Nippon Sharyo released that they got an order of producing new Shinkansen cars called N700A (Series N700-1000).

N700A is a tweaked type of Series N700 and initially JR Central announced six sets of them in 2012 and seven in 2013 will be put into service. Recently Nippon Sharyo said they will produce four N700A sets in 2012 and six in 2013.

As of this moment, it seems no official announcements of order to produce the left three set of N700A are available.

JR Central announced that they will start installation work of moving safety fence on Tokyo Station track No. 14 in this month. This is because cheaper and sooner installable new fence was developed and car's door locations will be standardized with Series 300's retirement in this March. The new fence will be hooked up to existing immobile fence. Shin-Osaka Station's track No. 27, which are beeing built at this moment, will have same type of new safety fence. The new fences on Tokyo's platform 14 and Shin-Osaka's platform 27 are scheduled to start operation in March, 2013. They will gradually install new fence on Tokyo Station's other Tokaido Shinkansen tracks (No. 15 - 19) by March, 2015 and are planning works at other Nozomi stop stations.

Chugoku Shimbun reported that the improving work of Fukuyama Station's south exit square will be finished by the end of this March.

The bus stops and taxi stand will be relocated by this project for the area of 14,000m² on the south of the station. The basement public driveway apron has been already opened since the last July. By operating expense ratio, 90% of works are finished and the bus park, drainage, lighting and paving will be completed by the end of March.

In another article, they reported that Mr. NODA, Masaaki, who hails from Fukuyama, is making a 6.7-meter-high artwork for the renovated station square.

To attract tourists, JR Group, Kyoto City and Kyoto City Tourism Association are conducting Kyoto Winter Travel Campaign from December 1, 2011 to March 20, 2012. Featuring Taira no Kiyomori of NHK period drama and dragon of 2012's Oriental Zodiac, selected 13 secret cultural properties will be specially opened to the public.

In tune with this campaign, JR West is selling a ticket package including Shinkansen to Kyoto and local transportation in the city.

Overview of Nozomi and Kyoto Kanko Free Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Nozomi and Kyoto Kanko Free Ticket (のぞみ＆京都観光フリーきっぷ meaning Nozomi and Kyoto sightseeing trip ticket)
• Travel dates: Fri, December 9, 2011 - Thu, March 22, 2012
  # The final departure date is March 20.
• Period of selling: Fri, November 25, 2011 - Mon, March 19, 2012
  # The ticket is available 25 - 1 day(s) before departure.
• Maximum period of travel: three days
• Effects of the ticket:
  • This ticket allows round trip to Kyoto by Nozomi and unlimited ride on JR lines in Kyoto area for three days.
  • A voucher for two-day unlimited pass of six rails and eight bus companies in Kyoto is included.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.)
  • from Okayama, 16,000 JPY
  • from Fukuyama, 18,000 JPY
  • from Hiroshima, 23,000 JPY
  • from Shin-Yamaguchi, 28,000 JPY
  • from Kita-Kyushu (Kokura), 28,500 JPY
• Purchasable at: major stations of JR West and travel vendors around departure area
• 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.
  • Tourists can enjoy benefits and discounts wish showing the pass or bringing bound-in coupons.

For this winter holidays returning, JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu estimated that the peak of crowding will be on January 3.

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 morning of January 01, 2012. Visit the site of JR Cyber Station and get up-to-the-minute details.

eastbound: from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo by Tokaido Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Hakata to Shin-Osaka by Sanyo Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Kagoshima-Chuo to Hakata by Kyushu Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Hakata to Tokyo by Tokaido and Sanyo's thru service

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Kagoshima-Chuo to Shin-Osaka by Sanyo and Kyushu's thru service

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

The brand of coffee selling in Shinkansen cars has been changed since this December. The new brand was named "AROMA EXPRESS CAFE", which means rich aromas allowing passengers to relax during the hours in Shinkansen trains.

The beans are roasted as City Roast exhibiting good balance on acidity, sweetness and bitterness. Rich flavor, full bodied taste and reasonable bitterness are the characteristic of new coffee. To ensure the freshly-grinded flavor, the roasted beans are immediately sealed and minimized getting oxidized. The logos and cups has been refreshed with this brand renewal.

This new coffee was started to sell on December 1, 2011 and some special campain has been conducted. As the third term of the campaign, coffee coupons are sold for 1,200 JPY a set of five tickets, good until the end of August, 2012. This coffee coupons are purchasable at station kiosks and salesclerk on train until the end of February, 2012.

JR Central and JR West announced the launch dates of Shin-Osaka station's renovating facilities. On the heals of adding windows at Central Ticket Counter, improved facilities will be placed in service oen after another. And they will employ LED bulbs as the light source in illumination and directional signs to cut electric power consumption.

