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Foreign tourists get free Shinkansen tickets in Japan, and here’s how to claim them

Oona McGee Sep 30, 2026
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Enjoy a free bullet train ride to one of the country’s most beautiful regions.

International visitors to Japan tend to arrive and stay on the mainland, travelling between big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto on the Shinkansen bullet train. However, there are three other main islands in Japan crying out for tourists, and now one prefecture at the tip of Kyushu, the southernmost main island, is enticing tourists to visit by giving away free Shinkansen tickets.

The campaign is being offered by Kagoshima Prefecture, in partnership with travel booking platform Klook. Designed to encourage more international visitors to make the trip down to the southern end of Kyushu, the campaign comes with the following terms and conditions.

1. Travellers need to arrive in Japan via Fukuoka Airport and book at least one night at a participating hotel in Kagoshima Prefecture through Klook.
2. The campaign is currently open to travellers from the U.S., Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China.

If you fit those two requirements – congratulations! You’re eligible for a free one-way Shinkansen journey from Hakata to Kagoshima.

▼ The journey from Hakata to Kagoshima.

To receive the offer, first get your promo code on the Klook website and then book one of the Kagoshima hotel listings that show the “Receive Free Shinkansen Ticket” promotion. Once booked, enter your code at checkout, then fill out a short survey and you’ll get a code to redeem a one-way Shinkansen fare from Hakata to Kagoshima, up to the cost of 11,420 yen (US$72).

With Kagoshima being home to Sakurajima, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, as well as the UNESCO World Natural Heritage islands of Yakushima, Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, there’s plenty to see and do in the area. The prefecture is also famous for its natural sand baths, Kagoshima Wagyu and black pork, amongst other local specialties.

According to Klook, the campaign aims to increase the number of visitors to Kagoshima, as many international visitors stop in Fukuoka without venturing further south, despite Kagoshima being two hours away by Shinkansen. The prefecture has allocated around 278 million yen (roughly $1.8 million) to subsidise the promotion, which is scheduled to run from 18 September to 28 February, while allocations remain available.

While the campaign represents a considerable saving, local reports suggest it remains relatively unknown by overseas tourists. Shortly after the campaign began, interviews at Kagoshima-Chuo Station revealed some international visitors were unaware of the offer, while others were taking advantage of different deals, like the 25,000-yen seven-day pass that gives you unlimited travel around Kyushu.

▼ The JR Kyushu Rail Pass is another great deal, and can be purchased here.

You could always get the free Shinkansen deal through Klook and then purchase one of the rail passes to discover more of what the island has to offer. With some of Japan’s best hot springs, and giant sushi on the luggage carousel at one of the local airports, Kyushu is a hidden gem that deserves to be on your radar, especially now that you can get a free Shinkansen ticket to travel there.

Source: Press release
Featured image: Pakutaso
Insert images: Press release, Klook, Kyushu Railway Company
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