TOKYO, Oct 17 (News On Japan) - Starting from next spring, smoking rooms will be phased out on all Shinkansen trains operated by JR Tokai, JR West Japan, and JR Kyushu, making the entire trip smoke-free.
After the smoking rooms are removed, the space will be used to store 500-milliliter bottles of emergency drinking water for passengers.
All other Shinkansen lines in Japan, including JR East Japan, have already eliminated smoking rooms.
Spring has brought a wave of newborn animals to North Safari Sapporo, a privately run zoo in Minami Ward, Sapporo City, even as the facility remains under pressure to remove illegal structures and relocate its animals.
The Sanja Festival at Asakusa Shrine in Tokyo, a signature early-summer tradition of the downtown area, reached its peak on Saturday as groups of local carried mikoshi through the streets in the main 'Rengo Togyo' procession despite the rain.
Southern Kyushu has entered the rainy season, marking the first time in 49 years that it has done so earlier than Okinawa. It is also the earliest rainy season start for any region in Japan since the Meteorological Agency began keeping records. Authorities are warning of heavy rainfall not only in Kyushu but across other parts of the country as well.
A road collapse in Yashio City, Saitama Prefecture is expected to take five to seven years to fully restore, local officials said on Friday, following the recovery of a truck cab that had remained lodged in the sewer system since the January accident.
Eighty years have passed since the end of World War II, yet the memories of its fiercest battles continue to echo in the heart of Okinawa. The district of Omoromachi in central Naha, now a lively urban hub filled with people, was once the site of one of the bloodiest clashes of the Battle of Okinawa—the Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill.
JR Central will launch a new remote customer assistance service at eight stations on the Tokaido Line in Shizuoka Prefecture starting June 1st. This initiative aims to support passengers at stations that are unstaffed during early morning and late-night hours, improving convenience for travelers.
A canal built more than 130 years ago to carry water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto is set to become the first modern civil engineering structure in Japan to be designated a National Treasure.
Kanazawa is one of Japan’s most underrated travel spots, filled with cultural treasures and authentic local experiences. Whether you're exploring the famous Kenrokuen Garden or getting lost in charming old samurai districts, this Kanazawa travel guide will help you uncover the best things to do in Kanazawa.
Explosions and eruptions continued at Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture, with volcanic activity intensifying since May 15. In an early morning eruption before 6 a.m., a plume of ash rose approximately 2,700 meters above the crater.
A city-wide puzzle-solving game will soon begin in Naha as part of efforts to boost tourism and help participants rediscover the charm of the area.
The Aoi Festival, one of Kyoto’s three major traditional festivals, began on May 15th with a vibrant procession of around 500 people dressed in elegant Heian-period garments making their way through the streets of the ancient capital.
JR East has announced its first-ever time-limited discount sale offering up to 60% off Shinkansen fares, with tickets available through its online reservation platform, Ekinet.
Tokyo's push for river-based commuting is gaining momentum with the launch of a new weekday evening ferry route connecting Gotanda and Tennozu.
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