TOKYO - The Tokaido Shinkansen operated its first overnight service ahead of the Obon holiday period, offering travelers a 15,000 yen trip from the Tokyo area to Kyoto and Shin-Osaka while allowing them to save on hotel costs and arrive earlier than the first regular morning trains.
The special service, named the Tokaido Lumiere Express, departed from the Tokyo area late at night, with passengers boarding at Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama stations during the 10 p.m. hour on August 9.
The train then stopped at Gifu-Hashima Station for about six hours before continuing west, arriving at Kyoto and Shin-Osaka shortly before 7 a.m. on August 10.
Tickets were priced at 15,000 yen per adult. The service included a women-only car and attracted strong interest from passengers seeking to reduce accommodation expenses while gaining more time at their destinations by arriving before the first regular Shinkansen services of the day.
Tickets sold out just two days after going on sale.
Passengers described the overnight journey as comfortable. One said the trip had been very relaxing and was a good experience, while another said sleeping aboard the train had felt comfortable.
The overnight train was operated as a single special service designed to test demand for nighttime travel.
JR Central said it will consider how to operate similar services in the future based on usage of the trial service.
Source: FNN
