Direct access to Fukuoka (Hakata), Kumamoto, Kagoshima from Osaka. Kyushu Shinkansen

Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura and Mizuho give you direct trainsfer to Shin-Osaka from Kyusyu.Hakata, Kokura
Mizuho and Sakura are operated by N700-7000/8000 series.
2014.05.18
Kyushu Shinkansen Tsubasa
Kyushu Shinkansen Tsubame

Kyushu Shinkansen runs between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. But many trains run from Shin-Osaka and carry many passengers from Kansai area to Kyushu. This is the best way to get Kyushu from Osaka and Hiroshima. But some trains are not covered by JR Pass. I would like to show you about this Shinkansen system in this post.

Types of trains

There are three types of trains, the fastest train “Mizuho”, second fastest “Sakura” and “Tsubame” that stops at all station. on Kyushu Shinkansen. All Mizuho and most of Sakura go through Sanyo Shiknasen to/from Shin-Osaka. You can ride a train from Shin-Osaka to Kagoshima without transfer. But the fastest train, Mizuho is not covered by Japan Rail Pass. Mizuho is in same restriction as Nozomi of Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen.

Mizuho connects Shin-Osaka with Kumamoto in just 3 hours and with Kagoshima Chuo in 3 hours 45 minutes.

Sakura is a bit slower than Mizuho. It connects Shin-Osaka with Kumamoto in 3 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 45 minutes and with Kagoshima-chuo in 4 hours 10 minutes to 40 minutes. It takes much more minutes for taking some of Sakura as it stops at many more stations than Mizuho and faster Sakura.

Tsubame is slowest train on Kyushu Shinkansen now. It is operated between Hakata and Kagoshima-chuo only. This train does not go through Sanyo Shinkansen. It connects Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo around 2 hours. Of course if you need to move to Kagoshima-chuo or Kumamato from Hakata, you can take Sakura, or if you are not Japan Rail Pass user, take Mizuho.

Route and stations


View Kyushu Shinkansen (Bullet Train) in a larger map

Click to enlarge the image of map (C) Hisagi (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Click to enlarge the image of map (C) Hisagi (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
StationMizuhoSakuraTsubame
Hakata (博多)xxx
Shin-Tosu (新鳥栖)–*x
Kurume (久留米)**x
Chikugo-Funagoya (筑後船小屋)–*x
Shin-Omuta (新大牟田)–*x
Shin-Tamama (新玉名)–*x
Kumamoto (熊本)xxx
Shin-Yatsushiro (新八代)–*x
Shin-Minamata (新水俣)–*x
Izumi (出水)–*x
Sendai (川内)**x
Kagoshima-Chuo (鹿児島中央)xxx

x:All trains stop *:Some of trains stop -All trains pass by

Accommodation

There are two types of cars, newer N700-7000/8000 series and JR Kyushu original 800 series. 800 series is used for Sakura and Tsubame. This train does not go through Sanyo Shinkansen. N700 series was introduced for Mizuho and Sakura depart from Shin-Osaka.

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Fukuoka
Hotels in Kumamoto
Hotels in Kagoshima

800 series

This type is used for the trains running on the Kyushu Shinkansen segment (Hakata – Kagoshima-Chuo) only. This series does not have any Green class. But even Ordinary class offers you 2+2 seat configuration. This is a big difference as the standard of the Shinkansen Ordinary class is 2+3 seat configuration. And also this series has many Japanese decoration in the train. It offers you very unique Japanese atmosphere.

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NRNRNRRRR

R:Ordinary class reserved seat NR:Ordinary class non-reserved seat

Ordinary class seat interior (C) Sonic Rail Garden
The seat of Ordinary class and Japanese style sun shade (C) Sonic Rail Garden
The entrance deck (C) Sonic Rail Garden
Bathroom (C) Sonic Rail Garden

N700-7000/8000 series

Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura and Mizuho give you direct trainsfer to Shin-Osaka from Kyusyu.
All Shinkansen trains non reserved seat on Sanyo Shinkansen are covered by this deal.

This type is used for all Mizuho, Sakura that is go through Sanyo Shinaksen and some Tsubame.

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NRNRNRRRR/GRR

R:Ordinary class reserved seat NR:Ordinary class non-reserved seat G:Green class

Please refer the post, N700 series for Kyushu Shinkansen Mizuho and Sakura for the details about N700 series.

