to the primary modes of transport—rail, bus, road, air, and sea—Greater Fukuoka offers several other transportation options that contribute to its comprehensive transit network.
Cycling is an increasingly popular mode of transport in Greater Fukuoka, particularly for short-distance travel within the city. Fukuoka City has invested in cycling infrastructure, including dedicated bike lanes and bike-sharing programs. The “Chari Chari[1]” bike-sharing service, for example, allows residents and visitors to rent bicycles from various locations across the city, promoting an eco-friendly and healthy alternative to motorized transport. The city’s relatively flat terrain makes it conducive to cycling, and many residents use bicycles for commuting, shopping, and recreational activities.
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