JR West opened the northern segment of the Osaka Higashi Line on March 16th, adding six more stations to the line and expanding its reach as far north as Shin-Osaka Station. As a result, Shin-Osaka Station, with its intercity shinkansen services, is now directly connected to Kyuhoji Station, and accessibility between the eastern and northern parts of Osaka is much improved.

Together with this line expansion, a new Direct Rapid service between Shin-Osaka and Nara has been introduced that runs along the Osaka Higashi Line until Kyuhoji Station and then continues on the Yamatoji Line to Nara. There are now four daily Direct Rapid return services which run the complete distance between Shin-Osaka Station and JR Nara Station in around 55 minutes. Previously, passengers traveling between Shin-Osaka and Nara had to transfer at Osaka Station and the journey took around 65 minutes. [Read more…]

Rail fans can now travel directly by train to Kyoto Railway Museum thanks to a new station which opened on March 16th. The new station is called Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station, and it is just a 2 minute trip away from Kyoto Station for a fare of 140 yen. Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station is located on the JR Sagano Line (JR San-in Line) between Kyoto Station and Tambaguchi Station and is served by 4 ordinary trains per hour. Saga-Arashiyama Station is on the same line and is just 14 minutes from the new station.

[Read more…]

This week we are giving away five awesome Kansai One Pass ICOCA Cards. These cards are valued at 3,000 yen each (including usable credit of 2,500 yen and 500 yen deposit).

Kansai One Pass is a special version of ICOCA IC card that can be used on most Japan Railways lines, subways, buses, private railways, and for payments at vending machines and convenience stores.

For more information about IC cards read our guide: Japan’s prepaid transportation cards

For more information about Kansai One Pass visit: Kansai One Pass

Readers can increase their chances of winning by completing additional or all tasks on the giveaway form. Deadline for entries is Saturday March 30th @ 11:59 PM Tokyo Time. [Read more…]

Hankyu Railway are to introduce a companion train to their weekend “Kyo-Train” service which runs between Osaka and central Kyoto. The new sightseeing train is named “Kyo-Train Garaku”, and like the original Kyo-Train, it is designed to give passengers a taste of Kyoto’s special ambience from the moment they step on board. The new train will increase the number of tourist train services on the Hankyu Kyoto Line with each train running alternate hours.

[Read more…]

The city of Kobe will roll out a new train on the Seishin Yamate Subway Line on February 16th. The #6000 series train is the first new train in 26 years for the line that connects central Kobe to the city suburbs.

[Read more…]

Seibu Railway have announced that their new luxury limited express train, “Laview” will be launched on March 19th of this year. The new 8 car train will replace the “New Red Arrow” Limited Express that has been running since 1993, and will become the flagship train for Seibu Railways.

[Read more…]

If you are feeling the cold this month then Kintetsu’s “Tsudoi” tourist train may be just the ticket to heat you up! The second carriage of the train has been specially fitted with footbaths to warm the feet of its passengers. Currently running weekend trips between Nagoya and the hot spring resort of Yunoyama Onsen, this “footbath train” offers the perfect start to a luxury spa weekend.

[Read more…]

A series of fruit and vegetable themed manner posters on Japan’s Tsukuba Express (TX) Line is providing passengers with humorous lessons in correct onboard etiquette. Since 2016 a different poster has been released each month on the line that runs between Akihabara in Tokyo and Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Each poster combines the name of a different fruit or vegetable with comical examples of good and bad passenger behavior, and passengers have been delighted with the inventive play on words. For Japanese language-learners these posters also provide lessons in the Japanese love of wordplay. Called dajare, these jokes are similar to puns, and are the equivalent of “dad jokes” in English.

[Read more…]

Although Christmas in Japan is not an official holiday, or celebrated as a religious event, Japanese people do seem to enjoy the festive mood. In the weeks leading up to Christmas decorative illuminations are everywhere, and all the stores are playing Yuletide tunes.

Japan has also developed its own unique set of popular Christmas traditions. Christmas Eve, for example, is seen as a special night for romantic dinner dates. Fried chicken is considered a traditional Christmas food and is an essential element of any Christmas party. And Japanese Christmas Cake comes in the form of a light strawberry sponge cake with lots of whipped cream. Christmas Trains have also become a popular element of the winter season and many railway companies up and down Japan offer some form of festive ride in the weeks before Christmas. Here are seven of the best Christmas Trains available this season.

