Kyushu Shinkansen Kagoshima route (260km) connecting JR Hakata (Fukuoka) with Kagoshima Chuou is fully open on March 12, 2011. This high speed railroad which runs through Kyushu from north to south is finally completed taking 38 years since its original planning.
Because of the east Japan great earthquake outbroke on the day before, the inauguration of Kyushu Shinkansen was celebrated quietly. By this completion, the fastest trains take only 80 minutes from Hakata to Kagoshima Chuou and three hours and 45 minutes from Shin Osaka to Kagoshima which is 77 minutes shorter than before.
Those tourists who plan to come to Beppu, Oita-pref. after arriving at New Kansai International Arport can take a Shinkansen from Shin Osaka to Kumamoto and change the train at Kumamoto. Taking Houhi Line from Kumamoto to Oita via Mt. Aso is quite smart sightseeing route for foreign tourists.
(KK)