Airport conquest series. A paper plan to cover Yamaguchi-Ube Airport and Kitakyushu Airport in a single night. Take the last Haneda flight to Yamaguchi-Ube, transfer by Shinkansen to Kokura overnight, and fly back to Haneda on Starflyer’s early morning departure. You’re back at Haneda by 7 AM — leave after work and still make the next day’s schedule.

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Route Design

This plan works because of two conditions.

First, Yamaguchi-Ube Airport is about a 10-minute walk from Kusae Station, and evening Ube Line and San’yō Shinkansen connections get you to Kokura before 23:00.

Second, Kitakyushu Airport operates 24 hours. Starflyer runs a 5:30 AM departure to Haneda, reachable by early morning bus from Kokura.

Time in Kokura is about 5 hours (23:00 to 3:55). Even with a hotel, sleep is limited to a few hours.

Itinerary (based on November 2021 timetables)

19:10 → 21:00Haneda → Yamaguchi-Ube Airport ANA 699 (SUPER VALUE 75K)¥12,790
21:05 → 21:20Yamaguchi-Ube Airport → Kusae Station Walk (~1 km)¥0
21:40 → 22:18Kusae Station → Shin-Yamaguchi Station JR Ube Line¥3,740
22:31 → 22:50Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Kokura Station San'yō Shinkansen(included above)
23:00 → 03:40Kokura Station area Nap~¥10,000
03:55 → 04:51Kokura Station Bus Center → Kitakyushu Airport Nishitetsu Bus Kitakyūshū¥710
05:30 → 07:00Kitakyushu Airport → Haneda Starflyer 70 (Soratabi 75)¥9,790

Timetables are subject to change. Check the latest schedules before traveling.

Walking from Yamaguchi-Ube Airport to Kusae Station

Yamaguchi-Ube Airport is about 1 km from Kusae Station on the JR Ube Line. Walkable even with a nighttime arrival. However, Ube Line service is infrequent — check in advance that a train connects with the arriving flight.

Five Hours in Kokura

Arriving at Kokura Station at 22:50, the Kitakyushu Airport bus departs at 3:55. About 5 hours to fill. Even with a hotel, effective sleep is only 3–4 hours. A net café or manga café for a nap might be more practical.