Comments

  1. Patricia L. says:
    August 3, 2016 at 11:50 pm

    Dear Takeshi,

    i would like to get the time schedule from Kagoshima to Fukuoka on 7th and 8th Oct, i am still not cfm which date to access to Fukuoka.

    and please advise if any JR pass i can get a better rate for foreigner.

    fyi, i only take one way from Kagoshima to Fukuoka

  2. Helen Yap says:
    July 12, 2016 at 2:54 am

    Hi Takeshi -San!!! We have just arrived from our Osaka vacation.
    We truly enjoyed our trip to Hiroshima, Miyajima, Nara , Kobe using the 5day Kansai Hiroshima pass as you have suggested. Thank you very much.
    My friend is going to Osaka next month and will be proceeding to Kyushu Island>. This is their plan. They will take JR Shinkansen from Osaka to Hakata, then board a local bus to mountain top for onsen. They will be staying at the Yamashinobu Ryokan @ Kumamoto Pref in Kyushu Island. Any suggestions?
    Thank you.

  3. Robert Campbell says:
    April 4, 2016 at 8:52 pm

    I wish to travel on a JR Pass from Osaka to Kumamoto, Kumamoto to Hiroshima and then Hiroshima to Tokyo. Is it possible to travel in a Green car on all sections and where/when would I need to change trains? Is the JR Pass the best/cheapest option for this itinerary?

    Thank you for your assistance

  4. Christian says:
    March 2, 2016 at 4:14 am

    Hello, i would just like to know, how would i get to Osaka from Fukuoka?

  5. Wilrose says:
    March 1, 2016 at 2:20 am

    I plan to purchase the Northern Kyushu 5 day Train Pass.

    Question 1: Does having the Kyushu 5 day pass mean I no longer have to buy tickets for trains? As in NO need for tickets at all and no need to pay?
    Question 2: May I know if my itinerary is okay, and if the trains I plan to take are all covered by the 5 day Northern Kyushu Pass?

    Day 1: Arrive at Fukuoka.
    Day 2: Leave Fukuoka and go to Beppu via Limited Sonic Express
    Day 3: Leave Beppu and go to Kumamoto via Limited Kyushu Odan Tokkyu (Is this different from JR Hohi Line or the same?)
    Day 4:
    – Leave Kumamoto and go to Nagasaki (Take Sakura Train to Shin Tosu and go down. Transfer to Kamome 3 and go to Nagasaki).
    – Spend the day in Nagasaki and leave for Fukuoka at night around 8pm. Ride Kamome 3 to Fukuoka (Am I right that there’s a train in Nagasaki going to Fukuoka at night?).
    Day 5: Spend whole day in Fukuoka, then take the plane back to Philippines at night.

  6. Felix Noriel says:
    February 29, 2016 at 1:58 am

    Hi, Would you help me fixing my itinerary(arrive at fukuoka and depart from fukuoka April 14 – 22). I will be travelling to Japan with my mother(senior citizen 63y/o).

    Day 1: Hotel and dinner(Will arrive at night)
    Day 2: Tour around fukuoka
    Day 3: Activate JR Pass and travel to Hiroshima(1 day), Osaka(3days),Kyoto(2days),Tokyo(1day) then on the last day(Day 9/10) back to Fukuoka then to the airport.

    Is this itinerary good or possible?

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      February 29, 2016 at 6:42 am

      Hi Felix,

      Your itinerary is okay. You can keep this plan.
      If you start using JR Pass on day 3, it’s expired on day 9. You should go back to Fukuoka by the end of day 9.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Jenny Dang says:
    February 26, 2016 at 4:48 pm

    Hello, my trip plan in Japan will be like this:
    Day 1: Arrive Fukuoka airport – Stay 1 night in Hakata
    Day 2: Hakata – Osaka. Stay in Oska
    Day 3: Sightseeings in Osaka
    Day 4: Osaka – Hiroshima. Stay 1 night in Hiroshima
    Day 5: Hiroshima – Hakata. Stay in Hakata
    Day 6: Depart from Fukuoka
    Please advise me which train to maximize using as I have bought JR Pass for 7 days ready. Many thanks.

  8. Reza says:
    May 15, 2015 at 2:52 am

    Hello, i would like to ask your information about train,time and price on my travel from Kyushu to Tokyo,please?

  9. Loan Le says:
    March 24, 2015 at 7:40 am

    Hi, i would like to ask your information about my travel from Fukuoka to Kagoshima. Could you share with me some information about train and time? Thank youvso much!

  10. vu Le says:
    March 23, 2015 at 3:06 am

    Hi,
    Would you please to let me know which Shinkansen that I’ll take to travel with the routes below?
    I’ll use JRPass for all routing below.

    1. From Fukuoka (Hakata) to Hiroshima
    2. From Hiroshima to Nara (I book hotel in Nara but I’ll go sight seeing at Osaka)
    3. From Nara to Nagoya (I book hotel in Nagaya but I’ll go signt seeing at Kyoto)
    4. From Nagoya to Tokyo

    It would be great if you can share the info as this is the first time I travel to Japan.

    Thanks and Best Regards
    Vu le

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