Facilities' renovating details and launch dates are as follows.

Newly-buliting and extending of ticket counters

• Two more windows are available at Central Ticket Counter. These have been opened since December 18, 2011.
• Three new windows and six automatic reservation ticket vending machines will be placed by existing Central Exit Gate. Planed to be opened on February 5, 2012 or occasionally on 12.

Passage refinements

• Existing Central Exit Gate for leaving passengers will be also for entering and changed its name to South Gate. Planned to be opened on February 5, 2012 or occasionally on 12.
• Existing Central Entrance Gate for entering passengers will be also for leaving and changed its name to Central Gate. Planned to be opened in May, 2012. Ways at the gate will be increased from current five to 11 in 2012's winter.
• The North Entrance, connecting to Shin-Osaka Hankyu Building on the north of the station, will be newly opened on August 22, 2012. New pathway in the building will lead to the pedestrian walkway on Shin-Midosuji and the subway station.

For this 2011-2012's winter holidays, JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu estimated that the peak of crowding will be on December 30 for westbound trains and on January 3 for eastbound.

The charts shown below the 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, 2011. Visit the site of JR Cyber Station and get up-to-the-minute details.

westbound: from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka by Tokaido Shinkansen

From left, December 29, 30 and 31's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo by Tokaido Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

westbound: from Shin-Osaka to Hakata by Sanyo Shinkansen

From left, December 29, 30 and 31's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Hakata to Shin-Osaka by Sanyo Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

westbound: from Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo by Kyushu Shinkansen

From left, December 29, 30 and 31's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Kagoshima-Chuo to Hakata by Kyushu Shinkansen

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

westbound: from Tokyo to Hakata by Tokaido and Sanyo's thru service

From left, December 29, 30 and 31's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Hakata to Tokyo by Tokaido and Sanyo's thru service

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

eastbound: from Kagoshima-Chuo to Shin-Osaka by Sanyo and Kyushu's thru service

From left, December 29, 30 and 31's seat availabilities.

westbound: from Shin-Osaka to Kagoshima-Chuo by Sanyo and Kyushu's thru service

From left, January 2, 3 and 4's seat availabilities.

JR companies released the outlines of new service schedule changed in next March. The revice date will be March 17, 2012. All regular Nozomi trains will be operated by Series N700 cars, Mizuho and Sakura trains will be increased their frequency, and Series 300 and Series 100 cars ends their service, etc. This will also be a schedule revision with many topics.

All regular Nozomi trains run with Series N700.

All regular Nozomi trains will be operated by Series N700 cars which is the newest vehicles providing comfort travel with energy saving. The number of Hikari and Kodama on Tokaido Shinkansen operated by Series N700 are increased. In total, 199 trains of about 64% in all 312 regular trains are Series N700.

Mizuho and Sakura trains are increased.

Mizuho and Sakura trains, which provide through service between Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen, will be increased. Mizuho trains will make five round trips a day and Sakura will make 18. In a day, these trains travels 23 round trips and two services are available an hour during in the morning and evening. New Mizuho leaves Shin-Osaka at 8:59 and arrives Kagoshima-Chuo at 12:44 and leaves Kagoshima-Chuo at 16:00 and arrives Shin-Osaka at 19:44.

New Nozomi service from/to Okayama starts.

Two Nozomi from Okayama in early morning are moved up minutes and arrive at Tokyo in ten minutes earlier. The other Nozomi from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo will start its travel from Okayama. In the night, two Nozomi for Shin-Osaka will extend its travel to Okayama and Himeji. It increases the frequency and extends the time of last train. A Nozomi in the night will stop at Nishi-Akashi for the first time as westbound Nozomi trains.

Direct Hikari services are decreased.

Reflecting on the increasing and changing Nozomi services in the morning and night, four Hikari trains traveling directly to Sanyo Shinkansen will start/stop its travel at Shin-Osaka. Accessing beyond Shin-Osaka will be kept by supporting connectivity to other Kodama and Nozomi trains.

New Hikari trains run for commuting.

On Sanyo Shinkansen, new Hikari trains run for work or school at Okayama, Hiroshima and other area.

Hikari Railstar are geratly reduced.

Hikari Railstar service proviced on Sanyo Shinkansen by the special vehicles will be greatly reduced. The most part of them are replaced by increased Sakura trains.

Ten Nozomi runs an hour.

New extra Nozomi services are scheduled in the evening. They will be new tenth Nozomi service in those hours.

Nozomi travels faster between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

Nozomi trains in the day time will travel faster and reduce about three minutes between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. Most Nozomi trains connects Tokyo and Shin-Osaka for two hours and 36 - 37 minutes now and newly two hours and 33 - 34 minutes.

