Criticism is mounting over a Kagoshima Prefecture plan to fully subsidize one-way shinkansen fares for foreign tourists. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/27/japan/shinkansen-kagoshima-foreign-tourists/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #tourism #kagoshima #jrkyushu #shinkansen

Japan Railways Group companies are set to continue talks with local communities in 2026 on the fate of loss-making rural lines. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/03/japan/jr-unprofitable-lines/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #jreast #jrwest #jrhokkaido #jrkyushu #depopulation #rurallife #rail #jr

Looking for a slower way to see Japan in 2026? Kyushu’s 36+3 tourist train around the southwestern island is full of delightful stops and starts. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2026/01/03/travel/gento-kyushu-tourist-train-fukuoka-kagoshima/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #travel #jrkyushu #travel #omotenashi #fukuoka

After arriving in Kyushu, we've missed JR Kyushu's Super Mario train a few times by less than an hour. Today, we saw it zip by unexpectedly as we approached Takeo Onsen on the Relay Kamome. We looked up its schedule and caught it in the evening operating as a limited express Midori at Takeo Onsen, taking it two stops to Saga. #JRKyushu #SuperMarioTrain #Midori56 #TakeoOnsen #Saga #Kyushu #Japan

We unexpectedly ended up taking the Aso Boy, one of JR Kyushu's special trains, from Aso to Miyaji, about 5 minutes away.  The Aso Boy runs between Kumamoto and Miyaji.  The train is all reserved and features Kuro, the train's mascot character.  It just happened to be the next departure from Aso.  We ended up being the only passengers on the train as everyone who was already onboard got off at Aso!  #AsoBoy #JRKyushu #Aso #Miyaji #Kumamoto #Kyushu #Japan

I usually don’t post my articles here. But let’s make an exception. @jrkyushu_senden_official started a collaboration with Nintendo today that’ll last until the end of June 2026. I am excited and probably have to adjust my annual trip to East Asia a bit. Two Shinkansen and one Series 885 will be in this Super Mario livery running through the Kyūshū region. Including the new super shiny Nishi-Kyūshū-Shinkansen to Nagasaki (February 2026). It might be even possible to take all three trains in a row. But we have to wait for the official schedule and even pictures. There are none. Just a few fake ones with the wrong train set. Additional pictures from my trip to Nagasaki a few months ago.

Check out the article and hit the translate button if needed: https://www.notebookcheck.com/Nintendo-und-JR-Kyushu-Mehrere-Super-Mario-Zuege-kommen-bis-Mitte-2026-zum-Einsatz.1172924.0.html

#jrkyushu #nishikyushushinkansen #shinkansen #kyushushinkansen #kyushu #nintendo #trainspotter #trainspotting #supermario #series885 #japan #japanrailway #japanrailways #pufferküsser #train #railway #highspeedrail

In a country known for fast and efficient trains, the Seven Stars in Kyushu takes an opposite approach — slow, deliberate and oh-so opulent. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/03/01/travel/seven-stars-luxury-train-kyushu/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #life #travel #travel #jrkyushu #sevenstars

JR Kyushu said Monday that it will withdraw from the passenger ship business after a subsidiary was found to have covered up a water leak on a high-speed ferry. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/12/24/companies/jr-kyushu-withdrawal-ship/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #companies #jrkyushu #fukuoka #southkorea #jr #corporategovernance #ferries #tourism