Authorities are looking into the best route for a rail line from JR’s Sanrigi station to the airport. I don’t have skin in this game as I have easy access to the airport bus, but for the vast majority in the greater Kumamoto area who don’t, it’s a game-changer. (There is currently access via bus from Ozu Station.) A plan under consideration is to tunnel under the populated area around the station (and, I suppose, Shirakawa) to resurface at a proposed station at Undo Koen before continuing on to the airport. Sounds cool! Perhaps we’ll see it realized in our lifetime. - William https://kumanichi.com/articles/277225