A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, southern Japan, on July 28, 2026. Here is the short version: this is a Kyushu-regional event, not a nationwide one.
If your trip is to Tokyo, Osaka, or most other parts of Japan, it is not affected. If it involves Kyushu itself, especially Fukuoka or Kumamoto, some flights, trains, and roads are still disrupted while recovery continues.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected in Kumamoto and the wider Kyushu region, and with the rescue teams still working through the aftermath. Below, we lay out which areas are affected, current transport status, and what it means for your travel plans.
- A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, on July 28, 2026 (Japan time); Japan’s government put the death toll at 28, including cases still being confirmed, as of July 30, with search and rescue ongoing.
- This is a Kyushu-regional event only. Tokyo, Osaka, and the rest of Japan are unaffected and operating normally.
- Kumamoto Airport’s runway has reopened, though JAL is still running extra recovery flights; the Kyushu Shinkansen remains suspended south of Chikugo-Funagoya in Fukuoka Prefecture as of July 30, with only a short northern stretch running.
- Flying into Fukuoka or elsewhere in Kyushu? Check your airline directly, then compare current flight options on Wego before assuming your trip is canceled.
- Trip to Tokyo, Osaka, or anywhere outside Kyushu? You can keep planning and booking as normal.
Is it safe to travel to Japan right now?
For most travelers, yes. If your trip is to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, or anywhere outside Kyushu, you can continue to plan and book as normal.
If your trip involves Kyushu, specifically Kumamoto or nearby areas, the situation calls for more caution. Aftershocks are ongoing, some roads and rail lines remain closed, and authorities are still assessing infrastructure.
- Traveling to Kyushu soon: check your airline’s official status page daily and confirm your flight before heading to the airport.
- Booked rail travel in Kyushu: confirm Shinkansen and local line status directly with JR Kyushu before you travel.
- Driving in Kumamoto or Miyazaki: about 100km of the Kyushu Expressway remains closed between Mashiki Kumamoto Airport IC and Ebino IC as of the morning of July 30 — avoid this stretch and check NEXCO West for current status elsewhere.
- Coastal itineraries: some ferry routes were paused as a precaution right after the quake, so confirm current sailings directly with the operator.
- Anywhere else in Japan: proceed with your existing plans, since the quake has not affected these areas.
Which areas are actually affected
The earthquake and its aftershocks are concentrated on Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost main island, not the whole country. Six prefectures felt significant shaking, ranging from severe in Kumamoto to moderate further out.
Areas affected, ranked by Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) seismic intensity. The JMA scale runs from 0 (not felt) to 7 (its maximum), with levels 5 and 6 each split into lower and upper bands.
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity data, July 28, 2026 (via Wikipedia, 2026 Kumamoto earthquake).
Tokyo, Osaka, and the rest of Honshu, Hokkaido, and Japan’s other main islands are not physically affected by this earthquake. If your trip is anywhere outside Kyushu, the quake itself has no direct impact on your itinerary.
Current transport status in Kyushu
Transport disruption is real, but it is localized to Kyushu, and conditions are changing daily as inspections continue. Here is the snapshot as of July 30, 2026.
Kyushu transport status, as of July 30, 2026 — this is a Kyushu-regional disruption only:
This is a Kyushu-regional disruption. Flights, trains, and roads elsewhere in Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka, are operating normally.
What this means for your trip
Fukuoka remains Kyushu’s main international gateway, and its airport has kept operating even as Kumamoto Airport works through cancellations. Before assuming your Kyushu trip is off, check your airline directly for your specific flight.
Then compare current flight options to Fukuoka on Wego, since schedules are still shifting day to day.
If you still need somewhere to stay once you land, you can also compare hotels in Fukuoka on Wego, useful if your onward plans within Kyushu change at short notice.
If your trip is to Tokyo, Osaka, or elsewhere outside Kyushu, there is no need to change anything. You can keep searching and booking flights and hotels across Japan on Wego exactly as you would have before the earthquake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to cancel my trip to Japan because of this earthquake?
Not because of this earthquake specifically. It’s a Kyushu-regional event, and destinations outside Kyushu, including Tokyo and Osaka, are unaffected and operating normally.
Is Tokyo affected by the Kumamoto earthquake?
No. Tokyo is around 900km from the epicenter in Kumamoto Prefecture and has not experienced damage or disruption from this earthquake.
Are flights to Fukuoka or Kumamoto canceled?
Kumamoto Airport’s runway briefly closed on July 28 and has since reopened, though around 40 ANA and JAL flights were canceled. JAL was still running extra recovery flights into July 30–31, and Fukuoka’s international airport has kept operating throughout — always confirm your specific flight with your airline.
Is the Kyushu Shinkansen running?
Only partly, as of the morning of July 30. JR Kyushu halted the Kyushu Shinkansen and numerous local lines after the quake and has since confirmed damage at more than 200 locations between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo, including broken rails and fallen sound barriers, and only the Hakata–Chikugo-Funagoya stretch in Fukuoka Prefecture has resumed so far.
The rest of the line, from Chikugo-Funagoya through Kumamoto to Kagoshima-Chuo, remains suspended, though JR Kyushu is aiming to reopen the northern portion soon. The separate Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen (Saga–Nagasaki) has run as usual throughout — check JR Kyushu directly before you travel, since this status is changing daily.
Should I cancel my trip to Kyushu?
That depends on your specific destination and dates within Kyushu, since conditions vary from area to area. Contact your airline, accommodation, and any tour operators directly, and follow official Japanese government and JMA updates for the latest guidance.
Sources
- U.S. Embassy Tokyo, Japan — Natural Disaster Alert: Kyushu Earthquake Aftermath
- Xinhua — Kumamoto earthquake death toll reaches 28 including suspected cases: Japan gov’t
- NPR — Death toll rises to 18 as rescuers comb through quake rubble in southwestern Japan
- USGS — M 6.8, 2026 Uto, Japan earthquake event page
- Wikipedia — 2026 Kumamoto earthquake (JMA seismic intensity data and SDF deployment figures)
- The Jerusalem Post — Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits southern Japan
- IBTimes Singapore — Japan Earthquake Travel Update: Flights, Bullet Trains and Ferries Disrupted After 7.1-Magnitude Quake
- Travelers Today — Japan Earthquake Map: Kumamoto Airport Flights Canceled as Kyushu Transit Stops
- japan-guide.com — Japan Travel Alerts (updated July 30, 2026, 7am)
- TRAICY — Kumamoto Airport closes runway following earthquake
- TRAICY — JR Kyushu reports damage to Kyushu Shinkansen and other lines
- TRAICY — JR Kyushu resumes Kyushu Shinkansen service between Hakata and Chikugo-Funagoya
- TRAICY — JAL adds extra flights following Kumamoto earthquake
Disclaimer: We’ve worked hard to make sure the information in this article is as accurate and up to date as possible at the time of publishing. Travel details such as prices, schedules, visa rules, and entry requirements can change at short notice, so it remains your responsibility to verify the current details with official sources before you book or travel. Wego accepts no liability for any loss or inconvenience arising from the use of this content.
