Day train
36+3
36+3 is JR Kyushu's day train in black that runs a different route each day of the week from Thursday to Monday, together making a circuit of Kyushu's seven prefectures, with long stops where local people sell produce and greet the train.
Most of it is Green-class private compartments, sold with a lunch from a restaurant on that day's route.
From
¥32,200 per person
Length
about 6 hours 25 minutes
On board
23 Green private compartments
Age
Children of primary-school age pay the child price
Japan
We apply for you
Tell us the journey and the season. Our team in Japan watches the ballots and application dates, applies with the route and suite you want, settles your requests with the operator, and arranges the nights before and after at places we know. At the operator’s own fare.
Already have an itinerary in mind?
Have it reviewed for USD 85The routes (5)
A day
Thursday: Red route
Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo · Tamana (about 20 minutes, local produce), Kumamoto, then the Hisatsu Orange Railway along the East China Sea coast with a stop at Ushinohama (about 20 minutes)
Weekly on Thursdays, all year; Hakata 10:00 to Kagoshima-Chuo 16:26 (from 5 November 2026 after the earthquake suspension)
A day
Friday: Black route
Kagoshima-Chuo to Miyazaki · Kirishima-Jingu (about 25 minutes, foot bath), Osumi-Okawara (about 45 minutes, café under a ginkgo tree)
Weekly on Fridays, all year; Kagoshima-Chuo 11:22 to Miyazaki 15:40
A day
Saturday: Green route
Miyazaki Airport to Beppu · Miyazaki, Nobeoka (about 10 minutes), Sotaro (about 10 minutes), Shigeoka (about 20 minutes), Oita
Weekly on Saturdays, all year; Miyazaki Airport 11:36 to Beppu 17:12
A day
Sunday: Blue route
Oita to Hakata · Beppu, Kitsuki (about 10 minutes), Nakatsu (about 15 minutes), Mojiko (about 80 minutes free to walk round the station building, restored in 2019), Kokura
Weekly on Sundays, all year; Oita 10:48 to Hakata 16:41
A day
Monday: Gold route
Hakata to Sasebo · Saga, Hizen-Hama (about 50 minutes among sake breweries), Takeo-Onsen, Kami-Arita (about 15 minutes); an evening return Sasebo 17:27 to Hakata 20:06 sells Green seats in car 5 only, with no compartments or meal plans
Weekly on Mondays, all year; Hakata 11:23 to Sasebo 16:13
The special cars
Green private room for three or four (car 1)
4 on board
Tatami of Yatsushiro rush, shoes off; lower partitions in the three newer rooms.
Green private room for three to six (car 2)
3 on board
The first six-person rooms on a Kyushu train.
Green private room for one or two (car 3)
6 on board
Rebuilt from the old box seats; a supplement for one guest alone.
Green private room for one or two, Premium Lunch Plan (car 6)
10 on board
Tatami floor, wider windows than car 3; car 6 is reserved for Premium Lunch Plan guests.
Green seat (car 5)
30 on board
Two seats and one across the aisle, with large tables; sold as an ordinary ticket and the only part of the train open to rail-pass holders.
Before you go
Dining
Guests on the lunch plans have a meal in their compartment from a restaurant on that day's route (on the Thursday route, Hanakomachi of Ueki, Kumamoto, with a jubako box of Kumamoto produce), with a first drink included; the Premium Lunch Plan in car 6 adds tea sweets and an after-meal drink. Car 3 has a buffet counter selling light meals, drinks and goods, and car 4 is a lounge with workshops and events.
How it is booked
36+3 is sold only as a package with its meal. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
Good to know
Allergies cannot be catered for; lunch-plan guests may board and leave only at set stations. The train has no beds: each route is a single day, and the direction of the train changes on the way on some days, so the view from a given room is not guaranteed.
Every fare
From ¥32,200 per person in a private room with the lunch plan (cars 1 to 3), Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo on the Thursday route, JR ticket and meal included (2026); ¥39,000 on the Premium Lunch Plan in car 6; ¥22,000 more for one guest alone in a two-person room. A Green seat in car 5 without a meal is ¥18,320, fare and charges included (regular season); lunch-plan prices differ by route.
About the train
Eiji Mitooka, rebuilt from the 787-series limited express that was his first limited express design (1992); shown in 2020. Car 1 has tatami of Yatsushiro rush.
Run by JR Kyushu, since 2020.
Stay before or after
Myoken Onsen, Kirishima
RyokanMyoken Ishiharaso
妙見石原荘
In Kirishima, near Hayato on the line from Kagoshima-Chuo; lunch-plan guests on the Friday route may also board at Kirishima-Jingu.
Makizono, Kirishima
HotelTenku no Mori
天空の森
In the Kirishima area, about an hour from Kagoshima-Chuo, where the Friday route begins.
Lake Kinrin, Yufuin
RyokanKamenoi Bessou
亀の井別荘
In Yufuin, inland from Beppu and Oita, where the Saturday route ends and the Sunday route begins.
Q&A
36+3 is sold only as a package with its meal. Tell us your dates and our team in Japan reserves the seats and any meal for you, passes on your preferences and requests, arranges anything special with the operator, and books the stays before and after.
From ¥32,200 per person in a private room with the lunch plan (cars 1 to 3), Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo on the Thursday route, JR ticket and meal included (2026); ¥39,000 on the Premium Lunch Plan in car 6; ¥22,000 more for one guest alone in a two-person room. A Green seat in car 5 without a meal is ¥18,320, fare and charges included (regular season); lunch-plan prices differ by route.
Thursday: Red route: Weekly on Thursdays, all year; Hakata 10:00 to Kagoshima-Chuo 16:26 (from 5 November 2026 after the earthquake suspension). Friday: Black route: Weekly on Fridays, all year; Kagoshima-Chuo 11:22 to Miyazaki 15:40. Saturday: Green route: Weekly on Saturdays, all year; Miyazaki Airport 11:36 to Beppu 17:12. Sunday: Blue route: Weekly on Sundays, all year; Oita 10:48 to Hakata 16:41. Monday: Gold route: Weekly on Mondays, all year; Hakata 11:23 to Sasebo 16:13.
Children of primary-school age pay the child price; up to two infants on a lap travel free with each paying guest. Under-15s must travel with a parent or guardian.