When it comes to cuteness and charm (especially kawaii trains!), Kyushu absolutely steals the show – what’s not to love? Adorable mascots like Kumamon and Kuro, scenic rides through seaside towns and mountainous landscapes, beautifully patterned interiors, and the warmest hospitality. Honestly, the cute sightseeing trains were one of the main reasons I chose Kyushu for my second Japan trip (it’s a secret, don’t tell my husband).
Compared to places like Kansai, our experience on Kyushu’s sightseeing trains felt noticeably smoother – fewer crowds, more relaxed vibes, and nice atmosphere.
Also check out my complete guide to Joyful cute trains
Here’s my tips and a handpicked list of the cutest, most charming trains you can ride in Kyushu – each one worth the detour.
Note: this guide doesn’t include trains, like SL Hitoyoshi that were amazing, but have unfortunately discontinued service.
Tips for Booking and Enjoying Kyushu’s Joyful Trains
- Book early (really early!): Many of these trains are wildly popular – especially Yufuin no Mori, Aso Boy!, and Two Stars 4047. Reservations open one month before the ride date at 10:00 AM Japan time. For peak seasons like cherry blossom or autumn foliage, set a reminder – some trains sell out within hours.
- Free reservations with passes (but not online!): If you’re using a JR Pass or regional JR Kyushu Pass, most of these trains are included in the price. But seat reservations are free only at the station. If you reserve online, you’ll usually pay a 1,500 yen reservation fee – even with a pass. So if you’re already in Japan, it’s cheaper to book in person.
- Ride a short segment if needed: Many Joyful Trains cover longer distances, but you don’t need to ride the full route. Shorter legs (like Kumamoto to Suizenji on Aso Boy!) still let you enjoy the train – for much less money.
- Food, drinks and stamps: Most trains offer limited onboard snacks and bentos (some require pre-order). Don’t forget to collect the cute train stamps and postcards – often found in the buffet car. I always have a stamp book with to collect all the cute ones.
We made the cutest Eki stamp book ever – packed with our favorite Japan photos, as dreamy background watermarks that’ll give you serious wanderlust. Want a fun travel stamp book or even a notebook? Take a peek!
Yufuin no Mori
Schedule:
- Hakata ↔ Yufuin: 2 round trips daily (approx. 2 hr 15 min one way)
- Hakata ↔ Beppu: 1 round trip daily (approx. 4 hr one way)
Price on the full route: 6,130 yen including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, or Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Passes
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
Best views: Both sides are scenic, but the right side heading to Yufuin (seats C & D) is favored for seeing Jion Falls.
This is apparently Kyushu’s first sightseeing train operating since 1989. The forest theme is unmistakable – the green coloured exterior and wooden floors and bamboo blinds, create rustic and cozy feel, as fits the environment. As in many similar trains, the buffet car area is the cutest, so you can grab snacks, coffee, and admire the view standing at bar-style windows.
Scenery-wise, the entire route is a treat: think forested hills, sleepy villages, waterfalls, and winding rivers. People often say the right side (seats C and D) is better for the Jion Falls when heading toward Yufuin, and the left side when going back to Hakata. But we’ve tried both sides and honestly, you’ll get lovely views no matter where you sit. And if you get FOMO over the “better side,” just head to the buffet car and enjoy the view there.
I almost missed out on booking this awesome train. The reason was that I bought the Sanyo Sanyn Northern Kyushu pass from the JR West website. I bought the Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Pass from the JR West website, thinking I could book everything online. But turns out, you can’t reserve Kyushu non-Shinkansen trains via JR West (because they’re operated by JR Kyushu).
As a result, I had to wait before getting to Japan to book all the cute Kyushu trains. Hakata-Yufuin morning tickets were sold out, but I managed to reserve the train on the leg of Yufuin to Hakata, yay!
We enjoyed our ride, hung out at the buffet cart. The attendants were very nice and pointing out some of the nice spots, as well as especially their another train coming from the other side passing us by. Apparently, there are some subtle differences among the trains running on this route.
Of course, I didn’t forget to get my stamp and my coffee fix, while munching on the delicious cheesecake we bought in Yufuin.
Bonus tip: can’t manage to book Yufuin no Mori but want to ride an interesting wooden interior train along this beautiful scenery? You can opt for normal Limited Express Yufu trains. They aren’t as pretty, but run on the same train tracks and can provide you with the same views, while getting you to Yufuin.
