Japan Transportation Guide
For 25 years JR Shikoku has been running special Anpanman Trains that celebrate the popular children’s manga and anime character Anpanman, a superhero with a head made of anpan — a bun filled with sweet red bean paste.
The #8000 series Anpanman train on the Yosan Line
Encouraged by the success of Utsunomiya’s light rail system, Kyoto and Gifu are exploring the possibility of developing their own light rail transit networks.
Light rail transit (LRT) systems are similar in appearance to the trams of traditional streetcar systems but can carry more passengers at greater speeds. They can operate along streets like trams or along their own exclusive routes.
Utsunomiya Light Rail began operating in August 2023, becoming the first Japanese city in 75 years to introduce a new streetcar system.
Utsunomiya Light Rail
JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo will open at Takanawa Gateway Station on October 2nd, and is already taking advanced reservations.
JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo at Takanawa Gateway City
The luxury sightseeing train, the Royal Express, will expand its operating area to include Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, and Gifu prefectures this fall in a four-day, three-night “Tokaido-Fuji Cruise” trip.
The Royal Express Cruise Train
Sagami Railway has announced that its new #13000 series train will enter commercial service in spring 2026.
Sagami Railway (also called “Sotetsu”) is a private railway company operating three lines in Kanagawa Prefecture, with through services that travel as far as Tokyo and Saitama. In an effort to reduce the environmental impact of its services, Sagami Railway is introducing a train using an energy-saving inverter control device that reduces energy consumption by up to 39% per car.
The new Sotetsu #13000 series train
Nagoya Railroad (also known as Meitetsu) has released details of a major redevelopment of the Meitetsu Nagoya Station area covering 520,000 square meters, with construction due to begin in 2027.
New mixed-use skyscrapers planned for Meitetsu Nagoya Station
At the heart of the plans is the redevelopment of Meitetsu Nagoya Station, which will increase the number of its tracks from the current two to four. The two new tracks will increase the station’s capacity and also enable the station to have dedicated platforms for trains bound for Chubu Centrair Airport. [Read more…]
A consortium of Tokyu Corporation, JR East, and Tokyo Metro have begun construction on the next major phase in the ongoing redevelopment of the Shibuya Station area.
Future view from the Shibuya Scramble pedestrian crossing
In 2019, the first phase of the Shibuya Scramble Square commercial complex was completed with the opening of the East Tower, a skyscraper directly connected to Shibuya Station. Now this project has entered its second phase and construction has begun on the Central Tower and West Tower. These new skyscrapers, which are due to be completed by 2031, will create one of the largest commercial facilities in the Tokyo metropolitan area. [Read more…]
The Hakone-Tozan Line will operate a “Yoru-no-Ajisai-Go” or “Night Hydrangea” train for 17 days from Saturday, June 14th to Monday, June 30th, 2025.
Hakone-Tozan Line’s Hydrangea Train
The Hakone-Tozan Line is a mountain railway line that runs between Odawara Station in the city of Odawara and Gora Station in the town of Hakone. From mid-June, the mountain railway travels through some 7,000 hydrangeas in full bloom, many of the bushes are so close to the line that the flowers are almost touching the train windows. For this reason the train is affectionately known as the “Ajisai Densha” or “Hydrangea Train” at this time of year. [Read more…]
Thomas the Tank Engine has returned to Oigawa Railway in Shizuoka Prefecture and will be running regular trips on weekends and holidays until December this year.
Fans greeting Thomas the Tank Engine
JR Hokkaido has announced a revision of plans for the redevelopment project at Sapporo Station.
A design image of the planned redevelopment at Sapporo Station
The project, which has been ongoing since 2023, is a large-scale development by JR Hokkaido and Sapporo City on the site of the former Sapporo Esta shopping complex. [Read more…]
