Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago

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Time to ride on Japan's incredible Sonic Limited Express train on Kyushu, one of Japan's islands. This JR train is part of the Japanese railways, connecting Hakata Station in Fukuoka to the Ōita Bay area, through stations such as Kokura and Nakatsu, on the way to Beppu and Ōita.

These JR 885 Series, commonly known as White Sonic, feature an iconic streamlined design, much like the famous Japanese bullet trains! They are also based on the DB ICE 3 in Germany, and the design eventually evolved into the UK Class 395.

Join me as I use my JR Pass in the JR Green Car on this journey from Hakata to Ōita aboard the Sonic train in Japan. This train is no Japanese maglev, or even Shinkansen, but it's still an enjoyable journey aboard a train in Japan.

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Journey Details:
Origin: Hakata (Fukuoka)
Destination: Ōita
Company: JR Kyushu (Kyushu Railway Company)
Train: JR 885 Series - White Sonic
Accommodation: Green Car Seat (1st)
Time: 2 hours 1 minute, arrived 2 minutes late
Distance: 198 kilometres / 123 miles
Price: ¥8740 (£51.50 / €59.20 / $65.00)

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