Recovery information checked October 30, 2026 (JST). This page covers recovery from the July 28, 2026 Kumamoto earthquake and recovery-discount booking conditions. Check operators and campaign sites for current services and available allocations.
Recovery overview: The earthquake-damaged Kyushu Shinkansen, Kagoshima Main Line, and Hisatsu Orange Railway routes have reopened, but the Shinkansen still uses a modified timetable between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo. For weather and other active hazards, use our current Japan safety update.
The Short Answer: How Is the Kumamoto Earthquake Affecting Travel in Kyushu?
Many Kyushu destinations are receiving visitors. For southern Kumamoto, check both your destination and the rail connections needed to reach it.
- Rail travel: The Kyushu Shinkansen is open across its full route, with a modified timetable between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo.
- Southern Kumamoto: The Kagoshima Main Line and Hisatsu Orange Railway have reopened across their full routes. Some Orange Railway trains, including through services onto JR’s Kagoshima Main Line, remain canceled because of driver shortages. Check your specific train.
- Safety: The Japan Meteorological Agency’s (JMA) September 24 assessment says stronger earthquakes have become less likely but activity remains above normal. Avoid damaged or restricted areas and check current guidance for your travel dates.
- Recovery discounts: Some programs include international visitors, but eligibility depends on the prefecture and booking channel. Japanese-language applications, coupon steps, and limited allocations can affect whether you can use an offer.
- Elsewhere in Kyushu: Official tourism information (Japanese) indicates that many accommodation and tourism facilities in Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima are operating. Check the specific property and access route you plan to use.
Kyushu Shinkansen: Open Across the Full Route, With a Modified Timetable
The Kyushu Shinkansen connects Hakata, in Fukuoka, with Kagoshima-Chuo. JR Kyushu confirms that the full route reopened after the earthquake on September 18, but a modified timetable remains in use.
JR Kyushu’s current timetable notice (Japanese) still lists a modified timetable between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo. Its linked post-reopening timetable (Japanese PDF) reflects slower running through part of the affected area. Check your train and onward connection before booking; pre-earthquake connection times may no longer work.
For the booking process, see our guide to buying Shinkansen tickets in Japan.
Current Kumamoto Travel Status
Earthquake Activity and Safety
The JMA earthquake portal (Japanese) carries a September 24 assessment: the likelihood of earthquakes causing Shindo 5 Lower or stronger shaking has decreased, although activity is expected to remain above normal for some time. Shindo measures shaking intensity at a location, not earthquake magnitude. Check local instructions for damaged or restricted areas.
Keep earthquake and tsunami preparedness in mind, and stay out of damaged buildings, closed roads, and restricted slopes.
For practical preparation and what to do if shaking occurs, read Natural Disasters in Japan.
Southern Kumamoto: Kagoshima Main Line and Hisatsu Orange Railway Reopened
JR Kyushu’s current service notice (Japanese) confirms that the Kagoshima Main Line reopened across its full route on October 10 under the regular timetable, including Uto–Yatsushiro. However, JR’s current timetable notice (Japanese) also warns that some through trains from Hisatsu Orange Railway remain canceled. Full-route reopening does not mean every through service is running.
Hisatsu Orange Railway’s Yatsushiro–Higo-Tanoura section resumed service October 13 (KAB report, Japanese), restoring its full route. The operator’s reopening notice (Japanese) states that some trains remain canceled because of driver shortages, so check your specific service.
For travel toward Hitoyoshi, do not confuse Hisatsu Orange Railway with the separate JR Hisatsu Line. The latter’s Yatsushiro–Yoshimatsu section remains closed following the July 2020 heavy rains, as noted in JR Kyushu’s current service information (Japanese).
If driving, check NEXCO West traffic information (Japanese) and MLIT’s Kumamoto earthquake road information (Japanese) before departure. Use current road conditions when choosing your route.
B&S Miyazaki and Kumamoto Castle Facilities
B&S Miyazaki’s notice for travel from September 18 (Japanese) announces a partial service resumption. The timetable differs from the pre-earthquake schedule, so check the current operator timetable if this connection between Shin-Yatsushiro and Miyazaki is part of your trip.
Kumamoto Castle’s September 18 facility notice lists the castle as operating normally and Kumamoto Castle Museum Wakuwakuza as temporarily closed. The notice does not confirm a reopening date for the museum. Check the castle’s facility-status notice (Japanese) before adding surrounding museums or facilities to your visit.
Kyushu Reconstruction Support Discount: Booking Conditions
The Japan Tourism Agency’s Kyushu Fukko Ouen Wari framework (Japanese) covers eligible travel and accommodation products involving at least one overnight stay in Kyushu from October 1, 2026.
International visitors may qualify, but the discount must be booked through a participating seller. Some channels require Japanese-language registration or a separate coupon. Check the price shown on your booking page before making a new reservation.
The standard discount is 50%, while Kumamoto and Kagoshima receive a 60% rate; eligible multi-prefecture tour products that include either may also receive 60%. The maximum discount per traveler and trip is ¥20,000 for an accommodation-only product or a one-night transportation-inclusive product, ¥30,000 for a transportation-inclusive trip of two nights or more, and ¥35,000 for an eligible multi-prefecture tour product with stays in at least two Kyushu prefectures. These are product-level caps, not nightly allowances; separately booking hotels in two prefectures does not by itself qualify for the ¥35,000 cap.
