To keep safe and punctual train operation, JR Central are strengthening measures against snow falling between Gifu-Hashima and Kyoto. They said they are trying to cut down the delaying by quick and accurate speed-limit determination with monitoring cameras since this winter.

When the high-speed train pass, snow on the track is stirred up and adhere on the bottom of train's body. If the adhered lumps of snow drop, they may flick ballast and damage the car. To prevent such accident, sprinkler spray dampens snow and personnel knock snow off cars at stations. Additionally, JR Central has studied the way to reflect monitoring snow's jump and attachment in determination of speed limit. The new system helps fixing speed limit with monitoring snow's stirring up by underfloor cameras and adhesion by cameras on tracks. Its effect had been verified during the trial from 2006 and it's in full-fledged use since this winter. According to a published report, JR Central estimates that the new system saves the delaying by one or two minutes.

Tokaido Shinkansen is struggling against the snow in Sekigahara every winter. The delay by snow may be shortend a little in this season.

The service area for verbal and data communications on mobile phones in Shinkansen tunnels was expanded on December 22, 2010. The new westmost point is in Hosaka Tunnel at the western edge of Hyogo Pref. This was due to completion of antenna installation works by Japan Mobile Communications Infrastructure Association. Now the services by NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, Softbank Mobile are available.

The antenna installation works for tunnels were previously completed in Tokaido Shinkansen and between Shin-Osaka and Himeji. With this service area expansion, uninterrupted mobile communications are available between Tokyo and the western edge of Hyogo Pref. JR West said the area will be stretched to Okayama in August, 2011.

And the internet access service through in-vehicle wireless LAN in Series N700 cars is restricted within Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, because its communication method and required equipments are different from the antennas for the mobile comunications.

For this winter holidays, JR Central and JR West estimated that the peak of crowding will be on December 30 for westbound trains and on January 3 for eastbound.

The charts shown below indicate seat availability of around the peak days by this site Shinkansen Timetable's independent survey. They maybe of some help to find remained seats. On the graphs, horizontal axes mean hours of 6 to 24 of each day and vertical the number of trains. The bar of blue shows underoccupied trains, yellow near capacity and red full occupancy. So it may easy to book trains at the hours with stretching blue bar.

The survey was performed at the evening of December 23, 2010. Visit the site of JR Cyber Station and get up-to-the-minute details.

westbound: from Tokyo to Hakata

eastbound: from Hakata to Tokyo

westbound: from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka

eastbound: from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo

westbound: from Shin-Osaka to Hakata

eastbound: from Hakata to Shin-Osaka

JR Kyushu and JR West released the outline of new train schedule for after begining of Kyushu Shinkansen's full service on March 12, 2011. On Kyushu Shinkansen, in an hour, four southbound and four northbound trains will run between Hakata and Kumamoto, and two and two between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. JR Kyushu planned 137 of southbound and northbound services in a day on Kyushu Shinkansen.

15 direct service in a day for Kyushu Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen will be available. Four round-trip services of Mizuho, the special express, are available in the morning and the evening. The other eleven services are Sakura. Between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo, Mizuho trains stop at Shin-Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura, Hakata and Kumamoto. In addition to these Mizuho stations, all Sakura trains stop at Fukuyama and Sendai, and some stops at one or two of Himeji, Tokuyama, Shin-Yamaguchi and Shin-Shimonoseki, and every station on Kyushu Shinkansen line with some different stopping patterns. The fastest Mizuho connects Shin-Osaka with Kagoshima-Chuo in three hours and 45 minutes, which is less by 77 min. than at present, and the fastest Sakura travels within four hours and ten minutes. Some Sakura and all of Tsubame trains, not traveling through Sanyo Shinkansen, connect with Nozomi and Hikari Rail Star trains at Hakata.

