Kyushu Shinkansen Disrupted by Earthquake — How to Reach Kagoshima
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit the Kumamoto region on July 28, 2026, and the Shinkansen line into Kagoshima is still partly out. Here's what's actually happening, and how to get here right now.
JR Kyushu — Kyushu Shinkansen operating status →A major earthquake hit Kumamoto — Kagoshima itself is largely fine
- On July 28, 2026 at 16:27 JST, a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the Kumamoto region of Kyushu. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded the maximum intensity on Japan's scale, shindo 7, in Uki City and Hikawa Town, Kumamoto Prefecture.
- Kagoshima Prefecture felt it too — the strongest shaking (shindo 5-strong) was in the north of the prefecture, around Satsumasendai City, Satsuma Town, and Nagashima Town, with some localized damage reported there, such as a landslide closing a municipal road and cloudy tap water in parts of Kirishima City.
- Central Kagoshima City, where most visitors stay — including Kagoshima-Chuo Station, Tenmonkan, and Kagoshima Airport — recorded much lighter shaking, and no major damage has been reported in that area.
In short: Kagoshima itself is not a disaster zone. The problem is that the Shinkansen line passes through the earthquake-affected part of Kumamoto on its way here.
Japan Meteorological Agency — earthquake info →Kyushu Shinkansen: Hakata–Kumamoto is running again, Kumamoto–Kagoshima-Chuo is not
- The Kumamoto–Kagoshima-Chuo section remains fully suspended. JR Kyushu has reported over 200 damage points between the two stations (sound barriers, elevated structures, and more), and as of July 31 it has not given a date for reopening — only that recovery will take time.
- The Hakata–Kumamoto section resumed on July 31 with reduced, all-stop service (roughly 1–2 trains per hour). That section doesn't reach Kagoshima, so it doesn't solve the problem for visitors heading here.
- The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen (Takeo-Onsen–Nagasaki) is unaffected and running as normal — not useful for Kagoshima, but worth knowing if Nagasaki is also on your itinerary.
Local tip: don't rely on a screenshot or a blog post — the operating-status page below updates in real time and is the only source worth trusting right now.
How to reach Kagoshima right now
Current status of each route, as of July 31, 2026.
| Method | Current status | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Fly to Kagoshima Airport | Operating normally | Best option right now |
| 🚌 Highway bus (Sakurajima-go) | Suspended | Not usable at the moment |
| 🚗 Rental car / driving | Expressway partly closed | Only with a careful route check |
✈️ Fly into Kagoshima Airport
- Kagoshima Airport has no reported damage to its runway or terminal and is operating normally.
- If you're already in Fukuoka, some airlines have added extra Fukuoka–Kagoshima flights to cover demand from travelers displaced by the Shinkansen suspension — check availability directly with your airline.
- If you're arriving in Japan from overseas, flying directly into Kagoshima Airport (or connecting via Fukuoka, Osaka, or Tokyo) avoids the affected rail section entirely.
Local tip: the limousine bus from Kagoshima Airport into Kagoshima-Chuo Station is unaffected and still running as normal — see our airport guide for fares and timetable.
🚌 Highway bus (Sakurajima-go, Fukuoka ⇄ Kagoshima)
- JR Kyushu Bus confirmed on July 31 that the Fukuoka–Kagoshima highway bus "Sakurajima-go" is suspended through August 6, 2026. Service from August 7 onward has not yet been decided.
- This follows directly from the Kyushu Expressway closures below — check the operator's news page before planning around this option.
🚗 Rental car
- Part of the Kyushu Expressway remains closed for repairs, including the long stretch a Fukuoka–Kagoshima drive would normally use, so a direct expressway route isn't fully open yet.
- If you already have a car, check NEXCO West's live traffic information before setting out — general roads nearby may also be under caution or inspection.
Official sources — check these, not social media
Every fact on this page comes from one of the links below. Conditions can change within hours, especially with aftershocks.
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