Holiday traffic congestion in Japan expected to peak on Saturday
Japan Railway group companies say congestion on Shinkansen bullet trains departing from Tokyo will peak on Saturday.
Nozomi and other bullet trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line leaving Tokyo Station in the morning were almost fully booked.
All seats were taken on most non-reserved cars of the Tohoku and Hokuriku Shinkansen trains departing Tokyo Station in the morning.
Traffic jams on expressway lanes heading out of the capital are also expected to peak from Saturday through Sunday.
The Japan Road Traffic Information Center says as of 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, traffic was backed up for 32 kilometers on outbound lanes of the Tomei Expressway near the Isehara Junction in Kanagawa Prefecture. The center also says traffic was jammed for 30 kilometers on outbound lanes of the Kanetsu Expressway near the Fujioka Junction in Gunma Prefecture.
Domestic flights are fairly crowded, with reservation rates for departures from Tokyo of 83.5 percent at All Nippon Airways and 80.2 percent at Japan Airlines.
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Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Residents Return to Island Hit by 2024 Noto Quake; Much Cleanup Work Ahead as Ferry Service Resumes
WAJIMA, Ishikawa — About 50 people sailed to Hegurajima Island in the Sea of Japan aboard the passenger ferry Nozomi on Wednesday. The remote island had been damaged in the January 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and the boat resumed service there from Wajima Port on the day for the first time in about 19 months. The island is about 50 kilometers north of the port. Both are part of Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture. As regular transportation to the island had been cut off due to the quake, collapsed buildings and debris remain almost untouched, and residents are waiting for full-scale restoration. The about 50 people who sailed there Wednesday included evacuated residents and local government officials. After they arrived at the island, the residents began the hard work of cleaning up their homes. After the earthquake, it had been difficult to reach the island, except by some fishing boats. Scars from the disaster were still everywhere. Fishing equipment and baskets were scattered around the port, and broken refrigerators and stoves were piled on top of each other. A house with its walls ripped off revealed only its skeleton, and a vending machine lay where it had presumably been left by the tsunami that followed the quake. Shinobu Okado, 70, hurried to her minshuku guesthouse to clean it up after she disembarked the ship. Before the earthquake, the inn was bustling with tourists and anglers. But the overgrown weeds surrounding the inn prevented her from cleaning up. She said she had received phone calls from regular customers saying that they are looking forward to the reopening of her inn.'Many people are waiting for us. We will do what we can to respond to their expectations,' she said. For the time being, the Nozomi is scheduled to make a round trip once a week, and boarding will be limited to residents and construction workers.
Asahi Shimbun
21-07-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Survey: New Shinkansen stations rapidly gain following
Bullet trains on the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line are seen in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture. (Asahi Shimbun file photo) Newer stations on Shinkansen lines across Japan are speeding to the head of the line in popularity among passengers for a variety of reasons, according to a recent survey. Kanazawa Station in Ishikawa Prefecture emerged as the most favored destination among the respondents in The Asahi Shimbun survey. Kanazawa was selected by 26 percent of the respondents to emerge victorious in the fierce rivalry, with Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen Station in nearby Toyama Prefecture in fifth at 21 percent--only 5 percentage points behind Kanazawa. The two stations, both situated along the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line, ranked among the top five destinations, likely buoyed by the novelty of the line's section between Kanazawa and Tsuruga in Fukui Prefecture opening in spring 2024. The Asahi Shimbun survey asked which bullet train stations respondents most wanted to visit, as people in Japan heavily rely on bullet trains on their long-distance trips for business and sightseeing. The high-speed transport network made its debut in 1964 with a total of 12 stations along the Tokaido Shinkansen Line that connects Tokyo with Shin-Osaka. Shinkansen currently carry passengers to 120 stops on 10 lines nationwide. Some of the establishments are located along conventional lines. In certain areas, smaller Shinkansen cars are utilized to operate along standard tracks. The survey sought the views of readers of the Be on Saturday supplement section of the weekend edition of The Asahi Shimbun. The 2,378 registered readers were shown a list of the stations and could select as many favorite facilities as they liked. NEWLY BUILT STATIONS Explaining why he chose Kanazawa Station as his most desired destination, a 61-year-old man from Shiga Prefecture said that he 'heard that the areas around stations on the Shinkansen line were recently redeveloped to coincide with the new route's opening.' A 65-year-old woman living in Saitama Prefecture, close to Tokyo, said that The Asahi Shimbun survey provided her a good opportunity to learn more about the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line. 