The Japan Guides

Kumamoto Earthquake: Kyushu Shinkansen Suspended, Airport Disrupted

· 2 min read Travel News
Kyushu landscape Japan

Contents

  1. Transport Disruptions
  2. What This Means for Your Trip
  3. Checking on Kumamoto Castle
  4. Practical Steps

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Kyushu at 16:27 JST on 28 July 2026, killing at least 13 people, injuring dozens, and triggering widespread transport disruptions across the island. Aftershocks continue and experts caution that further strong tremors are possible.

Transport Disruptions

Kyushu Shinkansen: The entire Hakata–Kagoshima-Chūō bullet train line is suspended until further notice while engineers inspect the track and tunnels for damage.

Kumamoto Airport: All 29 flights scheduled for the afternoon and evening of 28 July were cancelled after the runway was temporarily closed for safety inspection. The airport announced it expects operations to resume on 29 July, though some cancellations remain possible throughout the day.

Roads: The Kyushu Expressway north and south of Kumamoto is closed, and several national routes in Kumamoto Prefecture are blocked by landslides and structural damage.

Local trains: JR Kyushu suspended all local and limited-express services across the affected areas pending safety checks.

What This Means for Your Trip

Travellers currently in Fukuoka can still reach Hiroshima and other Honshu destinations via the Sanyō Shinkansen on the Hakata–Shin-Osaka corridor, which is unaffected. The Kyushu Shinkansen suspension specifically affects travellers heading south from Hakata to Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and intermediate stops.

If you have bookings at Kagoshima or Beppu, contact your accommodation and transport providers for updates. Buses and ferry services are operating on reduced but functional schedules as alternatives.

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has issued a Natural Disaster Alert advising citizens to follow instructions from local Japanese authorities, avoid the areas around Kumamoto city closest to the epicentre, and check in with family and emergency contacts.

Checking on Kumamoto Castle

Kumamoto Castle, which was extensively restored after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, has been temporarily closed pending a safety inspection. The castle authorities have not yet announced a reopening date.

Practical Steps

  • If your shinkansen ticket is affected: JR Kyushu is accepting no-fee refunds or rebookings on all Kyushu Shinkansen tickets for travel on 28–30 July. Contact any JR ticket office or the JR Kyushu app.
  • At the airport: Kumamoto Airport is displaying flight status at all information desks. Confirm your flight’s status with your airline directly before travelling to the terminal.
  • Monitor aftershocks: The Japan Meteorological Agency is issuing real-time updates. The strongest recorded aftershock so far reached magnitude 5.4 within the first hour.

See our Kyushu regional guide and Japan transport overview for full details on trains and connections across the island.