Southern Kyushu access,
dated and sourced.
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July 2026. This page is deliberately different from the rest of the site: every status line carries its as-of date and source, and we re-check it rather than let it go stale. Last full check: 6 October 2026 — and most of the August disruption has now cleared.
As of 6 October 2026, the Kyushu Shinkansen runs the whole way from Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo again — the Kumamoto–Shin-Minamata gap reopened on 18 September — though trains south of Kumamoto run slower than normal and a few are cancelled. Kumamoto Castle reopened on 13 August, and the Kyushu Expressway has been open to general traffic along its full length since 14 August. Still broken: the local JR Kagoshima Line between Uto and Yatsushiro (JR Kyushu plans a normal timetable from 10 October) and the Hisatsu Orange Railway between Yatsushiro and Higo-Taura (replacement buses; reopening targeted for mid-October). Fukuoka city and every northern day trip run normally. Check JR Kyushu's train information the week you go.
The 28 July 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, plainly
What happenedThe Japan Meteorological Agency's figures: a magnitude-7.1 (preliminary) earthquake in the Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July 2026, about 10 km deep, with the maximum seismic intensity — shindo 7 — recorded in Uki city and Hikawa town. JMA has named it the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake (令和8年熊本地震), a distinct event from the 2016 one.
It was a serious disaster for Kumamoto Prefecture, with deaths, collapsed buildings and evacuations, and a long aftershock sequence. JMA's latest assessment (2 October 2026) is that activity remains above normal but the chance of a shindo 5-lower-or-stronger aftershock is now low. This page keeps to what the quake means for travel; if you're routing through the affected area, patience and flexibility are part of being a decent guest.
What it did not do: put Fukuoka out of action. The city sits well north of the damage zone, and JR Kyushu's earthquake notice page (updated 1 October 2026) lists disruption only on lines south of Kumamoto city — nothing in Fukuoka, nothing on the routes to Dazaifu, Nagasaki, Beppu or Yufuin. Separately, and unrelated to the quake: Mount Aso's Nakadake crater is off-limits under a volcanic alert (level 2 since 1 September 2026, after a spell at level 3 in August). That is a volcano measure, not earthquake damage.
Line by line, road by road
As of 6 October 2026Each row states its status date and the operator or authority it comes from. Re-verify against JR Kyushu's own train information before travelling — reopening dates are operator plans, and can move with aftershocks or weather.
| Route / place | Status | Detail, dated and sourced | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fukuoka city — airport, subway, hotels | NORMAL | Outside the damage zone; no Fukuoka lines on JR Kyushu's earthquake notice (updated 1 Oct 2026) | GO |
| Northern day trips — Dazaifu, Yanagawa, Itoshima, Kitakyushu, Saga, Nagasaki, Beppu, Yufuin | NORMAL | None appear on JR Kyushu's earthquake notice (updated 1 Oct 2026) | GO |
| Kyushu Shinkansen: Hakata–Kumamoto | RUNNING | Normal service (JR Kyushu, 1 Oct 2026) | GO |
| Kyushu Shinkansen: Kumamoto–Kagoshima-Chuo | RUNNING | Whole line reopened 18 Sep 2026. Slower running south of Kumamoto 'for the time being', some trains cancelled, times shifted — e.g. a Mizuho leaving Hakata 08:30 reaches Kagoshima-Chuo 09:53 (JR Kyushu revised timetable, 31 Aug 2026) | GO |
| JR Kagoshima Line: Kumamoto–Uto | REDUCED | Running with fewer trains (JR Kyushu, 1 Oct 2026) | DEPENDS |
| JR Kagoshima Line: Uto–Yatsushiro | SUSPENDED | No trains until 9 Oct; JR Kyushu plans a normal timetable from the first train on 10 Oct 2026 (notice of 24 Sep 2026) | DEPENDS |
| Hisatsu Orange Railway: Yatsushiro–Higo-Taura | SUSPENDED | Replacement buses; full reopening targeted for mid-October 2026. Higo-Taura–Sendai trains running again since 1 Sep (operator notice, 1 Sep 2026) | DEPENDS |
| Kyushu Expressway: Matsubase IC–Ebino IC | OPEN | Reopened to general traffic 14 Aug 2026, with head-to-head (contraflow) running on the Kawada Bridge between Miyahara SA and Yatsushiro IC (NEXCO West announcement, reported 13 Aug 2026) | GO |
| Kumamoto Castle | OPEN | Reopened 13 Aug 2026; 'regular operation' in the castle's facility notice dated 18 Sep 2026. The Wakuwaku-za museum at Sakura-no-baba Josaien stays temporarily closed | GO |
| Kagoshima city | OPEN | Reachable by shinkansen again since 18 Sep 2026 (JR Kyushu), allowing for the slower running south of Kumamoto | GO |
| Mount Aso — Nakadake crater | CLOSED | Volcanic alert level 2 since 1 Sep 2026; no entry within about 1 km of the crater (Aso crater regulation information, 1 Sep 2026) — unrelated to the earthquake | DEPENDS |
When this page and a JR Kyushu station board disagree, believe the board. Reopening dates above are the operators' stated plans, each marked as subject to change with aftershocks or weather.
