Kyushu is open for groups, and most of it was never closed. The earthquake that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on 28 July 2026 — magnitude 7.1 on the Japan Meteorological Agency scale, with the maximum intensity of 7 — caused deadly damage in parts of that prefecture. The cancellations that followed spread much further than the damage did. From 1 October a national recovery discount begins for stays across all seven Kyushu prefectures. This is our trade briefing on what has changed, what has not, and how to quote Kyushu this autumn.
What happened, and where the damage is
- The damage is concentrated in parts of Kumamoto Prefecture. The strongest shaking was recorded around Kumamoto city and the towns to its south. Other Kyushu prefectures felt the quake but were not the scene of the damage.
- The cancellations were not concentrated. By early August, Kumamoto had recorded more than 140,000 accommodation cancellations. Around 174,000 more were reported across six other Kyushu prefectures. Local officials attributed part of this to reputational damage rather than to conditions on the ground.
- Areas with little damage still lost bookings. Reporting from August put about 60 percent of Kumamoto's cancellations in the Aso and Amakusa areas, even though both saw relatively little damage.
We are not going to minimise what happened. People died, and parts of Kumamoto are still recovering. But a client asking "is Kyushu safe to visit?" deserves a specific answer, not one based on the news cycle of late July.
What is operating now
Conditions are changing week by week, so treat this list as a starting point and not as a guarantee. We re-confirm every item at booking.
- Rail. Full service on the Kyushu Shinkansen was reported to have resumed on 18 September, which returns the main north–south spine to normal for group routing.
- Kumamoto Castle reopened on 13 August. Some facilities around it stayed closed, and new damage to stone walls was reported. The castle was already a restoration site after the 2016 earthquakes, as our Kumamoto and Aso guide describes, and that guide predates this quake. What a group can see and where it can walk needs confirming close to the date.
- Aso. The volcanic alert level was reported lowered from 3 to 2 on 1 September, and the summit area reopened, but entry close to the Nakadake crater remained restricted with no reopening date announced. Plan Aso as a caldera and grassland day, and treat the crater rim as a bonus.
- The rest of Kyushu — Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Beppu and Yufuin, Kagoshima and Miyazaki — is operating normally as far as we are aware.
The recovery discount from 1 October
The Japan Tourism Agency published the design of the Kyushu Recovery Support Discount (Kyushu Fukko Ouenwari) on 28 August 2026. The main points:
- It covers stays from 1 October 2026, in all seven Kyushu prefectures.
- The rate is 50 percent of the travel or accommodation price per person per night, rising to 60 percent in Kumamoto and Kagoshima, where cancellations did the most damage.
- It is capped at ¥20,000 for accommodation-only and one-night packages with transport, ¥30,000 for transport packages of two nights or more, and ¥35,000 for itineraries staying in two or more prefectures.
- Each prefecture sets its own booking dates and eligible period. Fukuoka, for example, opened bookings on 24 September for stays to 15 December.
- It is sold through Japanese hotels, travel companies and booking sites, not claimed by the traveller afterwards.
Why we do not quote around it
The trade question is whether international groups can use it. As of early September, neither the national outline nor any prefecture had published a rule on nationality or residency. Past campaigns of this kind were built for domestic travel, and short-term overseas visitors were generally not eligible. Until the rules for a specific prefecture say otherwise, we will not build a price on the discount.
What the discount will probably do is bring Japanese travellers back to Kyushu this autumn. That is good for the region and it is the point of the scheme. It also means hotels that were quiet in August may be much busier in October and November. For a group, that argues for confirming Kyushu rooms early rather than waiting for a late deal. Our note on domestic demand and inventory pressure sets out the same dynamic on a national scale.
How we build a Kyushu programme this autumn
- Route through the strongest bases. Fukuoka as the gateway, with Beppu, Nagasaki or Kagoshima as the second base, works without depending on the areas still under repair.
- Keep Kumamoto flexible. It can still be a strong day on the itinerary. We hold it with an alternative ready, so a closed section becomes a change of plan rather than a lost day.
- Brief clients honestly. Aftershocks have continued in the months since the quake, most of them minor. Our disaster preparedness note covers what we do for a group if anything happens during a programme.
- Check insurance wording. Some policies treat a known event differently from a new one. Our insurance and medical care guide explains what to check.
Visiting also matters to the region. At the Tourism EXPO Japan opening on 24 September, the Prime Minister referred directly to the cancellations Kyushu has suffered. A group that comes this autumn, spends and leaves well briefed is part of the recovery.
FAQ
Is it safe to take a group to Kyushu after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake? Most of Kyushu was not damaged and is operating normally. The damage is concentrated in parts of Kumamoto Prefecture. We confirm current conditions for every site and hotel at booking, and we keep flexible alternatives in any programme that includes Kumamoto.
Can international visitors use the Kyushu recovery discount? As of early September 2026, no rule on nationality or residency had been published. Similar past campaigns were aimed at domestic travel. We do not build prices on the discount unless a prefecture's rules clearly allow it.
When does the Kyushu recovery discount start? It applies to stays from 1 October 2026. Each prefecture sets its own booking dates and end date. Fukuoka opened bookings on 24 September for stays to 15 December.
Is Kumamoto Castle open? It reopened on 13 August 2026, but some surrounding facilities stayed closed and new damage to stone walls was reported. Access can change as inspections and repairs continue, so we confirm it close to the travel date.
Planning a Kyushu programme this autumn or winter? Write to b2b@explera.jp, message the trade desk on WhatsApp at +66 93 656 8090, or register on the B2B portal. Proposals within 24 hours. IATA TIDS 96215733, ASTA member 900408341.
