Japan’s Kagoshima Prefecture is tempting international visitors with free rides on the Kyushu Shinkansen in a six-month pilot programme designed to boost tourism.
The offer covers a one-way bullet-train journey from Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture to one of three stations in Kagoshima. The trip spans about 290km and takes around one hour and 40 minutes. The subsidy is worth up to ¥11,420 (US$73).
Hakata Station is accessible from Fukuoka Airport, the principal hub for the Kyushu region. The goal is to attract tourists arriving at the airport to Kagoshima, Nikkei Asia reports.
To qualify, travellers must arrive via Fukuoka Airport and book at least one night’s accommodation in Kagoshima Prefecture through travel and experiences platform Klook.
The campaign applies to visitors from the United States, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The pilot programme launched on 18 September and runs until 28 February 2027, or until the allocation is exhausted.