How to Use JR Kyushu Rail Pass

There are six types of JR Kyushu Rail Pass available, which differ depending on their validity period and the area covered:

N.B. The Shinkansen between Kokura and Hakata is not covered by the JR Kyushu Rail Pass.

The JR Kyushu Rail Pass can be purchased at here and other online platforms, as well as at designated overseas travel agencies.

Click here for reservation

If you’re already in Japan, you can also purchase them at JR Ticket Offices (Midori no Madoguchi) at select stations in Kyushu. Keep in mind that the JR Kyushu Rail Pass - North is not available for sale at stations in Southern Kyushu while the JR Kyushu Rail Pass - South is not available for sale at stations in Northern Kyushu. If you’ve purchased a JR Kyushu Rail Pass outside of Japan, you’ll be issued with a pass voucher that needs to be redeemed at a JR Ticket Office on arrival.

JR Rail Pass Counter

When you’re using the JR Kyushu Rail Pass-All, the JR Kyushu Rail Pass - North or the JR Kyushu Rail Pass - South, you can board non-reserved seat trains without having to reserve a seat. However, it’s recommended that you reserve a seat for trains that are all-reserved and on popular sightseeing trains to ensure you have a place to sit.

There are two options when it comes to reserving a seat - you can book online or at a JR Ticket Office. You can make seat reservations at the JR Ticket Office at each JR Kyushu station with no extra charge. If you purchased your pass through an overseas travel agency designated as a "JR Kyushu Rail Pass Online Booking”, you can utilize the online reservation service. An addition charge of between 800 and 1,000 yen applies, with a list of applicable trains available at here.

The JR Kyushu Rail Pass (Fukuoka Wide) can be used for sightseeing in and around Fukuoka City, as well as accessing the ancient castle town of Kokura and Shimonoseki.

The JR Kyushu Rail Pass (Fukuoka Wide) AreaPhoto by ： JR Kyushu Railway Company

See the wooden Buddha of Tōchō-ji and learn about life in the Meiji and Taishō eras at the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum, then explore the ruins of the 17th-century Fukuoka Castle in Maizuru Park. Jump aboard the Sarakurayama Cable Car that offers sweeping views across the city of Kitakyūshū, then travel to the westernmost city on Honshu - Shimonoseki. Highlights here include the Kaikyokan Aquarium and the Kaikyo Yume Tower, as well as the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel that links the city to Kyushu.

Sarakurayama Cable Car

Mt. Sarakura

Fukuoka Pref. Kitakyushushiyahatahigashiku Ogura

0936810387

[Sarakurayama Cable Car/Slop…

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Mojiko

Mojiko

Kanmon Bridge

Mojiko

Fukuoka Pref

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Travellers wanting to explore Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Beppu should opt for the JR Kyushu Rail Pass - North.

Northern Kyushu Area PassPhoto by ： JR Kyushu Railway Company

After discovering the sights of Fukuoka, you can travel southwest to Nagasaki to learn about the nuclear attack that took place here during World War II at the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Witness the 17th-century Kumamoto Castle and admire the works on display at the Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, then enjoy a soak in the natural hot springs of Beppu Onsen.

Beppu Onsen Jigoku Hell Tour

Beppu Onsen Jigoku Hell Tour

Beppu Onsen Jigoku Hell Tour

別府八湯

4.0

119 Reviews

大分県別府市

0977242828

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Nagasaki Peace Park

Nagasaki Peace Park

Nagasaki Peace Park (Ground zero Area / Peace Statue Area)

Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Matsuyamamachi

0958291162

Free visit

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Kujukushima pearl sea resort

Kujuku Islands

Nagasaki Pref. Saseboshi

0956226630

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The JR Kyushu Rail Pass - South covers the cities of Kumamoto, Oita, Kagoshima and Miyazaki.

Southern Kyushu Area PassPhoto by ： JR Kyushu Railway Company

From Kumamoto, you can travel south to the seaside city of Kagoshima to walk along the Nagisa Lava Trail beneath the active volcano of Sakurajima. Then continue east to Miyazaki to explore the magnificent Takachiho Gorge, which was created during the rapid cooling of an ancient lava flow. Aside from featuring the onsen towns of Beppu and Yufuin, Oita is also home to the Kunisaki Peninsula that’s renowned for its charming countryside dotted with spiritual sites.

Takachiho Gorge

Takachiho Gorge

Takachiho Gorge

Miyazaki Pref. Nishiusukiguntakachihochou Mitai Please Shioi

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Kagoshima City Tram

Sakurajima

Sakurajima Island

Kagoshima Kagoshima-shi

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If you want to explore the entire island of Kyushu, the JR Kyushu Rail Pass is highly recommended.

All Kyushu Area PassPhoto by ： JR Kyushu Railway Company

You can visit all of the region’s major cities and natural sights, as well as its onsen towns. The pass can also be used on one of the island’s unique sightseeing trains that offer a slower journey so you can enjoy the spectacular views. A highlight is the JR Hisatsu Line between Yatsuhiro Station in Kumamoto prefecture and Hayato Station in Kagoshima prefecture, which is considered by many to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in Japan.

Yufuin no Mori

A-Train

A-Train