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 San,
I’m back to your site and need some valuable info once again from you and looking for your help.
By getting a 3 day Northern JR Kyushu Pass I would like to utilize the 3 days accordingly. Can you please let me know if this is possible and any help for me to get buses or alight at stations for easy access to the below places as this will be a DIY trip? Please assume that my base is in Hakata near the station.
Mar 6 – Activate JR Kyushu pass (North) and visit Yufin & Beppa day trip from Hakata
Mar 7 – Visit Nagasaki with JR Kyushu pass from Hakata as day trip
Mar 8 – Visit Takachiho and Mt. Aso from Hakata as day trip
Looking forward for your response!
Regards
Andy
Hi Andy san,
The trips on March 6th and 7th are okay. But you cannot go to Aso and Takachiho in one day. It is simply too much. And you take a bus to Takachiho from Kumamoto but Aso cannot be accessed from Kumamoto by train. This segment is closed. So on 8th, you can get Takachiho only.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thank you Takeshi San! Appreciate your help!
No worries, Andy san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi, i am visiting fukuoka this April and as i read through the above message you advice tht the 5day northern pass cannot use to return to Fukuoka. So i need your advice. We will be in fukuoka for 7 days. My itinerary is as below:
1. Fukuoka (stay at Hakata area)visit Mojiko (stay a night)
2. Day 2 travel to Nagasaki (stay a night)
3. Day 3 Back to Hakata and travel to Yufuin (stay a night)
4. Day visit Beppu and to Kumamoto (stay a night)
to visit takachiho gorge. Then headed back to Hakata
5. Hakata to discover the attraction.
So should i buy the 5 day norther pass + Suica?
Looking for your advice.
Regards
Hi Elaine,
I think you misunderstand the message. If you use Northern Kyushu Rail Pass and make all trips within 5 days, you can go back to Hakata. And also you can consider using Sun Q Pass. This is a bus pass to cover all Kyushu. You cannot get Takachiho by a train but you can get there by a bus. Sun Q Pass covers the bus to Takachiho. If you use 4-day All Kyushu Sun Q Pass for day 2 to 5, you can get most places.
http://www.sunqpass.jp/english/konyu/
For Hakata and Mojiko, you can use Sugoca. Sugoca is basically same as Suica. But Suica is not sold in Kyushu. It’s Sugoca.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-residents/what-is-ic-card-suica-icoca-pasmo-how-to-use-these-cards.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I bought a 5-day Northern Kyushu Area Pass. I understand that the shinkansen I can take is the Kyushu shikansen (Mizuho, Sakura, Tsubame). Does this mean that I can only take these 3? How about the rest of the shinkansen which is not listed like Kodama and Nozomi?
Thanking you in advance
Hi Alena,
Northern Kyushu Area Pass covers Kyushu Shinkansen between Hakata and Kumamoto. On this segment, only three trains, Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame run. Nozomi and Kodama do not run on this segment. The segment between Hakata and Kokura is in Kyushu. Nozomi and Kodama run on this segment but this segment is not covered by Northern Kyushu Area Pass even though this segment is in Kyushu.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Arigato Takeshi for the clarification.
Regards,
Alena
No worries, Alena.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san
this Nov just plan go to Kyushu.
already buy JR Kyushu pass 3 day North and south.
i would like to catch Yufuin No Mori, Kawasemi, Hayato, Ibutama, isaburo
did i still need to reserve seat if i already have JR kyushu pass
Hi kamal tz san,
Yes, you must book a seat before boarding for Yufuin no Mori, Ibutama and Kawasemi Yamasemi. These trains do not have non reserved seat. You cannot get on the train without a reserved seat ticket. Kyushu area pass covers reserved seat fee. So you don’t need to pay but you have to get a reserved seat ticket before boarding. Hayato no Kaze and Isaburo have non reserved seat car. But I recommend you get a reserved seat ticket too.
You can book a seat at any major JR stations after you get a pass in Japan. Online is available but you have to pay online reservation fee.
http://www.jrkyushu.co.jp/english/railpass/railpass.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Would like to ask is it possible to travel around Kyushu with a 5 day North Kyushu pass and a 3 day South Kyushu pass? Was wondering if that’s possible, to spend more time in north Kyushu, instead of getting a 5 dayAll Kyushu pass which is also more costly.
Would appreciate if you could advise, before I book my return airfares to Fukuoka. Thank you.
Hi Carmen san,
You can do it. But if you use Southern Kyushu Rail Pass, you cannot go back to Fukuoka by train. Southern Kyushu Rail Pass does not cover Fukuoka. If you take the Shinkansen to go back to Hakata (Fukuoka), you have to pay about 5,000 yen for the base fare and the seat fee. But it’s still cheaper than using 5-day Northern Kyushu Area Pass + 3-day All Kyushu Rail Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
I’ve been reading on your information on the pass for traveling in Kyushu. Could you advise me on my below itinerary the best pass I should get for 14 days trip:
Day
1 Arrival in Fukuoka airport late afternoon
2 Saga
3 Saga Arita
4 Nagasaki
5 TBD
6 Kumamoto
7 Mount Aso / Takachiho
8 Miyazaki
9 Kagoshima
10 TBD
11 Hiroshima
12 TBD
13 Yamaguchi
14 Fukuoka
15 Fukuoka – fly out from Fukuoka in the afternoon
Am I better off to get 14 days JR pass or mixture of Kyushu Rail Pass & Hiroshima Yamaguchi Area Pass?
Thanks!
Hi Sim,
I think you can use regular fare ticket, Northern Kyushu Area Pass 3 or 5 days for Saga, Arita and Nagasaki. I cannot say which one is better, regular fare ticket, 3 days or 5 days. It depends on how you travel in day 5.
You may use All Kyushu area pass 5-day for day 6 to 10. And then you can use Hiroshima Yamaguchi area pass.
These combination is cheaper than JR Pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Dear Takeshi,
Thank you so much for your recommendation on the pass combination. I will work closely on my itinerary to fit the combination of the pass.
Cheers!
No worries, Sim.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi san,
Is it possible to cover both north and south Kyushu if I get separate passes ie a 5 day North Kyushu and a 3 day South Kyushu? Or only possible to do so with a All Kyushu pass?
Thank you.
Hi Carmen san,
Yes, you can use both passes to cover all part of Kyushu.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Mr Takeshi,
the northern kyushu pass did mention they have cover as above :
・Local trains
・Limited express trains
・Shinkansen（Hakata – Kagoshima-chuo )
May i know how to determine the local train?
Thank You.
Hi nurulinda,
The local train is all train other than limited express and Shinkansen.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Tq
No worries, nurulinda.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-San, I’m planning a trip to Kyushu; we fly into and stay in Fukuoka first, then Kumamoto for 2 days, then Kitakyushu for another 3 days, then back to Fukuoka for return flight. Should I buy 5 day northern Kyushu pass or 3 day pass then pay for return trip to Fukuoka separately in case the 5 day pass may expire depending on when we leave?
Hi Kenneth san,
You can go for 5 days pass because it is only 1,500 yen difference between 3 days and 5 days. It you take the limited express train from Kitakyushu to Hakata, it costs more than 2,000 yen.
I think you can complete Kumamoto and Kitakyushu trip in 5 days. As long as you complete it in 5 days, you can use 5 days pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Mr Takeshi,
Does the Kyushu Northern Pass cover the following routes:
1. JR Kagoshima Line from Kokura to Moji
2. JR Sanyo Line from Kokura to Shimomonoseki
Thanks!
Hi Liz,
Both segments are covered by this pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com