Only in Japan Go — Transcripts
Summaries + full diarized transcripts
2019-11-15 · Ep 569 · 25m

Fukuoka Airport International to Domestic Shuttle Adventure

Fukuokaairport transporttravel logisticsshuttle buscar rental
Summary

Fukuoka Airport International to Domestic Shuttle Adventure

Overview

In this episode, John and Kanae Daub navigate the logistics of Fukuoka Airport, one of Japan's most convenient entry points. Having arrived at the Domestic Terminal, they need to reach the International Terminal to pick up guests for the upcoming Asia Spelling Cup. Unlike many major airports connected by trains, Fukuoka relies on a free shuttle bus system to move passengers between terminals.

John documents the entire process live, from finding the bus stop to boarding the shuttle and looping around the runway. He provides practical information about bus frequency, terminal layouts, and the unique experience of driving on airport tarmac roads. Along the way, he interacts with live stream viewers, shares tips on car rentals, and highlights the multicultural environment of Kyushu's main airport.

The journey concludes at the International Arrivals hall, where John prepares to rent a car for the next leg of their trip. This video serves as a practical guide for travelers transitioning between terminals at Fukuoka Airport, emphasizing the ease of access and free transport options available.

Highlights

  • 00:12 John introduces the journey from Domestic to International terminal.
  • 02:05 Locating the shuttle bus stop (Number 2) near Toyota Rent-A-Car.
  • 04:05 Reviewing the bus timetable and frequency (every 4-6 minutes).
  • 05:31 Boarding etiquette explained (wait for passengers to exit first).
  • 08:41 Multilingual announcements played on the bus (10 languages).
  • 09:33 Front row seats secured for the best view of the runway.
  • 11:00 Driving around the runway and spotting airplanes landing.
  • 12:52 Discussion on Kyushu tourism popularity with Chinese visitors.
  • 17:25 Arrival at International Terminal and exit process.
  • 21:21 Car rental logistics and meeting live stream viewers.

Timeline / Chapters

  • 00:00 Intro & Location: Arriving at Domestic Terminal, explaining the need to reach International.
  • 02:00 Finding the Bus: Locating Shuttle Bus Number 2 stop.
  • 04:00 Bus Schedule Info: Reviewing timetables and frequency.
  • 06:00 Boarding the Bus: Etiquette and seating.
  • 09:00 The Ride: Looping around the runway, viewing planes.
  • 13:00 Tourism Context: Why Fukuoka is popular for international visitors.
  • 17:00 Arrival: Reaching International Terminal arrivals.
  • 20:00 Next Steps: Car rental and meeting guests.
  • 24:00 Outro: Plans for future live streams and Asia Spelling Cup.

Japan Travel Tips

  • Terminal Transfer: Fukuoka Airport Domestic and International terminals are not connected by train. You must take the free shuttle bus.
  • Bus Frequency: Buses run every 4–6 minutes during the day, making waits very short.
  • Cost: The shuttle bus is free of charge.
  • Boarding Etiquette: Wait for all passengers to exit the bus before you board (unlike some other countries where people rush on).
  • Car Rental: Toyota Rent-A-Car has a presence at the airport; ensure you have your license and passport ready (though residents may not need passports).
  • Currency Exchange: Airport exchange rates may be less favorable than ATM withdrawals; John notes rates around 106–111.5 yen per dollar at the time.
  • Timing: The shuttle ride takes about 10–15 minutes total, including the loop around the runway.

Japanese Language & Culture Notes

  • Bus Etiquette: John highlights the orderly process of letting passengers off before boarding, contrasting it with experiences in India. This reflects the general Japanese cultural value of order and consideration in public spaces.
  • Multilingual Announcements: The shuttle bus announcements are made in approximately 10 languages, reflecting Fukuoka's status as an international gateway, particularly for tourists from China and Korea.
  • Rent-A-Car: The term "Rent-A-Car" is commonly used in Japan (wasei-eigo) to refer to car rental companies.
  • Kyushu Tourism: John notes that Kyushu is very popular with Chinese tourists due to proximity to mainland China, influencing flight availability and hotel occupancy.

Food & Drink Guide

  • Yoshinoya (beef bowl chain): 24:30 — John spots a Yoshinoya inside the International Terminal. A popular fast-food chain serving gyudon (beef bowls).

People

  • John Daub: Host and narrator. He guides the viewer through the airport logistics, interacts with live stream viewers, and manages the travel plans.
  • Kanae Daub: John's wife. She accompanies John on the shuttle bus ride and is slated to drive the rental car later (her first time driving without a teacher).
  • Victoria: A guest from China expected at arrivals for the Asia Spelling Cup. She is mentioned but not fully met in this clip.
  • Live Stream Viewers: Various viewers (Ellis, David Kimura, Richard, etc.) interact via chat, with John acknowledging them during the ride.

