JR West said that they will accept advanced application of tickets for travel in the winter holidays. If the travel dates are in the holiday period, both tickets for outward and return are purchasable at one time.

Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe Area

• Travel Dates: December 25, 2009 through January 5, 2010
• Period of Acceptance: November 14, 2009 through November 21
• Handling at:
  • special number of 06-4960-9864 (9:00 - 15:00)
  • JR trains booking counters (みどりの窓口) in 65 major stations within the area
• for Details: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091023_jizen.pdf

Okayama Area

• Travel Dates: December 25, 2009 through January 5, 2010
• Period of Acceptance: October 31, 2009 through December 4
• Handling at:
• JR trains booking counters (みどりの窓口) in 32 major stations within the area
• for Details: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091023_jizen_okayama.pdf

Hiroshima Area

• Travel Dates: December 25, 2009 through January 5, 2010
• Period of Acceptance: October 31, 2009 through November 21
• Handling at:
  • special counter in Hiroshima Station
  • special number of 082-261-1985 (10:00 - 18:00)
  • JR trains booking counters (みどりの窓口) in 76 major stations within the area
  • FAX machine in 17 statinos
• for Details: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091023_jizen_hiroshima.pdf

Fukuoka Area

• Travel Dates: December 25, 2009 through January 5, 2010
• Period of Acceptance: November 14, 2009 through November 21
• Handling at:
  • JR trains booking counters (みどりの窓口) in Kokura Station or the number of 093-551-7209 (10:00 - 16:00)
  • JR trains booking counters (みどりの窓口) in Hakata Station or the number of 092-472-8426 (10:00 - 16:00)
• for Details: http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/pdf/20091023_jizen_fukuoka.pdf

JR Central and JR West released the train schedule for this winter (December 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010).

According to them, 2,204 extra train will run for weekends, three-day weekends and winter holidays. They said up to 9 Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and average of 125, regularly 108, direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen a day will be available during the winter holidays (December 25 through January 5).

Additionally more N700 cars, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, will go into the service. 100 Nozomi trains of series N700 cars runs a day at end of November and they said 107 of N700 Nozomi will run at the end of February, 2010. The number of Hikari and Kodama trains of series 700 cars is also increased.

Westbound Nozomi and Hikari Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 5, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 24 (Tokyo 06:30 → Hakata 11:44)
• Nozomi 9, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on January 22 (Tokyo 07:30 → Hakata 12:44)
• Nozomi 55, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 14 (Tokyo 18:50 → Hakata 23:57)
• Hikari 531, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 14 (Tokyo 21:30 → Nagoya 23:25)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 224, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 15 (Shin-Osaka 09:47 → Tokyo 12:23)
• Nozomi 10, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 15 (Hakata 07:50 → Tokyo 13:03)
• Nozomi 44, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on January 22 (Hakata 15:50 → Tokyo 21:03)
• Nozomi 50, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 24 (Hakata 17:00 → Tokyo 22:13)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Kodama 693, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Shizuoka 06:05 → Shin-Osaka 08:13)
• Hikari 475, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Tokyo 14:03 → Okayama 18:17)
• Kodama 675, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 16 (Tokyo 17:26 → Nagoya 20:16)
• Kodama 785, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Okayama 23:20 → Mihara 23:59)
• Kodama 705, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 14 (Tokyo 22:10 → Shizuoka 23:27)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Hikari 462, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 16 (Mihara 06:22 → Tokyo 11:10)
• Kodama 644, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 17 (Nagoya 10:28 → Tokyo 13:17)
• Kodama 646, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Shin-Osaka 09:50 → Tokyo 13:47)

JR Central and West released EX Odekake Hayatoku (EXお出かけ早特 meaning EX Outing Early Booking Discount) for Express Reservation members and their companions.

With whole convenience of Express Reservation, Hayatoku discount will be applied to members and their families and friends traveling along. The most reasonable sector is between Shin-Osaka and Hakata; saving JPY 3,440 (23.1% discount) for a second class travel and JPY 5,730 (27.7% discount) for Green-car. This discount is a limited time offer until departing on January 11, 2009 and good for limited sectors. But being valid during year-end and New Year holidays is its great advantage.

The prices of EX Odekake Hayatoku are set lower than regular fare, Express Yoyaku (エクスプレス予約) and EX-IC, but same or higher than EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特).

