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Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards...
Suica and Pasmo have become an ubiquitous part of life and travel in Japan, but you can’t get a new card for either. When arriving in Japan, ordinarily one of the first things you’d want to do is to...
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Japan’s new random-destination die-roll train tickets — Amazing bargain for...
If luck’s on your side, you can save 83 percent off normal train fare, and even if it’s not, you’ll still save at least 34. We recently got some bad news with the announcement from JR East (a.k.a....
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Japan’s new Spacia X train is like travelling in a luxury aircraft
And no, this doesn’t have anything to do with Elon Musk. The letter “X” has been a topic of discussion in recent days due to the Twitter rebrand, but for train lovers in Japan, the mention of “X” can...
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Fossil of an extinct crab discovered in a pillar at Tokyo Station
A fascinating link to the city’s ancient past…if you know where to find it. Tokyo Station is a major railway hub filled with crowds of commuters but it’s also a beautiful work of architecture with...
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Tokaido Shinkansen ending in-train food/drink sales for all...
Better plan ahead if you’re planning to eat on the bullet train. For years, there have been familiar experiences traveler can expect while traveling on Japan’s bullet trains. The gentle mechanical hum...
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The phantom juice only available from vending machines at JR East train stations
Only on sale for a limited time, and in a very limited area. Our reporter Mariko Ohanabatake has tried a lot of juices over the years, but in her opinion, the most delicious of them all is one that...
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Japan’s favorite pork cutlet sandwich maker also has awesome katsudon...
Maisen Shokudo will make sure you get on the train with a full and happy stomach. When you’re craving a meaty meal in Japan, katsu (pork cutlet) is one of the tastiest choices you can make. And when...
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Japanese pizza chain opens stand at Tokyo station platform
Never-before-seen branch makes it easier than ever to eat pizza, but is it any good? As far as our reporter Mr Sato is concerned, any time is a good time for pizza. So when he heard that Japanese...
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Nozomi Shinkansen bullet train abolishes low-priced unreserved tickets during...
New policy affects popular Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka route of high-speed rail network. The quickness and convenience of Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train network makes it most travelers’ preferred way to get...
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Stay in a Japanese hotel room…with a train inside it!
Train, uniform and a glorious view of Mt Fuji make this a very Japanese place to stay. There are many unusual places to stay in Japan, with a number of hotels offering a selection of themed hotel...
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Cute ekiben station bento looks like it’s from Japan but it’s from a...
Similar in so many ways, except one which sets them apart. Ekiben (train station bentos) are a popular choice of meal for travellers on the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan, but it’s not the only...
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Fujisan View Express: A train journey to Mt Fuji so stylish you’ll never want...
There’s one carriage that requires a special fare to ride in, but it’s worth it. Back in 2016, travellers to Mt Fuji, or “Fujisan” as it’s known in Japanese, were given a luxurious new train to make...
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Giant 100-meter-long Super Mario mural is coming to Kyoto
Hometown hero will appear in downtown Kyoto’s Shijo-dori Underpass. With Super Mario Bros. Wonder scheduled for release on October 20, the video game star is going to be returning to a lot of Switch...
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Doai Station: The deepest station in Japan is also one of the scariest, like...
This underground fortress isn’t dubbed “Japan’s No. 1 Mole Station” for nothing. Nestled in the mountains at the northernmost tip of Gunma Prefecture is a hot spring resort town called Minakami. While...
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Famous train station bento boxed lunches, but in a can? Taste-testing canned...
There’s only one station in Japan where you can find these canned versions of famous boxed lunches. If you’re looking for evidence to support the statement that what makes travel truly special isn’t...
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Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train will start offering wider seats, but will...
50-percent-wider seats are aimed at business travelers on the Tokyo-Osaka route. The interior of Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train cars usually have an asymmetrical layout. As shown in the photo above,...
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Ride bikes on an abandoned railway line at this hidden tourist spot in Japan
Old railway tracks get a new lease on life in the mountains. Japan’s network of railway lines is vast, but sadly not all of them are being used, leading them to run the risk of falling into disrepair....
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End-of-the-line exploring in Japan: Visiting Hashimoto Station
A Tokyo subway commute daydream turns into a ride to the end of the line. In Japan, the in-station announcements for departing trains identify them by the last station they’ll be stopping at, which...
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Japan Railway to allow dogs to ride without cages on special Tokyo-Izu train
A “wonderful” idea for people with pooches. When travelling in Japan, taking a train to your destination is almost always the best option. The country’s rail system is convenient, clean, and...
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Tokaido Shinkansen removing smoking rooms, going entirely smoke-free
End of the line for smoking on the Tokyo-to-Fukuoka bullet trains. On a spring day, with the winter chill faded away and the warm sun shining, some might say the air itself tastes cleaner. Whether or...
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