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First-class section being added to Tokyo commuter trains this month with double-decker Green Cars
- Casey Baseel
Mar 11, 2025 - Tweet
New option adds both comfort and cost to Tokyo commutes.
- Japan
- (Chuo Line • COK • East Japan Railway Company • Green Car • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR East • Ome Line • tourism • trains • travel)
Japan’s train travel soundscape faces sad change as JR East axes special station departure melodies
- Casey Baseel
Mar 8, 2025
Operational shift means no more unique station melodies on one Tokyo line, and more could follow.
- Japan
- (East Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR East • music • Nambu Line • tourism • trains • travel)
New Shinkansen design unveiled, bullet train exterior includes cherry blossom Easter egg
- Casey Baseel
Mar 4, 2025
JR East gives us our first glimpse at the upcoming cars of the Tohoku Shinkansen.
- Japan
- (bullet train • East Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR East • shinkansen • Tohoku Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)
Japan’s ultra-convenient unregistered prepaid train cards return after nearly two-year absence
- Casey Baseel
Feb 19, 2025
Suica and Pasmo cards that you can buy anywhere without registering personal data will be back in time for the spring travel season.
- Japan
- (COK • East Japan Railway • JR • JR East • Pasmo • prepaid cards • subways • Suica • tourism • trains • travel)
Japan’s tap-to-pay Suica train card system aims to go tapless with walk-through gates, location data scans
- Casey Baseel
Dec 12, 2024
JR East wants walk-through gates within the next 10 years.
- Japan
- (COK • East Japan Railway Company • JR • JR East • Suica • tourism • trains • transportation • travel)
Shinkansen to permanently reduce number of inexpensive non-reserved seats on Nozomi trains
- Casey Baseel
Nov 30, 2024
Tokaido and Sanyo routes, connecting Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka, to be affected.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • JR • JR Central • Nozomi • R West • shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)
One Piece Shinkansen bullet trains set to speed to adventure in Japan
- Casey Baseel
Nov 29, 2024
Three different One Piece bullet train designs will run on the Sanyo Shinkansen line.
- Japan
- (anime • bullet train • Japan Railways • JR • JR West • manga • One Piece • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • tourism • travel)
One of Japan’s most awesome rail passes, the Seishun 18 Ticket, just got a lot less awesome
- Casey Baseel
Oct 25, 2024
A lot of changes are coming to Japan’s laid-back unlimited ride ticket, and most of them aren’t good.
- Japan
- (budget travel • COK • Japan Rail Company • JR • Rail Pass • rail passes • Seishun 18 Kippu • Seishun 18 Ticket • tourism • train travel • trains • travel)
Tokyo’s downtown Chuo Line now has first-class Green Car carriages for no additional cost to ride
- Casey Baseel
Oct 17, 2024
We take a ride and take advantage of a deal that won’t last forever.
- Japan
- (Ahiruneko • Chuo Line • Chuo Line Rapid • COK • first class • Green Car • Japan Railway Company • JR • SNJO • Tokyo • tourism • trains • travel)
Finally! General sales of Japan’s ultra convenient Sucia, Pasmo prepaid train cards resume next month
- Casey Baseel
Aug 21, 2024
The two easiest ways to pay for train tickets, and a whole bunch of other stuff, make their long-awaited return.
- Japan
- (COK • East Japan Railway • JR • JR East • Pasmo • prepaid cards • subways • Suica • tourism • 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)
General sales of Japan’s most convenient prepaid train/shopping card to finally resume soon
- Casey Baseel
Aug 8, 2024
JR East says Suica sales are coming back in full force.
- Japan
- (COK • East Japan Railway • JR • JR East • Pasmo • prepaid cards • subways • Suica • tourism • trains • travel)
Japan Railways now has giant robots performing maintenance work via VR-goggled operators
- Casey Baseel
Jul 23, 2024
Robo-workin’ on the railroad.
