Japan Transportation Guide
In September 2022, JR Kyushu debuted a brand new sightseeing train called “Two Stars 4047”. The new train runs between Takeo-Onsen Station and Nagasaki Station following the coastline and offers a more leisurely tour of western Kyushu than the high-speed Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen that connects these destinations by an inland route.
The Two Stars 4047
A new branch of the Japanese discount chain store, Don Quijote, opened near Kyoto Station at the end of October this year. Because of its location, the new Don Quijote Kyoto Karasuma Shichijo Store is expected to attract business travelers and tourists as well as young people.
The new Don Quijote store near Kyoto Station
Hakata Hotels have rebranded Tokyo’s Hotel Emit Shibuya and reopened it on November 1st, 2022, as the OneFive Tokyo Shibuya Hotel.
OneFive Tokyo Shibuya
OneFive Tokyo Shibuya now offers comfortable and affordable accommodation in a trendy area just ten minutes on foot from Shibuya Station. [Read more…]
JR West has announced the construction of a futuristic eco-friendly railway station close to Osaka Station
An artist’s impression of the new Umekita (Osaka) Underground Station building
Earlier this year the Time out media group announced the opening of a new Time Out Market Osaka. The new market will be opened in the Umekita area by Osaka Station in 2025.
Kintetsu Railway have announced plans to introduce a new general use commuter train in the autumn of 2024. Kintetsu is a major railway company in central and western Japan linking destinations in Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, and Ise. However, there are currently around 450 commuter trains on Kintetsu lines that have been in use since the 1970s. The new trains are being introduced to replace these older models with an initial ten train sets of four cars each to be introduced next year. These will be the first general use trains to be introduced by Kintetsu in 21 years.
The new Kintetsu commuter train
JR Kyushu has announced the long-awaited debut of its new Shinkansen “Kamome” service between Nagasaki and Takeo Onsen on September 23rd this year. This new six-car bullet train will run on the Kyushu Shinkansen’s newly expanded western route.
A promotional poster for the new Kamome Shinksansen
JR West launched a colorful new sightseeing service on the scenic Tsuyama Line in Okayama Prefecture this month. The Sakura Sakubi train which will now make regular runs between Okayama Station and Tsuyama Station is notable for its striking pink exterior.
The new Sakubi Sakura Sightseeing Train
This summer JR Central will debut a new hybrid HC85 series on trains running between Nagoya and Takayama. The HC85 uses a fuel-efficient combination of diesel and electric power and will replace the KiHa 85 series of diesel trains which have been in use since 1989. This is JR Central’s first hybrid rail-car and also the fastest hybrid train in Japan, having a top speed of 120kph.
The new HC85. HC stands for “hybrid car” and 85 signifies that it is replacing the KiHa 85 series.
JR West, Kobe City, and the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) have released plans and initial design images for a new station building at JR Sannomiya Station in Kobe. Replacing the old Sannomiya Terminal Building which was first opened in 1981 is a major part of plans to revitalize the local area which includes new public plazas and wider public walkways.
A design image of the new JR Sannomiya Station Building
