2026 Kumamoto Earthquake
In the afternoon of July 28, 2026, a strong earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture, with its epicenter south of Kumamoto City. The earthquake caused localized but significant damage, with multiple fatalities, infrastructure disruptions and damage to buildings in the hardest hit areas. Authorities warn that further strong aftershocks are possible.
Transportation
Transportation remains affected south of Kumamoto City due to damaged rail tracks and roads:
- Trains:
- The Kyushu Shinkansen is suspended between Kumamoto and Shin-Minamata and unlikely to reopen before September.
- The JR Kagoshima Line is suspended between Uki and Yatsushiro and unlikely to reopen before September.
- The Hisatsu Orange Railway is suspended between Yatsushiro and Minamata, and resumption of service is expected to take some time.
- Note that the JR Hisatsu Line between Yatsushiro and Yoshimatsu has been closed since flooding in 2020 and is unlikely to reopen for several more years.
- Flights:
- Flights to and from Kumamoto Airport have resumed on July 29. All other airports on Kyushu are also operating.
- Airport buses between Kumamoto and Kumamoto Airport have resumed service.
- Expressways:
- About 70 kilometers of the Kyushu Expressway south of Kumamoto City (currently between Matsubase IC and Ebino IC) are closed until further notice. It is expected to reopen to general vehicles from around late August.
- Buses:
- Some expressway buses remain suspended until further notice, especially those affected by the expressway closure, although some of the affected routes have resumed service with detours.
- The B&S Miyazaki between Yatsushiro and Miyazaki is not operating until at least August 31.
- The Trans-Kyushu buses between Kumamoto and Beppu/Oita resumed operating on July 30 on a reduced schedule.
- The buses between Kumamoto and Takachiho, and between Aso and Takachiho have resumed normal operation.
- Access to Kagoshima:
Due to the earthquake, it is currently impossible to reach Kagoshima by bullet train. Train access remains possible via Miyazaki, but takes considerably longer from northern Kyushu. Airlines have increased flights between Fukuoka and Kagoshima, while expressway buses through the quake-hit area are suspended or operating with detours.
Official websites:
Tourism
Kumamoto City escaped major damage and is functioning close to normally. Most tourist attractions, including Kumamoto Castle and Suizenji Garden have reopened. As the city is currently serving as an important base for recovery efforts and accommodating displaced residents and relief workers, visitors may wish to consider postponing non-essential overnight visits for the time being.
The Aso and Kurokawa Onsen areas also escaped significant damage, and most tourist attractions and lodgings are operating normally. Tourists are encouraged not to cancel their travel plans into this region.
On the Shimabara Peninsula and the Amakusa Islands damage was limited and lodgings and tourist attractions are generally operating as usual. When traveling to Amakusa, approaching by ferry from the south or north is currently recommended in order to avoid adding traffic to the hard-hit areas around Uki and Yatsushiro.
