Cheap Japan Travel Guide: Food, Hidden Spots & Retro Game Hunting in Fukuoka

Enjoy Tourism and Retro Game Hunting in Japan — Feel Ultra-Rich in Budget-Friendly Japan

Let’s go to Japan! The number of travelers visiting Japan has been increasing year by year, and it’s expected to continue accelerating. The reason is simple: the weak yen. As of 2024, a Big Mac costs around 1,250 yen in the United States. In Japan, it’s less than half that. For foreign visitors, it might feel so cheap that they’ll wonder if they’ve arrived in paradise. Southeast Asia is certainly cheap as well—but the quality tends to match the price. Japan, however, is a rare country where low prices and high quality coexist. That’s why people from all over the world flock to this small island nation. Most tourists just say, “The food is great, it’s cheap, sightseeing is fun,” and leave it at that. But you’re lucky—you’ve come here. Because here, you can take it a step further: enjoy sightseeing while hunting for unbelievably cheap retro games! “Akihabara? Yeah… I’ve been there.” Going to overcrowded places like that will just wear you out. Instead, I want to suggest Kyushu. Fukuoka in Kyushu is a sacred ground of B-grade gourmet food, attracting food lovers from China, Korea, and beyond. Ramen is especially famous. But when people say “Fukuoka,” haven’t you only been to Tenjin or Hakata? That’s an incredible waste. Because in southern Fukuoka, there are still countless hidden culinary gems waiting to be discovered. This area is still largely unknown to foreign tourists, meaning fewer crowds and a far more relaxed travel experience.

■ How to Get There

After landing at the airport, head to Hakata first. From there, take the JR line to Tenjin Fukuoka.

Tenjin Station is directly connected to the Mitsukoshi department store. It’s a huge complex, so you might feel a bit lost about where to enter. But don’t worry—ticket gates are located in multiple directions, and right next to them you’ll find ticket machines, so it’s easy to figure out. Buy a ticket to Kurume, go through the gate, and you’ll see the timetable. At first glance it might look complicated, but this is the starting station, so all trains go in one direction—you can basically take any train and still reach Kurume. That said, you might as well take the limited express. Limited express trains are shown in red, express trains in green, and local trains in white. The limited express is the fastest, so that’s your best choice. However, seats are usually full. If you prefer to sit and take it easy, go with a local train instead. It’s also a great way to enjoy the countryside scenery.

Kurume is an easy trip, so you might even consider booking your hotel there. It’s much cheaper than staying in Fukuoka. Once you’ve dropped off your luggage, it’s time to head out—let’s go hunt for retro games and grab some great food! Here, you can enjoy ramen, fried rice, and gyoza to kick things off. There are also famous shrimp restaurants. You can eat there for about 3,000 yen—roughly the same as a burger in the U.S., but the quality difference is like heaven and earth. It might be so cheap that Americans could faint. But don’t forget the retro game hunt.

About a 10-minute walk from Nishitetsu Kurume Station, there’s an old, well-worn shop filled with incredibly cheap retro games. You’ll probably end up stuffing your backpack full in no time.

You could stop here—but why not go further? Stay overnight at a cheap business hotel for about 4,000 yen ($30), and head further south the next day. Take a limited express train about 20 minutes south to Yanagawa. It may feel a bit quiet, but don’t worry—this is Japan, so it’s safe. From there, take a bus. The final stop is Saga Station. You could go all the way there, but I recommend getting off earlier. There’s a famous eel restaurant nearby. It’s a place packed with discerning Japanese customers, so you know it’s good. And even if it’s full, don’t worry—just walk a bit and you’ll find another excellent spot. After eating, head back to the bus stop and take a bus toward Saga Station. Get on from the left-side stop (in the direction of travel). Next stop: retro games again. Get off at the second stop. There’s a reuse shop there with a wide selection of cheap retro games—you definitely don’t want to miss it. Finally, arrive at Saga Station. Drop your luggage at your hotel, then explore Saga Castle or learn about the history of late Edo-period revolutionaries. And yes—there are more retro games here too. There’s a Saga branch of the reuse shop you visited earlier, and the selection is quite different, making it worth a visit. At night, grab dinner somewhere nearby, then head back to Fukuoka. For sightseeing in Fukuoka, feel free to check out typical guidebook spots. But when it comes to retro games, there’s one place you should know: Culture Arts. They stock rare titles at surprisingly low prices. Honestly, I’d rather keep this place a secret—but it can’t be helped. Instead of getting ripped off in Akihabara, you’re much better off buying here. There used to be great shops in Akihabara, but unfortunately many have closed. Here, though—you’re sure to find something special.