Kyushu, located in Japan’s Kagoshima prefecture, has announced a JPY 3.5-billion (approximately HKD 178.12 million) budget proposal to bolster regional tourism. The proposal includes offering foreign tourists free one-way tickets for a scenic Shinkansen (Japan’s bullet train) journey along the Fukuoka-Kagoshima route, which takes roughly 90 minutes.
From Gran Tenku (a new sightseeing train to Mount Koya) launching in April 2026 to beginning construction on the final Maglev Station in March, Japan’s rail sector is buzzing with activity. The latest no-cost Shinkansen initiative is bound to drive tourism and put regional marvels like Kagoshima in the limelight.
Why is Japan offering free Shinkansen tickets?
Unlike major tourist hubs like Kyoto and Fujiyoshida in Japan that are tackling overtourism by introducing high hotel taxes and cancelling their cherry blossom festival, Kagoshima is facing the complete opposite problem. Here, the influx of international tourists dropped drastically during the COVID-19 pandemic and is yet to bounce back. “With local populations decreasing, the importance of tourism is growing,” shared Kagoshima Governor Koichi Shiota, in a report by Japan Today.
Shiota further explains that finding ways to bring tourists to Kagoshima (even without direct flights) is the need of the hour. The complimentary Shinkansen tickets will nudge tourists in Fukuoka to visit Kagoshima, widely known for its active volcano, Mt. Sakurajima.
Who is eligible for the complimentary rides?
Kagoshima-Chuo Station Sign, Japan | Image credit: そらみみ, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Here’s the catch: free one-way Shinkansen tickets from Fukuoka to Kagoshima City are currently only available to visitors from South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, since all four destinations have direct flights to Kagoshima. Other countries, such as the US and Thailand, may also be added in the future.
If you’re eligible, don’t miss the delightful one-way Shinkansen running from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kagoshima Chuo Station in Kagoshima City — a charming journey framing rural Japanese landscapes, volcanic mountains, and coastal views (without spending a yen!).
Details about how to apply for a ticket are yet to be announced.
(Feature image credit: Junpei5885, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
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Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
AloJapan.com