ACCESS
Take your time and enjoy your time away from the hectic world
Akiyoshidō Bus Terminal should be the starting point of sightseeing for public transportation users. There is a bus ticket booth (accepts cash only) at the tourist information center adjacent to the terminal. English and Chinese speaking staff are available there. As for other languages, we serve you utilizing language assistance tools. It takes 5 minutes to walk to the main entrance of Akiyoshidō cave from the terminal. * “Akiyoshidō” in this section means Akiyoshidō Bus Terminal.
Within Mine city
The tourist sites are categorized into three depending on the location. 1. Akiyoshidō cave & Akiyoshidai observation deck area which is within walking distance from the bus terminal, 2. Northern Akiyoshidai area which includes Taishodō cave, Kagekiyodō cave, Safari Land, and others, and 3. Others that are Beppu Benten Pond, Ofuku area, Ōmine area including Mine Sta.
We recommend you to plan based on the following timetables in advance since there are few buses in all lines.
Akiyoshidō⇔Akiyoshidai
① Loop bus (weekends and holidays only)
The loop bus runs from Akiyoshidō bus terminal near the main entrance of the cave and drops by the other side of the cave, Kurotani entrance and then, Akiyoshidai. The observation deck, Karstar, and Akiyoshidai Museum of Natural History are all near from Akiyoshidai bus stop.
| Route | Akiyoshidō loading zone 3⇔Kurotani entrance⇔Akiyoshidai⇔back to Akiyoshidō |
| Fare | Akiyoshidō →Kurotani entrance: ¥190 Akiyoshidō →Akiyoshidai : ¥260 Kurotani entrance →Akiyoshidai: ¥170 Kurotani entrance →Akiyoshidō: ¥330 Akiyoshidai →Akiyoshidō: ¥260 |
| Estimated time | Approx. 15 min |
| Bus company | JR |
| JR Rail Pass | Acceptable |
| Yamaguchi Bus Pass | Acceptable |
| Payment | In-car (cash only) |
Bus company: JR
【Weekends and holidays only】
| Akiyoshidō | Kurotani entrance | Akiyoshidai | Akiyoshidō |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:30 | 11:35 | 11:39 | 11:45 |
| 12:30 | 12:35 | 12:39 | 12:45 |
| 13:30 | 13:35 | 13:39 | 13:45 |
| 14:30 | 14:35 | 14:39 | 14:45 |
| 15:30 | 15:35 | 15:39 | 15:45 |
② Karst Taxi (minibus) (Weekdays from Apr. to Nov.)
Karst Taxi, a minibus or a shared van stops more places aside from the mentioned above. The elevator entrance is included in the loop and some buses go to Taishodo, Kagekiyodo, and Safari Land. Find a green stop.
| Route,Timetable & Fare | See here |
| Estimated time | Approx. 15 min from the tourist info center to the observation deck |
| JR Rail Pass | Not acceptable |
| Yamaguchi Bus Pass | Not acceptable |
| Payment | In-car (cash only) |
③ Car / Taxi
Taxi
| To | Estimated time for one way | Taxi fare for one way |
|---|---|---|
| Akiyoshidō bus terminal⇔Elevator entrance | 5 min | ¥710 |
| Akiyoshidō bus terminal⇔Kurotani entrance | 5 min | ¥790 |
| Akiyoshidō bus terminal⇔The observation deck | 7 min | ¥800 |
MAP
Taishodō, Kagekiyodō, and Safari Land
For cave lovers, please check out the recommended schedule for the cave walk.
① Bus
| Route | To: 1. Bōchō bus to Oumi ōhashi at Akiyoshidō loading zone 1→ Safari Land 2. Higashi Hagi at Akiyoshidō loading zone 3 → Taishōdō → Safari Land 3. Karst Taxi at the tourist info center → Taishōdō → Kagekiyodō → Safari Land From: |
| Fare | ¥700-¥740 |
| Bus company | Bōchō , Karst Taxi |
| Estimated time | Tourist info center - Safari Land: Approx. 30-40 min |
| JR Rail Pass | Not acceptable |
| Yamaguchi Bus Pass | Acceptable only for Bōchō bus |
| Payment | Tourist info center, in-car(cash only). Cash only for Karst Taxi. |
Timetable: Akiyoshidō ⇔ Safari Land route
Akiyoshidō → Safari Land
【Weekdays from Apr. 1 ― Nov.31】
*In case of transit, please tell the driver that you will make a connection to another
bus.
Safari Land → Akiyoshidō
【Weekdays from Apr. 1 ― Nov.31】
Akiyoshidō → Safari Land
【Weekdays from Dec. 1 ― Mar.31, weekends and holidays】
*In case of transit, please tell the driver that you will make a connection to another
bus.
Safari Land → Akiyoshidō
【Weekdays from Apr. 1 ― Nov.31】
② Car / Taxi
Taxi
| To | Estimated time | Taxi fare |
|---|---|---|
| Akiyoshidō
Taishōdō/ Kagekiyodō /Safari Land |
Approx. 20 min | Approx. ¥4,000 |
MAP
Beppu Benten Pond
Car / Taxi
Taxi
| To | Estimated time | Taxi fare |
|---|---|---|
| Akiyoshidō
Beppu Benten Pond |
Approx. 20 min | Approx. ¥2,700 |
MAP
JR Mine Sta.
① Bus
| Route | From: Akiyoshidō bus terminal loading zone 1→Community bus “Ammonite” to Mine Sta./ Mine shiritsu byōin→Mine Sta. To: 1. Mine Sta.→Community bus “Ammonite” to Ōda Chūō /Akiyoshidō→Akiyoshidō 2. Mine Sta.→Community bus “Ammonite” to Akiyoshi →Transfer to JR bus to Akiyoshidō *Please ask the driver for the connection ticket. |
| Fare | ¥200 (Either you transfer or not) |
| Estimated time | Akiyoshidō → Mine Sta.: Approx. 25 min |
| Bus company | Community bus “Ammonite”, JR |
| JR Rail Pass | Not acceptable |
| Yamaguchi Bus Pass | Not acceptable |
| Payment | In-car (cash only) |
Mine sta. → Akiyoshidō
【Weekdays】
Akiyoshidō → Mine sta.
*In case of transit, please inform the driver that you will make a connection to another bus. The driver will issue a connection ticket for you so that you will not be charged.
Mine sta. → Akiyoshidō
【Weekends and holidays】
Akiyoshidō → Mine sta.
*In case of transit, please inform the driver that you will make a connection to another bus. The driver will issue a connection ticket for you so that you will not be charged.
② Car / Taxi
Taxi
| To | Estimated time | Taxi fare |
|---|---|---|
| Akiyoshidō → Ofuku | Approx. 20 min | Approx. ¥4,000 |
| Akiyoshidō → Mine Sta. | Approx. 20 min | Approx. ¥4,000 |
MAP