If you will travel in Kyushu only, JR Kyushu sells Kyushu Area Pass which offers unlimited train travel at very affordable price. There are four types of passes, All Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Southern Kyushu and Fukuoka Wide. You can choose one of these four types by your trip plan.
In this post, I show you the details about all types of Kyushu Area Pass. And I will compare Kyushu Rail Pass and a regular fare. You may find the way to get the worth of the pass.
Types and prices
Kyushu Area Pass have four types, All area pass, Northern area pass, Southern area pass and Fukuoka wide pass. Each types have 3-day and 5-day. I would like to compare these prices and single fare.
| Types/Price | 7-day | 5-day | 3-day |
|---|---|---|---|
| All area | 20,000 yen Child 10,000 yen | 18,500 yen Child 9,250 yen | 17,000 yen Child 8,500 yen |
| Northern | – | 14,000 yen Child 7,000 yen | 10,000 yen Child 5,000 yen |
| Southern | – | – | 8,000 yen Child 4,000 yen |
The passes must be used in consecutive days. The validity of a rail pass starts from 12 O’clock at night. Child (6-11 years) rate is half price. Under 6 years is free.
e.g.
If you start to use 3-day pass on May 1, the pass is expired at 23:59 on May 3.
Coverage area
Kyushu Area Pass All area type covers all JR lines in Kyushu island except Sanyo Shinkansen between Kokura and Hakata/Hakata-Minami. This segment of Sanyo Shinkansen runs in Kyushu. But this is operated by JR West which is a different company from JR Kyushu.
Northern Kyushu Area Pass covers Nagasaki, Aso, Yufuin, Beppu, Kumamoto, Oita, Sasebo, Huis Ten Bosch and Hakata.
Southern Kyushu Area Pass covers Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima.
Kyushu Area Pass Fukuoka Wide covers Hakata, Kokura and surrounding area.
Hotels in Nagasaki
Hotels in Aso
Hotels in Yufuin
Hotels in Beppu
How to buy Kyushu Area Pass
You may purchase either a travel agent or online before coming to Japan. You also can purchase a pass at the station after you arrive in Japan. The price is same between online, travel agent and station.
If you buy a travel agent, most JR Pass authorized agent sell Kyushu Area Pass too. Please see the link below to find the list of the authorized agent:
JR Pass authorized travel agent list
If you want to buy it online, there are many choices. One of JR Kyushu authorized agents is Klook. It is one of major online sites to sell many tickets:
Kyushu Area Pass from 7,500 yen (book at Klook)
ACP Rail is one of major train ticket online site. It is the authorized retailer of JR East too:
Kyushu Area Pass (book at ACP Rail)Validity
Kyushu Area Pass does not cover any JR bus lines, city bus, private railway, tram and subway. The condition of Kyushu Area Pass is similar to JR Pass. But JR Pass does not cover Mizuho on Kyushu Shinkansen. Kyushu Rail Pass covers Mizuho.
Kyushu Area Pass covers a reserved seat fee and a base fare. Green seat pass is not available. If you want to take a seat in Green car, you have to pay full fare of seat fee. Kyushu Rail Pass covers only a base fare.
e.g.
Hakata – Nagasaki
the base fare 2,810 yen
Ordinary reserved seat fee 1,900 yen
Gree seat fee 2,950 yen
Kyushu Area Pass covers 2,810 yen base fare and 1,900 yen Ordinary reserved seat fee. If you take a Green seat, you have to pay 2,950 yen. The extra charge is not 1,050 yen (2,950 yen – 1,900 yen) which is the difference of Green seat and Ordinary seat.
Compare Kyushu Area Pass and a regular fare
Before I compare the prices, I would like to show you some regular fares. This fare includes a limited express reserved seat fee and a basic fare. You can find how much you have to use to get the worth of the pass:
| Departure station | Arrival station | Approximate Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Hakata | Kumamoto | 5,300 yen |
| Hakata | Kagoshima Chuo | 10,600 yen |
| Kumamoto | Kagoshima Chuo | 7,000 yen |
| Hakata | Nagasaki | 4,800 yen |
| Hakata | Sasebo | 4,000 yen |
| Hakata | Beppu or Oita | 5,900 yen |
| Hakata | Yufuin | 4,700 yen |
| Oita | Miyazaki | 6,200 yen |
| Kagoshima Chuo | Miyazaki | 4,500 yen |
| Nobeoka | Miyazaki | 3,300 yen |
And the following faretable shows you a base fare and a limited express non reserved seat fee. You may use this faretable for Fukuoka Wide pass
| Departure station | Arrival station | Approximate Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Hakata | Kokura | 2,000 yen |
| Hakata | Kurume | 1,500 yen |
If you have a round trip to Kagoshima-Chuo from Hakata, you can get the worth of 5-day All Kyushu Area Pass. Northern Kyushu Area Pass is cheaper than a round trip fare for Hakata to Kumamoto. Southern Kyushu Area Pass is available for 3-day only. But the price is almost same as Kumamoto to Kagoshima-Chuo by Shinkansen one way fare. In summary, it is quite easy to get the worth of these passes.
