Outage occurred between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima stations after the snake appeared to have climbed an electricity pole Japan’s busiest bullet train line was brought to a halt on Wednesday after a metre-long snake wrapped itself around a power line, shorting the electricity supply and stranding hundreds of passengers. Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were brought to a standstill by the snake, with news reports showing footage of people inside trains waiting for services to resume. Power did not appear to have been cut inside trains, with lights and air conditioning still functioning, according to passengers. The outage happened at 5.25pm between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima stations, after the snake appeared to have climbed an electricity pole, meeting its demise as it attempted to slither along the overhead line. Power was not restored until after 7pm. Read moreThe Golden Week series of national holidays began on Wednesday, with millions on the move across Japan returning to home towns and taking family vacations which opened mid-April and runs until October is attracting even more people than usual to the city “I use the shinkansen several times a month but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage,” Satoshi Tagawa Nagoya and Osaka with more than 370 trains daily carrying an average of 430,000 passengers it takes less than two and a half hours to Osaka from the Japanese capital However, it is not the first time reptiles have delayed shinkansen. Read moreA 40cm snake inside a carriage on a Nagoya to Tokyo service in April last year caused consternation among passengers an electricity outage was also caused by a snake climbing on to power lines stopping trains between Tokyo and Fukushima Asian Power website works best with Javascript enabled Please enable your javascript and reload the page Vena Energy has commenced commercial operation for its 31.65 megawatt Maibara Solar Project is projected to energise approximately 8,560 Japanese households annually avoiding approximately 18,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum The Maibara Solar Project has signed a corporate power purchase agreement with Mitsubishi Corporation Clean Energy in February 2024 Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Tasty "ekiben" offerings from a longtime Shiga Prefecture company that were once popular at train stations around Japan are nearing the end of the line The boxed lunch meals enjoyed by passengers of the Tokaido Shinkansen and JR Hokuriku Line for ages will be discontinued at the end of February Although the manufacturer in Shiga Prefecture had been selling the handmade lunches featuring local ingredients it decided to withdraw due to the drop in the number of customers and rise in the cost of ingredients Railroad enthusiasts are sorry to see the ekiben go the first year of the five-year Ansei Era in the Edo Period (1603-1867) and originally ran a lodging for travelers in Nagahama in the prefecture Foreseeing the full opening of the Tokaido Line from Shinbashi to Kobe in 1889 the company relocated to Maibara and launched its ekiben business The company currently sells eight kinds of bento Particularly well known is “Kohoku no ohanashi” at 1,480 yen including tax ($9.50) which went on sale in 1987 as “bullet train gourmet food” to coincide with the privatization of the Japanese National Railways that became the Japan Railways Group that year Kohoku no ohanashi features roasted duck from the former Kohoku town in northern Shiga Prefecture Japanese smelt stewed in soy sauce and sugar “wakegi” tree onion seasoned with vinegared miso seasonal “okowa” (cooked glutinous rice) laid on cherry leaves They are reminiscent of what grandmothers cook and pack for their children who came to visit “Omi-gyu oirimeshi” (1,480 yen including tax) featuring Omi beef sauteed with original sauce and placed on curry-flavored rice and “Ganso tsuragamae masu-zushi” (1,300 yen including tax) that offers trout raised at the local Samegai Trout Farm Kyoto and Shin-Osaka stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen as well as department stores in Tokyo But the company started downsizing in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic It now sells only at outlets in Maibara Station in the bullet train and conventional railway line areas and at its head office near the west exit of the station due to the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Tsuruga the limited express train Shirasagi that had operated between Nagoya and Kanazawa stations by way of Maibara Station was shortened to run between Nagoya and Tsuruga stations During the Golden Week holiday and Bon vacation periods last year the number of passengers who boarded the Shirasagi between Maibara and Tsuruga dropped sharply by 49 percent during Golden Week and by 40 percent during Bon compared to the same period in the previous year Many passengers seem to have avoided transferring at Tsuruga Station Izutsuya posted greetings from its president Ako Miyagawa on its website titled “On our withdrawal from the ekiben business.” “Food is increasingly turning into industrial products and the culture of making by hand is vanishing We decided that it is not a good idea to leave the ekiben that has inherited the DNA of Izutsuya in such an environment “Now that Maibara is no longer a transportation hub we feel … that Izutsuya has sufficiently served its function as an operator in the station,” she continued The company will discontinue selling the lunches at the end of February and wind up its ekiben business by March 20 udon and soba noodles and curry rice set up in the company’s main office near the west exit of Maibara Station will also be closed at the end of February Although it will withdraw from the food business Izutsuya will continue its real estate rental operation “I know it is the way things go but I feel sad,” “The ekiben I bought by racing up the stairs while the Kodama bullet train was stopping tasted so good” and “Kohoku no ohanashi was Japan’s best ekiben.” “We are so grateful that many people are telling