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Life in Fukuoka
Fukuoka City, the largest city in Fukuoka Prefecture, faces the sea in the north and is surrounded by mountains in the south. It is a compact city with unique community-building and urban features and also enjoys easy access to a wide range of overseas countries. The cost of living, including rent, is reasonable, with many residents calling it a comfortable city to live in. Fukuoka City has an open culture that welcomes all people--from Japan and abroad--and provides a wide range of support for daily living through public services.
Statistics and public services for life in Fukuoka
Fukuoka’s consumer price index, including rent, is relatively low compared to other major cities in Japan. Overall, 96 .2% of residents call Fukuoka a comfortable city to live in, noting its urban environment, food, and ease of shopping.
- 1.Business and Investment Environment in Kyushu, Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (March 2021)
- 2.Investment Cost Comparison, Information by Country/Region, JETRO (2019-2021)
- 3.Global Statistics, Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2021)
- 4.Regional Consumer Price Indices, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (September 2021)
Consumer awareness survey (Fukuoka Voice) results regarding public services, 2022 (Fukuoka City)
To support foreign nationals living in Fukuoka, the Fukuoka Multilingual Assistance and Information Center offers a full range of consultation services in 22 languages. The consultations cover a wide range of topics, including employment and work, medical treatment, housing, education, and other concerns in daily life, as well as visa procedures and legal matters. The center accepts inquiries at the support desk and by phone or email.
Fukuoka International Exchange Foundation/Fukuoka Multilingual Assistance and Information Center
Medical institutions
Fukuoka Prefecture has a relatively large number of hospitals for residents, ranking 4th in the nation and 18th in the number of hospitals per capita. Some hospitals also provide patients with multilingual support in English, etc., along with services such as interpretation over the phone and dispatch of medical translation volunteers.
Fukuoka also boasts of advanced medical institutions such as Fukuoka Children’s Hospital, which is an advanced pediatric hospital.
Rankings: Number of hospitals
| 1 | Tokyo | 33,793 |
| 2 | Osaka | 22,675 |
| 3 | Aichi | 19,367 |
| 4 | Fukuoka | 18,195 |
| 5 | Kanagawa | 16,601 |
2021 Ranking of prefectures with the most hospitals(Nippon Software Service Co., Ltd.)
Fukuoka International Medical Support Center
To improve the medical environment for foreign nationals in Fukuoka, this center provides telephone interpretation services, dispatches medical translation volunteers, etc.
Fukuoka City Medical Interpreting Call Center
This center offers telephone interpretation service through two-way or three-way calls between foreign nationals living in or visiting Fukuoka City, hospitals, pharmacies that accept prescriptions, etc., and the call center.
The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) website for visitors to Japan provides a search function for medical institutions (hub hospitals designated by the municipality as hospitals accepting foreign nationals) that can conduct medical consultations in foreign languages.
Education
Fukuoka City has Fukuoka International School, a school certified by the International Baccalaureate Organization. This is the only school in Kyushu certified by the organization and provides education in English from kindergarten to high school. It is also certified by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC, U.S.). Some private schools in Fukuoka offer junior and senior high school courses certified by the International Baccalaureate Organization.
Foreign nationals can enroll in public elementary schools and junior high schools free of charge (free tuition and textbooks).
Japanese language lessons for foreign nationals are offered at about 100 locations in Fukuoka.
Housing
The Fukuoka City International Foundation website lists contact information for real estate agents who provide services in foreign languages and accept inquiries about public housing. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism has published the “Apartment Search Guidebook (for foreigners looking for houses in Japan)” and “Guide to Looking for a Home” for foreign nationals who are looking for apartments in Japan.
Fukuoka City International Foundation
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and TourismApartment Search Guidebook (for foreigners looking for houses in Japan)
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) website