Travel time are reduced in Kyushu Shinkansen.

Due to removing the controls on high speed passing in Kyushu Shinkansen, the fastest train travels between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo for three hours and 42 minutes, faster by three minutes, and between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo for one hour and 17 minutes, faster by two minutes.

Series 300 and Series 100 retire.

Series 300 and Series 100 cars retire from active services. After that, two kinds of cars, Series N700 and Series 700, on Tokaido Shinkansen and five, Series N700 of 16 car set and eight-car set for Sakura, Series 700 of 16 car set and eight-car set for Hikari Railstar and Series 500 for Kodama trains, on Sanyo Shinkansen are available. These all have fresh and comfort cabins, because they are built or re-built after debut of Series 300.

Series 700 of Hikari Railstar style are fully no-smoking.

In Series 700 of eight-car set for Hikari Railstar and Kodama trains, car six will be a no-smoking cabin. These cars have no space to smoke and these car set will be completely smoke free.

Others

Depending on the popularity, some Nozomi train stops its daily operation or change its destination.

JR Central and JR West announced that EX-IC Hayatoku (EX-IC早特), the discount offer for early purchasing EX-IC members, will be good until March 31, 2012. Its available sectors and prices are the same as going.

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: until Sat, March 31, 2012
• Period of selling: from 10:00 of a month before up to 23:30 of three days prior to the travel date
• Tickets are availabe from 10:00 on the day of a month to 23:30 of three days before departure.
• Effects of the ticket: This deals allows one-way travel on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen.
• Available sectors:
  1. for long-distance travel striding over Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen; from/to Tokyo and Shinagawa to/from Okayama, Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, from/to Shizuoka to/from Hiroshima, Kokura and Hakata, from/to 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; from/to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama to/from Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe, etc.
  3. for travel by Kodama train's Green Car between stations on Tokaido Shinkansen separated at least 100 km and excluding from/to Tokyo to/from Atami; from/to 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%
• 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 and Sakura 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 don'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.

JR West extended the selling period and travel dates of Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket (東京往復スーパー早特きっぷ). That will be good until the end of next March. The set of valid legs and prices have no changes.

Overview of Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Tokyo Oufuku Super Hayatoku Ticket (東京往復スーパー早特きっぷ meaning Ultra Early Booking Discount Round Ticket to Tokyo)
• Travel dates: Fri, December 30, 2011 - Sat, March 31, 2012 (Final departure date is March 29.)
• Period of selling: Fri, December 2, 2011 - Wed, March 7, 2012 (Tickets are available 28 - 22 days before the departure.)
• Maximum period of travel: three days
• Effects of the ticket: This ticket allows roundtrip by Nozomi train's assigned seats in second class cars. Tickets for Green-car travelers are also available.
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.):
  [for Second Class]
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 24,000 JPY, saving about 24%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 26,000 JPY, saving about 25%
  [for Green-car]
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 32,000 JPY, saving about 26%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 35,000 JPY, saving about 28%
  # Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare and calculated with assuming "Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama" is Tokyo.
  # Local stations in the cities are included in the available sectors, like stations in Hiroshima city are described as "Hiroshima" and Tokyo's 23 wards as "Tokyo, Shinagawa" above.
  # The price for a child is half of the fare for an adult.
  # See the web site of JR Odekake Net (by JR West) for other sectors and prices.
• Purchasable at: a major JR station and a major travel vendor around the departing area
• Remarks:
  • 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, Sakura or Kodama trains are available.
  • This ticket's availability is limited on a train-to-train basis.

JR Central and JR West extended the the selling period and travel dates of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ). That will be good until April 6, 2012. The set of valid legs has no changes, but ticket price for some leg is increased.

Overview of Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket

• Name of the ticket: Nozomi Hayatoku Oufuku Ticket (のぞみ早特往復きっぷ meaning Nozomi Early Booking Discount Round Trip Ticket)
• Travel dates: Sun, Jan 1, 2012 - Fri, Apr 6 (Final departure date is March 31.)
• Period of selling: Sun, Dec 11, 2011 - Sat, Mar 24, 2012 (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]: 28,000 JPY, saving about 17% (increased by 2,000 JPY)
  • from Okayama to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 28,000 JPY, saving about 12%
  • from Hiroshima to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 31,000 JPY, saving about 11%
  • from Hakata and Kokura to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 33,000 JPY, saving about 21%
  • from Yonago, Matsue, Izumoshi to Tokyo, Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama [RT]: 30,000 JPY, saving about 17-19%
  # Shown discount rates are against regular season's fare and calculated 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.

JR West announced that they will sell a discount tickets for travels on New Year's Day. This "Ganjitsu JR West Norihodai Ticket" (「元日・JR西日本乗り放題きっぷ」) allows unlimited ride of trains on JR West and Chizu Express lines. This ticket has two types according to the seating class and the prices of both types are 1,000 JPY higher than before.

