JR Kyushu announced the Kyushu Shinkansen's depot in Sendai will be opened to the public on July 25, 2010.

And JR Kyushu planned another public open days at Kumamoto dept on August 21 and 22, 2010. Visitors were required to make reservations and 36,534 people applied for the six thousand invitation. They said winners will receive cards by post by July 20. Applicants for the Kumamoto depot tour can decide attending Sendai or not after looking at the Kumamoto drawing's result.

Overview of Sendai Depot Summer Festa 2010

• Date and Hour: July 25, 2010, 09:30 to 15:00
  ※ Last admission at 14:30.
  ※ The event is subject to be canceled due to weather.
• Location: Sendai Shinkansen's Depot in Satsuma-Sendai city
• Events:
  • Visiting a cockpit of Tsubame [lottery]
  • Display of new Tsubame car's interior
  • Taking commemorative photos in child-sized crew uniforms, etc.
• Access: by complimentary shuttle service from Sendai Station
• Admission Fee: free

JR Kyushu announced the Kyushu Shinkansen's depot in Kumamoto will be opened to the public on August 21 and 22, 2010.

On the days, depot's facilities and vehicles of 8-car set of N700 series for Sakura services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo, and new 800 series for Tsubame services between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. No admission fee is required, but advanced reservations required. 6,000 people chosen by lottery will participate in this event.

Overview of Kumamoto depot tour

• Date and Hour:
  • August 21, 2010, 13:30 to 17:30
  • August 22, 2010, 09:30 to 16:30
  ※ Rain or shine, but may canceled due to heavy weather
• Location: Kumamoto Shinkansen's Depot in Kumamoto city
• Events:
  • Exhibition of Depot's Facilities
  • Display of Shinkansen Car's Interior and Exterior for Sakura and Tsubame
  • Exhibition of the Products from Kumamoto, etc.
• Access: by complimentary shuttle service from Uto Station
• Admission Fee: free
• Registration: Application must be posted or sent online by June 13.

JR West said trains arriving / departing at platform 14 will be moved to platform 12 on March 31, due to construction of Kyushu Shinkansen.

JR Kyushu said they decided the names of stations on Kyushu Shinkansen between Hakata and Shin-Yatsushiro. This section is being built and will go into service in March, 2011.

All stations on Kyushu Shinkansen are shown below including existing stations between Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chuo.

• Hakata (Fukuoka city): Through service to Sanyo Shinkansen and transferring to Hakata-Minami, Kagoshima line and subway
• Shin-Tosu ("新鳥栖", newly built in Tosu city): Transferring to Nagasaki line
• Kurume (Kurume city): Transferring to Nagasaki and Kyudai line
• Chikugo-Funagoya ("筑後船小屋", moved and renamed Funagoya Station): Transferring to Kagoshima line
• Shin-Omuta ("新大牟田", newly built in Omuta city)
• Shin-Tamana ("新玉名", newly built in Tamana city)
• Kumamoto (Kumamoto city): Transferring to Kagoshima and Hohi line and streetcars
• Shin-Yatsushiro(Yatsushiro city): Transferring to Kagoshima line
• Shin-Minamata (Minamata city): Transferring to Hisatsu Orange Railway line
• Izumi (Izumi city): Transferring to Hisatsu Orange Railway line
• Sendai (Sendai city): Transferring to Kagoshima line and Hisatsu Orange Railway line
• Kagoshima-Chuo (Kagoshima city): Transferring to Kagoshima and Ibusuki Makurazaki line and streetcars

When the entire portion of Kyushu Shinkansen opened in the spring of 2011, Tsubame trains travel between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo in about an hour and 20 minutes and Sakura trains travel between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo in 4 hours.

It was announced that Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass), a special ticket which allow unlimited travel along all of JR West, JR Shikoku, JR Kyushu and Chizu Express line, will be good until December 21, 2009.

• Name of the ticket
  • Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass)
• Travel dates
  • 2 or 3 consecutive days of Fri. through Mon. until December 21, 2009, unless November 20 to 23
• Period of selling
  • a month - 7 days before the departure date
• Maximum period of travel
  • 2 or 3 days
• Prices
  • 18,000 JPY for 2 days on 2nd class reservation cars
  • 20,000 JPY for 3 days on 2nd class reservation cars
  • 20,000 JPY for 2 days on Green-cars
  • 22,000 JPY for 3 days on Green-cars
• Available sectors
  • Whole conventional line of JR West, JR Shikoku, JR kyushu and Chizu Express Line including express trains on them
  • Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata and Kyushu Shinkansen Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chuo
  • JR Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima
• Terms of use
  • This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• Purchasable at
  • a major station in JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu
    ※ This pass is available as JR Shikoku Nishinihon Pass (JR四国・西日本パス meaning JR Shikoku and West Japan Pass) at JR Shikoku stations.
  • a major travel vendor
• Remarks
  • This ticket allows unlimited travel by 2nd class non-reservation cars within the sectors.
  • A ticket for 2 days on 2nd class resv. cars allows booking seats up to 6 times or for 3 days 8 times.
  • A ticket for 2 days on Green-cars allows seating in Green-cars up to 6 times or for 3 days 8 times.
  • Special discount of rent-a-car at station (駅レンタカー), 2,000 JPY for 24 hrs for a class S car in Hokuriku, Kansai, Sanin and Chugoku areas or 3,000 JPY for a calendar day in Kyushu, is available.
  • Only for members of Zipangu Club or Club DISCOVER WEST and their companion, the tickets are good for 2 or 3 consecutive days, including Mon. through Thu.
  • This ticket is NOT valid on Tokaido Shinkansen.
  • This ticket is NOT valid on Kitakinki Tango Railway (北近畿タンゴ鉄道), Tosa Kuroshio Railway (土佐くろしお鉄道), etc. even though express trains go directly from JR lines to those railway company lines.

