Kagoshima’s Free Shinkansen Ticket Trial Aims to Boost Foreign Tourism

The pilot scheme launched on 18 September on the Kyushu Shinkansen, providing a complimentary one‑way ride from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to any of the three Kagoshima stations for qualifying overseas tourists.

To receive the free ticket, travelers must reserve at least one overnight stay in Kagoshima through the global booking platform Klook; a standard one‑way fare normally reaches 11,420 yen, roughly US$73.

The offer is limited to visitors from the United States, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Kagoshima’s prefectural government has earmarked 278 million yen from this fiscal year’s budget for the experiment, which will continue until February or until the allocated funds are depleted.

Officials say the subsidy is intended to stimulate tourist traffic and increase spending in a region that has lagged behind other Japanese destinations in the post‑pandemic recovery and has seen a reduction in direct flights from China.

The 90‑minute ride makes the Shinkansen a convenient bridge for visitors who first arrive at Fukuoka Airport and disembark at Hakata, allowing them to extend their itinerary southward without relying on scarce direct flights.

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