'I had not known that a Shinkansen station exists at Kurobe Unazuki Onsen,' she acknowledged. Needless to say, a lot of people felt attracted to the charms of stations themselves and tourist spots in the neighborhood. 'Kanazawa is reportedly one of the 14 most beautiful stations in the world,' said a 58-year-old male Tokyo resident. 'I would love to see the famed Tsuzumimon Gate at the station.' A 70-year-old male respondent from Shiga Prefecture described Kanazawa as 'a town filled with attractions.' 'It is equipped with not only tradition and elegance but also a trove of novel elements,' he said. The Kaga Domain that was based around what is now Kanazawa city was famed for its abundant rice yield of 'hyakumangoku' (1 million koku) during the Edo Period (1603-1867). One koku is equivalent to 180 liters. For this reason, another man, 86, who is a resident of Nagano Prefecture, admired the former castle town for its rich history. 'I hope to experience the town's ambience someday,' said the respondent about his future plan. Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen Station similarly drew words of praise. A 73-year-old man from Nagano Prefecture said he 'has been desperate to go there since I watched the magnificent scenery of the Unazuki Onsen resort on TV.' A 55-year-old woman from Nagano Prefecture remarked that the Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen Station serves as a gateway to the mountain range she had long been eager to hike. 'I make plans every year to visit, but they have yet to materialize,' she said. 'I will go in the end at all costs this year.' TIMELESS HITS Hakata Station in Fukuoka came in second on the ranking. The largest terminal station in the Kyushu region, southern Japan, gladdened the hearts of many passengers with its multifaceted allurement. 'My dream is giving local specialties a try, such as street stalls and 'tonkotsu' pork broth ramen,' said a 53-year-old Nagano woman. A 62-year-old woman from Chiba Prefecture mentioned that she often receives the Hakata Torimon buns as a souvenir from coworkers at her workplace, each time they return from business trips. 'I would like to stop at Hakata and buy Hakata Torimon on my own,' she said. A 71-year-old man in Aichi Prefecture shed light on a different aspect of Hakata. 'The area represents a treasure trove of musicians,' he said of the spate of talent emerging from Fukuoka. 'I am wondering what the city is actually like.' The neighboring Hakata-Minami Station, clocking in at 96th place, is worth noting, too. The route leading to the station was initially used by out-of-service trains for the Sanyo Shinkansen Line but was later converted into a passenger track. Despite Shinkansen stopping at Hakata-Minami, the section around the unorthodox station is therefore classified as a conventional line. The station's low ranking did not appear to be enough to dampen the interest of a 51-year-old woman in Osaka Prefecture, who said she was 'very curious' about Hakata-Minami. Taking the No. 3 spot on the surveyed station list, Kyoto showcased its venerable presence. 'The ancient capital of Kyoto is demonstrating its constant attractiveness,' said a 64-year-old male resident of Yamanashi Prefecture. A 56-year-old woman who resides in Kanagawa Prefecture, outside the capital, appreciated Kyoto as an all-in-one destination. 'I can enjoy everything from lodging and souvenir shopping to delicious meals and sightseeing,' she said. A 48-year-old female respondent from Miyazaki Prefecture remembered her honeymoon trip to Kyoto. 'The historic townscape, architectures and gardens in the city were a great comfort to me,' she recalled. For others, Kyoto is their former hometowns. A 73-year-old man who currently resides in Kanagawa Prefecture wrote that he was born in Kyoto. 'I have been to Kyoto many times since I moved out of the city while in the sixth grade at elementary school,' the previous Kyoto resident observed. 'I can relax in Kyoto.' Living in Fukuoka Prefecture at present, a 68-year-old man said he had spent his student days in Kyoto. He nostalgically touched on the old station building, the long Shinkansen platform, 500 Series carriages and the sales pitches of on-board clerks selling food and other items. 'Kyoto brings back memories,' he noted. 