March 29, 2026
All aboard the drama express
Kyushu Railway Company Train Varieties
Kyushu’s jaw-dropping story trains have fans swooning — locals say the ride is the point
TLDR: JR Kyushu’s themed “Design & Story” trains — like Yufuin no Mori and Ibusuki no Tamatebako — are earning raves for style and scenery. Commenters gush over interiors, argue which route is most breathtaking, and a local notes JR Kyushu’s theme-train obsession sets it apart, making the ride the main event.
JR Kyushu just soft-launched a thirst trap for train lovers: its “Design & Story” sightseeing fleet, from the hot-springs-bound Yufuin no Mori to kid-magnet ASO BOY!, jazz-soaked A-TRAIN, and the smoky, party-trick Ibusuki no Tamatebako. The crowd? Absolutely losing it. One traveler called a post-trip visit to the Kyoto Railway Museum the perfect encore, saying seeing these legends after riding them “made it especially impactful.”
A local from Aso shouted out Kyushu’s middle and eastern routes — Takachiho, Gokase, Beppu — as “jaw‑dropping,” turning the thread into a bucket-list brawl over which view wins. Then came the design obsessives: people gushed over plush wood interiors and those swiveling seats on Ibusuki no Tamatebako that flip to face the windows (and, yes, the cliffs). Cue memes about “exposure therapy on rails.” Another fan hyped the luxe [36+3] (JR Kyushu’s rolling lounge), insisting the interiors are “not what I expected at all.”
The hottest take? A Kyushu resident said JR Kyushu runs differently from other JR companies, with a “staggering amount of novelty/theme trains.” Cue the only real “drama”: are these rides high art or theme-park on tracks? Judging by the smiles — and the D&S Train Map getting bookmarked — the verdict is simple: in Kyushu, the journey is the attraction.
Key Points
- •JR Kyushu presents three types of trains, emphasizing Design & Story (sightseeing) trains on this page.
- •Design & Story Trains feature distinctive exteriors/interiors and focus on scenic travel across Kyushu.
- •Named services include YUFUIN NO MORI, ASO BOY!, A-TRAIN, IBUSUKI NO TAMATEBAKO, UMISACHI YAMASACHI, KAWASEMI YAMASEMI, and TWO STARS 4047.
- •Each listed train includes a brief description and a “View Details” link for more information.
- •A D&S Train Map link is provided to help travelers understand routes and offerings.