JR Central announced that they would start an internet-access service on Tokaido Shinkansen trains from March, 2009.

You will always be able to access the internet with your notebook on running series N700 trains of Tokaido Shinkansen. According to the announcement, you need to sign on with one of the following services previously.

The maximum line speed is 2 Mbps per a train. JR Central said it was enough high for reading and composing mails, but impossible to watch on-line videos. Though there is concern that the line speed is not enough for nice internet browsing, to be able to connect the internet may be major advantage against airplane.

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  Hot Spot (NTT Communications)
• 
  mopera U or M Zone (NTT DoCoMo)
• 
  BB Mobile Point (Softbank Telecom)
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  UQ Wi-Fi (UQ Communications)

Wi-Fi is available in only 6 stations of Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka now. Until the end of March 2009, it will be expanded to every station between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

JR Central announced that they would supply Nagoya / Toyohashi Round Trip Ticket (名古屋・豊橋往復きっぷ) at special discount on Sat., Sun., and holidays from 13 December to 12 January and around the new year.

For going to Nagoya to see Towers Lights from Toyohashi or to Toyokawa for new year's visit to Toyokawa Inari shrine from Nagoya, you may enjoy your outing within Aichi area with these tickets!

Nagoya city area ⇔ stations between Toyohashi and Toyokawa or Futagawa

Shinkansen Nagoya Round Trip Tieket (新幹線名古屋往復きっぷ)

Shinkansen Toyohashi Round Trip Ticket (新幹線豊橋往復きっぷ)

special price 2,200 JPY (2,500 JPY as usual)

Nagoya city area ⇔ stations between Mikawa-Ichinomiya and Hon-Nagashino

Shinkansen Nagoya Round Trip Ticket (新幹線名古屋往復きっぷ)

Shinkansen Shinshiro and Hon-Nagashino Round Trip Ticket (新幹線新城・本長篠往復きっぷ)

special price 2,300 JPY (2,600 JPY as usual)

Nagoya city area ⇔ stations between Toyohashi and Hon-Nagashino or Futagawa (for local trains use)

Nagoya Round Trip Ticket (名古屋往復きっぷ)

Toyohashi Round Trip Ticket (豊橋往復きっぷ)

Shinshiro and Hon-Nagashino Round Trip Ticket (新城・本長篠往復きっぷ)

Switching Ticket for Shinkansen: special price 350 JPY / single trip (500 JPY as usual)

JR Central released that 21 additional Nozomi trains (9 for west and 12 for east) would run during the year change period.

Including these additional trains, this site Shinkansen Timetable is providing happy travel planning to you.

JR Central and JR West announced the availability of reserved seats on Shinkansen trains from 26 December to 4 January, as of 11 December.

On Tokaido Shinkansen trains, 1,330,000 of available 3,180,000 seats have been reserved already. On Sanyo Shinkansen trains, 726,000 of 1,750,000 seats have been reserved. In shortly, 41% of available seats are now occupied and 59% still remain vacant except certain hours and particular trains.

They estimated the peak of crowding on trains would be on 30 December for west bound and 4 January for east bound.

A Kids Space will be available for free from 26 December to 05 January in Hiroshima station. It is for elementary students and under and will be open from 9:00 to 19:00 of each day. During your waiting hours until the departure time, your children will have a cracking god time there!

On 4 December, 2 new Ekiben of "Bumper Catch Box" (大漁御膳; Tairyou Gozen) and "Salmon Caviar and Crab Box" (いくらとかにの御飯; Ikura to Kani no Gohan) will be started selling. Both will be sold in Tokaido Shinkansen trains and some kiosk in Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka stations.

"Bumper Catch Box"

You can enjoy a wide variety of seafood like amberjack, clam, crab, salmon caviar, and shrimp with this box. (@1,100 JPY)

"Salmon Caviar and Crab Box"

You can enjoy two taste in one box. One is crab rice and the other is salmon and its caviar. The crab rice is especially lovely, because crab bolus is put on feazed crab. (@ 1,300 JPY)