us that they are sorry to see them go I hope they will visit us since we will be in business as usual until the end of February,” said Hideyuki Hayashi The sales of Izutsuya’s ekiben will end as soon as they are sold out at the outlets in Maibara Station and the main office Power outage disrupts bullet train services for up to 4 hours Travel plans derailed as Tokaido bullet trains inoperable Train schedules for March roll out new Tsubasa Tokyo Station Shinkansen now more wheelchair accessible Hokuriku bullet train to extend to Tsuruga starting March 16 Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Tokaido Shinkansen bullet trains on some sections between Mikawa-Anjo near Nagoya in central Japan and Osaka are operating at a slower speed than usual due to snowfall in Maibara The speed reduction from the first service of the day is expected to add over 30 minutes to journeys with longer disruptions possible later Saturday The Japan Meteorological Agency warned of heavy snow as a strong winter pressure pattern persists resulting in highly unstable atmospheric conditions Heavy snow has been reported in some areas in the north and west with a risk of snow accumulation at lower elevations near the Pacific Heavy snowfall hits Sea of Japan coast area, disrupts traffic Sapporo Snow Festival kicks off weeklong extravaganza in Japan's Hokkaido To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible Tesla will supply the new Orix plant in Japan with its Megapack storage batteries with a combined total capacity of 548 megawatt-hours automaker Tesla will deliver large storage batteries to one of Japan's largest power storage plants planned by financial services group Orix as demand for facilities that help manage power supply and demand grows with the spread of renewable energy Tesla will supply its Megapack storage batteries with a combined total capacity of 548 megawatt-hours to the facility in Maibara in central Japan's Shiga prefecture which will begin operation as early as 2027 Leaf KYOTO Store Locations [Mr.CHIFFONCAKE] is a new attraction in front of Maibara Station Hikone-based Confectionery Workshop Fukumoto known for its sweets that make the most of the flavors of their ingredients has opened a store specializing in chiffon sandwiches The shop offers seven varieties of moist and fluffy chiffon cakes sandwiched with pure whipped cream the cakes are popular for their light texture that does not overwhelm the stomach try the 550 yen whipped chiffon cake sandwich with fresh strawberries picked in the morning from Strawberry Fields Kitasaka Today's print edition Home Delivery a 1,377-meter-high mountain straddling Shiga and Gifu prefectures that is visited by many climbers is now on the verge of a crisis — being seriously damaged by wild Japanese sika deer eating its plants the mountain's slopes collapsed due to heavy rain leading to the closure of trails.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The alpine flower field at the summit is listed as a national natural monument which is mainly responsible for maintaining the mountain calls the situation the “Mount Ibuki shock,” and is working to restore the mountain's ecological balance In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. 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The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Archive HOUSING Tesla and Sumitomo Electric have both been selected to supply energy storage projects in Japan Tesla will supply Megapacks for a BESS project while Sumitomo will deploy a 12MWh vanadium flow battery Financial services firm Orix Corporation selected Tesla to supply 134MW/548MWh of BESS to the Maibara Koto Power Storage Plant project in the city of Maibara Tesla will provide Megapacks for the 4.1-hour duration battery energy storage system (BESS) project It is not Orix’s first BESS project in Japan, having in 2022 announced the deployment of a 113MWh BESS in partnership with utility Kansai Electric for operation in 2024 The 2023 auctions appear to have increased interest and activity in Japan’s energy storage market, from BESS investment platforms from abroad including Eku Energy and Gore Street as well as local utilities and independent power producers (IPPs) technology provider Sumitomo Electric will provide a 4MW/12.5MWh redox flow battery system for a project on the Oki Islands off the coast about a day’s drive west of Maibara The project in Ama Town is an initiative from utility Chugoku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Co in partnership with local authorities and a company called ‘como-gomo.company’ It didn’t say when the project would be built but said it will benefit from a subsidy under the Ministry of the Environment’s “Facility Introduction Support Project for Mainstreaming Renewable Energy in Remote Islands.” Sumitomo Electric also didn’t say exactly what kind of electrolyte-based flow battery it would deploy but the company has typically used vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) technology The project will contribute to carbon neutrality and resilience in the face of natural disasters in the Oki Islands It will involve building a power network that will enable microgrid operation during emergencies Sumitomo Electric has previously deployed 8MWh and 51MWh VRFB projects in Japan the energy storage facility will have a rated capacity of 548MWh Japanese company ORIX Corporation has announced plans to construct the Maibara-Koto energy storage plant with a rated output of 134MW and a capacity of 548 megawatt hours The development will be one of the largest energy storage facilities in Japan To be situated in the city of Maibara in Shiga prefecture the Maibara-Koto plant will commence construction in November 2024 and begin operations in 2027 The project has been designed to provide enough energy to power approximately 48,000 households daily ORIX secured the project through a competitive decarbonisation energy auction from the Organisation for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators which promotes investment in low-carbon energy solutions and guarantees a fixed income for two decades thus