Aso Boy!
Schedule: Kumamoto ↔ Aso and Miyaji: 2 round trips daily (approx. 1 hr 30 min one way)
Price on the full route: 3,330 yen including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, or Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Passes
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
Best views: The front and back of the train have panoramic views – Car 1 rows 1-3 and Car 4 rows 8-10, therefore try to get seats in those sections, if you care about the scenery a lot. Otherwise, the side doesn’t matter.
Everything on board is themed around the mascot Kuro – a cute black dog, who’s at every step on the train. From headrest covers to stickers and decor, it’s all about Kuro. It may seem too childish and it sort of is, but who cares, we are all children at heart 😊 The train’s 4 cars are decorated in diverse manner. It even has children’s playground, and the double seats designed for parents and children. Car 3 is the buffet car.
The Aso Boy! runs through Kumamoto’s famous volcanic area and gets you near Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano. The views are as beautiful, as expected – green fields, volcanic hills, and farmhouses. As you approach Aso, you’ll see the dramatic caldera edges rising around you.
I have a fun story with booking this train. Since I couldn’t use the ticket machines (again, JR West limitations — see above), I went to the counter to reserve. They made a mistake and booked it for me at a wrong date. While I caught other mistakes, I didn’t see this one on the spot and changing it meant more long queues.
On the day I wanted to take the train, Kumamoto-Aso leg was sold out, but there were seats from Kumamoto to Suizenji – only a 10 mins ride. We grabbed the tickets and literally ran to catch the train. We made it and had very fun 10 minutes. We explored all cars and didn’t forget to grab the cute Kuro stamp.
Two Stars 4047
Schedule: Nagasaki ↔ Takeo Onsen: 1 round a day mostly on weekends – check the exact timetable on the official website (approx. 3 hours one way)
Price on the full route: 4,960 yen including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, or Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Passes
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
Best views: On both routes, definitely choose the seats on the left side, from where you get the sea/bay views. Views on the other side are far less interesting.
Two Stars 4047 is the newer train line running only since 2022. The train is named after two of Kyushu’s star locations – Nagasaki and Saga. The interior feels very relaxed – seaside vibes. The gorgeous cars are adorned with beautiful patterns whether in seat upholstery, ceiling design, walls or anything else.
As expected, the buffet car is the most beautiful with huge windows and comfy seating for your food and drinks. We spent as much time in this car, as we could, it was amazing. But we couldn’t stay all the time, as for about an hour, they had some event for a group, I believe it must have been and art class. I never heard of anything like this before.
The views are gorgeous – you get to follow the Omura Bay on the way from Nagasaki to Takeo Onsen. In the other direction, the train takes a different route, this time giving you the views over the Ariake Sea. Along the way, the train stops at a few train stations, where you get 5-10 minutes to get off and take in the views, as well as buy any local specialties at the train station. At one stop, we even managed to get a station stamp.
This one is one my – if not the most – favourite Joyful trains. The journey from Nagasaki to Takeo Onsen takes over 3 hours, as opposed to Shinkansen’s 20 minutes. It was hard to convince hubby to ride this train. I offered that he take Shinkansen, while I took this one, but he decided to come along. He won’t admit it, of course, but he actually enjoyed it (maybe not as much, as I did, but still 😊). 3 hours definitely didn’t feel long, when enjoying gorgeous views, stopping for photos, exploring the train patterns and sipping on coffee.
A-Train (A-Ressha-de-Ico)
Schedule: Kumamoto ↔ Misumi: 2 round trips a day mostly on weekends – check the exact timetable on the official website (approx. 1 hour one way depending on the direction)
Price on the full route: 2,650 yen including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, or Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Passes
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
Best views: this train runs along the seaside areas. From Kumamoto best seats are considered to be on the right side C and D.
I sadly didn’t make it onto this lovely train. I simply wanted to ride it back and forth with no destination in mind, just to soak the atmosphere.
This train was named after a Jazz song – Take the A Train. The tune is also playing on the train, while you ride it along the seaside – romantic, isn’t it? It’s one of those beautiful trains with lovely seaside views, where the journey itself is the whole point. It’s unique jazz themed interior with stained glass and a bar onboard looks so appealing.