Key Takeaways

  • Fukuoka Airport is highly convenient, with the city center only a short train ride from the Domestic Terminal.
  • The free shuttle bus is the only way to move between Domestic and International terminals.
  • The bus ride offers a unique view of the runway and airport operations.
  • Kyushu is a strategic location for events involving visitors from East Asia due to flight connectivity.
  • Car rental logistics should be confirmed in advance, especially if flights are delayed.

Notable Quotes

  • 00:49 "Fukuoka Airport is one of the most convenient airports in the world. It's only a two-stop ride from the city, from the main train station."
  • 02:43 "I hope so. Don't do your worst. Yeah, you need some deep concentration." (Regarding Kanae driving)
  • 06:12 "In Japan you wait until everybody gets off the bus before you get on."
  • 08:15 "Anything can happen on a shuttle bus adventure. Welcome to Fukuoka everybody."
  • 14:50 "It's like a Monopoly card. Go straight to jail. Do not collect 200 at Go." (Regarding no drone signs)

Related Topics

  • Fukuoka Travel Guide
  • Japan Airport Transport
  • Asia Spelling Cup
  • Car Rental in Japan
  • Kyushu Tourism

Search Tags

#only-in-japan-go #fukuoka #fukuoka-airport #shuttle-bus #kyushu #japan-travel #airport-guide #travel-tips #toyota-rent-a-car #asia-spelling-cup #domestic-terminal #international-terminal


Full Transcript

00:12 John Daub: Welcome to Fukuoka. That's quite an opening. Just got our suitcases. We're now making our way from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. And Kanae, you've been here before. Yeah, this is your second time because we rode on this train. I still got the tag on here. Seven Stars, baby. That's right.

00:49 John Daub: Fukuoka Airport is one of the most convenient airports in the world. It's only a two-stop ride from the city, from the main train station. But we're going to the international terminal, so we've got to catch the shuttle bus. Do you see that right there? When we come back in two days, we're going to do a more thorough tour of Fukuoka Airport. I like to cover these areas because if you come to Japan, you're going to see a lot of different things. This is a big entrance into the country, especially Kyushu's Fukuoka Airport.

01:49 Kanae Daub: Yeah, where's the station?

01:51 John Daub: Yeah. They said it's every 5 to 7 minutes.

01:57 Kanae Daub: Let's do this. Are you ready? I've never been so excited to take a shuttle bus.

02:05 John Daub: Shuttle bus, domestic to international is number 2. There you go. So number 4 and 5 is back there. Hey, there's the Toyota Rent-A-Car. That's what I'm going to be taking on the international side. Our flight was delayed, so our Rent-A-Car is waiting for us.

02:31 John Daub: And can I just get her driver's license?

02:32 Kanae Daub: Which means she's going to be driving.

02:34 John Daub: Which means that I should have brought my helmet. Because it's her first time to drive for real without a teacher.

02:41 Kanae Daub: Can I do my best?

02:43 John Daub: I hope so. Don't do your worst. Yeah, you need some deep concentration.

02:56 Kanae Daub: I'll drive the first part. We'll wait until the countryside, can I? And then you can drive.

03:01 John Daub: I'm here for the Asia Spelling Cup. And I'm going to be live streaming this tomorrow at around 9am. There's some elementary school kids that are going to be taking part in this. It's kind of fun. I've done this twice. But to see them up there on the stage. Oh, is that their shuttle bus? That's their shuttle bus! Oh, here. Slow down. Number 2 is right there. We're first in line. That means it just left! I saw it. It just gone. Oh, it just left? So we're first.

03:36 Kanae Daub: Hey, I'm staking my spot. No, Kanae, you're number 2.

03:38 John Daub: Alright, ladies first. I'll give Kanae a go first. We're number 1 and 2. That means something in this town. So shuttle bus departs at number 2. And it takes 2 minutes to go from the south to the north terminal. And then it takes about 10 to 12 minutes to go to the international terminal. And we'll just do the whole thing live. That's what we can do.

04:05 John Daub: Alright, hold my suitcase. I'm going to take the people to see the map and see all the information. Because you should get something out of this. Live streams should be valuable. Time table: 6 in the morning every 5 minutes. From 7 to 8, even more frequent, every 4 minutes. Then it goes every 4 to 6 minutes for the rest of the day. So a lot of buses. Here's the map just to give you another idea. We're at the red spot here at the domestic terminal. We're going to get on, got to make one stop at the north side. Then we loop around the runway and come around to the international terminal. Then I got to go and rent my car.

04:53 John Daub: The domestic terminal and the international terminal are connected only by the shuttle bus. There's no SkyTrain or anything like that. As soon as you come out of arrivals, you can exit right to the bus. So there's 4 floors in the domestic terminal, including an observation deck, which will take you to the bus. Which you'll go see on Sunday in a live stream. The third floor has some bathrooms and restaurants. The second floor has more gift shops and is the departure lounge. The first floor is arrivals, and the basement for parking. Typical.