'I want to return there again and again.' DESTINATIONS FOR RAIL FANS Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido held the No. 4 position as the northernmost Shinkansen stop throughout the country. A 67-year-old woman from Nara Prefecture imagined what it would be like to arrive in Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto after passing through the iconic Seikan undersea tunnel between Japan's main island of Honshu and Hokkaido. 'I am thinking about what I will feel when crossing the strait all the way and landing on Hokkaido,' she said. A 78-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture echoed a considerable number of respondents who put emphasis on how to get to the station. The man said that he usually takes a flight but is now considering traveling by rail to Hokkaido at least once. More than one respondent recounted their envisioned itineraries. For example, a 71-year-old male resident of Kanagawa Prefecture intended to take a string of train rides in one go without exiting any ticket gates, so that he can arrive at the northernmost Shinkansen station from the southernmost stop of Kagoshima-Chuo. It is no surprise that stations in Kyushu come next in the ranking. A 75-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture opened up about his feelings regarding Nagasaki, because he had visited the sixth most popular station on several occasions inclusive of a school trip. 'My hope is to see firsthand how the station has changed following the opening of a new Shinkansen line,' he said. With Kagoshima-Chuo taking the No. 7 spot on the overall list, a 57-year-old man in Kanagawa was astonished to discover that he can now go to Kagoshima from Tokyo all via the Shinkansen. 'I needed upward of 24 hours to trace the same route aboard the express sleeper Fuji during my childhood,' said the respondent in reference to Kagoshima-Chuo. 'I will take the Shinkansen the next time.' The eighth and 10th positions were occupied by stations along the Akita Shinkansen Line. A 62-year-old female Osaka Prefecture resident chose Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture. 'I have always wanted to tour old samurai residences,' she said. 'This questionnaire survey told me that I can go to Kakunodate via Shinkansen.' Another woman, 69, from Saitama Prefecture, selected Akita Station. 'I often see Akita Shinkansen trains but have never boarded one,' she explained. 'I would like to ride all the way to the line's final station.' Himeji Station in Hyogo Prefecture came in ninth. The renowned Himeji Castle can be seen from Shinkansen windows as well as the station's platforms. 'I am rather looking forward to getting off the Shinkansen and seeing Himeji Castle up close,' said a 51-year-old woman from Osaka Prefecture, echoing the sentiments of many others. Finally, the perspective of a rail fanatic may merit attention, given that he had disembarked at every bullet train station throughout the nation. 'I have tried all the stops, arriving in newly introduced stations on the very day of their openings since November 1982,' said the 65-year-old Tokyo man. 'There can be no stations left that I still hope to visit.' LOW-RANKING STATIONS' CHARMS Top stations in the research are typically situated in leading urban cities, such as Shin-Kobe Station in Kobe, ranked 22nd, and Nagoya, which placed 26th. The result was described by Kageri Kurihara, a journalist specializing in travel and railways on a continual basis, as 'only natural.' 'Kanazawa, Hakata and Kyoto vie for the highest ratings every time this kind of study is conducted,' Kurihara said. 'People love to visit major stations and cities, after all.' In the meantime, Kurihara suggested that adding the word "onsen" to the station name may have helped some stops in rural regions to push high-profile rivals out of the upper section of the ranking. 'The hot spring image motivates passengers to get off trains at specific locations,' he said. 'Japan Railway companies actually used to be aggressive in including the word 'onsen' in station names.' Kurihara emphasized that Kurobe-Unazuki-Onsen Station is an 'immensely appealing' label from this standpoint, since it combines the hot spring resort name with the picturesque tourist spot of Kurobe. However, the rail journalist noticed at the same time that 'much more attractive stations can be spotted at the bottom of the ranking.' An example cited by Kurihara was Kikonai Station, even though the site sat at the 76th position. Kikonai is the first station on the Hokkaido Shinkansen Line reached after leaving the Seikan tunnel. Kurihara said that an observation deck sits in close proximity to the Hokkaido station, allowing visitors to see the junction of the Shinkansen and conventional lines. Another attraction in the neighborhood was reportedly a facility where sightseers can enjoy a rail bike ride on the previous track of the now-abandoned JR Esashi Line. On top of that, changing to the South Hokkaido Railway at Kikonai can provide passengers with convenient access to Hakodate. 'One will be able to take delight in a local rail trip, coming across the majestic sights of Hakodate Bay and Mount Hakodateyama simultaneously,' Kurihara said. 