Read on to find out how to get to Kumamoto from Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Oita, Nagasaki and Kagoshima
From Kumamoto Airport it is a 40 minute bus ride from the Kumamoto Central Bus Center in the city center (730 yen one way) or 50 minutes from Kumamoto Station (800 yen one way).
Kumamoto Station is about 2 km outside the city center, regular tram and bus services run between the station and city center taking about 10 mins. See the Getting Around Kumamoto page for more details.
From Tokyo
By Train
Take either the Tokaido, Sanyo or Kyushu Shinkansen. The one way trip takes about six hours and costs around 26,000 yen. You may have to change trains once at either Shin-Osaka or Hakata Station. If you are travelling by Japan Rail Pass the journey will take around seven hours by train as you are only permitted to ride on the Hikari and Sakura services. Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By Air
There are 26 flights a day from Tokyo to Kumamoto, the flight takes 1 hour 45 mins. You can choose between JAL or ANA or the budget airlines Solaseed or Jetstar. All airlines fly from Haneda Airport except Jetstar which departs from Narita Airport. The regular one way fares by JAL and ANA are around 41,000 yen, but pre-booked discount tickets are usually available for between 13,000 and 24,000 yen. Solaseed Air fares are lower but Jetstar is the cheapest with return flights usually available for around 10,000 Yen or less.
By Bus
You can travel by night bus from Tokyo to Fukuoka with Nishitetsu and then change buses to travel onward to Kumamoto. The Tokyo to Fukuoka leg takes just over 14 hours (dep 21:00 arr 11: 17) A one way ticket costs 11,000 Yen though there are discounts if you book over a month in advance. From Fukuoka to Kumamoto there is a Nishitetsu hourly service which takes around 2 hours and costs 2060 Yen.
From Osaka
By Train
The Mizuho Shinkansen offers the fastest connection taking just 3 hours, however JR Pass holders cannot use this service. The Sakura service runs more frequently and takes up to 3 hours 45 mins. A one way ticket will cost around 18,500 Yen. Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By Air
There are around 10 flights a day from Osaka to Kumamoto, the flight takes 1 hour 10 mins. You can choose between JAL or ANA (flying from Itami Airport) or the budget airline Jetstar (flying from Kansai) which has return flights available for as low as 5,000 Yen.
By Bus
The night bus takes about 9.5 hours and typically costs between 5,500 and 11,000 yen one way depending on the type of bus and your travel dates.
From Fukuoka
By Train
The Kyushu Shinkansen runs from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kumamoto, a single ticket is around 5000 yen and the journey takes 30 to 40 mins. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Kyushu Rail Pass.
If you want to save money the one way journey between Fukuoka’s Hakata Station and Kumamoto by local train takes about 2.5 hours and costs 2130 yen. One transfer of trains is required along the way.
Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By bus
The one way journey between Fukuoka (Hakata Station) and Kumamoto (Kotsu Center) by highway bus takes about two hours and costs 2060 yen. There are departures once or twice an hour. There are also hourly buses between Fukuoka Airport and Kumamoto for a similar cost.
Click here to find bus times and plan your journey.
From Nagasaki
By Train
Take the hourly train service from Urakami to Shin Tosu, the journey takes around 1 hour and a half and costs around 2000 Yen, at Shin Tosu take the Shinkansen to Kumamoto Station, there are trains every half hour, this leg takes 30 mins and costs around 5500 Yen one way.
Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By Bus
Highway bus is a cheaper option than the train though it takes around 4 hours 15 mins. Take the bus from Showamachidori in Nagasaki to Fukuoka Airport, the service runs every half hour and then change buses at the airport to go onward to Kumamoto on the hourly service. The entire journey will cost around 4800 Yen one way.
Click here to find bus times and plan your journey.
By Ferry and Train
Not the quickest method but definitely the most scenic way to reach Nagasaki. The Kumamoto ferry terminal is a 25 minute bus ride from the city center. You can take the Ocean Arrow car ferry across to Shimabara, a short 30 min trip costing 1,000 Yen one way. Click here for the ferry’s English Information page. Then take the train from Shimabara-Gaiko Station near the ferry terminal to Nagasaki Station. Shimabara Port is about a two hour train ride from Nagasaki Station, a one way fare is around 2,000 yen. Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
From Kagoshima
By Train
The Mizuho Shinkansen is the fastest service taking only 44 mins between Kagoshima and Kumamoto, the Sakura service takes 57 mins, both cost 6940 one way for a reserved ticket. There are multiple services every hour.
Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By Bus
Take the highway bus from Kagoshima’s Central Station to Kumamoto Central Bus Station, there are services every couple of hours, the journey time is 3 hours 15 mins and costs 3,700 Yen one way.
Click here to find bus times and plan your journey.
From Oita
By Train
The Limited Trans Kyushu Express is a direct service that runs between Beppu and Kumamoto passing through the Aso region, the journey takes around 2 hours 15 mins costing just under 5000 Yen one way. There are 7 trains a day.
Click here to find train times and plan your journey.
By Bus
There is a bus every 2 hours running from Oita to Kumamoto City, the journey takes just under 4 hours and costs around 5000 Yen one way. Click here to find bus times and plan your journey.