Juy 23, 2008 - JR EAST: SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON “JR EAST PASS”: SEPTEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2008

From September through December of this year, Miyagi Prefecture and its capital city Sendai will be conducting a ‘Sendai-Miyagi Destination Campaign’ to promote travel to their region. In conjunction with this event East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is offering foreign visitors a very economical discount Regional Rail Pass called the ‘JR East Pass Special.’ This pass, limited to travel from September through the end of December, is now on sale at the price of ¥10,000 (child: ¥5,000), valid for any three days within a one-month period. Since a regular round-trip ticket between downtown Tokyo and Sendai costs ¥21,180 the pass offers our visitors from overseas huge savings.

All JR East passes cover the entire Tohoku (‘Northeast’) Region which is the large area encompassing the northeastern part of the main island of Honshu including Miyagi Prefecture. This expansive region offers a wide range of tourist attractions: shrines and temples, soothing hot springs, clear lakes and seashores, and refreshing hikes in the mountains. Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture and the gateway to regional attractions, is located only 1 hour 40 minutes away from Tokyo on Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. During this promotional period JR East wishes to encourage travelers to use our trains to experience and enjoy the charms of the whole Tohoku Region, especially Miyagi Prefecture.

In addition to the Tohoku Region, all JR East passes, including this autumn’s special pass, cover any JR East service in the metropolitan Tokyo area, to and from Narita Airport, and to many other popular destinations in central Japan such as Nikko, Niigata, Nagano and the Izu Peninsula.

> See details(JR East Page)[PDF/4.51MB]

Jun 26, 2008 - JR CENTRAL TO PROVIDE NET ACCESS ON ENTIRE TOKAIDO SHINKANSEN ROUTE

Beginning in March of 2009, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) will provide internet access at all seats on its N700 Series (for Nozomi or Hikari trains) operating along the Tokaido Shinkansen line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. This will be the first time for internet service to be provided on Shinkansen trains.
On the 16-car trains there will be 32 locations where wireless LAN (local area network) access points will be installed. Even while the trains are running at high speed or passing through tunnels, the system will maintain stable connections so that passengers can use the internet or read e-mail.
In addition, wireless LAN access points in waiting rooms at stations will be increased from the present 6, to all 17 stations along the route.

Jun 26, 2008 - JR EAST EXPANDS ‘FREE AREA’ FOR JR EAST PASS

The JR East Pass offers unlimited travel on East Japan Railway Company (JR East) ’s lines and trains.
However, until now, when any JR East train used non-JR-East private rail track for part of its route, JR East Pass holders have had to pay additional fare and surcharges for that segment.
But beginning July 1, 2008 the ‘free area’ for the JR East Pass is being expanded to include the following routes where pass holders will no longer be charged any extra fees.

The speedy Limited Express trains Super-view Odoriko and Odoriko connect Tokyo (Tokyo or Shinjuku Stations) with the famous hot springs resorts of the Izu Peninsula, making the trip directly in about 3 hours. The Super-view Odoriko in particular offers delightful views of the ocean scene from its wide windows and relaxing interiors.

With the Limited Express trains Nikko and Kinugawa, introduced in 2006, travelers can now travel directly from Shinjuku on the west side of downtown Tokyo to Nikko and Kinugawa-Onsen (hot springs). Until then they had to take subway to Asakusa on the east side of Tokyo to catch the Tobu Line to Nikko, or take the Tohoku Shinkansen ‘bullet train’ from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya and change to the local Nikko Line. But now staying on the west side of Tokyo can be just as convenient for anyone wishing to visit Nikko.

Jun 3, 2008 - JR EAST: INTRODUCTION OF AUTOMATIC PLATFORM GATES TO THE YAMANOTE LINE

To prevent accidents on its station platforms, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) has been continuously introducing new safety measures including emergency alarm equipment (platform buttons that can be pressed to quickly halt train service) and fall detection mats (mats around track areas that automatically sense and report that someone has fallen off the platform).

JR East plans to commence the use of the automatic platform gates at Ebisu and Meguro stations in FY2010.

