Osaka to Kumamoto: plane or shinkansen?

[Mosaic]

I'm planning a trip and would appreciate opinions on whether it's easier to get from Osaka to Kumamoto by train or to fly. If I make a connection by plane I will need to change airport at Osaka - apparently there is a connecting bus, but this seems liable to get held up in traffic. I can't guarantee how long it will take to retrieve baggage and clear customs, and on top of the road travel I'm windy at buying a ticket for a specific connecting flight as its odds on I'll miss it. The connection would probably be to fukuoka in any case leaving me with a final train or bus to get. I could simply book a very late flight but that will entail lurking around the airport for hours which is counter-productive.
I'm also aware I'll be very jetlagged and drifiting off to sleep so am a little worried at doing anything that demands much attention.
Has anyone done a similar route, and if so which would you recommend?

[mushroom25]

you can research your options here
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

[Mosaic]

Thanks Mushroom - I think I know what the options are - I was just interested to see if anyone could recommend one route over another from similar experience.

[redman41]

Hi Mosaic !
Although I have been to Osaka many times in the past, the nearest I have got to Kumamoto is Shimonoseki which is still some distance away.
There is an Airport at Kumamoto and if I was you I would enquire abut flights direct from Osaka rather than mess about with Buses etc

[Mosaic]

Thanks Redman: Osaka has two airports - the international one in the harbour where I will land, and the domestic one to the north of the city. Hence the need to change airports. I think on balance I will take the shinkansen, as it will be very early in the day on arrival and a few hours looking at scenery passing quickly inbetween naps might be for the best.