# Arriving in Kagoshima: the Airport Bus, Streetcar Fares and the One-Day Pass

> How to get from Kagoshima Airport into the city on the limousine bus and how to pay for it, what the streetcar costs since its fare change, which cards work on streetcars and city buses, and what the one-day pass covers.

- Checked against the official source: 2026-11-05
- Official source: [Nangoku Kotsu, Kagoshima Airport shuttle bus fares and timetable](https://nangoku-kotsu.com/ashuttle/kagoshima/)
- Web page: https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/kagoshima-airport-to-city/
- Publisher: Travel Smarter Asia (https://travelsmarterasia.com/about/)
- Some links below are affiliate links (the /go/ addresses). If you buy through one we may earn a commission; it never changes what the guide recommends.

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Kagoshima Airport is north of the city, and the limousine bus is the way in. If you are coming down through Kyushu by Shinkansen, [what the JR Kyushu passes cover](https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/jr-regional-passes/) is in our pass guide, and [the Fukuoka arrival guide](https://travelsmarterasia.com/guides/fukuoka-airport-to-city/) covers the other end of the line.

![Infographic, step 1 of 4. Landing in Kagoshima? The limousine bus into the city. Airport to central Kagoshima: 1,500 yen adult, 750 yen child. About 38 minutes direct, or 55 minutes via Yoshino. Pay by cash, RapiCa or a tap-to-pay card.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/kagoshima-airport-to-city-infographic-1.png "Step 1 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

## The airport limousine bus

Nangoku Kotsu runs the airport shuttle bus into Kagoshima:

| | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Airport to central Kagoshima | 1,500 yen | 750 yen |

The direct bus takes about 38 minutes from the airport, or 55 minutes via Yoshino. The city's tourism bureau says buses run about every 20 minutes. You can pay in cash, with a RapiCa or other Iwasaki IC card, or with a tap-to-pay credit card. Nangoku Kotsu notes that discounts for paying by RapiCa or card tap have been withdrawn.

## Streetcars and city buses

Kagoshima City Transportation Bureau charges a flat streetcar fare of 200 yen for an adult and 100 yen for a child. The adult fare went up from 170 yen on 1 August 2026.

- **Tap-to-pay cards** work on every streetcar and city bus except the Aibus. A card tap does not get the 60-minute transfer discount between bus and streetcar.
- **RapiCa** is Kagoshima's own IC card, shared by the city, Nangoku Kotsu and JR Kyushu Bus.
- **Nationwide transit IC cards** have worked through the Pay-don system on every streetcar and city bus since 21 October 2026.

![Infographic, step 2 of 4. Streetcars and city buses. A flat 200 yen streetcar fare. Tap-to-pay cards: Every streetcar and city bus except the Aibus. RapiCa: Kagoshima's own IC card. Nationwide IC cards: Through Pay-don since 21 October 2026. A card tap does not get the 60-minute transfer discount.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/kagoshima-airport-to-city-infographic-2.png "Step 2 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

Passes are bought through a smartphone app and bus times are online, so you want data from the airport onwards. [Set up Saily before you fly](https://travelsmarterasia.com/go/saily) and you are online in Kagoshima. On a longer trip, [one Saily profile takes a plan for each country](https://travelsmarterasia.com/go/saily).

## The one-day pass

| Pass | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Streetcar, city bus and City View, one day | 700 yen | 350 yen |
| 24-hour pass, smartphone only | 900 yen | 450 yen |

The one-day pass covers streetcars, city buses and the Kagoshima City View sightseeing bus, including its night course, on the day you use it. It is not valid on private buses, and the bureau's pass pages do not list the Sakurajima ferry.

![Infographic, step 3 of 4. The one-day pass. Streetcar, city bus and City View. One day: 700 yen adult, 350 yen child. 24 hours, smartphone only: 900 yen adult, 450 yen child. Not valid on private buses. The Sakurajima ferry is not listed.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/kagoshima-airport-to-city-infographic-3.png "Step 3 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")

## By Shinkansen

JR Kyushu's Southern Kyushu Area Pass covers the Kyushu Shinkansen only between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo, for three days, at 12,000 yen. The All Kyushu Area Pass covers Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo, but not the Sanyo Shinkansen between Kokura and Hakata.

## Emergency numbers

The Japan National Tourism Organization lists 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. Its Japan Visitor Hotline, 050-3816-2787, runs 24 hours a day in English, Chinese and Korean.

![Infographic, step 4 of 4. Rail passes and help. Kyushu Shinkansen and key numbers. Southern Kyushu Area Pass: Kumamoto to Kagoshima-Chuo, 3 days, 12,000 yen. All Kyushu Area Pass: Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo. 110 and 119: Police, and fire and ambulance. 050-3816-2787: Visitor hotline, 24 hours.](https://travelsmarterasia.com/images/kagoshima-airport-to-city-infographic-4.png "Step 4 of 4. Illustration by Travel Smarter Asia.")