JR Central also released the new schedule. According to the announcement, series N700's Nozomi will increase and 149 Nozomi will run as N700-Nozomi, which makes up 90% of Nozomi on Tokaido Shinkansen. And new special train "Nozomi 300", that arrive Tokyo at 8:50 will scheduled. It means up to five Nozomi trains from Shin-Osaka and Kyoto and six from Nagoya will arrive Tokyo from 8:00 to 8:59.

With the revision of train schedule in next March, a smoking cars of car No. 3 in 16-car-set of series 700 and 300, and car No. 2 in eight-car-set of series 700 for Hikari Rail Star will become non-smoking ones. This makes all of non reservation seats of Nozomi and Hikari smoke-free. On Sanyo Shinkansen, Nozomi's stopping is revised. Shin-Yamaguchi and Tokuyama will get more Nozomi stop and Himeji miss some stop. The "Silence Car" service and "child cushion" rental service in Hikari Rail Star will be ended. Kodama trains of eight-car-set will increase and four-car-set of series 100 will be took off. Series 100's six-car-set will also be fallen into disuse by the end of March, 2012.

This site "Shinkansen Timetable" is now preparing to suggest travel plans and fares of Kyushu Shinkansen and that is expected to be available in next February.

The new year is two weeks away! Now, JR Central and JR West offer some type of discount tickets for New Year's trips.

JR Central offers "New Year, Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket" (新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ) and "New Year, Ticket for One Day Round Trip by Nozomi's Green-car" (新春のぞみグリーン車早特日帰りきっぷ). The former is a ticket allows unlimited travel on Kodama of Tokaido Shinkansen and JR Central's conventional lines on January 1, 2011. It may be used for one-day excursion in JR Central's area. And the latter is a ticket allows return trip by Green-car in Nozomi trains from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe, or from Himeji to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama on January 1, 2011. Though one-day trip between Tokyo area and Kansai exhausts travelers, this ticket will give them more relaxed and comfortable hours on Shinkansen train.

JR West offers "New Year, JR West's Unlimited Travel Ticket" (元日・JR西日本乗り放題きっぷ). It is valid on Sanyo Shinkansen and their comventional lines etc. on January 1, 2011. A single traveler can use this ticket relery found in JR West's discount tickets. It may be nice to go to Hakata by Shinkansen or wander around by the conventional railway services connected with Shinkansen trains.

Overview of Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Shinshun Kodama and Wide-view Free Ticket (「新春こだま＆ワイドビューフリーきっぷ」 meaning Kodama and Wide-view Unlimited Ride Ticket on New Year's Day)
• Travel date: January 1, 2011
• Period of selling: December 1, 2010 - January 1, 2011
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket:
  • [Second Class Free Seating] This ticket allows unlimited ride of Kodama's second class non reservation seats between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Hikari's ones between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka, and limited express trains and local ones on JR Central's conventional lines.
  • [Four Green Car Seating] This ticket allows unlimited ride of Kodama's second class non reservation seats between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, Hikari's ones between Nagoya and Shin-Osaka, and limited express trains and local ones on JR Central's conventional lines. During the travel, seating in Green Car is available up to four times, except in Hikari trains.
• Prices:
  • [Second Class Free Seating] JPY 13,000 for an adult, JPY 3,000 for a child
  • [Four Green Car Seating] JPY 15,000 for an adult, JPY 5,000 for a child
• Purchasable at: major stations of JR Central, shops of JR Tokai Tours and travel vendors in Shizuoka and Nagoya area
• Remarks:
  • This ticket is NOT valid for Nozomi, Hikari between Tokyo and Nagoya, and sleeper trains.