As on every train, you can wander around the train, get your postcard and stamp and order some drinks and snacks.
Ibusuki no Tamatebako
Schedule: Kagoshima-Chuo ↔ Ibusuki: 3 round trips daily (approx. 1 hour one way)
Price on the full route: 2,950 yen including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, or Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu Pass, Southern Kyushu Pass
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
Best views: for best views consider A window seat from Kagoshima, as the views of Kinko Bay and Sakurajima volcano are absolutely gorgeous.
A train with a black-and-white exterior that releases mist when doors open – what’s not to like. The black-and-white color scheme represents the mythical treasure box (tamatebako) from the legend of Urashima Taro.
This route is all the way south of Kyushu, which I unfortunately didn’t make it – damn time constraints.
Kawasemi Yamasemi
Schedule: Kumamoto ↔ Miyaji: the train no longer operates on a regular bases and will appear at times. So keep checking the official websites to catch it, if possible.
Price on the full route: not clear at the moment, due to irregular operation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu, Northern Kyushu, Sanyo Sanin Northern Kyushu Passes
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
This gorgeous train is designed to reflect the beauty of the mountains and rivers of the region. It consists of only 2 cars – blue and green. The rustic interior. The train even has a birdwatching window with a binocular. You can buy local snacks and trinkets on the train.
Last but not least, the train has a cute post-card, which you can stamp with two bird stamps.
Umisachi Yamasachi
Schedule: Miyazaki ↔ Nango: 1-2 round trips a day mostly on the weekends (approximately 1hr 45 min one way)
Price on the full route: 2,120 yen – non-reserved, 3,140 – including seat reservation
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations
Seat reservation: Available, not required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu Pass, Southern Kyushu Pass
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only), souvenirs
Best views: while travelling from Miyazaki to Nango, seats on the left hand side, A window seats provide better views.
This is another cute wooden train Kyushu is known for – furnished with cedar wood, this 2-car train runs through Miyazaki Prefecture and offers coastal views. You will also hear the legend of two brothers – whose names the train got – from the attendants on your ride.
Luxury expensive trains
Schedule:
- Thursday: Hakata-Kagoshima
- Friday: Kagoshima-Miyazaki
- Saturday: Miyazaki-Bepu
- Sunday: Oita-Hakata
- Monday: Hakata-Sasebo
Price: Varies by route, starts from 15,000 yen
Booking: Kyushu railway website, in-person at stations, Klook
Seat reservation: Required
Pass coverage: JR Pass, JR Kyushu Pass – you need to add Green Car and Limited Express charges
Onboard food: Drinks, snacks, and bento boxes (pre-order only)
This lovely train covering various routes in Kyushu, has gorgeous design and atmosphere. I was dying to try it, especially given that the extra charge on top of the JR Pass was relatively reasonable, about 5000 yen. The only catch? Its rotating schedule. Since it runs a different route each day of the week, timing your Kyushu trip to match can be tricky unless you have a very flexible itinerary. If your travel dates happen to align though and have a Pass – go for it!
A luxurious sightseeing train offering gourmet multi-course meals served in elegant surroundings. I would have loved to try it – but with a hefty price tag of 36,000 yen, it costs about as much as we spent on all our train rides for two weeks combined. A dream for sure, but not quite within our reality (yet).
Cruise Train Seven Stars in Kyushu
This ultra-exclusive train offers multi-day tours around Kyushu with fine dining, artful interiors, and hotel-like cabins. But let’s be honest: this one isn’t exactly designed for ordinary mortals. Still, with so many fun and affordable Joyful Trains around Kyushu, you definitely won’t feel like you’re missing out.
Have you taken any Joyful Trains in Kyushu I missed? Drop a comment or message me — I’d love to add your picks to my next trip!
Want to take Sightseeing trains in other parts of Japan?
Check out my complete guide to Joyful cute trains
Also see my list of kawaii trains in Kansai region
Hello I am Ket,
A traveler, planner, and sweet tooth behind Hit the Road Ket.
Travel isn’t just my passion – it’s a lifeline for my mental health. Having lived in three cities and explored 60 countries (and counting!), I created this blog to share my experiences, smart tips, and itinerary advice with fellow travel lovers. I’m all about making the most of limited time, finding scenic routes, and turning every trip into something memorable – coffee in hand, of course.