Southern Kyushu Rail Pass: three days, routes and collection points
JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS Southern Kyushu
The Southern Kyushu Rail Pass covers specified JR Kyushu routes from Kumamoto (熊本) and Oita (大分) towards southern Kyushu (九州) for three consecutive days. It includes the Kyushu Shinkansen between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo (鹿児島中央). You cannot exchange it at Hakata (博多) or Fukuoka Airport (福岡空港).
Places and stations
Kumamoto · 熊本; Oita · 大分; Kagoshima-Chuo Station · 鹿児島中央駅; Miyazaki · 宮崎; Miyazaki Airport · 宮崎空港.
When is this pass useful?
Compare this pass for travel from Kumamoto to Kagoshima and onward on covered southern routes such as Miyazaki. If starting in Fukuoka (福岡), separately check the cost of reaching Kumamoto from Hakata (博多) and where you can collect the pass. Compare All Kyushu for an itinerary covering both the north and south.
Who can use it?
These passes are for travellers living outside Japan who hold a non-Japanese passport and enter Japan for sightseeing under Temporary Visitor status. Check the evidence of that status in your original passport and carry your passport when using the pass.
Prices and child-age rules
Adults are aged 12 or above; child passes are for ages 6–11. For an Exchange Order bought from an overseas travel agency, age is assessed on the purchase date. For purchases in Kyushu or through JR Kyushu’s official online service, age is assessed on the start date. The table gives official agency and station prices in yen; official online discounts and Trip.com display prices need to be checked separately.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Consecutive days | Adult (JPY) | Child (JPY) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | 12,000 | 6,000 |
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Validity and start date
Use the pass on consecutive days from your selected start date. For example, a three-day pass starting on 6 October is valid on 6, 7 and 8 October. Check the exchange deadline stated for the product you bought separately.
Exchange Order or boarding ticket?
A travel agency’s Exchange Order is not a boarding ticket to insert into an automatic gate. Collect the actual pass at a designated exchange point before travelling. A reserved-seat ticket is also separate from the pass itself.
Which trains and routes are covered?
The pass covers designated local and limited express trains in the area from Kumamoto and Oita southwards, and the Kyushu Shinkansen between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo. Hakata–Kumamoto and the Takeo-Onsen (武雄温泉)–Nagasaki (長崎) Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen are excluded.
Where do I collect the pass?
Use a designated collection point at Oita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima-Chuo, Miyazaki or Miyazaki Airport. The pass reception list gives Miyazaki Airport hours as 10:00–12:10 and 12:50–17:30. These differ from the general station guide, so confirm pass-handling hours with the counter before visiting. Hakata and Fukuoka Airport are not collection points for Southern Kyushu.
Reserving seats
Southern Kyushu includes up to six complimentary Ordinary Car seat reservations, made at JR Kyushu counters or reserved-seat machines within its area. Paid advance online bookings do not count towards that allowance. Green Car travel requires additional charges.
Service changes to check separately
As checked on 6 October 2026, the Kagoshima Main Line between Uto (宇土) and Yatsushiro (八代) is suspended through 9 October, with resumption planned from the first train on 10 October. Weather and other conditions may change that date. The Hisatsu Line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu (吉松) also has a long-term suspension. A line appearing on the coverage map does not guarantee that trains are currently running; check the service notice for your travel date.
Cancellation and refunds
For an unexchanged travel-agency voucher, ask the seller about a refund; JR Kyushu does not refund these vouchers directly. For a physical pass already issued, contact the issuing JR counter by the day before validity begins. The official conditions specify a fee of 10% of the yen sale price. No refund is available on or after the start date. Trip.com cancellation conditions must be checked separately for the selected option.
From purchase to boarding
Choose consecutive travel dates and routes, and check Temporary Visitor evidence in your passport and the applicable child-age rule.
After purchase, check the pass type, duration, name and exchange deadline on the Exchange Order.
All travellers named on the Exchange Orders must take their original passports and orders to an exchange point handling that pass.
Confirm the start date when collecting the physical pass. Reserve any required Ordinary Car seats at a JR Kyushu counter or reserved-seat ticket machine.
Insert the actual pass into the automatic gate and retrieve it afterwards. Do not use the reserved-seat ticket to open the gate; carry it when boarding the reserved seat.
Questions about this pass
Can I exchange a Southern Kyushu voucher at Fukuoka Airport?
The Fukuoka Airport counter handles All Kyushu and Northern Kyushu passes. For Southern Kyushu, choose a designated point at Oita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima-Chuo, Miyazaki or Miyazaki Airport.
Can I board the Shinkansen at Hakata with this pass?
Hakata–Kumamoto is outside Southern Kyushu coverage. The included Kyushu Shinkansen section is Kumamoto–Kagoshima-Chuo.
Can I exchange the pass around noon at Miyazaki Airport?
The pass reception list shows a break from 12:10 to 12:50. General station hours and pass-handling hours can differ, so confirm before visiting.
Can I enter the gates using the QR code on my Exchange Order?
First exchange the order for the actual pass at a designated counter. Insert the pass itself into the automatic gate and retrieve it afterwards.
Is a child’s age assessed when buying or travelling?
For an overseas travel-agency Exchange Order, age is assessed on the purchase date. For purchases in Kyushu or through the official online service, it is assessed on the validity start date. Child passes apply to ages 6–11.
Can I get a refund if the train has no available seats?
Under the official conditions, a train being fully booked is not grounds for a pass refund. Check reservation availability for the trains you need in advance.
Sources and official guidance
- JR Kyushu: Southern Kyushu coverage map in English ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: rail pass conditions in Korean ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: rail pass conditions in English ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: official purchase and reservation guidance ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: pass collection locations and handling hours ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: Fukuoka Airport exchange counter ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: Miyazaki Airport Station guidance ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: current service and planned resumption notices in Japanese ↗Checked:
- JR Kyushu: long-term suspensions in Japanese ↗Checked:
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