> See details [PDF/1.40MB]

May 20, 2008 - JR CENTRAL: RAIL MUSEUM DUE TO OPEN IN 2011

Since April of last year, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) and the City of Nagoya have been cooperating in the development of a new rail museum to be located in Kinjofuto, approximately one half hour from Nagoya Station on the Aonami Line. The tentatively named ‘JR Tokai Museum’ hopes to educate the public about railways, as well as giving a boost to the local economy and industrial tourism. Scheduled to open in 2011 at a cost of 5.5 billion yen, the museum will be based on the following concepts.

• While focusing on the development and history of existing rail technology, specifically the Tokaido Shinkansen ‘bullet train’, it will also introduce the next generation of technology, the ‘Maglev’ linear motor car. Past, present and future will all be represented by high-speed rail vehicles.
• The museum will serve as a study center for the impact of rail technology on all aspects of modern life: economy, culture and daily life.
• To encourage children in learning about trains, the museum will take a barrier-free approach with models and simulators that kids can enjoy hands on.
• In addition to approximately 35 rail cars, the museum will feature a theater, dioramas and the above-mentioned simulators for both adults and children. All this will be enclosed in a space of about 14,100 square meters.

Apr 18, 2008 - JR KYUSHU AND JR EAST: IC ‘SMART CARDS’ TO BE COMPATIBLE BY SPRING 2010

In the spring of 2009, Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) will introduce its IC ‘smart card’ called SUGOCA and by the spring of 2010 the SUGOCA card will become compatible with East Japan Railway Company (JR East) ’s existing Suica card. This means that holders of either card will be able to use their cards for local JR transit in the JR East metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Sendai and Niigata and also in the Kyushu metropolitan area of Fukuoka and Kita Kyushu operated by JR Kyushu, Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu) and Fukuoka subway lines.

The existing Suica functions as both a prepaid transit card and also as an electronic money card for shopping; the new SUGOCA will have the same functions. The reciprocal use agreement will also cover some non-JR lines such as the Tokyo monorail to Haneda airport and the Fukuoka subway line to Fukuoka airport. Both companies hope that this cooperation will enhance the goal of ‘seamless travel’ for their passengers.

Apr 8, 2008 - JR EAST: ‘SUPER-GREEN’ FIRST CLASS CARS DUE IN 2011

In 2011, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) is planning to introduce a revolutionary idea in comfort on its Hayate trains operating between Tokyo and Aomori along the Tohoku Shinkansen line. The ‘Super Green’ cars, now in development as Series E5, will offer a new level of luxury for the first class rail traveler. There will be one ‘Super Green’ car on each Hayate train offering seating for only 18 pampered passengers, compared with the present Green car seating for 51 people. The following are some of the other proposed features of this new design:

• A seating arrangement of three seats across (one and two on each side of the aisle) will replace the present four-seat arrangement giving wider seats and more aisle space.
• The comfortable and restful seats will recline automatically a full 45 degrees. A movable partition can separate the two adjacent seats for greater privacy. Each seat will have its own reading light and foot rest.
• In addition to the seating, the overall ambience of the ‘Super Green’ car will feature soothing lighting and the latest technology for maintaining a quiet and well-ventilated space.
• The ‘Super-Green’ Car will have its own attendant to see to passengers’ needs including serving beverages and light snacks.

If you are traveling to northeastern Japan for business or pleasure, the ‘Super Green’ car will be your key to comfort.

> See details [PDF/1.35MB]

Apr 1, 2008 - YAMANASHI DESTINATION CAMPAIGN, APRIL THROUGH JUNE 2008

The majestic mountains including the sacred Mount Fuji and the colorful seasonal flowers all dazzle the visitors to Yamanashi Prefecture. The Yamanashi Destination Campaign will be going on across all of Yamanashi Prefecture from April to June of 2008. Located only about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Shinjuku, Yamanashi has much in the way of charming history, hot springs, and nature including fruit for you to enjoy. We have also prepared many events for visitors such as cherry and peach tree blossom light-up festivals and steam locomotive rides.

> See details(JR East Page)