On the same day, new direct trains will start operating all the way between Osaka and Kagoshima. The trains will be named Mizuho and Sakura, with the Mizuho being slightly faster than the Sakura. However, initially there will be only four Mizuho trains per day, while the Sakura will be running hourly and are expected to eventually replace the Hikari Rail Star trains along the Sanyo Shinkansen.
Tsubame trains will operate hourly as the slowest train category between Hakata and Kumamoto and will be complemented by an additional hourly Sakura service between Hakata and Kagoshima that will serve all stations south of Kumamoto. All Nozomi and Hikari Rail Star trains will enjoy quick and easy connections to a Sakura or Tsubame train at Hakata Station and vice versa.
New train sets for the new trains
The new Mizuho and Sakura trains will be using newly designed train sets based on the N700 series. The new 8-car trains will feature luxurious green car seats (4 per row), reserved ordinary seats which are almost as comfortable as the green car seats (4 per row) and non-reserved ordinary seats (5 per row).
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The Tsubame trains will continue to use their uniquely designed 800 series train sets, as will some of the Sakura trains that operate solely within Kyushu.
The new trains and rail passes
The Japan Rail Pass will be valid on Sakura trains but invalid on Mizuho trains (like Nozomi trains). The JR West Sanyo Pass will cover both Sakura and Mizuho trains (like it covers both Hikari and Nozomi trains). Likewise, the Kyushu Rail Pass will be valid on all shinkansen trains between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo (the Northern Kyushu Pass between Hakata and Kumamoto).
Travel time reduction
The completion of the Kyushu Shinkansen brings dramatic reductions in travel time (and moderate price increases) to reach various places in Kyushu, including the major cities of Kumamoto and Kagoshima. The table below shows approximate travel time reductions from Hakata to selected tourist destinations:
| Destination | | | |
| Kumamoto | | | |
| Kagoshima | | | |
| Minamata | | | |
| Kirishima | | | |
| Miyazaki | | | |
| Aso | | | |
The completed shinkansen line will also create a more serious competition to air travel on the Osaka-Kumamoto and Osaka-Kagoshima routes, as the shinkansen will allow for direct train rides between the city centers with very competitive, reduced travel times:
| Route | | | |
| Osaka - Kumamoto | | | |
| Osaka - Kagoshima | | | |
