Kyushu Shinkansen Branches Out with Transport, Relocation Services 15 Years After Opening

By Minami Sato and Kosuke Mutaguchi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

11:12 JST, April 4, 2026

FUKUOKA / KUMAMOTO — Fifteen years have passed since the Kyushu Shinkansen began full operations in 2011. A combined 170 million passengers have ridden on the major railway that connects JR Hakata Station in Fukuoka in the north with Kagoshima-Chuo Station in Kagoshima in the south.

In recent years, the line operated by Kyushu Railway Co. (JR Kyushu) has branched out into also transporting cargo and launching new services such as carrying household items for people who are relocating.

On March 12, the 15th anniversary of the start of full operations, a departure ceremony for a special commemorative train bound for Hakata was held at JR Kumamoto Station’s Shinkansen platform.

Kumamon, the famous mascot character of Kumamoto Prefecture, attended the ceremony. The character was created in the leadup to the full opening of the line and celebrated his birthday on the day. At the departure ceremony for the special train, Kumamon gave the signal to head out.

The train was loaded with souvenirs from Kumamoto Prefecture, including karashi renkon (mustard lotus root), as well as passengers. It also demonstrated the Shinkansen cargo service.

JR Kyushu began to focus on transporting both people and goods during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the railway operator plunged into the red as passenger numbers tumbled. In a bid to develop new revenue sources that did not rely on the flow of passengers, JR Kyushu started the delivery service in fiscal 2021 to make use of the open storage space left when onboard sales were discontinued.

Initially, demand for this service centered on deliveries of documents and fresh food items. To attract new customers, JR Kyushu promoted the speed, punctuality and other advantages of shipping items by Shinkansen instead of by truck. It formed partnerships with major delivery companies Yamato Transport Co. and Sagawa Express Co., among other firms.

In addition to carrying household items for people who are relocating, the company started handling shipments of medical items including blood samples and specimens. Use of this service is reportedly growing each year.

However, revenue from these shipping operations remains low, so JR Kyushu still faces the pressing question of how to expand passenger usage, which is the primary role of a Shinkansen line.

Full operations of the Kyushu Shinkansen began in March 2011. This enabled passengers to make trips between southern Kyushu and the Kansai region without the need to transfer at Hakata Station. About 11.95 million passengers used the Kyushu Shinkansen in fiscal 2011, which was effectively the line’s first business year.

The powerful earthquake that struck Kumamoto in April 2016 derailed a Shinkansen that was running without passengers, but services resumed before the end of the month. Boosted by a surge in foreign visitors to Japan, Kyushu Shinkansen passenger numbers hit a record high of 14.35 million in fiscal 2018. In total, more than 171 million passengers rode the Shinkansen between fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2024. If operations continue without any major problems, this figure is expected to reach 200 million during fiscal 2026 or fiscal 2027.

To express their gratitude for reaching the 15th anniversary, Hakata Station staffers created a huge mosaic made from about 42,000 plastic bottle caps on a wall at the station. The mosaic depicts a Shinkansen train and has been displayed since February.

Condos develop along line

In the years since the Kyushu Shinkansen opened, huge condo complexes have been built near stations other than Hakata Station on the line. This appears to be in response to the growing number of people wanting to live in relatively cheap areas while also being able to commute by Shinkansen to central Fukuoka. The number of commuter pass users per day has tripled.

When The Yomiuri Shimbun visited the area in front of JR Kurume Station in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, in late February, the construction of a 36-story building that will be home to 343 condos was proceeding rapidly.

The towering building is scheduled to be completed in May 2027. According to the construction company behind the project, contracts have already been signed for about 80% of the condos and all 11 of the units with a price tag of more than ¥100 million have been sold. The convenience of being able to reach Hakata Station by Shinkansen in as little as 14 minutes also appears to be pushing up demand for these condos.

JR Kyushu itself has dipped its toes into condo development along the Shinkansen line. The train operator is building condo complexes on land within a few minutes’ walk of Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo stations.