Getting To Kumamoto from Fukuoka Airport
★From Narita International Airport to Fukuoka―
① JAL and ANA fly from Narita International Airport to Fukuoka. It takes 2 hours.
②There is an Airport Limousine from Narita to Haneda (Tokyo International Airport). It takes about 75 minutes and costs 3000 yen. JAL, ANA and SKYMARK fly from Haneda to Fukuoka in about 1 3/4 hours.
Limousine bus: http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/timetable/narita/hanedaapt_tokyu_h.html
ANA: http://www.ana.co.jp/asw/index.jsp?type=de
SKYMARK: http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/
★From Fukuoka Airport to downtown Kumamoto ― There is a direct bus service to downtown Kumamoto from Fukuoka Airport to Toricho-suji and the Kumamoto Kotsu (bus) Center downtown. Most major hotels are located in this area. It takes about 2 hours and costs ¥2000. If you buy Round Trip Ticket or Pair Ticket, you can get a 10% discount, and if you buy Hinokuni-go Kaisuken (a sheet of 4 tickets), you can get a 20% discount.
http://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/bus/highway/gb/guide/hinokuni.htm
If you buy SUNQ Pass, you can get around Northern Kyushu for a reasonable price, but it is only valid for three days.
http://www.sunqpass.jp/english/index.shtml
Getting To Kumamoto from Kumamoto Airport
★ From Haneda or Osaka to Kumamoto Airport -- JAL and ANA fly to Kumamoto from Tokyo (Haneda) in 1 hour from Osaka, and 1 hour and 40 minutes from Tokyo. Bargain tickets can be found for around ¥10000 if purchased 2 months in advance for certain dates.
★From Kumamoto Airport to downtown Kumamoto ―
Airport shuttle buses operate from the airport to Toricho-suji and the Kumamoto Kotsu (bus) Center downtown, taking about 50 minutes and costing ¥670. Most major hotels are located in this area.
Getting to Kumamoto by Train
It takes about 9 hours to reach Kumamoto from Tokyo and 5 hours from Osaka, at a cost of ¥23020 and ¥16840 respectively for an unreserved seat, so we recommend flying directly to Fukuoka or Kumamoto. If you want to come by train, arranging a JR Pass from your country is recommended.
From Fukuoka's Hakata Station -- limited express trains depart three times an hour, reaching Kumamoto in about 1 1/2 hours and costing ¥3740 for a reserved seat. There is also a special round trip ticket available for ¥4000.
Getting around Kumamoto
Transportation within Kumamoto City and some of its neighboring towns is accomplished through a fairly extensive bus system and a simple two line tram system. City day passes are available that can be used on both the bus system and tram lines (500 yen for one day; 800 yen for two days).
Getting to the University
The green city bus for 水前寺駅北口 (Suizenji Eki Kitaguchi) travels regularly between downtown and the university. You can board it downtown from the Kotsu Center, Shiyakusho (city hall) mae or Tooricho-suji. Get off at Gakuen-Dai Mae. The fare will be between 160 and 190 yen depending on where you board the bus.