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: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Sun, December 11, 2011 - Fri, 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 15,000 for an adult, JPY 7,500 for a child
  • [for Green Cars] JPY 17,000 for an adult, JPY 8,500 for a child
• Purchasable at: JR West's major stations and shops of travel vendors

JR Central announced that they will sell two discount tickets for travels on New Year's Day. One is "Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket" for unlimited riding of Kodama and local express trains, and the other is "Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket" for return trip by Nozomi trains.

The features of "Shinshun Kodama and Wide-View Free Ticket" are same as those for the New Year's Day in 2011. But passengers going for Minobu and Kofu area be aware that Wide-View Fujikawa trains are fully suspended because of Minobu Line's partial closure due to the damage from 2011's typhoon No. 15.

"Shinshun Nozomi Green Hayatoku Higaeri Ticket" for the next New Year has newly available sections of Tokyo/Shinagawa/Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya and miss sections from Himeji. Tickets for Shin-Kobe is cut the price by 1,000 JPY and tickets between Tokyo/Shinagawa/Shin-Yokohama - Kyoto/Shin-Osaka/Shin-Kobe are priced uniformly 20,000 JPY.

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: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Thu, December 1, 2011 - Sun, January 1, 2012
• 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] 13,000 JPY for an adult, 3,000 JPY for a child
  • [Four Green Car Seating] 15,000 JPY for an adult, 5,000 JPY 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: Sun, January 1, 2012
• Period of selling: Sun, December 11, 2011 - Sun, 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: Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe
• Prices:
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Nagoya [RT] 17,000 JPY
  • Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama - Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe [RT] 20,000 JPY
• 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.

JR Central offers "Family Cabin" (ファミリー新幹線) on Tokaido Shinkansen for 2011-2012's winter season. As same in this summer, that special cabins will be available in one train going for Shin-Osaka and another for Tokyo per a day. A special in-car event, a chance to impersonate a conductor, is planned for the train on December 24.

Families can be on board with crying and screaming little babies without hesitation. That may be a nice choice for winter travels.

Overview of "Family Cabin"

• Name of the wares: Family Sharyo (ファミリー車両 meaning Special Cabins for Families)
• Effects of the wares: Special cabins for passengers with children in Nozomi train between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka
• Travel dates: December 23-28, 2011 and January 5-9, 2012
• Period of selling: from 14:00 on November 17, 2011 until seven days prior to the travel date
• Major available sectors and prices (e.g.):
  • Tokyo - Nagoya [one-way], JPY 10,000 for an adult and 4,600 for a child
  • Tokyo - Shin-Osaka [one-way], JPY 13,200 for an adult and 5,900 for a child
  • Nagoya - Shin-Osaka [one-way], JPY 6,000 for an adult and 3,000 for a child
• Schedules:
  [from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka]
  • Nozomi 333, Tokyo 11:20 → Shin-Osaka 13:56 (December 28, January 05)
  • Nozomi 227, Tokyo 12:00 → Shin-Osaka 14:36 (January 08)
  • Nozomi 343, Tokyo 12:20 → Shin-Osaka 14:56 (December 26, January 06)
  • Nozomi 353, Tokyo 13:20 → Shin-Osaka 15:56 (December 23, 25, 27, January 07)
  • Nozomi 231, Tokyo 14:00 → Shin-Osaka 16:36 (December 24)
  • Nozomi 363, Tokyo 14:20 → Shin-Osaka 16:56 (January 09)
  [from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo]
  • Nozomi 334, Shin-Osaka 11:27 → Tokyo 14:03 (January 05)
  • Nozomi 228, Shin-Osaka 11:47 → Tokyo 14:23 (January 09)
  • Nozomi 344, Shin-Osaka 12:27 → Tokyo 15:03 (January 06)
  • Nozomi 230, Shin-Osaka 12:47 → Tokyo 15:23 (December 24, 27)
  • Nozomi 350, Shin-Osaka 13:07 → Tokyo 15:43 (December 23, 25, 28)
  • Nozomi 360, Shin-Osaka 14:07 → Tokyo 16:43 (December 26, January 07, 08)
  # Family cabin's dates are provided above in parentheses.
• Terms of use: For passengers with one or more children of primary schooler or younger.
• Purchasable at: of JR Tokai Tours branches around Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka area and an online shopping desk (旅の通販デスク)
• Remarks:
  • One extra seat will be assigned by a group, excluding infants aged 0.
  • Child fare is applied for a baby because a seat will be assigned for him/her. So the tickets may be more expensive than the regular case if the passengers are traveling with babies.
  • Drink vouchers included.