Akita Prefecture

Yuri-Kogen Railway are running a Christmas Train between December 15th and 25th. This is a popular train with small children. The train decked out with sparkling illuminations will run between Ugo-Honjo Station and Yashima Station on the Chokai Sanroku Line. This Christmas train runs only in the morning on weekdays, but also runs in the afternoon on weekends.

Train Times:
Departure from Ugo-Honjo Station: 10.43
Arrival at Yashima Station: 11.22
Departure from Ugo-Honjo Station: 13.00
Arrival at Yashima Station: 13.39

A special Christmas event will be held on the train on the following days: 15th (Saturday), 16th (Sunday), 23rd (Saturday), 24th(Sunday) and 25th (Monday). On these days children can take part in a handicraft-making event and Santa will appear to give out presents. Parents who wish to reserve presents for their children should make a booking in advance. The fee for a present is 500 yen. For more details see the official webpage (Japanese)
To reserve a present for your child call 0184-56-2736 (Japanese)

Tokyo – Saitama

Seibu Railway’s “52 Seats of Happiness” restaurant train will run as a Christmas Train on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of this month. On route passengers will be treated to live Christmas music, a delicious gourmet meal, and a stop at Seibuen Amusement Park. Both a “brunch course” trip and “dinner course” trip are available.

Brunch Course:
Departure from Ikebukuro Station: 10.28
Arrival at Seibu Shinjuku Station: 13.52

Dinner Course:
Departure from Seibu Shinjuku Station: 16.44　
Arrival at Ikebukuro Station: 20.18

The full fee including the meal is 14,000 for brunch and 17,500 for dinner.
Bookings can be made online at this webpage: https://shifuku.seibu-group.co.jp/
For more details download this year’s PDF brochure.

Tokyo

Toden Arakawa Tramline are running a specially decorated Christmas vintage trolley-car every day this December until the 25th. The trolley-car runs the regular route between Minowabashi and Waseda and costs the regular fare.

Shizuoka Prefecture

Oigawa Railway are running a Thomas the Tank Engine Christmas Steam Train on the 15th, 16th, 17th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th of December. The train will run between Shin-Kanaya Station and Senzu Station on the Oigawa Main Line.

Train Times:
Departure from Shin-Kanaya Station: 10.38
Arrival at Senzu Station: 11.54
Departure from Senzu Station: 14.10
Arrival at Shin-Kanaya Station: 15.27
Fares (one-way): 3,000 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for children.
For more details see the official webpage: http://oigawa-railway.co.jp/2018xmas_thomas

Iwate Prefecture

Sanriku Railway will run a Christmas Party Train on December 21st. This decorated retro train will make a return trip between Miyako Station and Tanohata Station on the Kita-Riasu Line. Beer, sparkling wine, sake, and non-alcoholic beverages will be served on board together with a range of treats, snacks, and Christmas Cake. Entertainment will be provided with juggling, balloon art, and a game with prizes.

Train Times:
Boarding: 18.00
Departure: 18.35
Return: 20.50
Price: 4,000 yen for adults, 3,500 yen for children

For more details see the official webpage (Japanese)
Bookings should be made by December 17th at 0193-62-8900 (Japanese)

Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata Railway are running a Christmas Wine Train on the Flower Nagai Line on December 15th and 16th. Passengers will be treated to wine from five different local wineries, take part in a rock, paper, scissors tournament for prizes, and enjoy a cheerful commentary in the local Yamagata dialect. On the 15th hot bowls of sukiyaki will be served, and on the 16th a special bento box lunch will be prepared.

Train Times:
Departure from Akayu Station: 14.35
Arrival at Arato Station: 15:35
Departure from Arato Station: 15.59
Arrival at Akayu Station: 16.51

The fee for participating in this event is 4,980 yen. This train should be booked 3 days in advance. See the official webpage for more details (Japanese) To book the train call 0238-88-2002 (Japanese)

Hyogo Prefecture

Kobe Electric Railway (also called Shintetsu) are running a specially decorated Christmas Train every day this December until the 25th.

On the 16th of this month a special “Happy Christmas” event for children with songs, sweets, and presents from Santa will be held on board the following trains:

1. 9.00 – Nishisuzurandai Station to Shijimi Station
2. 10.15 – Ono Station to Shijimi Station
3. 11.00 – Shijimi Station to Suzurandai Station
The fee for the event is 500 yen for anyone over the age of 3.

Article by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.

This week we are giving away two awesome large format Shinkansen and Express Trains Calendars for 2019.

Readers can increase their chances of winning by completing additional or all tasks on the giveaway form. Deadline for entries is Tuesday December 11th @ 11:59 PM Tokyo Time. [Read more…]