Latest news with #JRTokai
SoraNews24
3 days ago
- SoraNews24
Getting off the beaten Kyoto temple path and onto a mossy one with the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport
New pass gets you access to six beautiful moss temples that aren't that Moss Temple. Kyoto's Saihoji Temple is often called Kokedera, or 'Moss Temple,' because of the vegetation that grows in abundance in its garden. However, Kyoto has more than one temple with moss-covered grounds, and unlike Saihoji, they don't require advance reservations that quickly fill up, nor do they require you to copy sutras when visiting. To highlight these often-overlooked alternative moss temples. Central Japan Railway Company/JR Tokai has created a new pass that covers admission to six different Kyoto temples for only 1,000 yen (US$6.90). The two-day pass, called the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport, went on sale at the start of the summer, and we recently were invited to a press tour for it, during which we visited Jojakkoji Temple. Located in the Arashiyama district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Jojakkoji is about a 20-minute walk from Saga Arashiyama Station. Compared to some of the city's other temples, it's not particularly old, but you can probably guess that relatively young in Kyoto is still plenty old enough to have historical significance, and Jojakkoji was founded in 1596. Likewise, one of the newest buildings on the ground, Jojakkoji's pagoda, was constructed in the 17th century, and is a designated Important Cultural Property. But what really took our breath away was the moss. With slightly overcast skies, the shades of green seemed to take on an added depth, creating a soothing and calming atmosphere as we strolled along the stone path. During our visit, we had a chance to chat with the temple's head priest, Noriaki Nagao, whose enthusiasm for botany felt almost as strong as Buddhism. Nagao explained how rather than trim the garden's shrubbery to perfectly rounded spheres, he prefers to leave some irregularities to the length of their branches when pruning, to help give the greenery a more natural look. He also showed us his favorite type of moss that grows at the temple, a type of Leucobryum called shiragakoke in Japanese… …and as were passing by the pond situated next to Jojakkoji's main hall and soaking in the sense of tranquility… …he pointed out the eggs that had been laid by a frog. ▼ Actually, he specifically indicated that these eggs were laid by 'a forest green tree frog,' proving that he's knowledgeable about both the plants and the animals whose home is within the temple grounds. Nagao's shiragakoke pick is an especially deep cut of moss fandom, as it's not even one of the six varieties showcased by JR within the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport. There's also a grove of maple trees on the grounds, originally of two different varieties but now including some hybrids of the two as well, which makes Jojakkoji worth a visit in the fall too, but the beautiful green space that the place is during the summer is also a wonderful place to spend time. ▼ And then we managed to snap a cool cat pic, which is always a plus. As mentioned above, Jojakkoji is just one of the six mossy temples to which admission is included in the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport, with the others being Gioji, Sanzenin, Shorinin, Enkoji, and Tofukuji. ▼ Gioji (祇王寺) and Jojakkoji (常寂光寺) are on the west side of Kyoto, Shorinin (勝林院), Sanzenin (三千院), and Enkoji (圓光寺) the northeast, and Tofukuji (東福寺) is southeast from Kyoto Station. With each of the temples charging around 500 yen individually for admission, the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport is a great way to save some cash while also getting a charming off-the-beaten path itinerary, and the Passport can be purchased online here through September 29. Temple information Jojakkoji / 常寂光寺 Address: Kyoto-fu, Kyoto-shi, Ukyo-ku, Sagaogurayama Ogura-cho 3 京都府京都市右京区嵯峨小倉山小倉町3] Website Related: JR Central, Kyoto Moss Tour Passport Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
NHK
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
'Doctor Yellow' Shinkansen draws fans at rail museum in central Japan
Railway fans have flocked to a museum in central Japan to see a retired "Doctor Yellow" Shinkansen bullet train that went on display on Saturday. The distinctive yellow-colored trains have been used to check the condition of tracks and other facilities while running. Their rarity has made them beloved by train enthusiasts. People applauded and cheered as the train was unveiled at the SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in the city of Nagoya. Some chosen by lottery were allowed to go into the driver's cabin. A man from western Japan says he was the first to enter. He said he was happy enough to cry and that he imagined being the train's driver by touching the lever. The Doctor Yellow on display is owned by Central Japan Railway Company, or JR Tokai. The company ended the use of the train for inspections in January due to aging and other factors.
NHK
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NHK
Nagoya museum holds ceremony for retired 'Doctor Yellow' shinkansen train
Japanese railway fans have helped with preparations for the planned display of the iconic "Doctor Yellow" Shinkansen train at a museum in Nagoya City, central Japan. The Doctor Yellow train is owned by Central Japan Railway Company, or JR Tokai. It had been used to inspect Shinkansen railway tracks until it was retired in January due to aging. The train was manually repainted at a factory to prepare to go on public display on June 14. A ceremony was held on Saturday at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya. Museum curator Okabe Hitoshi said that he is looking forward to creating new memories with the Doctor Yellow train. Thirty-eight railway fans chosen by lottery from around the country helped to move the train about 10 meters to its display location. The enthusiasts then enjoyed eating lunch boxes on board another Shinkansen train while they admired Doctor Yellow. One participant who came from Kanagawa Prefecture said the yellow train on display will be loved by many people who will be happy that it is fulfilling its second role.
Yomiuri Shimbun
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Retired T4 Doctor Yellow to Be Displayed at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya
The Yomiuri Shimbun The T3, right, and T4 Shinkansen Doctor Yellow inspection trains in Nagoya The T4 Doctor Yellow, an Shinkansen inspection train of Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), which retired in January, was unveiled to the press along with its predecessor, the T3, at SCMAGLEV and Railway Park in Nagoya. The T4 will be displayed at the museum beginning on June 14. Based on the 700 Series Shinkansen train car affectionately known as the 'platypus,' the T4 completed its final run between Hakata and Tokyo on Jan. 29. In preparation for display, the T4 was repainted and maintained at a factory in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, before being transported by land. Meanwhile, the T3, owned by West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) and based on the 0 Series Shinkansen, was moved to Train Park Hakusan in Ishikawa Prefecture, where it is slated for future exhibition. 'I feel the passage of time in this scene of old giving way to new. I hope the T4 train will become even more beloved by museum visitors,' said SCMAGLEV and Railway Park Director Hitoshi Okabe. The T5, also owned by JR West, is scheduled to be retired in 2027 or later.
02-05-2025
- Business
3 JR Firms Post Sales, Profit Growth
News from Japan Economy May 2, 2025 22:51 (JST) Tokyo, May 2 (Jiji Press)--Three Japan Railways Group firms reported sales and profit growth for the year ended in March thanks to brisk travel demand from visitors to the country. East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, saw its sales increase 5.8 pct from the previous year to 2,887.5 billion yen. Sales at Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai, rose 7.1 pct to 1,831.8 billion yen. West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, posted a 4.5 pct increase in sales to 1,707.9 billion yen. JR Tokai and JR West saw their transportation service revenues exceed those in the year ended in March 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. JR East's transportation service revenues recovered to about 95 pct of the pre-pandemic level. JR Tokai's net profit rose 19.3 pct to 458.4 billion yen and JR West's net profit climbed 15.4 pct to 113.9 billion yen, both hitting record highs. JR East and JR West expect higher sales and profits for the year ending in March 2026, while JR Tokai estimates higher sales but lower profit due to higher labor costs. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