05:31 John Daub: Here are these people who are going to be riding with us. How you doing everybody? Click the like button. Click the sub button if you love it. Some of the YouTubers have been saying that. So you have to say that. Click the like button if you like it. Click the sub button if you love it. Oh it's coming! We're first in line. We don't have to pay. We don't need to pay. Oh it's crowded. Can I? These people are getting off here so we can sit. I'm going to sit in the front.

06:12 John Daub: In Japan you wait until everybody gets off the bus before you get on. So I guess you don't have to pay. So people can just get off of this side. India is the opposite. You just jump on before they get off. It causes quite a commotion. That's the best way. You never forget those experiences where it's a traffic jam. Oh no! Flight attendant for the aircraft. Maybe it's better this way because of the rollers. If you don't do it like this it'll roll.

07:19 John Daub: This is going to be fun. So have you ever been on a shuttle bus before? Is that your first time on a shuttle bus?

07:32 Kanae Daub: Yes.

07:33 John Daub: Nobody livestreams on a shuttle bus? Oh okay. We just took the subway. Subway? I think for some people watching it's their first time to take a shuttle bus. Yeah. I'm excited about my shuttle bus experience. We're going to bring you this ride live. I guess they're going to the other side of the terminal. Alright here we go. This is exciting. Shuttle bus adventure. Anything can happen on a shuttle bus adventure. Welcome to Fukuoka everybody. We're on a shuttle bus adventure going from the domestic terminal to the international terminal. And bringing this to you live. Unedited. Uncut. Unfiltered. Wow.

08:41 John Daub: Welcome aboard. This bus is bound for the international terminal. Look at the blue. This bus is the domestic terminal's bus. Thank you for your interest. This is a bus to the international terminal. Next stop is the international terminal. Thank you. It's like 10 languages. This bus is going to Fukuoka Airport. International terminal. Next stop is the domestic terminal. What are they saying? They did it in like 10 languages. This could be a video game. All the colored lanes. Makes it fun. Bus lane is on the left side. That's what it says in green.

09:33 John Daub: Hey, Ellis is here. Kanae is going to sit in the captain's seat. Take the captain's seat. Go, go, go. I'm putting my bag behind this seat. Boom. Take the captain's seat. Kanae is on the other side. It should be a lot of fun. So what we have is a front row seat now. We have a front row seat to adventure right now. Jingle. Now we're looping around the runway. I think on the left side we're going to get a chance to see that. It's a big steering wheel.

11:00 John Daub: Ellis writes, as long as it doesn't end up like the bus in the movie Speed. I hope not. So Kanae would be Sandra Bullock. Oh look, we're getting access. Did you see that? Did you see the gate move? How awesome was that? David Kimura is here. Thanks David. Kanae is over there on the other side. We can speak softly so as not to disturb the other passengers. We had a red light. Oh, we're going to drive on the runway? That would be so cool. We're competing against this truck now. Go, go. We can take them. There's the runway. It's pretty cool. So we're wrapping around the runway and heading towards the international terminal. You're live at Fukuoka Airport. Oh, there's an airplane landing. Whoa.

12:07 John Daub: Welcome aboard. This bus is bound for the international terminal. You bet it is. This bus is the cargo terminal. Please press the button if you wish to get off the bus. This bus is bound for the international terminal. You bet it is. The cargo terminal is, the international terminal. Those of you who are going to the international terminal should stay on board until we arrive at our final destination. This airport shuttlebus is free of charge. Free of charge?

12:52 John Daub: So they've got a lot of domestic and a lot of international flights coming here. Kyushu is very popular with Chinese tourists because it's a lot closer to mainland China. So there's a lot of flights. And we're going to the international terminal because we have to pick up two people from China who are coming for the Asia Spelling Cup, which is why we're here. They decided on Fukuoka because it's just a popular destination for tourists from China. It's a pretty nice place, and it's really hard right now to get a hotel in Tokyo. So we could do that in Fukuoka. We could find a venue and a hotel. Things are a little bit more spacious down in Kyushu than in Tokyo right now with the Olympics coming.

14:01 John Daub: Oh, there's another plane! Run it! The shuttle bus can go through here. Oh, there's a helicopter! That's so cool. Just a note, it says no drone. You don't even have to ask anymore. I guess you do need to sign. Some people might still be trying to drone it. The crazy people. It's like a Monopoly card. Go straight to jail. Do not collect 200 at Go.

14:50 John Daub: Hey, Inuliger's here. Hey John, it's Richard, the guy who met up with you at Starbucks in Tokyo last year along with Dimitri. Oh, yeah! How have you been? Pretty good. How's it going? You're in New York, right? I remember that. That was in... I haven't heard from Dimitri in a while. He's in our Discord server, one of the moderators. Oh, you're from Canada, okay. Check out that ball with a... Must be a satellite or a radar inside that ball. Looks like a big Q-tip. And this is the cargo terminal.

