Position of Fukuoka Prefecture
Fukuoka, Gateway to the World
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Economic and cultural hub
Located in the southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu consists of the island of Kyushu and surrounding isles.
Fukuoka Prefecture is the economic and cultural center of Kyushu with nearly 30% of Kyushu’s total population and 40% of Kyushu’s GDP, thereby playing an active role as a central city in western Japan.
Focal point for international exchange, especially with other Asian countries
Located in close proximity to other East Asian cities such as Busan (approx. 200 km away), Seoul (approx. 600 km) and Shanghai (approx. 900 km), Fukuoka enjoys geographical advantages, which have facilitated development of a wide range of industries and academic institutions in the prefecture. Based on these strengths, Fukuoka has increasingly become an important base for partnerships and collaboration with other Asian countries.
Convenient domestic/international transportation network
Some of Japan’s major transportation infrastructure, such as Fukuoka Airport, Kitakyushu Air Terminal, and the ports of Hakata and Kitakyushu, are located in Fukuoka Prefecture, enabling convenient transportation between Fukuoka and domestic and overseas destinations. Construction of additional transportation networks is also underway, including a shinkansen line from Fukuoka to Kagoshima, which will open in 2011, and expressways to build a large loop-shaped highway system covering all of Kyushu.
Fukuoka Airport, Japan’s 4th largest airport in terms of number of passengers (as of 2005)
In its July 3–July 10 issue, Newsweek, a renowned U.S. economics and culture magazine, selected the fastest-growing cities of the world’s major economies, based on UN survey data. Along with London (UK) and Munich (Germany), Fukuoka was on the list of the world’s hottest cities. This can be attributed to the city’s achievements such as industrial development in the automobile and semiconductor sectors and proactive partnerships with other Asian countries through economic and cultural activities.
Fukuoka was chosen as the best shopping city and the 17th most livable city by Monocle, a British popular magazine, in its July/August special double issue. The magazine highly appreciated Fukuoka’s attractions in terms of food and shopping despite its small urban size compared to Tokyo.