Japan Transportation Guide
In September, Odakyu Electric Railway announced that it has begun designing a new Romancecar train. “Romancecar” is the name given to Odakyu’s luxury limited express trains, which run a variety of services, but are best known for connecting Tokyo with resort areas such as Hakone, Enoshima and Kamakura.
The original Romancecar, the SE #3000 series
Kintetsu introduced a new train series, the 8A, in October, which is now running on Kintetsu’s Nara, Kyoto, Kashihara and Tenri lines. Built to replace aging rolling stock, the 8A series is Kintetsu’s first new commuter train in 24 years.
Kintetsu’s new 8A series commuter train
Tokyu Railways’ #2020 series 2137 electric train has been transformed into a “Snoopy Train” decorated inside and out with characters from the world-famous Peanuts comic. The train can now be seen running on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line,Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, and the Tobu Isesaki and Nikko lines.
The headmark that decorates the front of the Snoopy Train
This summer a brand new shopping mall opened in the JP Tower Osaka, a 39-story building which is directly connected to the West Gate of JR Osaka Station in Umeda.
A design image of the JP Tower Osaka entrance
JR West will launch a new luxury sightseeing train this fall called the Hana Akari. The new train will run along a variety of routes in Western Japan for limited periods, with its first route being along the coast between Tsuruga City in Fukui Prefecture and the hot spring report town of Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture.
The Hana Akari sightseeing train
Passengers traveling on Hankyu Railway lines over the next few months may encounter some familiar faces on some of the trains. A Tom and Jerry train decorated with characters from the famous slapstick cartoon series is now running on the Kobe, Takarazuka and Kyoto lines!
Tom and Jerry trains are now running on Hankyu’s Kobe, Takarazuka and Kyoto lines
Each of these lines now has its own Tom and Jerry train, with the characters featured throughout the train’s exterior and interior, and most prominently on an original headmark at the front of the train. [Read more…]
Travelers passing through JR Ueno Station in Tokyo might want to take a moment to check out a new feature on the station’s Platform 13. Though it is still a working platform for train departures and arrivals, it is also now a 100-meter long “video experience space” that can be used to show a variety of digital artworks and movies.
The video gallery space on Platform 13 at JR Ueno Station
JR West Hotels have opened a new luxury hotel in the Umeda district of Osaka that can be accessed directly from the West Gate of JR Osaka Station. The hotel, which opened on July 31st, is called The Osaka Station Hotel and is part of Marriott International’s “Autograph Collection” of independent, upscale hotels.
The Osaka Station Hotel is located inside JP Tower Osaka
A new wellness hotel has opened at Aomori Station that offers its guests a choice of relaxation, rejuvenation, or a lifestyle transformation.
Hotel ReLabo at the new JR Aomori Station East Exit Building
The hotel, ReLabo Medical Spa and Stay, opened on July 11 in the new JR Aomori Station East Exit Building with medical and wellness facilities operated by the Jikeikai Medical Corporation. [Read more…]
Tango Railway has released details of its gourmet fall and winter menu on the Kuro-matsu restaurant train.
Fine dining can be enjoyed in the luxury sightseeing train Kuro-matsu
