Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese train stations do that? Topics Discussed The train system in rural areas versus urban areas in Japan Trains in Kagoshima and Ishikawa What a Wanmanressha (one man trains) is Unmanned rural train stations Why Japanese train stations use cute songs to indicate a train is about …

Travel to Kyoto in style, Kyoto-style. Japan’s famous train system is about to become even more unique, thanks to the introduction of the Kyo-train Garaku, a new train service that will soon start running between Kyoto and Osaka. Forget the dull, sparse interiors of most trains—the interior of the Kyo-train Garaku is styled on Kyoto townhouses and the carriages feature …

Choo choo. Thanks to its abundance of trains, Japan has no shortage of what have come to be known as densha otaku. These “train nerds” absolutely love trains and are always coming up with new and interesting ways to share this love with the rest of the world.  Take the case of a YouTube user going by the name of …