'The station can thus be considered ideal for fully relishing train travel.' DISTINCTIVE STATION BUILDINGS Kurihara was likewise asked about several of the 10 lowest-ranking stations in particular: Honjo-Waseda in Saitama Prefecture, ranked 116th; Shin-Omura in Nagasaki Prefecture at 117th; Saitama's Kumagaya Station, placing 119th; and Oyama Station in Tochigi Prefecture, which came in 120th. Of the four stations, Kurihara recommended traveling to Shin-Omura along the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen Line. 'The captivating station building features the design of the characteristic Goshikibei stone wall from the Omura region,' Kurihara said. 'Its appearance was shaped by the sentiment of local residents.' Ideas solicited from residents are apt to be taken into account when determining the designs of stations to be put in place along relatively new Shinkansen lines. As a result, distinctive patterns are frequently found at those station buildings. Preserved on the traditional Tokaido Shinkansen Line is a historic wooden building constructed before the end of World War II at Kakegawa Station in Shizuoka Prefecture. Kakegawa held the 71st spot in the latest ranking. With this in mind, sparing the time to check out station buildings when travelers disembark from their train at high-speed rail stops--whether for business or sightseeing--might offer them unexpected pleasures while traveling on the Shinkansen.
Asahi Shimbun
16-07-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Yamagata bullet train stoppage cause remains unidentified
An E8 series Shinkansen train halts on the tracks mid-journey due to a technical failure in Tochigi Prefecture on June 17. (Koichi Ueda) One month after technical failures halted the Yamagata Shinkansen Line, train operations remain significantly reduced, affecting tens of thousands of passengers and significantly disrupting regional tourism and transportation. Yoichi Kise, president of East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), apologized on July 15 for the inconvenience, as the operator has yet to identify a definitive cause of the malfunctions and resume normal operations. Direct service between Tokyo Station and Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture has been reduced to a single round trip per day, with passengers often needing to transfer at Fukushima Station in between. JR East plans to increase the number to three round trips beginning July 19. Seat reservations, which typically can be made one month in advance, remain suspended for the busy Obon holiday period due to the uncertain timetable. The ongoing disruptions have dealt a significant blow to Yamagata's tourism industry, particularly during the popular cherry-picking season. According to prefectural officials, local accommodations have recorded at least 6,000 cancellations. Some residents and businesses have expressed frustration over what they perceive as insufficient follow-up support from JR East. "The biggest impact is on tourism and business travel," said Hideya Yano, who represents local chambers of commerce, on July 15 after urging the transportation ministry and JR East to take action. "It's impossible to plan ahead and connections are extremely inconvenient," he added. Yamagata Governor Mieko Yoshimura echoed public sentiment earlier this month, stating that some residents feel as though they've been abandoned. Concerns are also rising among stakeholders in the popular Ginzan Onsen spa resort in Obanazawa. "We're facing serious uncertainty about future bookings," said a spokesperson from the local tourism association. "There's a real fear that Yamagata is vanishing from travelers' destination lists." SAME CHIP SUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE The initial failures occurred on June 17, when four E8 series trains suffered malfunctions mid-journey between Tokyo and Yamagata. A critical power supply unit responsible for cooling the motor control system failed, causing the trains to become inoperable. A fifth train suffered a similar breakdown on June 30, raising concerns about a systemic issue in the new fleet that debuted last year. Investigations revealed that a specific semiconductor component within the power units had been damaged in each case. JR East engineers have since determined that each malfunction occurred under a specific combination of circuit boards and semiconductors. While they suspect the issues arose under particular environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, the root cause remains unknown. Currently, only six E8 trains remain in operation, coupled with other models. They are running exclusively on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, which connects Tokyo Station and Shin-Aomori Station. The stretch between Fukushima Station and Shinjo Station–unique to the Yamagata Shinkansen Line–is currently serviced by older E3 Series trains. However, up to 37 train services are canceled daily due to a shortage of operational vehicles, affecting more than 250,000 passengers so far. (This article was compiled from reports by Ayateru Hosozawa, Koichi Anzai and Toru Saito.)
