Kyushu transport passes: JR Kyushu Rail Pass versus SUNQ Pass

Compare JR Kyushu Rail Pass coverage, prices, consecutive-day rules and train exclusions with SUNQ Pass bus and ferry coverage and flexible digital-ticket use.

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  • JR and rail passes
  • Transport
  • Independent travel

There are two main types of official passes for traveling between Kyushu prefectures: the JR Kyushu Rail Pass covers trains and Shinkansen, while SUNQ Pass covers buses and some ferries. They have different coverage and cannot be compared on price alone; first decide whether your route depends mainly on rail or buses. This article summarizes official information without rankings or promotion. For train routes, see Kyushu Shinkansen and limited express trains; for Fukuoka city tickets, see Fukuoka passes and day tickets.

Key points

  • JR Kyushu Rail Pass comes in three types: All Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, and Southern Kyushu. Pass days must be consecutive; nonconsecutive days are not allowed
  • SUNQ Pass covers buses, not JR or Shinkansen. Digital passes allow you to choose days within a specified period
  • The Northern and Southern Kyushu rail passes cover only certain Shinkansen sections and exclude some limited express trains. Check the train table below before traveling
  • Prices and rules may change. The information below follows official pages as of 2026-10-28

JR Kyushu Rail Pass

Types and prices

Type Days Adults (yen) Children aged 6 to 11 (yen) Valid area (official description)
All Kyushu 3 days 22,000 11,000 Local and limited express trains throughout Kyushu; Kyushu Shinkansen (Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo ); Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki )
All Kyushu 5 days 24,000 12,000 Same as above
All Kyushu 7 days 26,000 13,000 Same as above
Northern Kyushu 3 days 15,000 7,500 Fukuoka, Oita, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Saga and surrounding areas; Kyushu Shinkansen only between Hakata and Kumamoto
Northern Kyushu 5 days 17,000 8,500 Same as above
Southern Kyushu 3 days 12,000 6,000 Oita, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima and surrounding areas; Kyushu Shinkansen only between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo
  • The official Southern Kyushu page lists only a 3-day pass, not 5-day or 7-day options
  • The official online sales page describes these as “limited-time prices” but does not state an end date; the price displayed at purchase applies

Rules of use

  • Pass days must be consecutive; you cannot skip days
  • Reserved seats: All Kyushu allows unlimited free seat reservations; Northern and Southern Kyushu each allow 6 free reservations, with an additional limited express ticket needed beyond that. Reservations made in advance through the official online reservation service do not count toward those 6
  • The Sanyo Shinkansen between Hakata and Kokura cannot be used with any of these three passes
  • Other exclusions listed officially include JR Kyushu buses, the B&S Miyazaki () bus, Seven Stars in Kyushu (), and others. Green Car () travel costs extra
  • Purchase options: Official online booking, designated overseas travel agencies (exchange vouchers), and JR Kyushu ticket counters within Kyushu

Which limited express trains are covered?

Train Northern Kyushu Southern Kyushu All Kyushu
Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome Valid Not valid Valid
Relay Kamome Valid Not valid Valid
Sonic Valid Not valid Valid
Yufuin no Mori Valid Not valid Valid
Huis Ten Bosch limited express Valid Not valid Valid
Nichirin , Ibusuki no Tamatebako , Umisachi-Yamasachi , Kirishima Not valid Valid Valid

This table is compiled from the official lists of excluded trains and includes only the trains on those lists. Check the official page directly for other trains.

SUNQ Pass

The official SUNQ Pass description says it covers almost all express and regular buses across Kyushu’s seven prefectures and the Shimonoseki area, as well as some ferries. It refers to approximately 2,400 bus services, including boats from Shimabara to Amakusa and routes to Sakurajima. The official page states that there are 5 pass types, divided by area and route. Their names and prices are presented as images on the official page, so they are not reproduced here; check the official SUNQ Pass website for current prices.

Valid-day rules

Pass Digital ticket (mobile) Paper ticket
2-day pass Choose any 2 days within 3 days from the first day of use The official wording for paper tickets differs from the digital-ticket rules; check before buying
3-day pass Choose any 3 days within 5 days from the first day of use Same as above
4-day pass Choose any 4 days within 7 days from the first day of use Same as above
  • A day runs from 3:00 to 2:59 the following day. Boarding between midnight and 2:59 counts toward the previous calendar day; the boarding time determines the day
  • Digital tickets are purchased by mobile phone; paper tickets are available at designated travel agencies and bus offices within the coverage area

Excluded routes

  • The overnight express bus between Fukuoka and Kagoshima is excluded
  • The express bus between Fukuoka and Nagato/Hagi is excluded
  • Northern Kyushu passes: Some stops around Hitoyoshi and Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture, and Yamatocho on the Fukuoka–Nobeoka route, are outside the coverage area despite being in Kumamoto Prefecture
  • Southern Kyushu passes: The Kumamoto–Oita bus and Kyushu Odan Bus via Aso Station or Kurokawa Onsen cannot be used, even on the Kumamoto section
  • Some express buses require seat reservations. The official route table marks routes from Fukuoka to Nagasaki, Beppu, Yufuin, and Kagoshima as reservation-required (see the respective route articles)

Which should you use?

Itinerary Worth considering Things to check
Traveling between Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima, mainly by Shinkansen All Kyushu, or Northern/Southern depending on coverage Southern excludes northern Shinkansen sections; Northern ends at Kumamoto
Fukuoka to Nagasaki All Kyushu or Northern Kyushu (covers the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen) Southern Kyushu does not cover Kamome or Relay Kamome
Fukuoka to Yufuin and Beppu All Kyushu or Northern Kyushu (covers Yufuin no Mori and Sonic), or SUNQ Pass buses Bus reservations are required; all Yufuin no Mori seats are reserved
Using buses and ferries in mountains or on islands SUNQ Pass Overnight buses and some routes are excluded
Traveling back and forth only within one prefecture Do not buy a pass immediately Add the individual fares and compare with pass prices first

Checklist before buying

  1. List every route you intend to take and determine whether it is by train, bus, or ferry
  2. Check the train table above to see whether your limited express is covered by the pass type you want
  3. For partially covered Shinkansen routes, confirm that the section includes your destination
  4. Check whether the consecutive-day rules fit your itinerary (JR requires consecutive days; SUNQ digital tickets allow selected days)
  5. Check current prices and purchase methods on official websites

For the nationwide JR Pass, see JR and rail passes. This page covers only regional Kyushu passes.

Sources