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Japan now has facial-recognition ticket gates, but why aren’t people using them?
- Oona McGee
Sep 28, 2026 - Tweet
New walk-through gates are designed to speed up the flow of passengers, but there’s something tripping them up.
- Japan
- (COK • cool • East Japan Railway Company • facial recognition • Japan Railway • Japan travel • Japanese train stations • JR • JR East • Osaka • public transport • tourism • train stations • trains • transport • travel)
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
- Casey Baseel
Jun 11, 2026
End of an era is coming for ecological and economic reasons.
- Japan
- (COK • East Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway • Japan travel • JR • JR East • tourism • trains • travel)
Swapping seats on Japan’s bullet trains is not allowed, Shinkansen operator says
- Casey Baseel
Feb 9, 2026
It’s a gray area in terms of travel etiquette, but JR has a clear stance on the topic.
- Japan
- (Central Japan Railway Company • COK • etiquette • Japan Railway • Japan travel • JR • JR Central • JR Tokai • manners • society • tourism • trains • travel)
These are Osaka’s three best digital rail passes for travelers
- Casey Baseel
Jul 21, 2025
Unlimited subway rides, free admission to some of the city’s best sightseeing spots, and no paper ticket you need to pick up at a service counter.
- Japan
- (Japan Railway • Japan Railway Company • JR • Osaka • Osaka Metro • Osaka Smart Access Pass • rail passes • subways • Surutto Kansai Osaka Amazing Pass • tourism • train passes • trains • travel)
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
- SoraNews24
Aug 19, 2024
If you’re travelling in Japan, you need to be aware of this rule.
- Japan
- (bad behavior • bullet train • COK • foreign tourists • Japan Railway • Japanese trains • JR • JR Kyushu • JR Tokai • JR West • luggage rules • manners • oversized luggage • shinkansen • tourists • train etiquette • trains • travel)
Potentially dirty and broken used Shinkansen food/beverage carts on sale in Japan for 100,000 yen
- Casey Baseel
Jan 25, 2024
Some might call it wear and tear, but others would argue it’s history and authenticity.
- Japan
- (bullet train • crazy • Japan Railway • JR Central • JR Tokai • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • weird)
Japan travel alert: Cheapest seats on fastest Shinkansen will not be offered for Golden Week
- Casey Baseel
Jan 17, 2024
You can still use the cheap-seat ticket, but you absolutely will not get a seat.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • Golden Week • Japan Railway • JR • JR Central • JR Tokai • JR West • Nozomi Shinkansen • shinkansen • trains • travel)
JR East announces awesomely cheap one-day all-you can ride pass, Shinkansen included
- Casey Baseel
Dec 8, 2023
Get ready to feel your travel-loving heart go “Kyun!” with the Kyun Pass.
- Japan
- (bullet train • East Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway • JR • JR East • shinkansen • trains • travel • travel deals)
Japan Railway’s burger chain, Becker’s, is permanently closing, taking Japan’s poutine with it
- Casey Baseel
Nov 13, 2023
After more than three decades, it’s the end of the line for the JR station burger chain.
- Japan
- (Becker's • East Japan Railway Company • fast food • food • hamburgers • Japan Railway • JR • JR East • SNJO)
10 hours, six prefecture, one 2,720-yen ticket – Testing the JR Holiday Outing train pass limits
- Casey Baseel
Oct 23, 2023
Let’s go for a ride in east Japan…several rides, actually.
Japan Railway to allow dogs to ride without cages on special Tokyo-Izu train
- Casey Baseel
Oct 18, 2023
A “wonderful” idea for people with pooches.
Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train abolishes low-priced unreserved tickets during peak travel seasons
- Casey Baseel
Sep 15, 2023
New policy affects popular Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route of high-speed rail network.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • Japan Railway • JR • JR Central • JR Tokai • Nozomi Shinkansen • shinkansen • trains • travel)
Japan’s random-destination roll-the-dice Shinkansen travel packages are back and better than ever
- Casey Baseel
Jan 20, 2023
JR West’s Tabikoro random train/hotel packages are a gamble where you really can’t lose.
- Japan
- (bullet train • cool • hotels • Japan Railway • Japan travel • JR • JR West • random • shinkansen • trains • travel • WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY)
Emergency drill “assailant” on Japanese train goes viral for being too good at the job 【Video】
- SoraNews24
Oct 27, 2022
Stand-ins look genuinely scared when this man gets into character.
- Japan
- (crime • disaster preparedness • Emergency Drill • emergency preparedness • Japan Rail • Japan Railway • Japanese trains • police • police arrest • sasumata • trains • twitter • video • viral • weird)
We roll the die on Japan’s new random-destination train tickets
- Oona McGee
Jul 23, 2022
How to buy a cheap ticket to…somewhere.
- Japan
- (COK • Fukuoka • Japan Railway • JR • JR West • Kurashiki • Onomichi • Osaka • random • shinkansen • SNJO • trains • travel • West Japan Railway)
Japan’s random-destination roll-the-die train tickets: An amazingly cheap way to go…somewhere
- Casey Baseel
Jul 19, 2022
Seven great destinations and a chance to save almost 150,000 yen if you’re especially lucky.
- Japan
- (Fukuoka • Japan Railway • JR • JR West • Kurashiki • Onomichi • Osaka • random • shinkansen • trains • travel • West Japan Railway)
Japan reality edges closer to anime with Japan Railway’s VR-style humanoid robot
- Casey Baseel
Apr 27, 2022
Step 1 towards the world of Patlabor is complete.
- Japan
- (anime • awesome • cool • Japan Railway • JR • JR West • Patlabor • robots • technology • trains)
Set of 4,368 train tickets goes on sale to commemorate Japan Railways 150th anniversary
- Katie Pask
Apr 23, 2022
The collection comes in a set of six binders so you can display all 4,368 of your tickets easily.
- Japan
- (crazy • expensive • Japan Railway • JR • JR East • JR Hokkaido • JR Kyushu • JR Shikoku • JR West • tetsuota • tickets • trains • travel)
Japanese train station returns lost item to customer with a heartwarming message
- Oona McGee
Feb 15, 2022
Rail staff know how bad it feels to lose an item during your travels.
- Japan
- (clever • COK • cool • customer service • Japan Railway • JR • JR West • lost property • omotenashi • stations • train stations • trains • twitter • WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY)
Japanese trains now even more convenient as new service lets you pick up groceries at station
- Casey Baseel
Feb 4, 2022
Allows commuters to skip supermarket detour and stay on the straight track to dinner.
- Japan
- (clever • COK • cooking • cool • East Japan Railway Company • food • Japan Railway • JR • JR East • shopping • stations • trains)
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Recent Posts
- First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
- Godzilla becomes a Japanese randoseru backpack, as do two of his greatest rivals [Photos]
- Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
- Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
- This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Godzilla becomes a Japanese randoseru backpack, as do two of his greatest rivals [Photos]
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
Weekly
- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing
Monthly
Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia- Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan- Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Yearly
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
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RECOMMENDED STORIES
This is Japan’s best cycling course, but is it fun for bicycling beginners too?
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
Thief mails 460 million-yen watch back to Tokyo store he stole it from, says “I’m sorry”
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
This semi-secret, totally free footbath in downtown Tokyo is completely awesome
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