The Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company announced that EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特), a discount offer for early purchasing EX-IC members, is continuously available after this July. Its available sectors and prices will be the same as going. They have released these announcements on a quarterly basis, but said they will continue to sell this ticket until further notice.

Overview of EX-IC Hayatoku

• Name of the deal: EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特 meaning EX-IC Early Booking Discount, shortly called "IC Hayatoku")
• Travel dates: Mon, July 1, 2013 -
• Period of selling: Sat, June 1, 2013 -
  * Tickets are available from 10:00 on the day of a month to 23:30 of three days before the departure.
• Effects of the deal: This deal allows one-way travel on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen by Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama trains.
• Available sectors:
  1. for long-distance travel striding over Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen; Tokyo and Shinagawa to/from Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, and Shizuoka to/from Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, and Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata, etc.
  2. for travel by Nozomi trains on Tokaido Shinkansen (including Shin-Kobe) departing by 6:59 or all Hikari trains; Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe.
  3. for travel by Kodama train's Green Car between stations on Tokaido Shinkansen separated at least 100 km and excluding Tokyo to/from Atami; Tokyo and Shinagawa to/from Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka, etc.
• Prices (e.g.):
  [for second class]
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Shin-Osaka [one way] JPY 12,000, saving about 14%
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Hakata [one way] JPY 19,300, saving about 13%
  • Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe - Kokura, Hakata [one way] JPY 11,450, saving about 16-23%
  [for Green Car]
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Shin-Osaka [one way] JPY 14,000, saving about 25%
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa - Hakata [one way] JPY 29,250, saving about 14%
  • Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe - Kokura and Hakata [one way] JPY 14,950, saving about 18-27%
  * Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare.
• Terms of use: Only members of EX-IC Service can buy and use tickets with this deal.
• Purchasable at: Available only online. Access the site of Express Reservation through a PC or mobile, including smartphones.
• Remarks:
  • EX-IC Hayatoku will not be good for Mizuho, Sakura and Tsubame for through service to Kyushu Shinkansen.
  • Travels by up to three connecting trains are allowed within the sectors (1) shown above, except from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata.
  • Travels within the sectors of (1)'s from/to Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe to/from Kokura and Hakata, (2) and (3) are for direct service only. No connections are permitted.
  • Changes are permitted before the departure time of the train, if the passenger doesn't enter the gate with EX-IC card and not receive a boarding bill.
  • This discount's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

The JR companies released the overview of special operational trains in this summer, from July 1, 2013 to September 30. According to them, many extra trains will run during the Bon holiday period and weekends.

Additionally, the Central Japan Railway Company said that they will put two new sets of N700A cars into service during this summer and have eight sets of N700A by the end of September. Because 96 sets of Series N700, JR Central's 80 and JR West's 16, are now enrolled in, through the joining of this new two N700A, the proportion of N700A among of Series N700 typed cars will be raised from 5.9 % to 7.7 %.

One of these sets of N700A, having a registration code of "G7", has already been brought to Torikai Depot in Osaka, in this March. So it will be in service in the near future after July. And the remaining five sets of N700A to be delivered in this year will be put in service one by one, after this October.

This site “Shinkansen Timetable” is now preparing for providing the train schedule of July. The data will be released by the end of May.

Central Japan Railway Company announced that "Miyako no Kanade", an annual music event at Kamigamo-Jinja Shrine in Kyoto, will be held on October 5 again this year. According to them, 2,000 visitors will be invited to that.

The event in 2011, it featured jazz, and in 2012, classic music. This time they said that will consists of "string music focusing on classic". Perhaps the word "focusing" means "including out of classic music", referring to a fantasia of Ghibli. Because it is a regular performance in the event for both of adults and children, this time may have some change in audience.

According to the official site of the player "Twelve Violinists", Ms. Takashima Chisako, the producer of them, has been trying to overturn the common image of classic music, such as rigidly formal and insipid, and make classic music and violin feel familiar to many people. So, it isn't difficult to speculate that this concert will be different than usual, not only in the program, but in staging.

Visit fall-time Kyoto, by Shinkansen.

Overview of Miyako no Kanade

• Date: October 5, 2013
  • the first performance, 16:15 - 17:30 (open at 15:45)
  • the second performance, 18:30 - 19:45 (open at 18:00)
• Place: Kamigamo-Jinja Shrine's Hosodono
• Players:
  • Kondo Aki (piano)
  • Takashima Chisato and the Twelve Violinists (violin)
• Program:
  • Jules Emile Frédéric Massenet - "Méditation de Thaïs"
  • Astor Piazzolla - "Libertango"
  • the Medley of Ghibli, etc.
• Invitation: 500 couples of 1,000 persons by performance, totally 1,000 couples of 2,000 persons
• Close of Application: August 2, 2013
• Application Details: Check it at the official site of "Miayako no Kanade".

Japan Railway companies released their financial highlights of fiscal 2012. So, let's review 2012 for Shinkansen in figures.