Kyushu Area Pass Fukuoka Wide is a bit different from other Kyushu Area Pass. It does not cover a reserved seat fee. You have to take a seat in non reserved car. Shinkansen is not covered. However it is easy to get the worth as well. If you make a round trip to Kokura or Mojiko, it is paid off.
Seat reservation
As I mentioned above, Kyushu Area Pass Fukuoka Wide does not cover a reserved seat fee. Other Kyushu Area Pass covers a reserved seat fee. But there is a maximum limit.
| 5-day | 3-day |
|---|---|
| 16 times | 10 times |
As long as you travel normally, this is enough. You cannot reach the maximum number of booking. But if you reach the maximum number and you cannot book a seat any more, you still can take a seat on non reserved seat car. Your seat is not secured and you may not be able to get a seat. You have to stand up in the train.
Compare Kyushu Area Pass and Japan Rail Pass
Kyushu Area Pass is a perfect choice for the tourist who travel in Kyushu island only and fly in and out Kyushu. But if you go other areas, like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, you should make sure a total cost. I will show you some samples.
Round trip to Hiroshima/Miyajima on Kyushu Area Pass
It is one hour away from Hakata by Shinkansen. If you go to Hiroshima by Shinkansen, the round trip fare is 8,940 x 2 = 17,880 yen.
You may add Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass which is cheaper than a regular fare.
Kansai area and Kyushu trip
You can fly between Osaka and Fukuoka or other airports in Kyushu. You can use Kyushu Rail Pass in this case. You can use other deal in Kansai area:
But if you take a train between Osaka and Kyushu, you may use other choice. If you travel only northern part of Kyushu, Sanyo-Sanin Area Pass and Northern Kyushu Area Pass are recommended.
If you travel all part of Kyushu, JR Pass is recommended:
I hope this post will help you to travel in Kyushu area!
Comments
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for your great site.
I am planning to spend two weeks in Kyushu in December.
However, I am resident in Japan and so not eligible to JR Pass.
Does it exist any other train pass or discount ticket to travel in Kyushu by train ?
Hi Speys,
Unfortunately there is no deals like JR pass available for a resident in Japan. But after you get Kyushu, you may use “Gurutto Kyushu Kippu”. It’s only Japanese info available. If you cannot read Japanese, please use Google translate or other translation service to read the link below:
http://www.jrkyushu-kippu.jp/fare/ticket/202
It offers unlimited rapid and local train ride in Kyushu for 3 days at 14,500 yen (window price). If you add limited express surcharge on top of this ticket, you can take limited express train or Shinkansen.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
I am planning the following itinerary:
Day 1- Hakata to Kagoshima
Day 2- Kagoshima. Day trip to Ibusuki
Day 3 – Kagoshima
Day 4 – Kagoshima to Yufuin
Day 5 – Yufuin
Day 6 – Yufuin to Hakata
Day 7 – Fukuoka
Day 8 – Fukuoka
Day 9 – Fukuoka
Day 10 – Airport
I am confused which Kyushu pass I should get since the pass only comes in 3 or 5 days. Should I buy a combination of passes? Would appreciate your kind help to advise. Thank you in advance.
Angie
Hi Angie san,
You may use All Kyushu rail pass for the first 5 days. And just add a regular fare ticket for Yufuin to Hakata. If you intend to take Yufuin no Mori, regular fare is less than 5,000 yen.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I will be travelling to Northen Kyushu this November. My itinerary is below
Day 1: Arrive at Fuokuoka Aiport > Stay in Nagasaki
Day 2:Day trip to Huis Tsen Bosch from Nagasaki
Day 3: Day trip to Shimbara Penisula from Nagasaki
Day 4: Travel around Nagasaki
Day 5: Nagasaki > Go to Beppu and stay
Day 6: Travel around Beppu
Day 7: Beppu travel to Yufuin and stay
Day 8: Yufuin > Go to Fukuoka and stay
Day 9: Day trip to Kumamoto
Day 10 & 11: Travel around Fukuoka and go back to Hakata airport.
