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Tokaido Shinkansen

Tokaido Lumière Express: Stay overnight inside the Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo

• Oona McGee
  Aug 27, 2026
• Tweet

For about 2,000 yen more than a regular reserved seat, you can spend the night on board the bullet train instead of paying for a hotel.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • bullet trains • Central Japan Railway • Central Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • Japan travel • JR • JR Central • news • Osaka • overnight trains • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • Tokyo • tourism • trains • travel)

Starbucks Japan to open Shinkansen platform stores at Kyoto and Nagoya stations

• Oona McGee
  Aug 6, 2026

New stores add a fresh taste and aroma to high-speed travel on Japan’s busiest bullet train route.

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• Japan
• (bullet trains • cafes • coffee • cool • drinks • Japanese trains • Kyoto • Kyoto Station • Nagoya • Nagoya Station • news • Shin-Yokohama • shinkansen • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • Yokohama)

JR releases prediction of peak Shinkansen crowdedness for Japan’s Obon travel season

• Casey Baseel
  Jul 29, 2026

Suspension of unreserved seat tickets on some bullet train classes means planning ahead is especially important.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • COK • Japan travel • JR Central • JR Tokai • Obon • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)

Shinkansen trial of moderately air conditioned cars draws mixed reactions from travellers

• Oona McGee
  Jul 16, 2026

Some passengers are grateful for the warmer carriages, while others say they’re the last thing Japan needs during an excruciatingly hot summer.

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• Japan
• (Air conditioning • bullet train • heatstroke • Japan Railways • Japanese trains • JR Central • JR West • moderately air conditioned car • railways • Sanyo • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • Tokaido • Tokaido Line • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • weak air conditioning)

Starbucks Japan reopens Shinkansen platform store after redesigning it for speed

• Oona McGee
  Jun 26, 2026

Japan’s only Starbucks on a bullet train platform now has faster ways for passengers to get their coffee before boarding.

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• Japan
• (bullet trains • cafes • coffee • cool • drinks • Japanese trains • news • Shin-Yokohama • shinkansen • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • Yokohama)

Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer

• Oona McGee
  Jun 24, 2026

Late-night high-speed service allows passengers to travel while they sleep, making better use of time and cutting hotel costs.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • bullet trains • Central Japan Railway • Central Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • Japan travel • JR • JR Central • news • Osaka • overnight trains • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • Tokyo • tourism • trains • travel)

Starbucks Japan closing only Shinkansen platform branch for popularity-triggered renovations

• Casey Baseel
  Apr 6, 2026

Even the massively popular coffee chain itself wasn’t expecting such a positive response, prompting temporary closure less than half a year after opening.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • bullet trains • cafes • coffee • COK • cool • drinks • Japan travel • Shin-Yokohama • shinkansen • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • stations • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel • Yokohama)

Starbucks on a Shinkansen bullet train platform: 6 tips for using the automated store in Japan

• Oona McGee
  Dec 21, 2025

Essential pointers to ensure you get your coffee without missing your train.

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• Japan
• (bullet trains • cafes • coffee • cool • drinks • Japanese trains • Shin-Yokohama • shinkansen • SNJO • Starbucks • Starbucks Japan • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • Yokohama)

Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch

• Casey Baseel
  Dec 17, 2025

There ain’t no gettin’ offa this bullet train we’re on, till we get to…Nagoya.

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• Japan
• (awesome • bullet train • Central Japan Railway Company • cool • Final Fantasy • Final Fantasy VII • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR Central • JR Tokai • shinkansen • Square Enix • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism.Japan travel • trains • travel • video games)

More Shinkansen trains being added to Japan’s “golden route” to meet traveler demand

• Casey Baseel
  Dec 16, 2025

Extra bullet trains at peak times and new early-morning/late-night departures will make it easier to zoom from one region of Japan to another.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • COK • Japan golden route • Japan travel • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)

A close encounter with a dangerous criminal on a Shinkansen bullet train in Japan

• Oona McGee
  May 9, 2025

Frightening experience shows that although Japan might be considered safe, you never know when you might have a brush with danger.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • Central Japan Railway Company • crime • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR Central • news • police • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • Tokyo • tourism • trains • travel)

Shinkansen bullet trains adding semi-private booths on most popular travel route【Pics】

• Casey Baseel
  Mar 20, 2025

New class of seats positioned above Green Car in luxury.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • Central Japan Railway Company • Japan Railway Company • JR • JR Central • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • trains • travel)

Tokaido Shinkansen Sushi Journey Bento takes your taste buds on a trip from Tokyo to Osaka

• Oona McGee
  Oct 15, 2024

Bullet train travel gets a tasty new ekiben upgrade.

