JR Kyushu Pass Instruction Valid from 1st April 2016 ●Eligibility Non-Japanese citizens who are visiting Japan for the purpose of sightseeing and traveling on a short-stay visa. Condition: 1) You must hold a passport issued by a country other than Japan. 2) You must reside outside Japan and are visiting Japan on a short-stay visa. 3) If you are a Japanese citizen, you can use a JR Kyushu Rail Pass, in case of meeting the following three conditions. ・you have a permanent resident status in a foreign country; ・you hold an airline ticket to depart Japan within three months; and ・you have purchased a Voucher for JR Kyushu Rail Pass overseas Those who satisfy conditions 1 and 2 above, or just 3 .
●Application trains ・Reserved and non-reserved seats for all Shinkansen (Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame) within the designated covered area. *The pass cannot be used for the portion between Hakata and Kokura. ・Reserved and non-reserved seats for all limited express trains within the designated covered area. ・Local trains within the designated covered area. *Use of Green Car (superior class) is allowed but subject to an additional charge.
●Major trains of JR Kyushu Train Name Northern Area Pass All Kyushu Area Pass Kyushu Shinkan-sen (Mizuno, Sakura, Tsubame) Available Available Limited Express Sonic Available Available Limited Express Kamome Available Available Limited Express Midori Available Available Limited Express Huis Ten Bosch Available Available Limited Express Yufuin no Mori Available Available Limited Express Yufu Available Available Limited Express Kyushu Odan Tokkyu Available Available Limited Express Aso Boy! Available Available Limited Express Nichirin seagaia Available Available Limited Express Nichirin No Available Limited Express A-TRAIN Available Available SL Hitoyoshi No Available Isaburo / Shinpei No Available Limited Express Hayato no Kaze No Available Limited Express Ibusuki no Tamatebako No Available Limited Express Umisachi-Yamasachi No Available Limited Express Kirishima No Available *Kyushu Shinkansen rides with a Northern Kyushu Area Pass are limited to the portion between Hakata and Kumamoto.
●How to purchase Please purchase a Voucher for a JR Kyushu Rail Pass at a travel agency. *After you arrive in Japan, please bring the Voucher to one of the following ticket office and you will be issued your JR Kyushu Rail Pass(es).
Where to pick up your pass
[Station] Hakata, Kokura, Mojikō, Saga, Nagasaki, Sasebo, Beppu, Oita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima-chuo*, Miyazaki* and Miyazaki Airport* [JR Kyushu Travel] Hakata, Kokura, Saga, Nagasaki, Oita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima* and Miyazaki* [Travel Service Center] Kokura, Mojikō, Sasebo and Beppu *These locations do not exchange vouchers for "Northern Kyushu Area Passes." *Voucher is valid for three months after purchase.
*In order to exchange a voucher for a pass(es), you must present the Voucher in person along with your passport.
●Validity, Seat reservations
Seat reservations can be made for free. When using a JR Kyushu Rail Pass, you cannot make seat reservations on any train before your arrival in Japan. Seat reservations can be only made at any JR station or travel center in Kyushu, Japan. From April 2016, a maximum number of free seat reservations will be introduced as followed: (Both Northern Kyushu & Kyushu Rail Pass) Up to 10 free seat reservations can be made with the 3-day pass Up to 16 free seat reservations can be made with the 5-day pass
If you use up the quota of 10 and 16 seat reservations, you can also take extra reservations with additional charge as followed,
Kyushu Shinkansen 21Mar-5Apr, 28Apr-6May, 21Jul-31Aug, 25Dec-10Jan Adult 720 yen / Child 360 yen
Mon-Thu 16Jan-End of Feb., All of June & September, 1Nov- 20Dec except the day before National holiday and National Adult 320 yen / Child 160 yen holiday. The exception of all above Adult 520 yen / Child 260 yen
Limited Express Mon-Thu 16Jan-End of Feb., All of June & September, 1Nov- 20Dec except the day before National holiday and National Adult 310 yen / Child 160 yen holiday. The exception of all above Adult 510 yen / Child 260 yen
Aso Boy! Panorama seat & Shiroi-Kurochan-seat (Pair seat for parent and child) All operating day of Aso Boy! Adult 720 yen / Child 360 yen
Isaburo & Shimpei Mon-Thu 16Jan-End of Feb., All of June & September, 1Nov- 20Dec except the day before National holiday and National Adult 310 yen / Child 150 yen holiday. The exception of all above Adult 510 yen / Child 250 yen
SL Hitoyoshi All operating day of SL Hitoyoshi Adult 820 yen / Child 410 yen
The pass is valid on three or five consecutive days. Recommendation: This pass can be of great value, considering the fact that a roundtrip from Fukuoka to Kagoshima by regular tickets alone costs around 20,000 yen, which compares to 14,400 yen for a 3-day pass and 17,490 yen for a 5-day pass.
The All Kyushu pass is valid on the entire island, while the Northern Kyushu pass is only valid in the darker colored area in northern Kyushu: (Fukuoka/Kumamoto/Yatsushiro)
●Condition of use 1) A person whose name is on the pass shall be the sole user of the pass. 2) When you use the pass, please always carry your passport with you. 3) The pass cannot be used for JR Kyushu buses and B&S Miyazaki buses. 4) The pass cannot be used for the Sanyo Shinkansen (between Hakata and Kokura). 5) Use of Green Cars is subject to an additional fee. Passes do not authorize holder access to the private room/compartment of any Green Car. 6) The pass is only good within the JR Kyushu service area even though there may be some lines in Kyushu operated by other companies. 7) Travel on trains outside of the designated coverage area of your pass is subject to an additional fee/charge. 8) Unavailability of seating due to full occupancy shall not be subject to refunds.