Latest news with #WestJapanRailwayCo.
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Tottori: Detective Conan Mystery-solving Tour Starts in Prefcture; Participants Can Ride the Rails While Solving the Case
HOKUEI, Tottori — A 'Detective Conan' mystery-solving tour, featuring the popular manga and anime series, has kicked off and will run through January, putting the skills of participants to the test as they travel to locations across Tottori Prefecture. The organizer of the tour, a committee including entities such as the Tottori Prefectural government and West Japan Railway Co., hopes to draw people in with its railway lines and facilitate tourism in the prefecture. Gosho Aoyama, the creator of 'Detective Conan,' is a native of Hokuei in the prefecture. The tour's plot follows the heiress of the Misasa Onsen hot spring inn, who, facing opposition to her marriage, plots to fake her own kidnapping and is caught up in a real kidnapping instead. Participants of the tour collect clues and try to identify the culprit while visiting five locations in the prefecture including in the cities of Tottori, Kurayoshi and Yonago. On July 5, more than 200 tour participants got off at JR Yura station, also known as Conan Station, and were welcomed by town Mayor Toshiki Teshima and a mascot of Edogawa Conan, the main character of the series. The station was decorated with banners and visitors were given plastic folders featuring 'Detective Conan' characters. Participants can get three-day unlimited passes for local service JR trains in the prefecture, Wakasa Railway trains and some bus services. Original pin badges are also available. A 19-year-old college student from Kobe, who participated in the tour with her friend, said, 'It was a good opportunity to visit some places I don't usually visit,' and added, 'the mystery was so difficult.'
Yomiuri Shimbun
19-07-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan Tourism: West Japan Train Offers Overnight Travel for Casual Travelers
After the retirement of the cross-country long-distance sleeper trains known as 'Blue Trains,' the West Express Ginga limited express began operations in September 2020 as an overnight train for casual journeys. These days, tickets for scenic trains are usually sold as part of package tour products, and if they are treated as charter group trains, they often do not even appear on the Ginga, operated by West Japan Railway Co., is listed on timetables as a special train which you can ride without being charged a sleeper fee. Passengers are required only to pay a surcharge for a reserved seat express fare or Green Car first class seat. We can say this is a night train with a completely new concept. The Ginga train is a specially modified 6-car 117-series electric train that was manufactured before JR companies were privatized, and it is painted in a beautiful lapis lazuli blue. Car No. 1 is equipped with Green Car reserved seats, and Cars No. 2, 3 and 5 have normal reserved seats that include couchettes, reclining seats and family cabins. Car No. 6 has Green Car private rooms, and Car No. 4 consists entirely of free space. Passengers can choose their preferred seat for a long, comfortable Ginga operates on three main routes depending on the season in the Sanyo, Sanin and Kinan (Wakayama) regions. This year, the Sanyo route runs between Kyoto and Shimonoseki stations until Aug. 9, and the Kinan route between Kyoto and Shingu stations in Wakayama Prefecture from Aug. 25 to Oct. 29. One of the highlights of the West Express Ginga is its hospitality, which rivals that of package tour Sanyo route Ginga departs Kyoto at 9:15 p.m., heading west along the Tokaido and Sanyo lines as night falls. The train arrives at Himeji Station at 11:48 p.m. on Fridays only, and departs again at 12:42 a.m., giving passengers time to enjoy Himeji's famous soba noodles known as 'Maneki no Ekisoba' on the platform. The Seto Inland Sea glistens as the sun rises the next morning. The train stops for about 18 minutes at Yanai Station, where passengers can buy taimeshi, sea bream rice which is a local specialty in ekiben boxed meals, from a vendor on the information about the Yamaguchi cities of Yanai, Yamaguchi, Ube, Hagi, Iwakuni and Hofu is available in the train, and on specific days, local specialties are sold on board between Iwakuni and Shin-Shimonoseki stations. The eastbound train departs Shimonoseki at 7:43 p.m. There are no long stops, but the onboard service is excellent. Local specialties from Shimonoseki, Hofu, Shunan, Yamaguchi and Iwakuni cities are sold onboard on specific days. Passengers can also enjoy local sake, beer and other alcoholic beverages as one of the perks of the journey. Why not enjoy every part of the Sanyo Route while making the Ginga trip full of the excitement of an overnight train ride? West Express Ginga Sanyo RouteThe train runs on Mondays and Fridays from Kyoto to Shimonoseki, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays from Shimonoseki to Kyoto until Aug. 9, except for some dates. One-way fare is ¥12,950 for reclining seats or couchettes. Tickets are available through JR West's online reservation system and at JR ticket offices. ***Japan Tourism is presented in collaboration with Ryoko Yomiuri Publication, which publishes Ryoko Yomiuri, a monthly travel magazine. If you are interested in the original Japanese version of this story, click here.
