Kyushu Shinkansen line complete guide

Would you like to discover all that Kyushu has to offer? You can use your Japan Rail Pass to travel to and around Kyushu in style via the Shinkansen bullet train. We’re here to show you how.

In the northern city of Fukuoka you can indulge in traditional cuisine from Yatai food stalls, explore the ruins of Fukuoka Castle, and make a pilgrimage to Shofukuji, Japan’s first Zen temple. Or, you visit the futuristic Momochi Seaside Park and shop at the Canal City shopping and entertainment complex. Excitement awaits in Kagoshima, where you can view the active Sakurajima volcano or trek the ancient cedar forest of Yakushima Island. Whatever your interests, there is always plenty to do in Kyushu.

The Kyushu Shinkansen connects the cities of Fukuoka and Kagoshima. In this way, it also provides a rapid connection between the northern and southern portions of Kyushu.

Kyushu Shinkansen Map

Kyushu Shinkansen stops

The Kyushu Shinkansen Line runs from Hakata Station in the north to Kagoshima-Chuo Station in the south. Interim stations include Shin-Tosu Station, Chikugo-Funagoya Station, Shin-Omuta Station, Shin-Tamana Station, Kumamoto Station, Shin-Yatsushiro Station, Shin-Minamata Station, Izumi Station, and Sendai Station in Kagoshima.

Several train services operate on this line, including Tsubame, Mizuho and Sakura trains.

Nishi Kyushu shinkansen stops

The Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen is a new train line that serves as an extension of the Kyushu Shinkansen line.

The Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen line currently runs between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki Station, spanning a distance of approximately 66 kilometers. The Kamome train service is currently the only Shinkansen service operating on this line.

You can find the stations currently serviced by the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen below.

Please note that the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen does not currently offer a direct connection from Hakata Station to Nagasaki. 

To travel between these destinations, board the Relay Kamome limited express train to Takeo-Onsen Station. Here, you can easily switch to the Shinkansen on the adjoining platform.

It is not yet known when the full extension will be opened. However, once the full extension is completed, the entire journey between Hakata Station in Fukuoka and Nagasaki will only take around 30 minutes.

Train Services

On the Kyushu Shinkansen line we found 3 operational train services: Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame Shinkansen, ordered from most to least fast.

Tsubame Shinkansen

Tsubame is the slowest service on the Kyushu Shinkansen line. There are no Green Car seats on this train category. The operating speed of Tsubame trains is 260 km/h (160 mph). A trip from Kagoshima-Chuo to Hakata with the Tsubame train will take you a little over an hour.

This services stops at all stations on the line between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chūō. Below is a timetable with the first and last departure from each station.

Mizuho Shinkansen

Mizuho trains are considered an express service, stopping at only one station – Kumamoto – between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo Stations. The Mizuho trains make about five round trips per day. This journey takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Please note that Mizuho trains are covered under the Kyushu Rail Pass. Additionally, you can ride these trains with your JR Pass from by paying a supplement.

Here is a quick timetable illustrating the first and last departure each day:

Sakura Shinkansen

The Sakura depart once an hour throughout the day between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chūō, making more stops than the Mizuho, with a travel time of 4 hours and 10 minutes. There are also between one and two Sakura services every hour between Hakata and Kumamoto or Kagoshima-Chūō.

The Sakura Shinkansen serve some but not all of the stations along the line, while the Tsubame trains stop at every station. Sakura trains typically depart twice per hour. Some Sakura trains also connect with Shin-Osaka Station.

This service stops at most major stations, with fewer stops than Tsubame. Not all Sakura services stop at every station.

Below is the daily timetable of the first and last departure from each station.

Kamome Shinkansen

The only service currently running on the Nishi Kyushu line is the Kamome Shinkansen.

The Kamome Shinkansen service currently runs between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki Station, spanning a distance of approximately 66 kilometers.

It departs from the following stations:

Ticket Prices

Train fares in Japan can fluctuate depending on the time of day, seat type, and when you book. However, the following are standard one-way prices on the above services for 1 adult:

Tokyo to Fukuoka by Shinkansen

To get from Tokyo to Fukuoka, you can take the Tokaido Shinkansen toward Shin-Osaka, where it connects with the Sanyo Shinkansen line all the way to Fukuoka. The trip from Tokyo to Fukuoka takes five to six hours.

Fukuoka to Nagasaki, connecting Kyushu and Nishi Kyushu shinkansen

The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen line does not offer a direct route from Hakata Station to Nagasaki. Instead, travelers can make the journey using a combination of services.

To travel from Fukuoka to Nagasaki start by boarding the Relay Kamome limited express train from Hakata to Takeo-Onsen Station. There, you can conveniently transfer to the Kamome Shinkansen, continuing on to Nagasaki.

This connection bridges the Kyushu and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines. While there’s no official date for the completion of the full extension, once finished, the entire trip from Fukuoka to Nagasaki is expected to take just around 30 minutes.

Kyushu Shinkansen with JR Pass

You can activate your JR Pass for use by visiting a ticketing counter in many of the major train stations. Along the Kyushu Shinkansen Line, these include:

• Hakata Station
• Kumamoto Station
• Kagoshima-Chuo Station

Reserved seating is available on each of the Kyushu Shinkansen train classes. If you wish to use reserved seating, be sure to make your seat reservations in advance by visiting a ticketing counter. Whether or not you are using reserved seats, be ready to present your JR pass at the departure gate.

JR Pass holders are able to ride on Mizuho trains. However, you will need to pay a supplemental charge to use these services.