ensuring long-term profitability for such initiatives The plant will be built on a leased 26,000m² area Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis ORIX plans to install 140 containers of lithium-ion storage batteries on the site The establishment of the plant is part of Japan’s broader strategy to promote renewable energy as a primary power source to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind are subject to weather-related fluctuations posing challenges to the stable supply of electricity ORIX ventured into the energy storage plant business in 2022 and has been working on expanding its presence across Japan The company collaborates with partners including local governments and businesses to optimise the use of public and private lands for such projects In May 2024 ORIX also commenced operations at the Minami-Kayabe geothermal power plant in Hokkaido Prefecture It has a 6.5MW capacity and is the largest binary cycle geothermal power plant in the country Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network the Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden launched in April 2019 becoming Aardman’s first Asian farm attraction Visitors can explore life-sized versions of the sets such as Farmer’s House and the Sheep’s Barn alongside a selection of bespoke character sculptures The attraction also features a café with an outdoor terrace and a multipurpose facility available for hosting exhibitions and events Visitor numbers to Rosa & Berry have increased by over 200% since the attraction opened The attraction continues to expand brand activities responsible for the strategic development and management of a portfolio of global live events differentiated by their contrasting programs and character, ALTS design office has recently completed the ‘maibara house’ in shiga the client primarily needed two spaces: one for privacy and the other solely as an inviting communal area white volume with no windows on the front façade the two-storey building holds the family’s private quarters been organized on the side walls to allow light in but primarily the exterior doesn’t give away what is happening inside juxtaposing against the stark white volume shed-like building and exemplified with a traditional japanese aesthetic the large sliding doors open up the simple room wrapped in wood- accentuating the welcoming space filled with natural light large doors open up to a wood-wrapped family room the two programs are connected by a hallway the choice of erecting different structures to host their individual uses enabled the architects to place emphasis on accentuating the nature of each interior a hallway connects the two programs together AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Services were temporarily disrupted Wednesday on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train line connecting Tokyo and Osaka after a snake tangled in overhead wires and caused a power outage The incident occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations around 5:25 p.m. causing suspensions on the Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo Passengers gathered around staff at Nagoya Station seeking explanations for the delay while large crowds also formed lines at the ticket machines "I use the shinkansen several times a month but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," said Satoshi Tagawa "I am relieved," said 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi "But I am fed up with the troubles (with shinkansen services) Chance to touch "Doctor Yellow" bullet train, lucky icon in Japan Japan train station officials railing at trespassing Evangelion fans India weighs Japan's next-generation bullet train for high-speed rail Ushijima Architects has developed ‘U-House In Irie’ as a two story-residence able to withstand future changes that may occur on its surrounding landscape. The project is located on the site of a former lake in Maibara City, Japan which was transformed into land to serve as a rice field With a history of flooding and the uncertain ways global warming might affect the area in the future the Japanese architecture studio built a structure that ‘will continue to float like a boat while its surroundings change.’ all images by Shinya Tsujita Ushijima Architects took into account two main elements during the design of the project: the floods and the reeds that grow on the surrounding land with the ground floor consisting of a piloti and an open bright space where residents can grow their plants The upper level contains all main areas of the home The entire upper level is raised on diagonal and vertical wooden stilts, which protect it from future flood damage. In contrast to the openness of the ground floor, this level is more closed off, creating a warmer atmosphere for its inhabitants. The Japanese architects have combined two main materials in the project The materiality of the home’s ground level allows it to blend into the landscape clad in a charred wood (shou sugi ban) exterior will stand out even if the site’s reeds continue to grow around it the upper level is raised on diagonal and vertical wooden stilts the house combines two locally-sourced materials residents can grow plants inside the light-filled space the upper level contains all main areas of the home architect: Ushijima Architects site area: 202.34 sqm construction area: 59.62 sqm total floor area: 124.83 sqm Shiga Prefecture--Tiny white aquatic flowers are in full bloom in the clear waters of the Jizogawa river which runs through a historic district here Visitors enjoyed the picturesque view of the plum-like baikamo flowers The Samegaishuku district served as a staging post along a major travel route during the Edo Period (1603-1867) Baikamo blossoms are late this year and they can be enjoyed until late August Tokyo High Court rules state not liable in 2011 nuclear accident EDITORIAL: Ruling calls for review of NRA’s nuclear reactor safety screening Japan's itasha cars run the gambit from official to horrific. Some have even crossed the ocean, with recent sightings in Miami Prizes will be awarded throughout the day to the estimated 