Rather book it?Dazaifu Tenmangu 2-hour guided tour on GetYourGuide ↗
The four rules for autumn 2026
Planning through itNothing in the city or its northern day-trip belt is affected. Book Fukuoka, Dazaifu, Yanagawa, Nagasaki, Beppu and Yufuin exactly as you would have in June.
The rail spine reopened end to end on 18 September 2026. South of Kumamoto, trains run under a speed restriction on a revised timetable, some services are cancelled and connections at intermediate stations may not match the pre-quake times. Use the current timetable, not a saved one.
As of 6 Oct 2026 · JR Kyushu revised timetable from 18 SepThe castle reopened on 13 August 2026 after safety checks, and its own facility notice of 18 September lists it in regular operation — Kumamoto is about 35–40 minutes from Hakata by shinkansen. The Wakuwaku-za museum next door is still temporarily closed.
The last two gaps are local lines — the JR Kagoshima Line between Uto and Yatsushiro (planned back 10 October) and the Hisatsu Orange Railway between Yatsushiro and Higo-Taura (target mid-October). They matter for slow-rail and coastal itineraries, not for the shinkansen. JR Kyushu's train information page is the authority; the link is on the card below.
2026 Kumamoto Earthquake — reference
The event, on one cardThe earthquake questions, answered calmly
Questions people askIs it safe to visit Fukuoka after the Kumamoto earthquake?
Yes. Fukuoka sits well north of the damage zone, and JR Kyushu's earthquake notice (updated 1 October 2026) lists no disruption anywhere near the city. JMA's 2 October assessment puts the chance of a strong aftershock as low, though smaller quakes continue in Kumamoto.
Can I still do day trips from Fukuoka?
Every trip this site ranks runs normally: Dazaifu, Yanagawa, Itoshima, Nanzoin, Kitakyushu/Mojiko, Nagasaki, Beppu and Yufuin are unaffected and on their usual timetables. The remaining disruption is on local lines south of Kumamoto — none of the ranked day trips use them.
Is the shinkansen to Kagoshima running?
Yes, end to end since 18 September 2026. South of Kumamoto trains run slower than normal on a revised timetable and a few are cancelled — a Mizuho leaving Hakata at 08:30 reaches Kagoshima-Chuo at 09:53. Check JR Kyushu's current timetable rather than a pre-quake one.
Is Kumamoto Castle open?
Yes — it reopened on 13 August 2026, and the castle's facility notice of 18 September lists it in regular operation. The Wakuwaku-za museum at Sakura-no-baba Josaien is still temporarily closed. Kumamoto is about 35–40 minutes from Hakata by shinkansen.
Are Beppu and Yufuin affected?
No — neither appears on JR Kyushu's earthquake notice, and the Sonic to Beppu and the Yufuin no Mori run normally. The Beppu-or-Yufuin decision is unchanged by the earthquake.
Does the JR Kyushu pass still make sense?
For northern itineraries, fully — Nagasaki and Beppu are unaffected. With the shinkansen running to Kagoshima again since 18 September, a southern loop works too, just a little slower south of Kumamoto. The arithmetic: the pass page.
What is still closed?
As of 6 October 2026: the JR Kagoshima Line between Uto and Yatsushiro (normal timetable planned from 10 October) and the Hisatsu Orange Railway between Yatsushiro and Higo-Taura (buses; reopening targeted for mid-October). Mount Aso's crater is also off-limits, for volcanic rather than earthquake reasons. Everything else on this page is open.
- Japan Meteorological Agency — press release on the 28 July 2026 Kumamoto-region earthquake (Japanese)
- Japan Meteorological Agency — 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake portal and aftershock outlook (Japanese)
- JR Kyushu — 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake service notice, updated 1 Oct 2026 (Japanese)
- JR Kyushu — Kyushu Shinkansen revised timetable from 18 Sep 2026 (Japanese, PDF)
- Hisatsu Orange Railway — earthquake service status and reopening outlook (Japanese)
- Kumamoto Castle (official) — facility status after the 2026 earthquake, as of 18 Sep 2026 (Japanese)
- TNC News (Fukuoka) — NEXCO West reopens the Kyushu Expressway Matsubase–Ebino section, 13 Aug 2026 (Japanese)
- Aso volcano crater regulation information — alert level and crater access (Japanese)
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