How Do You Get to Unzen Onsen from Nagasaki Airport, Nagasaki Station and Fukuoka?

Published 2026-10-04 · Sources checked 2026-10-04 · Treasure Hunting Co., Ltd.

This guide is for visitors who want to reach Unzen Onsen, the hot spring town high on Mount Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki Prefecture. It follows the English pages of Japan's National Parks site (run by the Japan National Tourism Organization with content from the Ministry of the Environment) and of the Unzen Tourist Association. We read them on 2026-10-04. Bus schedules change, so confirm them before you travel.

Where Unzen is

The association says Unzen sits in the central part of the Shimabara Peninsula, in the national park, at about 700 metres above sea level. The national parks site describes Unzen-Amakusa National Park as covering parts of Nagasaki, Kumamoto and Kagoshima prefectures. It warns that public transport to many areas of the park is infrequent or absent, and that renting a car is the best way to see more of the park. It adds that if you only want to relax in the hot springs at Unzen Onsen, public transport is enough.

From Nagasaki Airport

The national parks site gives this route. Fly from Haneda to Nagasaki Airport, which it puts at 1 hour 40 minutes. Ride a bus to Isahaya Terminal, 30 to 45 minutes. Then take a Shimatetsu Bus to the Unzen Shimatetsu Bus Office, 1 hour 20 minutes. The Unzen Tourist Association adds that the Shimatetsu bus from the airport to Isahaya runs only four times a day, so check the times before you land.

From Nagasaki Station

Two options are listed:

• A direct express bus. The company Nagasaki Kenei runs three daily express buses from the Nagasaki Ekimae Bus Terminal to the Unzen Shimatetsu Bus Office, taking 1 hour 40 minutes.
• Train and bus. Take the JR Nagasaki Line from Nagasaki Station to Isahaya Station, 35 minutes, then a Shimatetsu Bus bound for the Unzen bus office, 1 hour 20 minutes.

By car, the site gives about an hour and a half from both Nagasaki Station and Nagasaki Airport.

From Fukuoka

From Hakata Station, the national parks site says to take a JR limited express to Takeo-Onsen Station, about 1 hour, then change to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen for Isahaya Station, 15 minutes. From Isahaya, use the Shimatetsu Bus described above. The Unzen Tourist Association's access page also has separate directions for guests from Saga, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, but they are given as images, so we have not repeated them here.

Buses inside Unzen

The association's FAQ says there are no sightseeing buses in Unzen Onsen. Route buses are run by Shimatetsu Bus, towards Shimabara and Isahaya, and by Nagasaki Prefectural Bus, towards Nagasaki. The national parks site also mentions a shared taxi to the Nita Pass hiking trail that leads to the Unzen Ropeway. Reservations are required.

If you drive

The association says the town has seven toll car parks, and that those able to take large buses are limited. Its parking page lists rates such as 500 yen for a standard car at the Shinyu car parks and 300 yen at the Furuyu car park, with 200 yen for a bike at Shinyu and 100 yen at Furuyu. One car park near the Seishichi Jigoku was listed as closed. The FAQ warns that Unzen is mountainous. In a cold wave there can be a lot of snow, and the first snow usually falls at the beginning of December, so drivers should check road conditions with the association first.

What to bring and where to get help

• Clothing: the association says Unzen is about 5 degrees cooler on average than flat land, so dress warmly in winter.
• Luggage: the Unzen Visitor Center offers luggage storage for hikers for a fee of 300 yen per person. It is closed on Thursdays, or the day after if Thursday is a national holiday.
• Information and Wi-Fi: the Unzen Mountain Information Center has free Wi-Fi and advice on hiking. The association's map also marks a post office, an ATM, a clinic, a police box and the fire station in the town.

Onward to Amakusa

The national parks site says there is no direct transport between Unzen and the Amakusa Islands to the south. You drive to Kuchinotsu Port and take the Shimatetsu Ferry, which takes 30 minutes.

What we could not verify, and therefore left out

• Bus and train fares and current timetables.
• The route details for Saga, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima, which are only given as pictures.
• Taxi fares and rental car prices.

Related guides

• What is Unzen Jigoku, and what is the Nita Pass Ropeway like through the four seasons?
• What is the Unzen Volcanic Area Geopark, and how do you see its eruption sites?

Sources

All URLs retrieved 2026-10-04.

1. How to get there, Unzen-Amakusa (National Parks of Japan) — (routes, travel times)
2. Access (Unzen Tourist Association) — (airport bus frequency)
3. Guide of parking (Unzen Tourist Association) — (car park rates)
4. Common question (Unzen Tourist Association) — (buses, weather, snow, car parks)
5. Unzen useful map (Unzen Tourist Association) — (facilities)
6. Unzen Visitor Center (National Parks of Japan) — (luggage storage, closing day)