Is it advisable to get 2 5 days Kyushu Northern Pass? Thanks.
Regards,
Jo
Hi Jo,
You can use 2 x Northern Kyushu rail pass 5 days.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thank you for answering my food question. We are thinking of getting a Northern Kyushu Pass. We have two itinerary options. Can you tell us which pass suits our plans? For OPTION A, do you think it will be cheaper to buy individual JR tickets instead of a pass?
OPTION A
Day 1 Fly into Fukuoka Airport
Day 2 Fukuoka
Day 3 Fukuoka
Day 4 Fukuoka
Day 5 Fukuoka to Beppu
Day 6 Beppu
Day 7 Beppu to Yufu to Beppu
Day 8 Beppu to Fukuoka
OPTION B
Day 1 Arrive Fukuoka
Day 2 Fukuoka
Day 3 Fukuoka
Day 4 Fukuoka to Kumamoto to Fukuoka
Day 5 Fukuoka to Beppu
Day 6 Beppu
Day 7 Beppu to Yufu to Beppu
Day 8 Beppu to Fukuoka
Hi Amy,
You should use 5 days pass anyway. It’s 10,000 yen but round trip fare between Hakata and Beppu is more than 10,000 yen. But you will make train trips more. You can get the worth of it by either option A (day 4 to 8) or option B (day 4 to 8).
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you very much, Takeshi!
No worries, Amy.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takeshi,
Thank you for giving so much good information on your website.
We want to eat lunch while we travel on the Limited Express Sonic train from Hakata to Beppu. Do you know if we can buy food on the train? Can we bring our own food to eat on the train?
Hi Amy,
On board service is not available. But you may bring some food as long as the food does not have any strong smell. Regular bento (box meal) and/or sandwich are okay to eat on board.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
I m arriving & departing from Hiroshima for 12 days.
Planning to go Kyushu for 5 days & back to Hiroshima for 5 days,
what Rail pass do you suggest fr my trip.
Thanks,
Dolly
Hi Dolly,
JR pass 7 days is recommended. This is only pass which cover whole part of Kyushu and Hiroshima to/from Kyushu.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hello,
Im going to Fukuoka for 6days 5nights and im planning to get 3days kyushu northern rail pass to get day trip to nagasaki and oita
Day 1- reach fukuoka
Day 2 – day trip Nagasaki
Day 3 – town fukuoka
Day 4 – day trip oita/beppu
Day 5 – town fukuoka
Day 6-back to busan
Is this rail pass applicable to cover day2,3,4? between nagasaki and oita/beppu which one worth to stay overnight so that i can fully utilize the rail pass for 3 full days. Thanks.
Hi wei yen,
You may use 3 days Kyushu rail pass for day 2 to 4. Both Beppu and Nagasaki are nice to stay. If you like onsen, you may stay in Beppu.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I am planning a 7 days trip in Kyushu.
Will be planning
2 days Fukuoka
2 days Kumamoto
2 days kagoshima
Then Shinkansen back to Fukuoka
Stay 1 night there before taking a plane back to Singapore
Is it advisable for my to get a Kyushu pass and will everything be included?
Our main objective for this trip is to see the Sakura bloom. Thank you so much!
Hi Ng Ai Lin,
Kyushu rail pass covers all places where you go. You can get the worth of it by this trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi
I am looking to go to Kyoto and Kyushu. I may either fly into Osaka’s KIX airport first, or Kyushu’s FUK (Fukuoka) airport.
Should I be getting a Kyushu pass only? Is there a pass that lets me travel within Kyushu, and then get to Osaka and Kyoto?
I wanted to know if I need to get a full JR pass, or get Kyushu Pass and add on extra/a la carte to get to Osaka and Kyoto? Thank you Takeshi.
Hi Jia,
JR pass is only choice to cover all places where you visit. Most part of your trip will be covered by JR pass. But you may need to add some fares or other deals when you are in the cities because JR pass does not cover non JR transportation, such as subway, city bus. Please see the link below to find more info:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I am planning to purchase Kyushu Northern Pass
Can you check our itinerary if ok & covered by this pass
1. Day trip Hakata to Beppu; Beppu to Oita
2. Day trip Hakata to Nagasaki
3. Day trip Hakata to Huis Ten Bosch
What do you mean by limited express? Even with the pass do I have to reserve seats? Is there an additional fee or it’s all included in the 8,500
Thank you
Hi Frank,
It’s covered fully.
You don’t need to pay any extra to take Limited Express trains. Reservation is not required but recommended. You can book a seat at any JR major stations.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi, your response very much appreciated.
No worries, Frank.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com