At first, on Tokaido Shinkansen by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central).

JR Central's consolidated operating revenue was JPY 1,585.3 billion, increased 5.1 % from the previous term with the effects of Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Non-consolidated transportation revenues was 1,169.1 billion, increased 5.5 % as same. The consolidated operating expenditure was 1,159.1 billion, operating profit 426.1 billion, non-operating profit and loss -98 billion, and ordinary income 328 billion. With disposing of deferred tax asset, net profit for the year reached JPY 199.9 billion, increased 50.6 from the previous term.

As Non-consolidated, JR Central earned 1,169.1 billion transportation revenues. Of them, 1,069.6 billion was from Shinkansen and it comprised 91.5 % of the total transportation revenues.

The latest passenger ridership has yet to be available, but available monthly passenger volume report said that of fiscal 2012 was 106 % over the previous year. The passenger ridership in fiscal 2011 was 143 million, so that in fiscal 2012 could be estimated at around 152 million. Compared to the actual population of Japan, 127 million in 2912, Tokaido Shinkansen's massive transportation capacity and performance was amazing.

According to their financial statements, JR Central will continuously work through safety and stability of transportation, enrichment of transportation service, and enhancement of sales. They estimated fiscal 2013's consolidated operating revenue will be JPY 1,598 billion, increased 0.8 % from the current and non-consolidated transportation revenues 1,172.1 billion, increased 0.3 %.

I will marshal the figures on Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen on the other day.

Times 24, Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company announced that new offer of “EX-IC Park & Ride” for EX-IC card travelers will be available soon. They said this is an effort to enhance the convenience by connecting Shinkansen and driving through coordination of EX-IC service and Times parking facilities.

This discount will be applied to parking fee when the driver unloads the car with holding an EX-IC card over a scanner, after getting off Shinkansen with that card. The first available parking area is Times Shin-Yokohama South Gate Parking near Shin-Yokohama Station. It must be good offer for travelers of driving to Shin-Yokohama Station.

The discount available stations and parking areas will be increased one by one.

Overview of “EX-IC Park & Ride”

• Name of the offer: “EX-IC Park & Ride” (EX-ICパーク＆ライド)
• Target station: Shin-Yokohama
• Target parking area: Times Shin-Yokohama South Gate Parking (TIMES新横浜南口)
• Available from: Mon., May 13, 2013
• How to use:
  1. Load a car at Times Shin-Yokohama South Gate Parking and go by train.
  2. Return to Shin-Yokohama by Shinkansen with EX-IC service. The EX-IC cards must be held over sensors on ticket barriers.
  3. At unloading, hold the IC card again over a sensor on parking checkout machines.
  4. If a log record is available of getting off the Shinkansen at Shin-Yokohama with the EX-IC card on that day, The parking fee will get this discount automatically.
• Terms of use: This is a limited offer for members of Express Reservation Service (エクスプレス予約) and Plus EX Service (プラスEX).
• Remarks:
  • This offer is only for members of Express Reservation Service and Plus EX Service.
  • After traveling by Shinkansen of not using EX-IC, this offer will not be applied.

GRANSTA, a commercial facility in Tokyo Station, will hold "Silver Bell's Fair" (銀の鈴フェア) from May 27 through June 16. During this fair, originating in the first Silver Bell's establishment on June 10, 1968, some shop sells limited items derived from the bell.

Because GRANSTA pierce through the understairs of Tokyo Station from Marunouchi side to Yayesu side, it is within easy reach of Shinkansen tracks. Before coming up to the tracks, come down to the basement and find something nice.

Hot limited-items sold at "Silver Bell's Fair"

• Caffarel (western confectionery)
  • "Spuntino" (JPY 315)^*, a fluffy textured goody of Gianduja flavoring
• Ginza Kanra (Japanese confectionery)
  • "Suzu Awase, Melon" (JPY 200)^*, a bell styled sweet of Momoyama pastry covering shiro-an with melon puree
• Motomachi Kouro-an (Japanese confectionery)
  • "Tokyo Suzu Monaka" (JPY 1,000), a bell styled monaka containing koshi-an and gyuhi.
• Kyo Hayashiya (Japanese confectionery)
  • "Matcha Sable & Cookie" (JPY 700), an assortment of sable and cookie with flavoring of finely milled matcha.
• Kyobashi Senbiki-ya (western confectionery)
  • "Silver Bell's Dessert" (JPY 525)^*, unbaked cake of white chocolate and raspberry sauce, added one grape to resemble the bell
• Tonkatsu Maisen (deli)
  • "Pocket Sandwich of fried pork tenderloin sandwich and eggs" (JPY 470), a pocket sandwich of the bell branded with a hot iron
• Tokyo DOG (bakery)
  • "Silver Bell DOG" (JPY 320)^*, a sweet dog of silvered by white chocolate and argent, and bell shaped by macadamia nuts

^* marked items will end to be sold on June 10.

