How to travel from Kumamoto to Morioka, Japan

The distance between Kumamoto and Morioka is around 1,604km (997 miles) and the quickest way to get there is to take the train which takes around 7h 60m.

3 routes found

We've found 3 different ways to get from Kumamoto to Morioka by train, bus and car. The recommended routes, which include information on duration, ticket price, and level of difficulty, can be found below.

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

🚀 Fastest
1
3 x train
+

Train

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

  • Duration7h 60m
  • Departshourly
  • Typical cost
    ¥43,125($315)
💰 Cheapest
2
4 x bus
+

Bus

Take the bus to Hakata Bus Terminal, Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal then Sendai Station and then to Morioka.

  • Duration24h 50m
  • Departsonce daily
  • Typical cost
    ¥28,610($210)
Operated by

Multiple bus operators

3
car
+

Drive

Drive to Morioka.

  • Duration18h 35m
  • Distance1,604km (997 miles)
Get turn-by-turn directions

Frequently asked questionsabout travel between Kumamoto and Morioka

There are several options for getting from Kumamoto to Morioka by train, bus and car. The cheapest option is to take the bus which costs around ¥28,610 ($210) and will take around 24h 50m. If you need to get there more quickly, you can take the train and arrive in approximately 7h 60m, though it is a bit more costly at approximately ¥43,125 ($315).

The distance between Kumamoto and Morioka is around 1,604km (997 miles). In a direct line (as the crow flies), the distance is 1,226km (762 miles)

It takes around 7h 60m to get from Kumamoto and Morioka by train. If you are travelling by car it will take around 18h 35m to drive there.

The quickest way to get from Kumamoto to Morioka is to take the train which takes around 7h 60m and will set you back approx ¥43,125 ($315).

The cheapest way to travel between Kumamoto and Morioka, if you exclude driving, is to take the bus which will typically cost around ¥28,610 ($210) for a standard one-way ticket.

Train travel

Yes there is a train service that runs between Kumamoto and Morioka. It typically takes around 7h 60m and departs hourly.

There are no direct train services that runs from Kumamoto to Morioka. However, you can instead can take several connecting trains with a changeover in Hakata and Tokyo. These services run hourly and will take a minimum of 7h 60m.

Japan Railways Shinkansen run train services between Kumamoto and Morioka. Trains depart hourly and will take around 7h 60m, 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 Kumamoto and Morioka. It typically takes around 24h 50m and departs once daily.

There are no direct bus services that runs from Kumamoto to Morioka. However, you can instead can take several connecting buses with changeovers in Hakata Bus Terminal, Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal and Sendai Station. These services run once daily and will take a minimum of 24h 50m.

Nishitetsu, JR Bus Tōhoku and Willer Express run regular bus services between Kumamoto and Morioka. Buses run once daily and take around 24h 50m on average but will vary depending on you book with.

Flights and Airlines

It doesn't look like you can fly directly from Kumamoto to Morioka. We recommend that you take the train to Hakata then Tokyo and then to Morioka. instead which will take 7h 60m.

The closest major airport to Morioka is Hanamaki Airport (HNA) (HNA) which is approximately 31km (19 miles) from Morioka. Akita Airport (AXT) (AXT) and New Chitose Airport (CTS) (CTS) 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 Kumamoto and Morioka. The distance is around 1,604km (997 miles) by road and it will take around 18h 35m in normal traffic conditons.

If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get from Kumamoto to Morioka is to take the train which takes, on average, 7h 60m and will usually cost around ¥43,125 ($315).

How do I get from Kumamoto to Morioka

Compare travel optionsbetween Kumamoto and Morioka

Transport options from Kumamoto to Morioka
Transport optionDurationCostFrequencyDistance
Train
7h 60m
¥43,125($315)
hourly1,656km (1,029 miles)
Bus
24h 50m
¥28,610($210)
once daily1,799km (1,118 miles)
Drive
18h 35m
¥23,955($175)
on demand1,604km (997 miles)

Top Carriersoperating between Kumamoto and Morioka

Bus companies

Airlines

Train operators

Airports near Morioka

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

HNA
Hanamaki Airport (HNA)
Domestic Airport
Distance
31km (19 miles) from Morioka
AXT
Akita Airport (AXT)
Domestic Airport
Distance
81km (50 miles) from Morioka
CTS
New Chitose Airport (CTS)
International Airport
Distance
346km (215 miles) from Morioka