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• Japan
• (bento • bullet train • COK • Ekiben • food • japanese snacks • Japanese trains • shinkansen • snacks • SNJO • sushi • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • train • train travel • trains • travel)

How to order snacks on a Shinkansen bullet train in Japan

• Oona McGee
  Jul 26, 2024

With cart sales no longer available, there’s a new way to enjoy food, drinks and ice cream on board.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • COK • food • ice cream • japanese snacks • Japanese trains • shinkansen • snacks • SNJO • sweets • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • train • train travel • trains • travel)

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.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • Japanese trains • JR • JR passes • shinkansen • Tokaido • Tokaido Shinkansen • tourism • train passes • 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.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • crazy • Japan Railway • JR Central • JR Tokai • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel • weird)

Central Japan Railway releases tear-jerking Shinkansen bullet train ad for the holiday season

• Shannon
  Dec 27, 2023

Touching ad may make you tear up next time you book a ticket.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • Central Japan Railway Company • heartwarming • heartwarming ad • moving • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • touching • trains • travel • video)

Tokaido Shinkansen removing smoking rooms, going entirely smoke-free

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 20, 2023

End of the line for smoking on the Tokyo-to-Fukuoka bullet trains.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • JR Central • Sanyo Shinkansen • shinkansen • smoking • society • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel)

Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train will start offering wider seats, but will charge more for them too

• Casey Baseel
  Oct 7, 2023

50-percent-wider seats are aimed at business travelers on the Tokyo-Osaka route.

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• Japan
• (bullet train • shinkansen • Tokaido Shinkansen • trains • travel)

• Recent Posts

  • Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
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  • This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  • Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
  • Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month

• MOST POPULAR

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  Today

  1. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  2. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  3. Japanese government announces criteria for creating backup capital of Japan
  4. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  5. Starbucks Japan releases now Tokyo Reserve Roastery Christmas drinkware collection [Photos]
  6. This hot spring near Osaka’s Kansai Airport resolves the pick-two-out-of-three bathhouse dilemma
  7. Japan’s mini Shikoku Pilgrimage walking tour left us feeling immensely satisfied
  8. Tokyo Skytree set to offer breathtaking Diamond Fuji natural phenomenon view this month
  9. Starbucks Japan invites us to par-tea with its new Earl Gray Frappuccino [Taste test]
  10. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan

  Weekly

  1. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  2. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect
  3. Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods for 2026, with exclusive holiday surprises
  4. Beautiful Ghibli diorama kits lets you build anime characters’ homes inside yours [Photos]
  5. Life-size Monster Hunter dragon statues to be built at Japanese shopping mall
  6. Studio Ghibli homeware brand’s faux oil lamp brings light, smiles, and Kiki’s Jiji to your home
  7. Modern exosuits are opening up ancient Japanese castle climbs to everyone
  8. Evangelion announces collaboration with Hard Rock Cafe
  9. Starbucks Japan releases “Let’s Par-TEA!” Frappuccino and drinks for the holiday season
  10. Cold Stone is closing its final branch in all of east Japan, but it’s going down singing

  Monthly

  1. Pokémon Company announces first-ever permanent Pokémon store to open outside Asia
  2. Family Mart releases 47 convenience store socks and stickers, one for every prefecture in Japan
  3. What’s it like to stay in a Japanese container hotel?
  4. Japan’s TeamLab digital art group is opening a permanent museum in America
  5. Chainsaw robots helping keep trains running safely in east Japan [Video]
  6. New Studio Ghibli anime gets extended run at the only cinema in Japan where it’s being shown
  7. Tokyo train station will play Godzilla theme song as new departure melody
  8. Osaka’s famous Glico Running Man will be removed and replaced with a new-look sign
  9. Studio Ghibli creates illustrated Kyoto sightseeing map, available at any 7-Eleven Japan store
  10. Japan ends tax-free shopping system for foreign tourists, new refund request system now in effect

  Yearly

  1. Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
  2. Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
  3. Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
  4. Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
  5. Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
  6. Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
  7. Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
  8. Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
  9. Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
  10. Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa

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