This translation was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the editorial team.
During the 2026 summer holiday, elementary-school-age children and younger can ride eligible Nishitetsu local and limited-stop buses for 50 yen per trip from Saturday, July 18 through Monday, August 31. Distance does not change the promotional bus fare, making cash payment particularly useful for families visiting Fukuoka.
Nishitetsu trains run a related campaign on the same dates, but the train benefit requires a child-registered nimoca and initially deducts the normal child fare before returning the difference as nimoca points by the end of the following month. A short-term visitor may therefore find the immediate 50-yen cash bus fare easier. Details and exclusions were checked against Nishitetsu on August 12, 2026.
Key information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Summer dates | July 18–August 31, 2026 |
| Bus eligibility | Elementary-school-age children and younger |
| Bus fare | 50 yen per eligible ride when paying cash |
| Bus with nimoca | Normal child fare first; difference returned later as points |
| Train eligibility | Child-registered nimoca required |
| Not included | Highway, community and open-top buses, noruto and other listed routes |
Cash is the simplest bus option for visitors
Take a numbered ticket when boarding if the bus uses rear-door boarding. Before paying at the exit, tell the driver 'Shogakusei desu' for an elementary-school child or 'Kodomo desu', then put 50 yen into the fare box. The campaign page does not require residence in Japan for cash use. Preschool children riding alone also pay 50 yen; the ordinary accompanying-child rules may apply when they travel with an adult, so ask the driver when unsure.
- Take a numbered ticket when boarding
- Tell the driver the passenger is a child before paying
- Pay exactly 50 yen in the fare box
- Keep small coins ready before the stop
nimoca works differently on buses
When a nimoca is used, the normal child fare is deducted first. Nishitetsu returns the difference between that fare and 50 yen as nimoca points by the end of the following month. A child-registered nimoca can be tapped normally. When using an adult or anonymous nimoca for an eligible child, speak to the driver before tapping at the exit. Other IC cards such as Suica, SUGOCA or Hayakaken do not receive the campaign points. Returned points must later be exchanged into card balance, so this method may not suit a visitor leaving Japan soon.
The train offer requires a child nimoca
On Nishitetsu trains, only a child-registered nimoca qualifies. The gate deducts the normal child fare and the difference is credited as points by the end of the following month. Enough balance for the normal fare is required at travel time, and one card cannot be shared by several children for the refund. A child nimoca is issued for one named user and requires an official document showing the child's date of birth. Visitors should ask a sales counter which identification is accepted and consider whether waiting for and exchanging points is practical during their stay.
Check excluded bus routes before a long trip
The discount generally covers Nishitetsu Group local buses, limited-stop buses and temporary local services, but all highway buses, all community buses, Fukuoka and Kitakyushu open-top buses and the noruto on-demand service are excluded. Certain Omuta and Kitakyushu routes are also excluded, and most Hita Bus and all Kamenoi Bus routes do not participate. The PayPay Dome highway-style special bus is excluded even when travelling to a game. Check the official route list if the trip leaves central Fukuoka or uses a special event service.
