Want to loop Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Beppu in a single trip? Here's a plain-English guide to choosing your JR Kyushu pass — both the Northern Kyushu and All Kyushu zones — with current 2026 prices, which Shinkansen and sightseeing lines each one covers, where to exchange it, and which zone actually pays off for your trip.
Picture this: you've just landed at Fukuoka Airport around midday, with a plan to loop through Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kumamoto, then soak in the hot springs at Beppu before flying home — and the first question in your head is, should I buy a JR Kyushu Rail Pass, and which zone? Honestly, Kyushu is one of the easiest regions in Japan to make a rail pass pay off, because its tourist cities are spread out and all connected by Shinkansen and express trains. We wrote this page to help you settle the zone question in one place.
Here's the short version. The JR Kyushu Rail Pass comes in three zones. The one Thai and overseas travellers use most is the Northern Kyushu pass (3 or 5 days), covering northern Kyushu — Fukuoka–Nagasaki–Kumamoto–Beppu/Yufuin — which is the classic route most people travel. The All Kyushu pass (3/5/7 days) covers the whole island, adding the Kyushu Shinkansen down to Kagoshima and Miyazaki in the far south, and there's also a Southern Kyushu pass (3 days) for travellers who fly into Kagoshima and tour only the south. This pass is for foreign visitors only, and you must carry your passport whenever you use it.
The ticket is valid for the chosen number of consecutive days (3 days means 3 days straight, counting from the date you activate it). Children aged 6–11 pay half price. The prices below are the standard rate — book online through the JR Kyushu site and you usually save around ¥1,000.
| Zone · duration | Adult (12+) | Child (6–11) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern · 3 days | ¥15,000 | ¥7,500 | The classic loop — Fukuoka–Nagasaki–Kumamoto–Beppu |
| Northern · 5 days | ¥17,000 | ¥8,500 | Northern Kyushu at an unhurried pace + a stop in Yufuin/Hita |
| All Kyushu · 3 days | ¥22,000 | ¥11,000 | A quick run down south to Kagoshima, Shinkansen-focused |
| All Kyushu · 5 days | ¥24,000 | ¥12,000 | Best value — touring the whole island, north to south |
| All Kyushu · 7 days | ¥26,000 | ¥13,000 | A long trip covering every city plus a spare day |
| Southern · 3 days | ¥12,000 | ¥6,000 | Flying into Kagoshima to tour Kumamoto–Miyazaki–Kagoshima |
Hakata (Fukuoka) is the gateway to Kyushu — every route below is covered by the pass (depending on zone). The figures are approximate journey times and one-way fares; if you already hold the pass, you board without paying extra.
Every step from booking online to holding the real ticket in your hand — follow this and you won't get lost.
Simple rule: if your trip stays within the Fukuoka–Nagasaki–Kumamoto–Beppu/Yufuin ring, Northern Kyushu is plenty and cheaper · but if you also want to head south to Kagoshima or Miyazaki, step up to All Kyushu.
There's no single answer for everyone. Whether a pass pays off depends on how many cities you tour and how hard you ride JR trains. This table gives you the big picture before you decide.
| Option | Best for | Kyushu Shinkansen | Sightseeing trains | In-city (Subway/bus) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Kyushu Pass | Touring several cities in northern Kyushu | Yes (to Kumamoto) | Yes (free reservations) | Not included |
| All Kyushu Pass | Touring the whole island, north to south | Yes (to Kagoshima) | Yes (free reservations) | Not included |
| IC card (Suica/ICOCA) | Staying in Fukuoka only, mostly in-city | Pay full | Pay full | Works on every system |
| Single tickets per ride | Only 1–2 long rides on the whole trip | Buy per ride | Buy per ride | Buy separately |
Reserve your JR Kyushu pass ahead through Klook to lock in the price, get the voucher/QR on your phone, then exchange it at Hakata or Fukuoka Airport right away — no counter-queue gamble when you land late at night.
Open our Kyushu city and region guides, plus a tool to work out whether the pass pays off.
The gateway to Kyushu — where to stay, tonkotsu ramen, yatai stalls, sights, itineraries and transport across every tab.
Open Fukuoka guide →The whole island at a glance — Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Beppu, Kagoshima and the other prefectures.
See the Kyushu region →Enter the routes you'll ride and see whether buying a pass beats single tickets before you decide.
Try the calculator →Touring several regions in one trip? Compare the national JR Pass to see if it beats a regional one.
JR Pass guide →Heading to Kansai next? Compare the rail passes for Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe on a separate page.
JR Kansai Pass guide →Visa · eSIM · IC card · JR Pass · budgets — everything you need to know before flying to Japan.
Japan guide →Open our Fukuoka travel guide for sights and itineraries, or start booking a hotel in a spot with the easiest JR access in and out — so your pass earns its keep every day.