The largest city on Japan's southern island of Kyushu, Fukuoka has been an important harbor and gateway to the Asian continent since ancient times. It was the site of the Mongol invasion attempts of 1274 and 1281, thwarted by the legendary 'kamikaze' typhoons. The city is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen and is famous for its yatai — open-air food stalls that line the Naka River each evening.
Nights sit around 22°C and afternoons around 29°C, though some days reach 33°C.
Fukuoka has real seasons: summer afternoons sit around 31°C, winter ones around 11°C.
Some summer days reach 36°C, and some winter nights drop to 1°C.
Most of the rain falls in summer, least in winter. In July it rains about 12 days in 30; in December, 9.
Wind is rarely an issue; most months sit between calm and a light breeze. Air quality is worth watching: April averages an AQI of 71, while October clears to 55.
Days stretch to about 14.2 hours of light in June and shrink to 9.8 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
No month in Fukuoka matches what you're after, so come for the place rather than the weather. Expect fast internet (240 Mbps) and a moderate cost of living (about €1500 a month).
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