Everything you need to know about the JR Kyushu Northern Kyushu Rail Pass
What is the JR Kyushu Northern Kyushu Rail Pass?
The JR Kyushu Northern Kyushu Rail Pass is designed for foreign tourists and offers unlimited travel on JR Kyushu trains in the northern half of Kyushu for three or five consecutive days.
This includes shinkansen, limited express trains, and local trains, allowing for extensive travel across the north of Kyushu.
How much does it cost?
- 3-day pass:
- Adult: 11,000 yen
- Child: 5,500 yen
- 5-day pass:
- Adult: 14,00 yen
- Child: 7,000 yen
Child passes are only available for those between 6 and 11 years old.
Where can it be used?
The Northern Kyushu Rail Pass allows unlimited travel on all JR Kyushu train lines in Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, and Kumamoto prefectures.
Important information
- Seat reservations are possible for limited express trains and some other trains.
- The pass is valid for foreign tourists only.
- You must hold a passport issued by a country other than Japan.
- You must reside outside Japan and are visiting Japan on a temporary visitor visa(*).
- The age of a child is defined as the age on the date of purchase. A passport or other such document is required to prove a child’s age.
- A separate fee is applicable if you wish to use the Green Car or GranClass.
- The pass cannot be used for the Sanyo Shinkansen (between Hakata and Kokura).
Valid Period
The rail pass is valid for 3 or 5 consecutive days.
Where to buy
- Purchase through online or offline travel agents outside of Japan.
- Available at major railway stations and airports within the pass area.
- Available for purchase on the official JR Kyushu website.
- If purchased outside Japan or online, the rail pass must be collected from one of the following stations:
- Hakata
- Fukuoka Airport JR KYUSHU RAIL PASS Exchange Counter
- Kokura
- Mojiko
- Saga
- Nagasaki
- Sasebo
- Beppu
- Oita
- Kumamoto
How to reserve seats
You can reserve seats on Shinkansen and limited express trains at no extra cost by making seat reservations at a JR Kyushu “Midori no Madoguchi” (ticket office) or at a reserved seat ticket vending machine.
How to use
Insert your rail pass into the automatic ticket gate.
Make sure to pick up your rail pass after passing through the gate. The rail pass cannot be reissued even if it is lost or stolen etc.
For stations without automatic ticket gates, present your pass to the JR staff at the entrance to the platforms.
Value
This passes offers a convenient and cost-effective way to explore the northern half of Kyushu.
A regular one-way ticket between Hakata (Fukuoka) and Kumamoto on the Kyushu Shinkansen can cost between 5,000 yen and 7,000 yen depending on whether you reserve a seat, so the pass can offer significant value for those looking to make a round trip.
Even more cost savings can be gained by using the pass for travel on local lines covered by the pass around your destination.
It can be beneficial to plan your journeys on trains included in the rail pass advance, as this will also help you to determine if you can match, or ideally exceed, the value of the pass with your intended travel.