JR West released Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass) for travelling after late August.

Motorists can travel expressways in most of Japan with a maximum toll of 1000 yen for an unlimited distance on weekends and national holidays from this March and JR West released this pass against that. Once the pass ended August 03 and started to sell again for travelling between August 21 and October 26. The new pass has extended its riding sectors to whole of JR Kyushu lines and Chizu Express line. Also, it has extended quietly its allowance of riding reserved seats or Green cars.

The new pass is 2,000 - 6,000 JPY more expensive than the old one. But the pass is still a great saver, because the new cheapest pass for 2 days on 2nd class costs 18,000 JPY. That is cheaper than a return trip between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima by Nozomi trains which costs 20,300 JPY.

It is valid for travelling from August 21 through October 26, but invalid between September 18 through 21.

• Name of the ticket
  • Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass) (for using on August 21 or later)
• Travel dates
  • 2 or 3 consecutive days of Fri., Sat., Sun., and Mon., during August 21, 2009 through October 26, unless September 18 to 21.
• Period of selling
  • after August 04 and a month - 7 days before the departure date
• Maximum period of travel
  • 2 or 3 days
• Prices
  • 18,000 JPY for 2 days on 2nd class reservation cars
  • 20,000 JPY for 3 days on 2nd class reservation cars
  • 20,000 JPY for 2 days on Green-cars
  • 22,000 JPY for 3 days on Green-cars
• Available sectors
  • Whole conventional line of JR West, JR Shikoku, JR kyushu, and Chizu Express Line including express trains on them
  • Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata and Kyushu Shinkansen Shin-Yatsushiro and Kagoshima-Chuo
  • JR Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima
• Purchasable at
  • a major station in JR West or JR Kyushu
  • a major travel vendor
  • Remarks
  • This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
  • This ticket allows unlimited travel by 2nd class non-reservation cars within the sectors.
  • A ticket for 2 days on 2nd class resv. cars allows booking seats up to 6 times or for 3 days 8 times.
  • A ticket for 2 days on Green-cars allows seating in Green-cars up to 6 times or for 3 days 8 times.
  • Special discount of rent-a-car at station (駅レンタカー), 2,000 JPY for 24 hrs for a class S car in Hokuriku, Kansai, Sanin, and Chugoku areas or 3,000 JPY for a calendar day in Kyushu, is available.
  • Only for members of Zipangu Club or Club DISCOVER WEST and their companion, the tickets are good for 2 or 3 consecutive days, including Mon. through Thu.
  • This ticket is NOT valid on Tokaido Shinkansen.
  • This ticket is NOT valid on Kitakinki Tango Railway (北近畿タンゴ鉄道), Tosa Kuroshio Railway (土佐くろしお鉄道), etc. even though express trains go directly from JR lines to those railway company lines.

JR West is providing Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass) for travel until June 29, 2009. And they released that they will extend its travel dates for a month.

The pass allows unlimited travel for 2 or 3 days around Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and northern part of Kyushu on JR lines. Moreover riding sectors of the ticket for after July 03 is a little larger than that of for until June.

In July, many summery events and festivals like Gion Festival (祇園祭 in Kyoto), Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祇園山笠), and some fireworks festival will be taken. Enjoy the early summer days in West of Japan with Nishi-nihon Pass.

Please note that this ticket is not good for out of JR lines like Chizu Express line (智頭急行), Kitakinki Tango Railway (北近畿タンゴ鉄道), and Tosa Kuroshio Railway (土佐くろしお鉄道) even though express trains go directly from JR lines to those railway company lines.

Name of the ticket

Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass) (for using on July 03 or later)

Travel dates

2 or 3 consecutive days of Fri., Sat., Sun., and Mon., during July 03, 2009 through August 03.