Overview of Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket (「新春のぞみグリーン早特日帰りきっぷ」 meaning Early Booking Discount Ticket for One-day Trip by First Class Seats in Nozomi)
• Travel date: January 1, 2011
• Period of selling: December 11, 2010 - December 25
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows a roundtrip by Nozomi trains' first class of a specific sector.
• Available sectors: from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe, and from Himeji to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama
• Prices:
  • from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Kyoto, Shin-Osaka [RT] JPY 20,000
  • from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Shin-Kobe [RT] JPY 21,000
  • from Himeji to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT] JPY 22,000
• Purchasable at: major stations around the departure area and shops of travel vendors
• Remarks:
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

Overview of Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket (「元日・JR西日本乗り放題きっぷ」 meaning Unlimited Ride Ticket for JR West Lines on New Year's Day)
• Travel date: January 1, 2011
• Period of selling: December 10, 2010 - December 30
• Maximum period of travel: one day
• Effects of the ticket:
  • [for second class] This ticket allows unlimited ride of all express and local trains, including Shinkansen trains, on whole of JR West and Chizu Express lines and JR West's Miyajima Ferry service. During the travel, second class seat reservation is available up to four times.
  • [for Green Cars] This ticket allows unlimited ride of all express and local trains, including Shinkansen trains, on whole of JR West and Chizu Express lines and JR West's Miyajima Ferry service. During the travel, second class or Green car seat reservation is available up to four times.
• Prices:
  • [for second class] JPY 14,000 for an adult, JPY 7,000 for a child
  • [for Green Cars] JPY 16,000 for an adult, JPY 8,000 for a child
• Purchasable at: JR West's major stations and shops of travel vendors

JR West and JR Kyushu announced new express fees for Kyushu Shinkansen after begining of its full service.

In Kyushu Shinkansen, the price of fare and express fee between Hakata and Kumamoto will be JPY 4,990 in total, higher by JPY 1,050 than at present. Also, the price between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo will be JPY 10,170, higher by JPY 1,050 and between Kumamoto and Kagoshima-Chuo will be JPY 6,760, higher by JPY 410. The express fees with non reservation will be cheaper by JPY 510 than the fees with seat reservation.

When the passengers traveling through between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen and Kyushu Shinkansen, the fares will be calculated through and the express fees will be obtained by combined the fees for Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen with those for Kyushu Shinkansen. The express fees for non reservation will be applied pure sum values but the fees for reservation will be sums of the fees for Kyushu Shinkansen at JPY 510 off and the fees for Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, because if they are combined simply the difference will be JPY 1.020, JPY 510 for Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen and the same for Kyushu Shinkansen. Now the low price for non reservation express fee are applied between Kokura and Hakata, and similar fees wil be applied between Hakata and Shi-Tosu / Kurume. The fees for seat reservation between Kokura and stations on Kyushu Shinkansen, and stations on Sanyo Shinkansen and Shin-Tosu / Kurume will be offered to be higher by JPY 510 than fees for non reservation.

In Sanyo Shinkansen, the express fee for Mizuho trains will be equal to that for Nozomi, and for Sakura will be as same as Hikari and Kodama. In Kyushu Shinkansen, the fees for Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame are same.

Now Kyushu Shinkansen's express fees are single-price year-round, but they will introduce season's fees adjusting to those of Sanyo Shinkansen.

the fares and fees for Kyushu Shinkansen's major sections

The prices are shown in order of "fare + express fee for seat reservation = total amount". The shown express fees are for regular season. JPY 200 more in the high season and JPY 200 off in low one.

• Hakata - Kumamoto: JPY 2,070 + JPY 2,920 = JPY 4,990 (higher by JPY 1,050 than at present)
  # for non reservation, JPY 4,480
• Hakata - Kagoshima-Chuo: JPY 5,360 + JPY 4,810 = JPY 10,170 (higher by JPY 750)
  # for non reservation, JPY 9,660
• Kumamoto - Kagoshima-Chuo: JPY 3,150 + JPY 3,610 = JPY 6,760 (higher by JPY 410)
  # for non reservation, JPY 6,250

the fares and fees for major sections of Sanyo Shinkansen and Kyushu Shinkansen

The prices are shown in order of "fare + express fee for seat reservation = total amount". The shown express fees are for regular season. JPY 200 more in the high season and JPY 200 off in low one.

