Part 1: Sightseeing in Kyushu by Train
Hello! Welcome to our 6-part series on special sightseeing “D&S” trains in Kyushu. Departing from Fukuoka, the island’s capital, we have sent a member of our team to circle Kyushu in 11 trains in three days (“D&S” trains in red, Shinkansen and express trains in blue):| Day | # | Name | From | Destination | Reservation | |
| 1 | 1 | Sakura さくら |
Hakata 博多 |
Kumamoto 熊本 |
Possible | |
| 2 | SL Hitoyoshi SL人吉 |
Kumamoto 熊本 |
Hitoyoshi 人吉 |
Necessary | ||
| 3 | Isaburo(u)/Shin(m)pei いさぶろう・しんぺい |
Hitoyoshi 人吉 |
Yoshimatsu 吉松 |
Recommended | ||
| 4 | Hayato no Kaze はやとの風 |
Yoshimatsu 吉松 |
Kagoshima Chuo [Central] 鹿児島中央 |
Recommended |
||
| 2 | 5 | Local train | Kagoshima Chuo [Central] 鹿児島中央 |
Ibusuki 指宿 |
Unavailable | |
| 6 | Ibusuki no Tamatebako 指宿のたまて箱 |
Ibusuki 指宿 |
Kagoshima Chuo 鹿児島中央 |
Necessary | ||
| 7 | Kirishima きりしま |
Kagoshima Chuo 鹿児島中央 |
Miyazaki 宮崎 |
Possible | ||
| 8 | Nichirin にちりん |
Miyazaki 宮崎 |
Oita 大分 |
Possible | ||
| 9 | Local train / Sonic ソニック |
Oita 大分 |
Beppu 別府 |
Unavailable / Possible | ||
| 10-11 | Kyushu Odan Tokkyu 九州横断特急 |
Beppu 別府 Aso 阿蘇 |
Aso 阿蘇 Oita 大分 |
Possible | ||
| 12 | Local train / Yufu ゆふ |
Oita 大分 |
Yufuin 湯布院 |
Unavailable / Possible |
||
| 13 | Yufuin no Mori ゆふいんの森 |
Yufuin 湯布院 |
Hakata 博多 |
Necessary | ||
As this is the first post, we’re going to spend some more time on the basics before getting to the first three of them, the three jewels from Kumamoto to Yoshimatsu, in the next article.
Around Kyushu, by Train
Train trips in Japan are extremely popular to the Japanese and foreigners alike, with special words for it like ressha no tabi (列車の旅) or tetsudo ryoko (鉄道旅行). The noiseless carriages with only the rhythmic sounds of the wheels, the mountains and oceans, trees and rivers, clear skies and sunsets passing by your window, the trainman or trainwoman giving a slight bow before entering the cabin, the fabulous eki-ben (lunch boxes sold in stations), or perhaps a cup of coffee the train’s stewardess just poured you.
