SoraNews24 —Japan News—

A metro operator set up a monitoring device and announcement system to single out individual commuters caught using their smartphones while walking near escalators or passing trains.

Japan
(ads • commercials • public safety • smartphone • smartphone walking • station • trains • video)

Morioka Station’s sweet message to recent high school graduates causes passersby to tear up

Krista Rogers
Apr 1, 2015

As people in different parts of the world change their calendars to April at this very moment, the class of recently graduated Japanese high school students are getting ready to embark on their next journeys in life. For many of them, this time marks a major turning point as they move away from home and head to even bigger cities for college or careers.

The recent graduates in at least one Japanese city can take comfort in knowing that their community will be waiting patiently for their return home at vacation. The staff at Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture recently left a heartfelt message inside the station wishing their local high school graduates the best of luck as they set out in life, and it seems that more than one passerby has teared up at the sight of it.

Japan
(message • Morioka • moving • station • sweet • trains • youth)

Police officer arrested for assaulting 2 train station attendants in Saitama

Japan Today
Oct 1, 2014

Saitama prefectural police said Monday that a 54-year-old police officer has been arrested after he assaulted two train station attendants.

Japan
(crime • Japan Today • police • station • train)

New Shinkansen to Use Revolutionarily Simple Stations, Cuts Include Ticket Booths, Waiting Rooms, Humans

Master Blaster
May 17, 2013

On 13 May, JR Central released station design plans for their upcoming Chuo Shinkansen running from Tokyo to Nagoya and later Osaka. In the words of JR, these stations were designed “not to rely on traditional styles” and “to boldly pursue functionality and efficiency.”

However, when the details emerged to a train station loving public, the reaction was less than enthusiastic with comments along the line of “too bold.”

Japan
(JR • maglev • shinkansen • station • train)

Instant Ramen Maker Sets up Tiny Restaurant in Shibuya Station: Three Dollar Lunch, Anyone?

Philip Kendall
Nov 8, 2012

Japanese food manufacturer Nissin, maker of incredibly popular “like fresh” instant noodle brand Raō, has taken the unusual step of opening a tiny restaurant of its own in Shibuya station, Tokyo. The restaurant opened just yesterday and is situated, of all places, in the very centre of the busy Yamanote line platform.

The miniature restaurant’s menu consists of just two items: two flavours of regular, shop-bought instant ramen, each costing just 250 yen (US$3).

Always eager to try out new food and discover interesting new locations, our intrepid RocketNews24 reporters headed down to see the restaurant for themselves.

Japan
(food • Noodles • original • ramen • Restaurant • Shibuya • station)

A Couple of Train Stations Create Their Own Cutie Gods in an Effort to Boost Tourism

Master Blaster
Jun 29, 2012

Sadly with Japan’s many recent economic woes, visitation to the remote stations of Kofuku and Aikoku has been low. So in an effort to drum up some visitors, the local communities did what anyone would do in this situation. They made some gods.

Japan
(anime & manga • cute • goddess • Kofuku • moe • otaku • station • travel)

Omiya Station’s Platform 8 Becomes the Scene for a Rare Mass Influx of Train Enthusiasts, Things Get Ugly

Master Blaster
Jun 28, 2012

23 June, 2012, marked the 30th anniversary of the Tohoku Shinkansen Line. Its original first stop, Omiya Station, acted as a lightning rod for Japanese railfans called toritetsu (lit. Photographers of Iron). A normally peaceful trainspotter, when packed into small spaces the toritetsu can become noisy and obnoxious to those around it.