05-07-2025
- Business
Locker-to-Hotel Luggage Delivery Service Expanding in Japan
News from Japan Economy Jul 5, 2025 22:31 (JST) Osaka, July 5 (Jiji Press)--A luggage delivery service from train station lockers to hotels is expanding in Japan. The service allows users to leave their luggage in lockers and have them delivered on the same day to the hotels they are staying. Last year, West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, and Osaka Metro Co. launched the service in the western Japan prefecture of Osaka, which has been attracting many visitors as it is hosting the 2025 World Exposition. East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, and Tokyo Metro Co. are increasing the number of stations in Tokyo where the service is available. Big tourist luggage such as suitcases brought onto trains and buses have sometimes caused problems. The expansion of the locker-to-hotel delivery service is expected to ease congestion on public transportation. To use the delivery service, the luggage must be placed in a dedicated locker. Fees vary depending on the size of the luggage and location, ranging from around 1,500 yen to 3,500 yen. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
The Mainichi
25-04-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Survivors, families of victims mark 20 yrs since JR West derailment
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Survivors and families of victims of a 2005 West Japan Railway Co. train derailment offered prayers at an event marking the accident's anniversary on Friday, with some pledging to pass on lessons learned from the tragedy which killed 107 people. At a memorial ceremony at the site of the accident in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, JR West executives and other attendees paused for a moment of silence at 9:18 a.m., when the rush-hour commuter train crashed into a building 20 years ago and left 562 people injured. JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa vowed at the ceremony, hosted by the company, not to let memories of the accident fade as more than 70 percent of its roughly 25,000 current employees joined the company after the derailment. "Had we not caused the accident that day, (victims) would have lived lives full of dreams and hopes," Hasegawa said before a cenotaph at the site. "I can only offer my sincere apologies for the frustration of having had lives suddenly taken away." Kentaro Kosugi, a Tokyo resident, who lost both his parents in the accident, said he wished they would have lived to meet his two children. "I think there are 107 different ways of (feeling) sadness among the bereaved families," the 41-year-old said, referring to the number of fatalities. JR West is building a facility in neighboring Osaka Prefecture to preserve train cars involved in the accident and the belongings of those who died, with its completion expected sometime in December. The facility will be closed to the public in consideration of bereaved family members opposed to the display. It is planned to be open to families of victims, officials of transportation operators in charge of safety and those who were involved in rescue efforts. The accident occurred when the seven-car train on the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailed as it entered a curve on the track and crashed into a nearby condominium building. The train was traveling at around 116 kilometers per hour, far exceeding the 70 kph speed limit. All four former JR West presidents indicted on charges of professional negligence were acquitted. The Penal Code has no mechanism for punishing organizations for such accidents, and the bereaved families have been calling for the enactment of a special law to penalize both corporations and individuals.
Kyodo News
25-04-2025
- General
- Kyodo News
Survivors, families of victims mark 20 yrs since JR West derailment
KYODO NEWS - 6 minutes ago - 13:35 | All, Japan Survivors and families of victims of a 2005 West Japan Railway Co. train derailment offered prayers at an event marking the accident's anniversary on Friday, with some pledging to pass on lessons learned from the tragedy which killed 107 people. At a memorial ceremony at the site of the accident in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, JR West executives and other attendees paused for a moment of silence at 9:18 a.m., when the rush-hour commuter train crashed into a building 20 years ago and left 562 people injured. JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa vowed at the ceremony, hosted by the company, not to let memories of the accident fade as more than 70 percent of its roughly 25,000 current employees joined the company after the derailment. "Had we not caused the accident that day, (victims) would have lived lives full of dreams and hopes," Hasegawa said before a cenotaph at the site. "I can only offer my sincere apologies for the frustration of having had lives suddenly taken away." Kentaro Kosugi, a Tokyo resident, who lost both his parents in the accident, said he wished they would have lived to meet his two children. "I think there are 107 different ways of (feeling) sadness among the bereaved families," the 41-year-old said, referring to the number of fatalities. JR West is building a facility in neighboring Osaka Prefecture to preserve train cars involved in the accident and the belongings of those who died, with its completion expected sometime in December. The facility will be closed to the public in consideration of bereaved family members opposed to the display. It is planned to be open to families of victims, officials of transportation operators in charge of safety and those who were involved in rescue efforts. The accident occurred when the seven-car train on the JR Fukuchiyama Line derailed as it entered a curve on the track and crashed into a nearby condominium building. The train was traveling at around 116 kilometers per hour, far exceeding the 70 kph speed limit. All four former JR West presidents indicted on charges of professional negligence were acquitted. The Penal Code has no mechanism for punishing organizations for such accidents, and the bereaved families have been calling for the enactment of a special law to penalize both corporations and individuals. Related coverage: Kumamoto marks 9th anniversary of fatal quakes Japan emperor explores his symbolic role in trips to mourn war dead Victims of 1995 AUM sarin attack struggling with PTSD, survey shows