Each prefecture and seller has its own booking period and allocation. The table summarizes the published travel periods and booking conditions checked October 30, rather than live sales status. A program being within its travel period does not mean discounts remain available. Travel dates refer to eligible overnight stays; check the current terms and discount at checkout. OTA means online travel agency.
| Prefecture | Discount | Published travel period / booking conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka (Japanese) | 50% | October 1–December 15 stays. Direct booking is available only at participating properties that accept it. Reservations made before the relevant sales start are excluded. |
| Saga (Japanese) | 50% | October 1–December 25 stays. Inbound travelers are eligible. Book after the applicable sales start and confirm the discount with your seller. |
| Nagasaki (Japanese) | 50% | October 1–December 25 overall; each seller may cover a shorter period. Direct bookings require a STAYNAVI coupon after reservation. Check the official site for available tranches and applicable dates before booking. |
| Kumamoto (Japanese) | 60% | October 1–December 25 stays. Existing reservations made before the relevant sales start are excluded. Use the official campaign site (Japanese) to find participating sellers. |
| Oita (Japanese) | 50% | OTA stays: October 1–December 25. Agency stays begin October 9; direct-booking stays begin October 16. Reservations made before the applicable seller’s sales start are excluded. |
| Miyazaki (Japanese) | 50% | October 1–December 25 stays. Direct bookings require a STAYNAVI coupon. Reservations made before the applicable seller begins sales are excluded. Confirm your seller is accepting campaign reservations. |
| Kagoshima (Japanese) | 60% | Direct hotel stays: October 14, 2026–February 28, 2027. Agency/OTA stays: October 14, 2026–January 31, 2027. December 26–January 3 is excluded; a travel contract containing ineligible dates is excluded in full. Reservations before the applicable sales start are excluded. |
Can International Visitors Actually Book the Discount?
Fukuoka’s FAQ (Japanese PDF) and Saga’s campaign site (Japanese) explicitly include international visitors, as does Kagoshima’s FAQ (Japanese PDF); Nagasaki’s FAQ (Japanese PDF) does not restrict eligibility by nationality. You still need a participating seller and an available offer; eligibility alone does not mean you can book in English.
For a direct booking, check the campaign’s participating-property list and opening date first. Ask your chosen property whether it is accepting campaign reservations and can handle your overseas details, payment method, and dates. Oita also lists direct booking through participating properties’ official websites or by phone; ask for the campaign discount when booking.
Fukuoka and Kagoshima permit direct booking through the property’s official website or by phone. Nagasaki and Miyazaki (Japanese) require a STAYNAVI coupon after an eligible direct reservation. A hotel reservation alone does not secure the discount: confirm coupon availability and complete every required step. Check the linked campaign sites for current sales and allocation notices.
Rakuten Travel’s campaign FAQ (Japanese) excludes reservations on its foreign-language inbound site. JR train-and-hotel packages, multi-prefecture tour products, and business travel are also excluded from Rakuten’s campaign. Coupon use requires a Rakuten account, and the discount must remain applied when the reservation is completed. A coupon cannot be added afterward; obtaining one does not reserve the remaining allocation.
For Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, or Airbnb, confirm participation in your exact booking flow. A hotel’s direct-booking offer does not automatically apply through another platform.
Compare Costs Before You Rebook
Compare the final payable total, cancellation charges, included meals, and required coupon steps before changing a booking. Rakuten states that cancellation fees incurred when rebooking are not reimbursed. Keep your existing reservation until you have checked availability and the cost of replacing it.
Official Information
Use these official starting points for safety, transport, and booking checks. The Japanese notices may contain newer or more detailed information than the general pages.
- JMA: Kumamoto Earthquake Portal
- JR Kyushu: Traveler Information
- NEXCO West: Driving and Route Information
- Kumamoto Castle: Visitor Information
- Kumamoto Prefecture: Travel Information
- Japan Tourism Agency
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Beppu and Yufuin open after the earthquake?
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Oita’s official tourism information (Japanese) indicates that accommodation and tourism facilities are generally operating. Check your specific property and route before departure, especially if another part of your itinerary crosses southern Kumamoto.
- Can I travel from Fukuoka to Kagoshima by Shinkansen?
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Yes. The full Kyushu Shinkansen route between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo is operating. JR still lists a modified timetable between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo. Check your train and connection with JR before departure.
- What if I need to travel to Yatsushiro or Minamata?
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Shin-Yatsushiro and Yatsushiro are different stations, as are Shin-Minamata and Minamata. Check the onward connection from your Shinkansen station. The Kagoshima Main Line and Hisatsu Orange Railway now operate across their full routes, but some Orange Railway trains remain canceled because of driver shortages, including some through services onto JR’s Kagoshima Main Line.
- Can international travelers use the Kyushu Reconstruction Support Discount?
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Fukuoka, Saga, and Kagoshima explicitly include international visitors, and Nagasaki does not restrict eligibility by nationality. This does not guarantee that your preferred booking channel can apply the discount. You still need an eligible seller, available allocation, and any required coupon steps. Check the official campaign site and your seller for current availability; this article does not track coupon inventory or individual sales launches.
Rakuten’s foreign-language site is excluded from its campaign. If a hotel offers direct booking, confirm whether it can handle your reservation and application; Nagasaki and Miyazaki require a STAYNAVI coupon for eligible direct bookings.
- How should I decide whether to change my Kyushu trip?
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Match the current rail timetable, road access, and local restrictions to your itinerary. For Hitoyoshi, account for the separate long-term JR Hisatsu Line closure described above.
For a recovery discount, confirm an eligible booking channel and available allocation, then compare the saving with cancellation and rebooking costs.
