How to travel from Akita to Kumamoto, Japan

The distance between Akita and Kumamoto is around 1,503km (934 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 20m.

4 routes found

We've found 4 different ways to get from Akita to Kumamoto by train, bus, car and plane. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

👋 Also check out KumamotoAkita if you're planning a return trip.

🚀 Fastest
1
train
+
plane
+

Train and Plane

Take the train to Takanosu(Jr) then fly from Odate Noshiro (ONJ) to Kumamoto (KMJ).

  • Duration5h 20m
  • Flight time3hrs
  • Typical cost
    ¥33,950($250)
Operated by

Multiple operators

2
3 x train
+

Train

Take the train to Tokyo then Hakata and then to Kumamoto.

  • Duration9h 40m
  • Departsevery 3 hours
  • Typical cost
    ¥46,545($340)
💰 Cheapest
3
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Sendai, Basuta Shinjuku Tokyo then Hakata Bus Terminal and then to Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal.

  • Duration1 day 1h
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥29,845($220)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

4
car
+

Drive

Drive to Kumamoto.

  • Duration17h 20m
  • Distance1,508km (937 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Akita and Kumamoto

There are several options for getting from Akita to Kumamoto by train, bus, car and plane. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥29,845 ($220) and will take around 1 day 1h. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and then fly and arrive in approximately 5h 20m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥33,950 ($250).

The distance between Akita and Kumamoto is around 1,503km (934 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,157km (719 miles)

It takes around 9h 40m to get from Akita and Kumamoto by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 17h 20m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Akita to Kumamoto is to take the train and then fly which takes around 5h 20m and will set you back approx ¥33,950 ($250).

The cheapest way to travel between Akita and Kumamoto, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥29,845 ($220) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Akita and Kumamoto. It typically takes around 9h 40m and departs every 3 hours.

There are no direct train services that runs from Akita to Kumamoto. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Tokyo and Hakata. These services run every 3 hours and will take a minimum of 9h 40m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Akita and Kumamoto. Trains depart every 3 hours and will take around 9h 40m, however, this may vary depending on the particular service and whether it runs express or stops all stations.

Bus travel

Yes there is a bus that runs regularly from Akita and Kumamoto. It typically takes around 1 day 1h and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Akita to Kumamoto. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Sendai, Basuta Shinjuku Tokyo and Hakata Bus Terminal. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 1 day 1h.

JR Bus Tōhoku, Willer Express and Nishitetsu run regular bus services between Akita and Kumamoto. Buses run once daily and take around 1 day 1h on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Akita to Kumamoto. We recommend that you take the train to Takanosu(Jr) then fly from Odate Noshiro (ONJ) to Kumamoto (KMJ). instead which will take 5h 20m.

The closest major airport to Kumamoto is Kumamoto Airport (KMJ) (KMJ) which is approximately 30km (18 miles) from Kumamoto. Amakusa Airport (AXJ) (AXJ) and Fukuoka Airport (FUK) (FUK) are also nearby and might be a better alternative airport depending on where you are flying from.

Drive yourself

Yes it is possible to drive from Akita and Kumamoto. The distance is around 1,508km (937 miles) by road and it will take around 17h 20m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Akita to Kumamoto is to take the train which takes, on average, 9h 40m and will usually cost around ¥46,545 ($340).

How do I get from Akita to Kumamoto

Compare travel optionsbetween Akita and Kumamoto

Transport options from Akita to Kumamoto
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train and Plane
5h 20m
¥33,950($250)
every 2 hours1,503km (934 miles)
Train
9h 40m
¥46,545($340)
every 3 hours1,783km (1,108 miles)
Bus
1 day 1h
¥29,845($220)
once daily1,790km (1,113 miles)
Drive
17h 20m
¥22,590($165)
on demand1,508km (937 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Akita and Kumamoto

Bus companies

Train operators

Airports near Kumamoto

The following major airports near Kumamoto offer regular flights to various popular destinations within Japan and internationally.

KMJ
Kumamoto Airport (KMJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
30km (18 miles) from Kumamoto
AXJ
Amakusa Airport (AXJ)
Domestic Airport
Distance
48km (30 miles) from Kumamoto
FUK
Fukuoka Airport (FUK)
International Airport
Distance
106km (66 miles) from Kumamoto