This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
JR Kyushu’s 36+3 sightseeing train restarts on September 3, 2026 after the renovation of Car 6. Published operations run through February 22, 2027, with five one-day routes from Thursday through Monday. It is not a sleeper or a five-day continuous tour.
- Suspended through September 2, 2026; restarts September 3
- Cars 1–3: lunch plan in private rooms
- New Car 6: premium lunch plan in ten 1–2 person private rooms
- Car 5: Green Seat plan without a meal
- Fukuoka-friendly routes leave Hakata on Thursday and Monday morning, and reach Hakata on Sunday and Monday evening
Schedule, fares and booking rules were rechecked on July 30, 2026. Confirm the operating calendar and remaining seats again before buying connecting tickets or hotels.
Operating period and calendar
The calendar also shows which end of the train is expected to lead at the originating station. This can change for operational reasons, so a sea-side view is not guaranteed at booking.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Restart | September 3, 2026 |
| Published period | Through February 22, 2027 |
| Suspension | Through September 2, 2026 |
| After February 22 | Future dates not yet published |
New Car 6 has ten private rooms
Car 6 now contains ten Green private rooms, each for one or two people. It has wider windows, glass partitions, wood flooring, Wi-Fi and a power outlet at every seat. A solo traveler may book with an additional route-specific fee. The Monday afternoon Sasebo–Hakata service does not sell private rooms.
Official cars and private rooms
Five weekday routes
Times are the main timetable published from March 14, 2026. Confirm the actual date and timetable on the official site. Local-product sales or short sightseeing stops are included on some routes.
| Day / route | Main timetable |
|---|---|
| Thu / Red | Hakata 10:00 → Kumamoto → Kagoshima-Chuo 16:26 |
| Fri / Black | Kagoshima-Chuo 11:22 → Kirishima-Jingu → Miyazaki 15:40 |
| Sat / Green | Miyazaki Airport 11:36 → Oita 16:49 → Beppu 17:12 |
| Sun / Blue | Oita 10:48 → Beppu → Kokura → Hakata 16:41 |
| Mon / Gold | Hakata 11:23 → Sasebo 16:13 / Sasebo 17:27 → Hakata 20:06 |
Adult fares for the two lunch plans
These are adult prices per person for October 1, 2026 through February 22, 2027 and were announced as the same as September. The lunch plan includes one-way rail travel, a first drink and meal. The premium plan adds sweets and an after-meal drink in Car 6. Car 5 is a normal Green Seat ticket without food; its fare depends on the stations used.
| Day | Lunch plan | Premium lunch |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | ¥32,200 | ¥39,000 |
| Friday | ¥21,100 | ¥28,000 |
| Saturday | ¥25,400 | ¥32,000 |
| Sunday | ¥24,500 | ¥31,000 |
| Monday morning | ¥21,800 | ¥28,500 |
How to book
- Meal plans: book through the dedicated 36+3 site or participating travel agencies.
- Dedicated-site booking requires a JR Kyushu WEB member account and credit card.
- Meal-plan deadline: five days before travel.
- Green Seat tickets: on sale at 10:00 one month before travel through JR Kyushu reservations, ticket offices and compatible machines.
- Meal allergies cannot be accommodated under the published rules.
- Children’s fares apply to elementary-school children aged 6–12; children cannot travel alone.
Three practical ways to use the train from Fukuoka
- Thursday: depart Hakata for Kagoshima; plan an overnight stay after the 16:26 arrival.
- Sunday: replace the return from Beppu or Oita with a scenic ride arriving Hakata at 16:41.
- Monday: take the meal service from Hakata to Sasebo; the evening return has no meal plan or private room.
Important conditions
- Meal-plan passengers may board and leave only at designated stations.
- Monday afternoon has neither a meal plan nor private-room sales.
- The leading car and preferred sea-side view can change.
- The train has no beds; arrange hotels separately.
- Recheck service status immediately before travel.
