Moe is justice! A small site that occasionally shares ACG event logs and interesting code.
Hitoyoshi Anime Pilgrimage: Departure Edition
Since getting around Hitoyoshi is a bit unique, I decided to write a separate introductory post as a prelude to the upcoming anime pilgrimage. I'll also document the transportation-related challenges I faced on this trip.
About Hitoyoshi
First, let me introduce Hitoyoshi.
Hitoyoshi City is a charming small city in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, known as "Little Kyoto of Kyushu." Located in the Kuma River basin, in the center of the Hitoyoshi Basin, it has been an important transportation hub and castle town since ancient times.
Anime Related to Hitoyoshi
When you mention Hitoyoshi, many anime fans think of Natsume's Book of Friends! The anime collaborated with the Hitoyoshi area to produce a short anime, A Gentle Time in Hitoyoshi Kuma, showcasing the local natural beauty and culture.
A Gentle Time in Hitoyoshi Kuma
Additionally, Hitoyoshi serves as the setting for works like Maitetsu and Rail Romanesque, attracting many fans for anime pilgrimage.
How to Get to Hitoyoshi
Now for the key question: how do you get to Hitoyoshi?
The main ways to reach Hitoyoshi are by express bus and railway.
Unfortunately, due to the 2020 floods, the railway line to Hitoyoshi was washed away. I asked locals, and they said it will take at least another 10 years to restore, so for now, only the express bus remains.
Express Bus Stops Connecting to Railways
| Departure Point | Departure Bus Stop | Arrival Bus Stop | Approximate Travel Time (between stops) |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Fukuoka City (Phoenix Express Bus) | Hakata Bus Terminal | Hitoyoshi Station | About 2 hours 30 minutes |
| From Kumamoto City (Kirishima Express Bus) | Kumamoto Sakuramachi Bus Terminal | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 1 hour 40 minutes |
| From Miyazaki City (B&S Miyazaki) | Miyazaki Station | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 1 hour 45 minutes |
| From Kagoshima City (Kirishima Express Bus) | Kagoshima-Chuo Station | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 1 hour 40 minutes |
| From Shin-Yatsushiro Station (B&S Miyazaki) | Shin-Yatsushiro Station | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 40 minutes |
Except for the Hakata route, which goes directly to Hitoyoshi Station, all other routes go to Hitoyoshi Interchange.
Hitoyoshi Interchange is about a 30-minute walk from Hitoyoshi Station. I recommend taking a taxi to your hotel. For a hotel near Hitoyoshi Station, the taxi fare is around 1,000 yen.
If possible, I recommend booking online. Reservation website: https://www.highwaybus.com/gp/index
Express Bus Stops Connecting to Airports
| Departure Point | Departure Bus Stop | Arrival Bus Stop | Approximate Travel Time (between interchanges) |
|---|---|---|---|
| From Kagoshima Airport | Kagoshima Airport | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 50 minutes |
| From Aso Kumamoto Airport (Nanpu Express Bus [Direct]) | Aso Kumamoto Airport Domestic Terminal (transfer at Mashiki Interchange) | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 1 hour 50 minutes |
| From Aso Kumamoto Airport (Super Banpeiyu Bus and B&S Miyazaki combination route) | Aso Kumamoto Airport Domestic Terminal (transfer at Shin-Yatsushiro Station) | Hitoyoshi Interchange | About 1 hour 50 minutes |
If taking an express bus from the airport, the best option is departing from Kagoshima Airport. Not only is there no transfer, but the bus ride is also quite short.
Again, if possible, I recommend booking online. Reservation website: https://www.highwaybus.com/gp/index
For this anime pilgrimage, I chose to fly from Tokyo to Kagoshima on Japan Airlines and then take the express bus to Hitoyoshi. However...
Difficulties Encountered Along the Way
Difficulties Before Boarding
To be honest, it was my first time flying on a domestic flight in Japan, and I discovered that domestic flights here are almost entirely self-service, with very little human assistance.
I wasn't quite sure how to proceed, so I asked a staff member at self-service kiosk 4. When they saw my ticket was purchased through Fliggy, they sent me to counter 9. After waiting in line at counter 9 for a while, the staff there looked at my ticket and said I needed to go to counter 3.
After finally getting through the line at counter 3, the staff said, "This counter is only for passengers with oversized luggage. You need to use self-service kiosk 4." They then sent me back and had the staff at kiosk 4 show me how to use it.
Seriously, is this how Japan Airlines operates? Good thing I arrived early, or I would have been really delayed. 😅
Difficulties Getting to and from Hitoyoshi
Actually, before boarding, I had already received an email notification that all express buses were suspended due to flooding in Kumamoto. This completely cut off my only public transportation to Hitoyoshi. I had dodged the floods in Kagoshima earlier, but ultimately couldn't escape the ones in Kumamoto.
While I was busy checking in, I asked a friend to help find out if it was possible to take a taxi from Kagoshima to Hitoyoshi. The major taxi companies in Kagoshima either flatly said "no" or gave vague answers.
Fortunately, with my friend's help, we finally found a local driver in Kagoshima who could pick me up. Although it cost 1,800 RMB, I made it to Hitoyoshi safely—a close call. When I arrived at the hotel, the owner remarked, "You actually made it here. That must not have been easy."
Additionally, due to the Kumamoto floods, my return trip was also affected. The express bus that normally takes about 2 hours to reach Kumamoto ended up taking 6 hours, which forced me to cancel all my plans in Kumamoto.
Next up is the 3-day, 2-night Hitoyoshi anime pilgrimage.
Stay tuned for the next post!
