{
  "id": 10819344,
  "title": "Foreign tourists get free Shinkansen tickets in Japan, and here’s how to claim them",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/foreign-tourists-get-free-shinkansen-tickets-in-japan-and-heres-how",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-30T01:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SoraNews24",
    "slug": "soranews24",
    "url": "https://soranews24.com/2026/09/30/foreign-tourists-get-free-shinkansen-tickets-in-japan-and-heres-how-to-claim-them/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japan's Kagoshima Prefecture is offering free bullet train rides to international travelers, aiming to attract more visitors from the mainland to explore the southern island region. Partnering with travel booking site Klook, the prefecture encourages travelers from the U.S., Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China to book a hotel stay and claim a complimentary Shinkansen ticket from Hakata to Kagoshima. To redeem the offer, guests must enter a promo code at checkout and complete a brief survey. Once confirmed, travelers receive a voucher for a one-way Shinkansen fare up to 11,420 yen ($72). Kagoshima, home to active volcano Sakurajima and UNESCO World Natural Heritage islands like Yakushima, Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima, boasts attractions such as natural sand baths, Kagoshima Wagyu, and black pork. The prefecture is investing 278 million yen ($1.8 million) to subsidize the promotion, which runs until February 28. Despite its potential benefits, the campaign remains relatively unknown among overseas tourists, with some international travelers unaware of the offer upon arriving at Kagoshima-Chuo Station.",
  "summary": "Enjoy a free bullet train ride to one of the country’s most beautiful regions. International visitors to Japan tend to arrive and stay on the mainland, travelling between big cities like Tokyo and Kyoto on the Shinkansen bullet train. However, there are three other main islands in Japan crying out for tourists, and now one […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Kagoshima Prefecture offers free Shinkansen tickets to international tourists.",
    "Partners with Klook for promotion targeting U.S., Singapore, Thailand, etc.",
    "Campaign runs until February 28 with 278 million yen subsidy."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Kagoshima Prefecture's free Shinkansen ticket offer to international travelers aims to boost tourism from specific countries, shifting focus to the lesser-known southern island region of Japan.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}