Japan Station

18/08/2026

JR Central and JR West are taking the new Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Supreme Class on an introductory roadshow before launch 🚄✨

Free station experience events will let visitors try mock-ups of the upcoming Supreme Class Cabin, the private-room style accommodation launching on October 1, 2026. At Tokyo and Nagoya, visitors can also try the future Supreme Class Seat, the semi-private version planned for fiscal 2027.

Event schedule:

Tokyo Station
September 1 to 13
Cabin and Seat

Shin-Osaka Station
September 15 to 20
Cabin

Hiroshima Station
September 22 to 27
Cabin

Hakata Station
September 29 to October 4
Cabin

Nagoya Station
November 1 to 8
Cabin and Seat

Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, and Nagoya require advance reservations to actually sit in the mock-up, although same-day reservations may be possible if space remains. Hiroshima and Hakata do not require advance reservations, with visitors guided in order.

Each experience is expected to last about 5 to 10 minutes. At Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, and Nagoya, reserved participants receive original Supreme Class mineral water, and those who answer a short questionnaire after the experience receive a Tsujirihei Honten Kyoto Matcha Take Baum 🍵

18/08/2026

Fujigoko Kisen has launched the Oishi Park Line on Lake Kawaguchi, providing a direct shuttle boat between Funatsu Pier and Oishi Park, a popular spot for views of Mount Fuji. 🗻⛴️

The route began operating on July 17 using the existing “Ensoleille” vessel. It provides another way to reach Oishi Park and is intended to help reduce reliance on congested route buses around Lake Kawaguchi. The other existing “Appare” sightseeing cruise continues to operate.

A new ¥2,500 adult / ¥1,250 child set ticket combines a round trip on the Mt. Fuji Panoramic Ropeway with a round trip on the Oishi Park boat route. 🚠

18/08/2026

VIP Liner has reopened its Tokyo Lounge near Tokyo Station for highway and overnight bus passengers, adding an expanded powder room with hair styling appliances at every seat. 💇‍♀️✨

VIP Liner operates highway and overnight buses connecting Tokyo with cities including Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya. Overnight buses typically arrive early in the morning, often well before hotel check-in, making the lounge a convenient place for passengers to wait, freshen up, charge their devices and prepare for the day. 🚌🌙

The renovated lounge offers individual powder-room spaces with partitions and free use of hair straighteners, curling irons and dryers from seven brands, including KINUJO, YA-MAN and Panasonic. Other facilities include fitting rooms, showers for an additional fee, free drinks, Wi-Fi and power outlets.

Located on the Yaesu side of Tokyo Station, the lounge is also open to people who are not traveling on VIP Liner buses, making it useful for anyone arriving in Tokyo early, departing late, or needing somewhere near the station to freshen up between journeys. 🚉

17/08/2026

Narita Airport’s Transit & Stay Program returns this autumn after a six-year break. ✈️

Free volunteer-guided tours restart October 1, taking travelers to places including Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, Sawara and the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences.

New paid local experiences begin September 5, including festival float pulling, ninja activities and a temple stay. 🏯 Details 👇

16/08/2026

APA Hotel Keisei Ueno Ekimae Minami opened on August 12. 🏨🚉

Not to be confused with APA Hotel Keisei Ueno Ekimae located nearby.

There are now six APA hotels in the Ueno Station area.

https://index.japanstation.com/news/2026-08-12-apa-hotel-keisei-ueno-ekimae-minami-opens-in-tokyo-with-342-rooms/

16/08/2026

JR Shikoku staff performed a lively Awa Odori dance on the platform as Limited Express Uzushio 21 arrived at Tokushima Station on August 13, 2026. 💃🚆

Staff lined up along Platform 2 to welcome passengers with one of Tokushima’s most famous traditions, bringing the atmosphere of the Awa Odori festival directly to the station.

15/08/2026

🏨 Hyatt Centric Sapporo is scheduled to open this fall, about a 10-minute walk from JR and subway Sapporo Station and 6 minutes from Odori Station.

Both stations connect to the hotel via underground walkways, making the 216-room property especially convenient in Sapporo’s winter weather. ❄️ Reservations are now open for stays from December 1, 2026.

Hyatt Centric Sapporo Opens Reservations for December 2026 Stays. Published 2026-08-12; related hotel, station, and area links support rail-led trip planning.

10/08/2026

Shinjuku Station’s west side, decades apart. 🚉🏙️

From a busy station forecourt surrounded by low-rise buildings to the dense high-rise district that became one of Tokyo’s most recognizable cityscapes, the west side of Shinjuku has been transformed repeatedly over the years.

Now the area is changing once again, with another major wave of redevelopment reshaping the station, its surrounding buildings, pedestrian spaces, and connections. Shinjuku is entering yet another chapter.

06/08/2026

Hiroshima Electric Railway is operating a limited-time “Peace Loop 653” tour aboard historic A-bombed tram No. 653 from August 2 to October 31, 2026. 🚋

Departing from Hiroshima Station, the tour makes two circuits through central Hiroshima aboard the 1942-built tram, which was severely damaged in the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, repaired four months later, and is now restored to its wartime blue color scheme.

The first loop focuses on prewar Hiroshima and the immediate aftermath of the bombing, with rare historical footage available on tablets. The second highlights Hiroshima’s reconstruction and present-day cityscape with commentary from a local guide.

Participants can also receive a two-day Hiroshima Tabi Pass for unlimited travel on eligible trams, buses, and other transport in Hiroshima City. 🎫

Tours run on selected dates, with departures from Hiroshima Station at 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. Fares are ¥3,500 for adults and ¥1,500 for elementary school children, with capacity limited to 25 people per tour.

06/08/2026

Hanshin Railway has teamed up with UNIQLO’s UTme! service to launch exclusive collaboration items at UNIQLO Kobe Sannomiya from August 7. 🚃👕

Customers can create their own custom T-shirts, tote bags, and other items using 11 Hanshin Railway stamp designs, featuring classics such as the iconic red-bodied trains, the nostalgic blue-bodied trains, and trains in the modern Re-Vermilion livery. ✨

The collaboration also extends to RE.UNIQLO Studio, where customers can add five Hanshin Railway embroidery designs to eligible UNIQLO products.

The collaboration is exclusive to the UNIQLO Kobe Sannomiya store and is not available at other UNIQLO locations or through the online UTme! service.

The store is about a 4-minute walk from the West Exit of Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station, making it an easy stop for railway fans exploring Kobe. 🚉🎨