Summary: Kagoshima Prefecture is offering free one-way Shinkansen tickets from Hakata (Fukuoka) to Kagoshima Chuo to entice international visitors. The roughly 90-minute trip (normally about ¥11,500 / ~$75) will initially target travelers from Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong, with later expansion planned to markets such as the United States and Thailand.

Kagoshima has launched a scheme providing Kagoshima free Shinkansen tickets — one-way rides from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kagoshima Chuo Station — as part of a push to draw more international tourists to the southern end of Kyushu. The subsidised journey takes about 90 minutes and normally costs around ¥11,500 (approximately $75).

Program Details and Eligibility

The initiative covers a one-way Kyushu Shinkansen ticket from Hakata to Kagoshima Chuo, fully subsidised for eligible foreign visitors. Officials designed the scheme to make Kagoshima more reachable for travellers who lack direct international flights to the prefecture.

At launch, the free tickets are available to travelers arriving from Korea, Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. The prefecture plans to extend eligibility to additional source markets — named examples include the United States and Thailand — as the program develops.

Reasons Behind the Incentive

Kagoshima’s tourism sector has seen fewer international hotel guests than before the pandemic and has lost some direct flight links — notably to cities such as Hong Kong and Shanghai. To counteract that decline and address local economic concerns, the prefectural government introduced the subsidy as a practical alternative to direct air access.

  • Typical journey time: around 90 minutes
  • Normal fare: approximately ¥11,500 (~$75 USD)
  • Initial focus markets: Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong
  • Planned expansion: United States, Thailand
Kyushu Shinkansen train passing scenic landscape en route to Kagoshima, highlighting regional travel connections
The Kyushu Shinkansen connects Fukuoka and Kagoshima, offering a fast route to southern Kyushu attractions

What Kagoshima Offers Visitors

Kagoshima is known for its dramatic natural features and regional culture. Key highlights include the active Sakurajima volcano, the subtropical island of Yakushima, historic gardens such as Iso Garden, and cultural institutions like the Kagoshima City Museum of Art.

  • Sakurajima: active volcano and coastal views
  • Yakushima: lush, subtropical UNESCO-listed island
  • Iso Garden and local museums: historic and cultural sites
  • Local cuisine: specialties such as Satsuma-age and Kurobuta (black pork)

How This Might Change Traveler Choices

By lowering the overland cost to reach Kagoshima, the prefecture hopes to redirect tourists who typically stick to Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The free Shinkansen tickets offer a practical incentive for visitors to add a southern Kyushu stop to their Japan itinerary, especially when direct flights are limited.

For international travelers, the scheme highlights an alternative route into a less-crowded, authentic part of Japan accessible via the high-speed rail network that many visitors already associate with the country’s modern transport system.

Tip: If you’re planning to visit Kagoshima under this scheme, check eligibility windows and participating arrival countries, and plan connecting transport from Hakata to make the most of the free one-way ticket.

Why This Matters

Kagoshima’s subsidy is a strategic response to declining inbound travel and reduced air links. For the travel industry, it presents a model for using domestic high-speed rail as an incentive to revive visitation to peripheral regions. For travelers, it opens easier access to Kyushu’s natural and cultural attractions without relying on direct flights.