• Shin-Osaka - Kumamoto: JPY 10,370 + JPY 7,650 = JPY 18,020 (higher by 1,480 than at present)
  # for non reservation, JPY 17,510
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 18,320
• Shin-Osaka - Kagoshima-Chuo: JPY 11,760 + JPY 9,540 = JPY 21,300 (higher by JPY 300)
  # for non reservation, JPY 20,790
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 21,600
• Hiroshima - Kumamoto: JPY 6,800 + JPY 6,170 = JPY 12,970 (higher by JPY 1,480)
  # for non reservation, JPY 12,460
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 13,270
• Hiroshima - Kagoshima-Chuo: JPY 6,140 + JPY 8,060 = JPY 17,200 (higher by JPY 300)
  # for non reservation, JPY 16,690
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 17,500
• Kokura - Kumamoto: JPY 3,440 + JPY 3,860 = JPY 7,300 (higher by JPY 1,990)
  # for non reservation, JPY 6,790
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 7,600
• Kokura - Kagoshima-Chuo: JPY 6,200 + JPY 5,750 = JPY 11,950 (higher by JPY 810)
  # for non reservation, JPY 11,440
  # for travel with Mizuho trains, JPY 12,250

JR Central and JR West released that they will extend the selling period and travel dates of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Kippu (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ). That will be good until April 6, 2011. The price for some sector is increased by 1,000, such as from Okayama, Hiroshima, Shin-Yamaguchi, Kokura and Hakat to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama, and from/to Kokura and Hakata to/from Nagoya and Hamamatsu.

Overview of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Kippu

• Name of the ticket: Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Kippu (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ meaning Nozomi Early Booking Discount Round Trip Ticket)
• Travel dates: from January 1, 2011 through April 6, 2011 (Final departure date is March 31, 2011.)
• Priod of selling: from December 11, 2010 through March 24, 2011 (Tickets are available 21 - 7 days before the departure.)
• Maximum period of travel: seven days
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows roundtrip by Nozomi train's assigned seats.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.)
  • from/to Naoya to/from Kokura and Hakata (RT): JPY 26,000 (*), saving about 23%
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama: JPY 27,000 (*), saving about 15%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama: JPY 31,000 (*), saving about 11%
  • from Hakata and Kokura to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama: JPY 33,000 (*), saving about 21%
  • from Yonago, Matsue, Izumoshi to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama: JPY 30,000, saving about 17-19%
  # Prices shown with "(*)" are raised by JPY 1,000.
  # Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare and calcurated with assuming "Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama" is Tokyo and "Hakata and Kokura" is Hakata.
  # Local stations in the cities are included in the available sectors, like stations in Nagoya city are described as "Nagoya" and Fukuoka city as "Hakata" above.
• Purchasable at: a major JR station, travel center and a major travel vendor around the departing area
• Remarks:
  • Fares for a child are not available.
  • The trains and seats of both-way must be assigned at the time of purchase. Changes are not permitted.
  • If Nozomi trains don't stop at the destination or home station, second class non-reservation seats on Hikari or Kodama trains are available.
  • Tickets from Sanin area allow traveling by limited express train's reservation seats between home station and Okayama.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

Tohoku Shinkansen's new portion between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori will open today, December 4, 2010. 15 round trips will be made in a day between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori and the fastest train travels within three hours 20 minutes between both stations. The new terminal Shin-Aomori is located in 674.9 km north of Tokyo and the old unmanned Shin-Aomori station got a makeover for the Shinkansen's terminal.

The Shinkansen's rail ahead of Shin-Aomori is now under construction and the new Hokkaido Shinkansen will be planned to run between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate in 2015. Also, Kyushu Shinkansen will begin full service in next March. The day of Shinkansen connecting Hokkaido and south of Kyushu will come sooner-than-expected.