- Japan
- (awesome • COK • cool • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR West • robots • technology • trains • transportation • WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY)
East Japan Railways phasing out magnetic paper tickets, seven other rail operators will too
- Casey Baseel
May 30, 2024
New ticket system looks to cut costs and boost environment friendliness.
- Japan
- (East Japan Railway • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR East • train tickets • trains • transportation • travel)
Cool capsule toys recreate how Japan navigated trains in pre-smartphone days【Photos】
- Casey Baseel
May 13, 2024
Tiny timetable books are packed with info about how to get from point A to point B by rail.
New private rooms on Tokaido Shinkansen change the way we travel from Tokyo to Kyoto
- Oona McGee
Apr 22, 2024
The most premium way to travel on a Japanese bullet train.
- Japan
- (bullet train • Japanese trains • JR • JR passes • shinkansen • Tokaido • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • train passes • trains • travel)
Is the new Shinkansen Train Desk ticket worth it?
- Oona McGee
Apr 16, 2024
We try a cheaper alternative to Japan’s premium Green Car carriages.
- Japan
- (bullet train • bullet trains • East Japan Railway • Hokuriku • Hokuriku Shinkansen • Ishikawa • Japanese trains • JR • JR East • JR passes • Kanazawa • shinkansen • SNJO • tourism • Train Desk • train passes • train travel • trains • travel)
JR, Tokyo Metro, other rails lines adding discounts for mentally handicapped riders, caregivers
- Casey Baseel
Apr 13, 2024
New policy seeks to remove additional financial burden in a country where not taking the train often isn’t an option.
- Japan
- (COK • health • Japan Railways • JR • mental health • society • subways • Tokyo Metro • trains • transportation)
New JR Shinkansen-inclusive rail pass is a huge bargain, great way to help out a region in need
- Casey Baseel
Feb 16, 2024
The four-day Hokuriku Ouen ticket is rooting for the earthquake-stricken area of Japan.
- Japan
- (East Japan Railway • Hokuriku • Ishikawa • JR • JR East • JR passes • Kanazawa • tourism • train passes • trains • travel)
Sanyo Shinkansen ending in-car food cart sales (unless you’ve got the cash for first-class)
- Casey Baseel
Jan 30, 2024
Last bastion of regular-car Shinkansen wagon sales between Tokyo and Fukuoka falls.
- Japan
- (bullet train • COK • drinks • food • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR West • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel • WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY)
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Recent Posts
- Get the taste of the U.K. in Tokyo with 99 Flakes, meat pies, and Jaffa Cakes
- Japanese government hires leading comedy agency to explain national defense spending
- Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
- Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
- Discount retailers known for massive bargains releases massive Japanese egg sandwich
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MOST POPULAR
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Today
Starbucks Japan unveils new winter drinkware collection with limited-edition Stanley cups
Pachinko parlor operator arrested for not obscuring the act of gambling well enough
Pokémon doughnuts pop up at Mister Donut, with a new gathering that’s bigger than ever
Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
Discount retailers known for massive bargains releases massive Japanese egg sandwich
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
Japanese government hires leading comedy agency to explain national defense spending
Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
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
Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing- Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
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?- Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
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
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
First-ever cafe on Tokyo Imperial Palace Garden grounds is now open
Japanese government hires leading comedy agency to explain national defense spending
Liquid croissant coffee is coming to Japanese stores this month
Starbucks Japan reveals this year’s lucky bag, but you’ll have to act fast to get one
Continuing cyberattacks hit Japanese arcade hard [Photos]
Tokyo to build new crematoriums to meet surging demand
Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
Japan’s free stock image site of muscular men doing whimsical and mundane things reveals rankings
Mr. Sato searches for the mysterious new wall of fortune in Tokyo
Princess Mononoke was going to look totally different, new Studio Ghibli artbook shows
Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
Japanese Twitter user stumbles across legendary deep-sea fish, cooks and eats it four different ways
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
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