Hitachi and JR East have installed a hydrogen fuel cell system at Takanawa Gateway City to charge self-driving mobility vehicles with renewable energy.

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Sagano Scenic Railway in Kyoto, has announced that it will introduce a new train design in the spring of 2027. The current trains, which are notable for their bright red and yellow livery and old-fashioned charm, are to be replaced by trains with advanced safety features and a sleek new design.

Exact details of the train’s appearance are still under consideration but a design image released by Sagano Scenic Railway shows a very modern looking train painted black. [Read more…]

To celebrate the upcoming Osaka World Expo, JR West has introduced special “Parade Trains” that will run along one of the rail routes for the Expo venue. These trains have an onboard “immersive video experience” that is intended to create a sense of anticipation for the Expo.

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Rail passengers in Japan’s western Kansai region will soon be able to use a smartphone app to buy QR tickets that can be used at the stations of seven major railway companies.

KANSAI MaaS is a smartphone app that can be used to perform route searches, access station maps, and look up a train service’s current status as well as to buy digital tickets. The app can also provide tourist information such as model courses and accommodation tips.

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Lots of brand new commercial facilities will open in Japan’s two top cities in 2025 and some older facilities are getting a major facelift! Here are some of the most interesting locations opening or reopening in Tokyo and Osaka this year.

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Lugging heavy luggage on and off trains, and trying to find space to store them on your journey is a problem many travelers experience in Japan. But now a new service is available that should make life easier for guests staying at certain hotels.

The “InterCity Hotel Baggage Link” is a new same-day delivery service that uses Japan’s Shinkansen bullet trains to send luggage between designated hotels in Tokyo and Kyoto or Osaka. Mitsui Fudosan, JR Central, and Sagawa Express have teamed up to provide the service, which is now available to guests staying at Mitsui Garden hotels and The Celestine hotels. [Read more…]

JR East has announced plans to upgrade Suica, its prepaid IC card, over the next 10 years, dramatically expanding its range of use. The railway company has dubbed the plans the “Suica Renaissance”.

Currently, the main use of Suica is instead of paper tickets. After putting money onto your card at a ticket machine, you can simply tap the card on ticket gates as you go through. The card can also be used on buses, and for buying things from vending machines, convenience stores and some restaurants. [Read more…]

JR West’s Limited Express Mahoroba, a train that currently runs between Osaka and Nara only as a seasonal service on Saturdays and holidays, will become a regular service on March 15th 2025.

The train will also receive an upgrade with refurbished carriages scheduled to be introduced in April next year.

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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.

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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.

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