JR Central announced the plan of Series N700 remodeling. This work is adding new features adopted into the last model of N700A to existing Series N700 cars. By getting powerful brake and constant-speed running keeper, the safety and stability of N700 will be increased.

According to their announcement based on Series N700's overhaul schedule, the remodeling work of existing 80 sets of N700 will be fully completed by the end of fiscal 2015. At the spring of 2016, the ratio of N700A typed cars equipped with new features to all of JR Central's Shinkansen cars will be about 80%.

And they said remodeled N700 cars will be marked by new logos of "N700"attached with small "A". But continuously their name will be remained as "N700". The first remodeled set will start to run in mid-May.

The remodeling plan of Series N700 and the number of N700A typed cars

• fiscal 2013: 32 sets (45 sets of N700A typed cars will be enrolled in total, including 13 sets of N700A and 32 sets of remodeled Series N700)
• fiscal 2014: 37 sets (88 sets of N700A typed, including 19 of N700A and 69 of N700)
• fiscal 2015: 11 sets (105 sets of N700A typed, including 25 of N700A and 80 of N700)

* In fiscal 2016, six sets of N700A will be additionally enrolled, and the number of N700A typed cars will be 111 sets in total.

JR Central is progressing the installation works of moving safety fences on Shinkansen tracks of Tokyo and Shin-Osaka Station. The new fences of Tokyo Station's platform 14 and Shin-Osaka's 27 have been in service since March 16. One by one, the other platforms (No. 15 - 19) of Tokyo will be equipped with the new fence.

As part of this project, JR Central started the installation works of moving fence on Nagoya Station's platform 14 -17. These will be in service by March 2017.

And they said the next target is Kyoto Station's Shinkansen tracks. Because some platform in Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama Station have already had moving fences, the Kyoto Station's works mean all Nozomi-stop stations will have the moving safety fences on their platforms.

JR Central released that they added 10 extra Nozomi services between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka from May 7 to 29. The added Nozomi trains run on Monday - Thursday and most of them travel in best time for business trip.

The availability of bookable seats was increased by about 10,000, including 2,000 of Green cars. Shince April 26, it is already possible to reserve the seats on these trains.

Additional Westbound Nozomi Trains (from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka)

• Wed, May 8
  • Nozomi 397, Tokyo 18:13 → Shin-Osaka 20:47
• Thu, May 9
  • Nozomi 417, Tokyo 20:40 → Shin-Osaka 23:13
• Wed, May 15
  • Nozomi 325, Tokyo 09:47 → Shin-Osaka 12:23
• Thu, May 16
  • Nozomi 387, Tokyo 16:47 → Shin-Osaka 19:23
• Thu, May 23
  • Nozomi 389, Tokyo 17:13 → Shin-Osaka 19:47

Additional Eastbound Nozomi Trains (from Hiroshima/Shin-Osaka to Tokyo)

• Tue, May 7
  • Nozomi 302, Shin-Osaka 06:47 → Tokyo 09:20
• Thu, May 16
  • Nozomi 320, Shin-Osaka 09:56 → Tokyo 12:30
• Mon, May 27
  • Nozomi 234, Shin-Osaka 15:27 → Tokyo 18:03
  • Nozomi 408, Shin-Osaka 20:47 → Tokyo 23:19
• Wed, May 29
  • Nozomi 388, Shin-Osaka 18:20 → Tokyo 20:56

JR West announced that the new station building "piole HIMEJI" will be opened on April 30, 2013.

The new building, which has six stories above ground and one below, has about 13,000 m² of total store floor area, and 119 shops such as Tokyu Hands and Uniqlo are housed in that. As the new landmark of Himeji, the town of World Heritage listed Himeji-jo Castle, that was designed with sticking to the castle.

Firstly, quite impressive white panelled wall on the north face is from the color of the castle known as "Shirasagi-jo (an egret castle)" and the shape of stonewall. In the evening, LED ambient lighting illuminates the building. Of course, the illuminated pictures are in the motif of egrets.

Because the glass-walled northwest corner has a superb view of Himeji-jo, two cafes of Nana's Green Tea on the third floor and Starbucks Cafe on the forth are located there. On the sixth floor, a kinetic art with the story of an egret flying from the castle is displayed to the public. A prospecting point for Himeji-jo is available on the rooftop terrace, 34 m from the ground.

The name of "piole" is a coined word of their concept; as a mall connecting "People" of living, visiting this city and "EKI" (a station), they offer "Impressions" to the dream and exiting, "Originality" with individuality, and ideal "Life-styles". Its logo's pink means youth and enthusiasm, and green means a place of relief.

The existing mall of "PLiE" will be united with "piole", and they will be integrally managed as the "piole HIMEJI". As a whole, piole has 202 shops and 23,000 m² of total store floor area. With opening of this new mall of wide variety in fashion, books, beauty, foods and gifts, Himeji Station will be changed to lovely station having an attractive commercial facilities.