News On Japan

Tokaido Shinkansen phases out snack carts

TOKYO, Aug 09 (The Standard) - Passengers on Japan's super-fast bullet trains have long enjoyed ordering coffee, ice cream or boxed lunches from staff pushing a snack cart, savouring the treats as they whipped past landmarks such as Mount Fuji.

But faced with a looming labour shortage and a trend for more people to buy food before boarding the train, on-board snack cart services between the cities of Tokyo and Osaka will reach the end of the line on Oct. 31.

Central Japan Railway said on Tuesday it would phase out the famed on-board snack cart services, in which a uniformed vendor dispenses beverages and light refreshments, pushing their cart through the aisles of the moving train and bowing as they enter or leave the carriage.

Snack and food sales have been a mainstay on the Shinkansen, or bullet train, since it began running in 1964, the year Japan hosted the first Tokyo Olympics, a railway spokesperson said, but it was not clear when the cart services began. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

News On Japan
POPULAR NEWS

Lime, the world’s largest electric scooter-sharing service, has announced a collaboration with a major insurance company to pursue a full-scale entry into the Japanese market.

A man was arrested in Higashi-Osaka for allegedly abducting three girls, one of whom has died, with around 80 empty medicine shells discovered in his home.

Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of Japan's Crown Prince and Crown Princess Akishino, turned 18 on September 6, officially becoming an adult member of the Imperial family.

The Ariake Urban Sports Park, which will open next month at the former Tokyo Olympic skateboarding site, was previewed Thursday ahead of its official opening on October 12.

The total cash earnings received by workers in Japan increased by 3.6% in July compared to last year, marking the second consecutive month of positive growth in real wages after adjusting for inflation.

MEDIA CHANNELS
         

MORE Travel NEWS

Universal Studios Japan has begun its annual Halloween event, running from September 5 to November 4. This year, a new character has been introduced to protect visitors from the attacking zombies.

Despite it being the season to enjoy fresh sashimi, a blooming sea creature threatens to disrupt supplies due to its potential large-scale resurgence after 15 years.

Sōya (宗谷) is a retired Japanese icebreaker ship that operated for a large part of the 20th century. She was commissioned in 1936 and launched in 1938. (Cory May)

Many young Japanese individuals on working holiday visas in Australia are facing financial difficulties, with some even relying on soup kitchens for food. While working holidays in Australia were once seen as a lucrative opportunity, the situation has changed, particularly due to high living costs and difficulty finding jobs.

The city of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, has decided to double or triple the admission fee for Himeji Castle for visitors from outside the city. The castle is a World Cultural Heritage site. (NHK)

A group of about 80 people, believed to be resellers, were caught on camera cutting in line at Tokyo Disneyland to purchase limited-edition Duffy merchandise. The incident occurred on August 29, when the new items were released, attracting large crowds even before the park's gates opened.

Typhoon No. 10, which brought record-breaking rains across various regions, has left significant damage, including flooding homes and triggering landslides. On Yakushima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, a 3,000-year-old Yakusugi tree was split in two, leaving a scar on a popular tourist spot.

Today we're going to explore some of the hidden gems of Osaka! These are the places that you'd NEVER find unless a local shares them with you! If you come to Osaka and don't go to these places, you're definitely missing out! (Mrs Eats)