15:50 John Daub: Nobody's getting on or off. No one has cargo. The signs are all in different languages. There's Korean, there's Chinese, and there's... Ah, there's the map. I guess we gotta schedule the keeps over here for about a minute. We gotta catch that truck. It's tough, we gotta keep a schedule. There's a timer there to make sure you don't leave early. This is the most exciting part of the trip. Ronald, the buses are pretty close to being on time. The traffic is very hard to predict, so buses can be slightly early sometimes, but not often too late. Our flight was delayed for 30 minutes because it was delayed departing from Fukuoka. So we had to wait for a while. I had to call the rental company to make sure they didn't give my car away.

17:25 John Daub: Alright, now we're turning the corner and going towards the international terminal. In total, it takes about 10-15 minutes to get around. As I said in the beginning, there's no train that connects the two of them. So the best way is the shuttle bus. And it's free. It departs every 4-6 minutes. It's pretty convenient. It doesn't get too crowded because it departs every 4-6 minutes. So if one's crowded, just wait for another 5 minutes and another one will be there. The bus is about to arrive at the international terminal. This bus only goes to the first floor of the international terminal. For passengers who want to board, please go to the third floor of the terminal and perform boarding procedures. Alright, we're almost there. I sense it. There's international arrivals. It's true. Oh, there's the bus from the screenshot. The thumbnail. We are here. Thank you very much. Ta-da! International arrivals! We're still alive. That was an adventure. That was amazing.

19:26 John Daub: Did you like the shuttle bus?

19:28 Kanae Daub: Oh, yeah! Yeah! Yes! I'm so excited! Shuttle bus.

19:36 John Daub: Welcome to the international terminal. We're looking for Victoria now. Welcome. Look for Victoria from China. Victoria! Yeah, arrivals. Let's go over here. She arrived 30 minutes ago. So she should be out of arrivals. I think that's her with the red jacket. No, that's not her. Looking for Victoria. If you guys see her first, let me know. Don't even know what she looks like. So this is the international arrivals. We've crossed to the other side. She might still be inside. That's right. Can I get the suitcase? So the rented car is over here. You want to stay? You remember what Victoria looks like? Okay, hold my bag. High five. Because they're live. All right. I'm going to go check out the car rental. And maybe Victoria has gone walkabout and gone this way.

20:52 John Daub: Look at the tourist information. There it is. Looks like a bookstore in the United States. That's interesting. Check this out. There's the exchange rates right now. They buy at 106 and they sell at 111.5. That's kind of a ripoff, but you've been warned. Just take your bank out of the wall. Bring an ATM card or something. Oh, there's a rent-a-car.

21:21 John Daub: Okay, I got to go tell the people. What's Cats, long time watcher of your channel. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thanks. Thanks, guys. Sparky Santos is in the house. Hello. I called earlier, but it's been delayed. It's 11:30.

22:01 John Daub: Excuse me. Your wife is waiting right now, but she probably got a car. She's probably waiting for her wife to pick her up. After seeing this, we're leaving. And we're going to leave here. Oh, there are four people. Yes but the girl who's waiting is coming from China and she hasn't been out yet, right? Go up and go to the third floor. Yes. And how many people are on the group? Oh, 2 people. Oh, 2 people. Yes. And now two will... She's there too, so she prepared for me. OK? Thank you very much. Thanks. Oh, okay. We live in Japan. I see.

23:14 John Daub: So, this is the first floor, but there is a third floor. Oh, a third floor. And the first exit is outside. I'm at the side of the shop. Oh, at the side of the shop. Oh, I see. Thank you very much. Very good, so we have to go to the third floor, and they tell us in a very big circle it says please wait here next to the police station. So she wanted a driver's license and my passport and I said I'm not giving you my passport I live here all right and I'm joking I'm not really serious sarcastic I live here I'm not giving you my passport but I would have done it if she asked I would have gone back to Tokyo to go get it I want Kanae wants to drive the car so we got to get the car tonight all right guys so I'm gonna get this car we're gonna be back at Fukuoka Airport to do a more thorough inspection of the domestic terminal maybe even start here in the international a little bit and then go back the other way to join us tomorrow as we do the Asia Spelling Cup thank you so much guys for watching it was a lot of fun I was stoked for a shuttle bus I don't know hey they got Yoshinoya (beef bowl chain) in here I got some stuff to do some art over there it's pretty nice yeah so some more informational stuff from Fukuoka over the next couple of days you never know I'm gonna go live so subscribe and click that alarm for always they call it a notification bell and I'll see you next time.

25:11 John Daub: Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Kanae? Hello.

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