Japan Rail Pass – Why you should buy one when Visiting Japan

While doing my calculations and working out my budget for my trip to Japan last year the second thing on the list after my plane tickets and before even accommodation and spending money was a Japan Rail Pass. The JR pass is a special railway discount pass that allows persons visiting Japan for a short...
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New JR Kanto Area Pass Available next month

Starting next month East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will be selling a new JR Kanto Area Pass available to holders of a non-Japanese passport arriving at Haneda or Narita Airport. The discounted pass is valid for 3 consecutive days and allows unlimited rides in Tokyo and the surrounding Kanto area...
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Operation Visit Japan Update – The countdown begins

The light at the end of the tunnel is now in my face, the finish line is in sight and the goal is within touching distance. I just have endure five (looong) weeks before I jet off to Japan for 21 days. All the boxes listed in my previous update on Operation Visit Japan have been ticked. Japan visa, US...
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E5 Series Shinkansen makes Official debut

Train enthusiasts in Japan are ecstatic as East Japan Railway Company (JR East) official debuted the E5 Series Shinkansen or “Hayabusa” today which will be operating on the Tōhoku Shinkansen Line from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori with major stations like Sendai and Morioka. Hayabusa is Japanese...
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JR East Introducing Railway of Love

Single in Japan and looking for a mate? Between the ages of 25 and 40? Blind dates, bars, clubs, parks, staff parties and other social events not landing you that dream guy or girl? East Japan Railway has the the perfect cupid arrow to pierce the heart of your future love – a hybrid KiHa E200 train!...
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JR Yamanote Line Departing Melody Keychains

My love for Japanese trains has been slowly growing over the years. With such a sophisticated railway network one of the main things I’m looking forward to when I get to Japan is taking the train for the first time. I took the subway in New York when I was there in mid 2008 and I still have my...
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Japan’s Kiha E200 Commercial Hybrid Train begins operation

Starting tomorrow Japan will begin to operate a commercial hybrid train service on the Koumi Line of the East Japan Railway Company who has been developing and testing the service for many years. Fuel efficiency is increased by about 20 percent and emissions reduced by up to 60 percent plus the diesel...
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