Blog posts

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.

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.

The long-nosed green E5 is the face of the Tohoku Shinkansen, running Japan's fastest scheduled services with first-class Gran Class on board. Meet the machine.

A calico cat named Tama became stationmaster of a struggling rural railway and turned it into a phenomenon. Discover her remarkable story and how to visit Kishi Station today.

Japan's stations are famously spotless, yet finding a bin can feel like a treasure hunt. Here's why trash cans are limited, and what to do with your rubbish.