Yamaguchi-Ube and Kitakyushu Airports in One NightA Red-Eye Plan from After Work to the Next Morning
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.
- Airports
- Yamaguchi-Ube, Kitakyushu
- Duration
- Overnight — leave after work, back the next morning
- The trick
- Kitakyushu’s late-night departure
- Total
- ¥37,030
- Type
- Planned on paper
The full series index is here.
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)
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.
The index for the airport-conquest series:
Oct 17, 2021
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