Blog posts

Toritetsu are Japan's train photographers. Meet the other -tetsu fan types, where they gather, and how to join in respectfully.

Travelling by bullet train with kids? Learn when JR Central runs Shinkansen family cars, how to book a seat, what it costs, and what to expect in car 12.

JR East's E10 Shinkansen targets a 2030 launch on the Tohoku line. See its 320 km/h speed, new TRAIN DESK seats, safety tech, and Gran Class status.

Learn how the Tsubasa leaves the Tohoku Shinkansen at Fukushima for Yamagata's onsen country, with JR Pass coverage, fares, times, and Ginzan Onsen tips.

Buying N-gauge or Plarail in Japan? See yen prices, Akihabara and KATO store tips, rental layouts, tax-free refunds, and how to get trains home safely.

The 500 Series ends regular Kodama service on 13 January 2027. See how to ride it on the JR Pass, which cars to pick, and where to see it after retirement.

Explore Edo-period Tokyo at the Fukagawa Edo Museum, featuring a life-size reconstruction of a historic neighborhood in Koto City.

Across Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, five very different monorail systems continue to carry passengers every day. Some ride atop a single concrete beam. Others hang beneath the track. Find out more here.

E7 or W7? Same train, two owners. Learn how Japan's snow-country Shinkansen handles winter, which Gran Class trains serve meals, and what tickets cost.

Doai's downbound platform sits 70 metres inside a mountain, reached only by a 486-step staircase. Meet Japan's 'mole station' and its strange siblings.