Overview of EX Odekake Hayatoku

• Name
  • EX Odekake Hayatoku (EXお出かけ早特 meaning EX Outing Early Booking Discount)
• Travel dates
  • Saturday, Sunday and holidays between October 31, 2009 and January 11, 2010 and during the year-end and New Year holidays from December 30 through January 3
• Period of selling
  • October 24, 2009 through January 8, 2010
    ※ Tickets are available from 10:00 of the day of \/a month to 23:30 of 3 days before departure.
• Available sectors and prices

• sector			regular fare	Express Yoyaku	EX-IC	EX-IC Hayatoku	EX Odekake Hayatoku
  Tokyo and Shinagawa	～	Nagoya	10,780	10,030	9,830	9,500	9,700
  Tokyo and Shinagawa	～	Kyoto	13,520	12,670	12,470	11,470	12,300
  Tokyo and Shinagawa	～	Shin-Osaka	14,050	13,200	13,000	12,000	12,900
  Tokyo and Shinagawa	～	Shin-Kobe	14,670	13,720	13,520	12,300	13,400
  Shin-Yokohama	～	Nagoya	10,150	9,400	9,200	8,870	9,100
  Shin-Yokohama	～	Kyoto	12,890	12,040	11,840	11,160	11,700
  Shin-Yokohama	～	Shin-Osaka	13,730	12,880	12,680	11,680	12,500
  Shin-Yokohama	～	Shin-Kobe	14,360	13,410	13,210	11,990	13,100
  Shizuoka	～	Kyoto	9,950	9,400	9,200	-	9,100
  Shizuoka	～	Shin-Osaka	10,580	10,030	9,830	-	9,700
  Shizuoka	～	Shin-Kobe	11,540	10,640	10,640	-	10,500
  Hamamatsu	～	Kyoto	8,070	7,560	7,360	-	7,200
  Hamamatsu	～	Shin-Osaka	8,700	8,190	7,990	-	7,800
  Hamamatsu	～	Shin-Kobe	9,950	9,280	9,280	-	9,100
  Shin-Osaka	～	Kokura	14,050	12,040	12,040	11,450	11,450
  Shin-Osaka	～	Hakata	14,890	12,880	12,880	11,450	11,450
  Shin-Kobe	～	Kokura	13,730	11,720	11,720	11,450	11,450
  Shin-Kobe	～	Hakata	14,570	12,560	12,560	11,450	11,450

• Purchasable at
  • web site of Express Yoyaku (エクスプレス予約 meaning Express Reservation) only
    ※ Tickets must be picked up at vending machines before boarding.
• Remarks
  • This ticket allows one of the specific legs of Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama trains. Connections are not permitted.
  • Reservations are changable always with no commission before issue and 23:30 of 3 days prior to the departure.
  • Reservations for up to 6 passengers traveling along will be acceptable at once.
  • This ticket availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.
  • EX-IC Cards are not available with this ticket.

JR West announced that Nozomi trains of series 500 cars will finish their service between Tokyo and Hakata on February 28, 2010.

The trains will be replaced with N700 cars. Nozomi trains of series 500 cars are making 2 roundtrips daily between Tokyo and Hakata now. It will be one roundtrip a day after November 10 because Nozomi 51 (Tokyo 17:30 → Hakata 22:44) and Nozomi 28 (Hakata 12:00 → Tokyo 17:13) will be changed to N700 on that day. And the last one roundtrip, Nozomi 29 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44) and Nozomi 6 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13), will be replaced on March 1, 2010. Series 500 cars having 16 coaches will makeover to eight-car train for Kodama between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.

With this retirement, all trains on Tokaido Shinkansen will be equalized 16 coaches of carrying 1,323 passengers. It will help to make train operation easy in case of trouble.

JR West announced that they extended the selling period of Kodama Shiteiseki Oufuku Kippu (こだま指定席往復きっぷ meaning Roundtrip Ticket for Reservation Seats on Kodama Trains). It will be good until December 23, 2009.

It costs for example, JPY 6,880 from Shin-Osaka to Okayama and JPY 11,920 to Hiroshima, at a discount of around 40% off the usual fee. It is a reasonable way to go, but it will be a time-consuming travel. From Shin-Osaka to Okayama, it takes 45 min. by Nozomi trains (Nozomi 601) and 70 min. by Kodama trains (Kodama 729). To Hiroshima, it takes 84 min. by Nozomi 601 and 2 hrs. 31 min. by Kodama 729.

This site "Shinkansen Timetable" can help passengers who want to select specific kinds of trains like "Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama", "Hikari and Kodama" or "only Kodama trains". When you consider travel plans with this ticket, select "only Kodama trains" of "Optional Conditions".

