Fukuoka Public Pools | Locations, Prices & Essential Tips
The weather’s already getting warm and humid, so it really felt like summer was on its way! Have you all started planning your summer vacations yet? 😆
At the beginning of this June, I headed off on an overseas business trip for the first time in a while—to Fukuoka, Japan!
But I’ve been completely obsessed with swimming for more than three years. Whether I traveled for work or vacation, I always had to check out at least one local pool before I felt satisfied. 😂
A record from when I visited Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium during a business trip to Tokyo last March.
So this time, I wanted to experience a real public pool used by locals. After digging through tons of information and getting fully prepared, I put together everything I’d learned about Fukuoka swimming pools, along with some Japanese pool culture tips.
💰 Diving into Affordable Fukuoka Public Pools
In Seoul, admission fees vary from one public sports center to another, but in Fukuoka, almost all civic pools reportedly charged the same fixed rate. WOW!
During the summer season from May through October, admission for adults was 320 yen for two hours. Based on the exchange rate at the time, that came out to just 3,015 KRW. The value was incredible.
One thing to remember: swimsuits, goggles, swim caps, and towels weren’t available for rental, so make sure to pack everything you need. 😉
📍 With Great Access: Top 5 Pools
Fukuoka had a huge number of public pools, but I picked out five that seemed especially convenient for travelers and business visitors.
And all of them came with amazing natural light as a bonus!
1. 주오 시민 수영장 (Fukuoka City Chuo Civic Pool)
If you stayed around Tenjin, this was the place to go. It was only a six-minute bus ride from Tenjin.
🕹️ Location: 14-30 Nishikoen, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka (30 seconds from the “Chuo Shimin Pool” bus stop)
⏰ Hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (Closed every Thursday and the third Wednesday of each month)
📏 Facilities: Six 25m lanes (depth 1.1–1.2m), one children’s lane
Fukuoka City Chuo Ward Public Pool
14-30 Nishikōen, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0061, Japan
2. 하카타 시민 수영장 (Fukuoka City Hakata Civic Pool)
If you stayed in the Hakata area, Hakata Civic Pool was a great option.
Its biggest advantage was the ability to check real-time crowd levels online. If you hated crowded pools and wanted plenty of space to swim, this one seemed perfect.
I originally planned to visit this pool myself. 😆 (Though I ended up choosing a different one. If you’re curious about that review, check the link near the end of this post!)
🕹️ Location: 1-9-15 Higashinaka, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka (5-minute walk from the “Kamihandobashi” bus stop)
⏰ Hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (Closed every Wednesday and the second Thursday of each month)
📏 Facilities: Six 25m lanes (depth 1.05–1.15m), one children’s lane
Fukuoka City Hakata Public Swimming Pool
1-chōme-9-15 Higashinaka, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0892, Japan
3. 액시온 후쿠오카 현립 종합 수영장 (Axion Fukuoka Prefectural Swimming Pool)
Located inside Higashihirao Park, this was a competition-focused swimming venue that even hosted international events. During competitions, lane availability could change, so checking the monthly schedule on the official website was recommended.
Because it featured a 50m pool, the pricing was slightly different at 470 yen for two hours, including a locker. Still very affordable!
🕹️ Location: 2-1-3 Higashihiraokoen, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka (4 minutes from the “Axion Fukuoka-mae” bus stop)
⏰ Hours: Weekdays from 1:00 PM (9:00 AM during July–September), weekends from 9:00 AM (Closed Mondays)
📏 Facilities: Eight 50m lanes, eight 25m lanes
Prefectural Swimming Pool (Axion Fukuoka)
2-chōme-1-3 Higashihiraokōen, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka, 812-0852, Japan
4. 히가시 시민 수영장 (Fukuoka City Higashi Civic Pool)
🕹️ Location: 2-42-1 Najima, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka (5 minutes from Najima Station)
⏰ Hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (Closed Fridays and the last Thursday of each month)
📏 Facilities: Six 25m lanes (depth 1.1–1.2m)
Fukuoka City Higashi Civic Pool
2-chōme-42-1 Najima, Higashi Ward, Fukuoka, 813-0043, Japan
5. 미나미 시민 수영장 (Fukuoka City Minami Civic Pool)
It was about 10 minutes by bus from Nishitetsu Ohashi Station.
Like Hakata Civic Pool, this facility also allowed visitors to check real-time crowd levels through its website.
🕹️ Location: 3-31-1 Miyake, Minami Ward, Fukuoka (3 minutes from the “Wada” bus stop)
⏰ Hours: 9:00 AM–9:00 PM (Closed Thursdays and the last day of each month)
📏 Facilities: Six 25m lanes (depth 1.1–1.2m)
Fukuoka City Minami Public Swimming Pool
3-chōme-31-1 Miyake, Minami Ward, Fukuoka, 811-1344, Japan
⌚ With Japanese Pool Rules: Smartwatches Restricted?
Most Japanese pools prohibited smartwatches for safety reasons. As someone who liked tracking swim sessions, that was disappointing. 😭
However, they allowed smartwatches if they were covered with a special silicone protective band. I still had one that I’d reluctantly bought at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium before, so I packed it for this Fukuoka trip. If you planned to wear a smartwatch, it was worth getting one in advance.
A jelly-style band that cost me nearly 15,000 KRW at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
💬 Wrapping Up
Being able to experience a local Japanese swimming pool for just 320 yen felt like a huge advantage. If you’re as passionate about swimming as I am, I’d definitely recommend stopping by one of these pools during your Fukuoka trip or business visit. I planned to share a real review after my visit, too!
Lastly, huge thanks to the Fukuoka Now web magazine, which helped me gather so much of this useful information.
🔗 Fukuoka Civic Pool Visit Review
If you’re curious about my detailed review of the pool I actually visited, click the link below.
Fukuoka Sogo Civic Pool | Everything from how to use the 3.3m-deep pool to locker tips that didn’t require coins!
I previously gathered information on Fukuoka public pools and ranked the top five based on proximity to downtown…
m.blog.naver.com
Think swimming isn’t enough? Check out my other Fukuoka posts as well and enjoy your trip even more. ❣️
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