On board the Sakura from Fukuoka to Kumamoto
although just a normal Shinkansen, it is already as delightful as a business class flight, with its warm colours and comfortable chairs
Sockets inside Express Kirishima/Nichirin
The 885 Limited Express (here, used in the Sonic)
The 787 Limited Express (here, used in the Expresses Kirishima and Nichirin)
The type of JR Kyushu trains
JR Kyushu has drawn a lot of attention with their extravagant (over one million yen for a 4-day trip) Seven Stars or the shorter (hence less expensive) but still deluxe Aru (from Oita to Hida only). But, for the ordinary tourist, they also have what they call “D&S” – not for “dining and sightseeing” but “design and story” – trains, which are carefully crafted to provide tourists with a unique experience. This would be particularly appealing to the foreign tourists and exchange students having the added economic benefit of JR passes, which can also reserve those D&S trains for free (up to a quota that is quite sufficient). There are presently 11 such sightseeing lines (not including Seven Stars):| Name | From-To | Operating from | |
| 1 | Fufuin no Mori ゆふいんの森 |
(“The Forest of Yufuin”) Hakata–Yufuin/Beppu |
March 1989 |
| 2 | Isaburo/Shinpei いさぶろう・しんぺ い |
Kumamoto–Yoshimatsu | March 2004 (Specialised train) |
| 3 | Kyushu Odan Tokkyu 九州横断特急 |
(“Trans-Kyushu Express”) Beppu/Oita–Aso (Currently running to Aso only due to earthquake) |
March 3004 |
| 4 | はやとの風 (“The Wind of Hayato”) |
Yoshimatsu–Kagoshima Chuo | March 2004 |
| 5 | SL Hitoyoshi SL人吉 |
Kumamoto–Hitoyoshi | April 2009 |
| 6 | Umisachi Yamasachi 海幸山幸 (“Treasures from Mountain and Sea”) |
Miyazaki–Nango |
October 2009 |
| 7 | Ibusuki no Tamatebako 指宿のたまて箱 (The Treasure Box of Ibusuki) |
Kagoshima Chuo–Ibusuki | March 2011 |
| 8 | Aso Boy! あそぼーい! |
Hakata–Kokura/Mojiko (Currently changed to run in Kita-Kyushu due to earthquake) |
June 2011 |
| 9 | A-Train A列車で行こう |
Kumamoto–Misumi |
October 2011 |
| 10 | Aru Ressha JRKYUSHU SWEET TRAIN「或る列車」 (“A Certain Train”) |
Hida–Oita | August 2015 |
| 11 | かわせみ やませみ | Kumamoto–Hitoyoshi | March 2017 |
One of the many Seven Stars advertisements we saw in JR stations.
How to Use this Series
We can think of three ways to use this Series in your trip(s).1. At one end is to use each article as a short, single trip. This will be best if the train ride itself is not the end but just part of the trip for you. An example would be a Fukuoka to Yufuin and back on the Yufuin no Mori.
2. At the other end of the spectrum, especially for the train aficionados, is to assemble a 3- or 5-day trip with the full JR Kyushu pass (or as a part of your trip with the nation-wide JR pass).
3. A middle point can be struck, like a short trip using the first three guides of this Series (our Day 1 above):
| Time | Place | Train |
| 08:38 | Hakata |
Sakura |
| 09:16 ↓ 09:45 |
Kumamoto | SL Hitoyoshi |
| 12:09 ↓ 13:22 |
Hitoyoshi |
Isaburo/Shinpei |
| 14:48 ↓ 15:01 |
Yoshimatsu | Hayato no Kaze |
| 16:44 | Kagoshima |
|
| (Going back to Hakata by Shinkansen or staying over in Kagoshima) | ||
The Certificate
(with a beautiful description of the train, and the painting of the “Cosmos” flower at the back.General Tips and Reminders
1. PolarisersIf you are planning to take pictures of the scenery, be sure to bring a polariser –– you don’t want to see reflections of the train’s interiors on the beautiful scenery!
2. Planning and reservations
look at the English “Kyushu Railway Company Timetable” (in PDF), which contains the information and schedule of basically all express trains in Kyushu (except a few, like the Seven Stars and the Aru, the Kyushu Odan Tokkyu, which has separate information perhaps because of the Kumamoto earthquake, and the local trains).
3. Waving back
Remember to wave back to the pedestrians and people who wave at you! Especially for the SL Hitoyoshi, which only runs once per day, several times per week, there are in fact many people who wave at you along the way. Also, at many stations where the trains stop over, the staff or the hawkers will bow to you to see your train off. It would be nice etiquette to bid goodbye to them by waving back!
4. Certificates and stamps
Most of the special trains comes with its own stamp, which is often located at the buffet car (you can ask the trainmen/trainwomen). There is also usually a stack of cards provided there, but feel free to stamp it on your favourite travel journal!
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