Overview of Kodama Shiteiseki Oufuku Kippu

• Name of the ticket
  • Kodama Shiteiseki Oufuku Kippu (こだま指定席往復きっぷ meaning Roundtrip Ticket for Reservation Seats on Kodama Trains)
• Travel dates
  • until December 23, 2009
• Period of selling
  • until December 21, 2009
    ※ Tickets are available 21 - 1 days before departure.
• Maximum period of travel
  • 2 days
• Prices (e.g.)
  • JPY 6,880 for round trip between Shin-Osaka and Okayama (saving about 41%)
  • JPY 11,920 for round trip between Shin-Osaka and Hiroshima (saving about 40%)
• Available sectors
  • from Shin-Osaka or Shin-Kobe to a station between Himeji and Hiroshima
  • from Nishi-Akashi to a station between Aioi and Hiroshima
  • from Himeji to a station between Okayama and Hiroshima
  • from Aioi to a station between Shin-Kurashiki and Hiroshima
  • from Okayama to a station between Shin-Onomichi and Shin-Yamaguchi
  • from Shin-Kurashiki or Fukuyama to a station between Higashi-Hiroshima and Shin-Yamaguchi
  • from Shin-Onomichi or Mihara to a station between Hiroshima and Hakata
  • from Higashi-Hiroshima to a station between Shin-Iwakuni and Hakata
  • from Hiroshima to a station between Tokuyama and Hakata
  • from Shin-Iwakuni to a station between Shin-Yamaguchi and Hakata
  • from Tokuyama or Shin-Yamaguchi to a station between Shin-Shimonoseki and Hakata
    ※ vice versa
    ※ The price for a child is flat fare of JPY 3,000 regardless of actual travel distance.
• Terms of use
  • This ticket is for at least 2 persons traveling along.
• Purchasable at
  • major stations and travel vendors around the departure area in JR West district
  • Hakata and Kokura stations and travel vendors around them in JR Kyushu district
• Remarks
  • This ticket allows roundtrip by second class reserved seats by Kodama and specific Hikari trains within the sectors.
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • This ticket availability is limited.
  • Special discount of rent-a-car at station (駅レンタカー), 2,000 JPY for 24 hrs for a class S car, is available for a group of 2 or more adults.

Here comes the season of appetizing! Some new ekiben was started to sell in this September.

Ajimansai

• "秋味満載" meaning Autumn Gourmandise Box
• Purchasable at: in-car sales between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka or kiosks in Tokyo, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka Stations
• Price: JPY 900
• Release Date: September 1, 2009
• Features: a limited-time box for this autumn containing seasonal ingredients
• Fillings: rice with salmon and its caviar, rice cooked with chestnuts, pickled eggplants, omlet, ox tongue, satsuma age, Tempura of king trumpet mushrooms, grilled aroid with miso, sweet potato, boiled vegetables
  

Akinoaji Fukiyose Bento Matsutake Iri

• "秋の味 吹き寄せ弁当 松茸入り" meaning Colorful Autumn Traditional Box Including Matsutake-Mushrooms
• Purchasable at: in-car sales between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka or kiosks in Tokyo, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka Stations
• Price: JPY 850
• Release Date: September 1, 2009
• Features: a limited-time box for this autumn containing seasonal ingredients
• Fillings: rice with matsutake-mushrooms, thin strips of egg, carrots, satsuma age, ginkgo nuts, pickled eggplants, fried salmon, pickled vegetables, grilled saury, boiled vegetables

Okayama Gochisou Bento Matsuri-zushi

• "岡山ご馳走弁当 祭ずし" meaning Okayama Feasting Box of Auspicious Sushi
• Purchasable at: Okayama Station
• Price: JPY 1,000
• Release Date: September 14, 2009
• Features: packed local food from the sea and a mountain of Okayama
• Fillings: Saikyo-style grilled spanish mackerel, home-prepared roasted pork, chicken teriyaki, black beans from Sakushu, pickled shad, fried burdock root, thick omelet, pickled radish, chirashi-zushi

Okayama Gochisou Bento Tawara Musubi

• "岡山ご馳走弁当 俵むすび" meaning Okayama Feasting Box of Riceball Bales
• Purchasable at: Okayama Station
• Price: JPY 1,000
• Release Date: September 14, 2009
• Features: packed local food from the sea and a mountain of Okayama
• Fillings: boiled prawn, Saikyo-style grilled spanish mackerel, home-prepared roasted pork, chicken teriyaki, black beans from Sakushu, pickled shad, fried burdock root, hick omelet, pickled radish, confited radish, mysid boiled down in soy, riceball

Aki no Minori

• "秋の実り" meaning Autumn Harvest
• Purchasable at: Shin-Osaka Station
• Price: JPY 1,050
• Release Date: September 11, 2009
• Features: a limited-time box for this autumn containing seasonal ingredients
• Fillings: subgum rice with chicken, cubed pork stew, boiled radish, fried sea toad, persimmon dumpling, etc.

Osaka Nanami Sushi

• "大阪七菜味すし" meaning Osaka Seven Vegetables
• Purchasable at: Shin-Osaka Station
• Price: JPY 1,200
• Release Date: September 18, 2009
• Features: limited production to about 30 sets a day, containing well-selected local vegetables from around Osaka area
• Fillings: lotus root, fried burdock root and thin strips of egg, inari-zushi, bamboo shoots roll, freeze-dried bean curd, etc.