Japan’s Kyushu has unveiled plans to offer free one-way Shinkansen tickets from Fukuoka to foreign visitors, as part of a JPY3.5 billion (US$22.8 million) tourism push aimed at driving deeper regional travel into Kagoshima prefecture.
According to local news outlets, Kagoshima Governor Koichi Shiota hopes that the offer of complimentary train rides will entice tourists to Kagoshima prefecture, famed for its active volcano, Mt. Sakurajima.
Travellers may hop on the 90-minute bullet train ride from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Kagoshima Chuo Station in Kagoshima City, with tickets completely subsidised by the Kyushu prefectural government.
In the initial campaign period, the free one-way train passes will only be available to travellers from China, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan – capitalising on existing direct flights from these destinations to Kagoshima.
A planned expansion to include other high-potential countries such as Thailand, the U.S and more will follow.
Details on ticket application will be released at a later time.
Unlike major cities like Kyoto which has introduced higher hotel taxes, and Fujiyoshida which recently cancelled its popular annual cherry blossom festival, Kyushu is now hungry for more tourists after failing to return to pre-pandemic international numbers.