Period of selling

after June 23 and a month - 7 days before the departure date

Maximum period of travel

2 or 3 days

Prices

• 12,000 JPY for 2 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 16,000 JPY for 3 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 16,000 JPY for 2 days on Green-cars
• 20,000 JPY for 3 days on Green-cars

Available sectors

• Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata
• Whole conventional line of JR West and JR Shikoku and northern part of JR Kyushu above Kyudai line between Kurume and Oita
• JR Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima

Purchasable at

• a major station or travel vendor around the departure area in JR West district
• Hakata and Kokura stations or a travel vendor around them in JR Kyushu district

Remarks

• This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• This ticket is NOT valid on Tokaido Shinkansen.
• This ticket allows unlimited travel by 2nd class non-reservation cars within the sectors.
• A ticket for 2 days on 2nd class resv. cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in 2nd class cars.
• A ticket for 2 days on Green-cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in Green-cars.
• Special discount of rent-a-car at station (駅レンタカー), 2,000 JPY for 24 hrs for a class S car, is available.
• Only for members of Zipangu Club or Club DISCOVER WEST and their companion, the tickets are good for 2 or 3 consecutive days, including Mon. through Thu.

JR Kyushu announced the release of JR Kyushu and West Japan Unlimited Ride Pass (JR九州・西日本乗り放題パス) which is good in Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, and Kyushu to take JR trains including Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen ones. This pass appears similar to West Japan Pass (西日本パス) but this pass will be good for travelers to Chugoku and Kansai areas departing from Kyushu, especially from the southern part of it, because it will be purchasable within Kyushu island and West Japan Pass is invalid in southern part of Kyushu.

Name of the ticket

JR Kyushu and Nishi-nihon Nori-hodai Pass (JR九州・西日本乗り放題パス meaning JR Kyushu and West Japan Unlimited Ride Pass)

Travel dates

2 or 3 consecutive days of Fri., Sat., Sun., and Mon., during May 08, 2009 through June 29

Period of selling

a month - 7 days before the departure date

Maximum period of travel

2 or 3 days

Prices

• 17,000 JPY for 2 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 22,000 JPY for 3 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 22,000 JPY for 2 days on Green-cars
• 27,000 JPY for 3 days on Green-cars

Available sectors

• Whole lines of JR West including Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Hakata
• Whole lines of JR Kyushu including Kyushu Shinkansen from Shin-Yatsushiro to Kagoshima-Chuo

Purchasable at

• a major station of JR Kyushu, a branch of JR Kyushu Travel, or travel vendor in Kyushu
• Hakata and Kokura station of Sanyo Shinkansen

Remarks

• This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• This ticket is NOT valid on Tokaido Shinkansen.
• This ticket allows unlimited travel by 2nd class non-reservation cars within the sectors.
• A ticket for 2 days on 2nd class resv. cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in 2nd class cars.
• A ticket for 2 days on Green-cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in Green-cars.
• Only for members of Zipangu Club (ジパング倶楽部) and JR Kyushu My Way Club (JR九州マイ・ウェイ・クラブ), the tickets are good for 2 or 3 consecutive days, including Mon. to Thu.

JR West announced the release of West Japan Pass (西日本パス) which is good in Hokuriku, Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and northern part of Kyushu to take JR trains including Shinkansen ones.

Name of the ticket

Nishi-nihon Pass (西日本パス meaning West Japan Pass)

Travel dates

2 or 3 consecutive days of Fri., Sat., Sun., and Mon., during May 08, 2009 through June 29

Period of selling

a month - 7 days before the departure date

Maximum period of travel

2 or 3 days

Prices

• 12,000 JPY for 2 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 16,000 JPY for 3 days on 2nd class reservation cars
• 16,000 JPY for 2 days on Green-cars
• 20,000 JPY for 3 days on Green-cars

Available sectors

• Sanyo Shinkansen between Shin-Osaka and Hakata
• Whole conventional line of JR West and Shikoku lines and northern part of JR Kyushu between Hakata and Nagasaki, Sasebo, Kokura via Yufuin and Beppu
• JR Miyajima Ferry between Miyajimaguchi and Miyajima

Purchasable at

• a major station or travel vendor around the departure area in JR West district
• Hakata and Kokura stations or a travel vendor around them in JR Kyushu district

Remarks

• This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• This ticket is NOT valid on Tokaido Shinkansen and Kagoshima line between Hakata and Kokura.
• This ticket allows unlimited travel by 2nd class non-reservation cars within the sectors.
• A ticket for 2 days on 2nd class resv. cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in 2nd class cars.
• A ticket for 2 days on Green-cars allows 4 times or for 3 days 6 times of reserving seats in Green-cars.
• Special discounts for rent-a-car at station (駅レンタカー), shopping, and restaurants are available.
• Only for members of Zipangu Club or Club DISCVER WEST and their companion, the tickets are good for 2 or 3 consecutive days, including Mon. through Thu.

JR West and JR Kyushu announced that they decided the through train between Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen to be named "Sakura".

The new cars for this thorough service project an image of Japanese hospitality with its traditional beauty and dignity. The 170 thousand application for the new train name were accepted until November 30, 2009 and "Sakura" obtained the greatest number of votes.

Heavy voted names are shown below.

1. Sakura (7,927 votes)
2. Hayabusa (6,917 votes)
3. Hayato (6,270 votes)
4. Satsuma (6,024 votes)
5. Mirai (3,803 votes)

The through train "Sakura" between Kagoshima-chuo and Shin-osaka will start to run just in time for coming up cherry blossom front in the spring of 2011 and it travels between the two cities in about 4 hours.