120 participants Last year, Nintendo's Splatoon was a popular subject for itasha at the event. The word "itasha" means "painful car" and while some are a literal embodiment of the term, most are just kinda colorfully loud. The idea has moved beyond motor vehicles to toilets and other objects Source: Anime! Anime! National Report (JR West) will temporarily suspend train operations in some sections in Osaka Prefecture from around noon on July 24 for the removal of an unexploded U.S JR West announced on June 16 that it expects services will be halted between Takatsuki and Osaka on the Kyoto Line as well as between Shin-Osaka and Hanaten on the Osaka-Higashi Line for about three hours But the railway operator also said it may take more time before it can resume operations depending on the progress of the work to dispose of the bomb found at a construction site in Suita in the prefecture in late April The work will also force JR West to suspend special rapid train services between Maibara and Himeji on the Biwako It will also halt the services for the limited express trains Thunderbird is 1.8 meters long and has a diameter of 60 centimeters Personnel from the Ground Self-Defense Force will defuse and remove the bomb from noon on July 24 the city will place an area within a roughly 300-meter radius from the site off-limits and ask some 2,000 people from about 950 households living in the zone Kintetsu Railway plans to haul industrial items on express trains JR East to scrap New Year’s Eve’s all-night trains due to virus spike Last stop for JNR 381-series trains still running in Honshu in 2024 bullet train ridership fall 90-95% in Golden Week Shiga — The clear waters of the Soya River flows past Mt which rises in the northeastern part of Shiga Prefecture Deep in the mountains in Maibara in the prefecture is Matsuoji temple which belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism displays a real fighter plane propeller in its main hall please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent By Kayo Hayashi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer It shares a connection with a pair of principal images belonging to the temple called “Kuju Higyo Kanzeon Bosatsu” (Flying Kannon Bodhisattva) which are usually not displayed to the public it was founded in 680 when two Kannon statues flew from a cloud in the sky to En no Gyoja who is said to be the founder of mountain asceticism when the temple’s main hall was burned down by the warlord Oda Nobunaga’s forces the principal statues escaped by flying away In front of the zushi miniature shrine now containing the statues there are another pair of Buddhist statues called “omae dachi.” As the principal statues are usually hidden from view except during a public event called gokaicho visitors worship the omae dachi statues instead “We still keep wooden signboards that were displayed during past gokaicho events,” said Chojin Kondo A signboard from the late Edo period (1603-1867) reads “sacred image flying from cloud.”   The temple was visited by airmen during wartime It is said that young airmen who had completed their training worshipped here before flying into battle The propeller in the main hall was dedicated to the temple in 1935 two years before the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War by the army airmen training school in Kakamigahara “It is said that most of the temple’s wartime materials were discarded but the propeller has been preserved because of the efforts of local people and bereaved families of those who died in the war “It tells us that we must not forget the war’s victims.”  Prayers for safe aviation have changed over time but they continue to be offered to this today People even went to the temple to pray for the successful return of the Hayabusa2 space probe developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Fighters fly around the world and airplane accidents still occur “Airplanes must not be used to kill people I want them to be for peace and happiness,” said Kondo The restaurant specializes in river fish and serves rainbow trout grilled slowly over a charcoal fire It was started by his grandfather when he was the temple’s chief priest to help maintain the temple without any parishioners “I want to use the profits from the restaurant business for the temple to continue its history,” Kondo said As I listened to the murmur of the clear stream nearby I feel peace in the propeller that will never fly again The sound of hammers on wood can be heard in the Kaminyu area where Matsuoji temple is located The area along the river is called a “wood carving village,” which has been home to wood-carvers lacquerware painters and metal ornaments craftsmen for generations The area is particularly known for making Buddhist altars a local man and his younger brother studied sculpture in Kyoto and returned to their hometown It is said that they then used high-quality wood from Mt Ryozen to create highly decorative carvings for Buddhist altars and ranma wooden panels These skills have been passed down to the Kaminyu Woodpeckers various experiences are on offer at the group’s workshop such as viewing the production of ranma and making coasters pot mats and hangers using authentic carving knives These programs are popular among both Japanese and foreign tourists Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Tesla has entered into an agreement to supply Megapacks to ORIX a prominent Japanese financial services group The partnership will see one of Japan’s largest power storage facilities built in Maibara with operations slated to start as early as 2027 The planned facility will be equipped with Tesla’s Megapack batteries, boasting a combined capacity of 548 megawatt-hours (MWh), according to a report from Nikkei By integrating Tesla’s advanced energy storage solutions the project aims to enhance grid stability and support Japan’s transition to sustainable energy ORIX was founded in 1964 and has evolved into a diversified financial services group headquartered in Tokyo and Osaka The company operates across various sectors offering financial services in North America Tesla’s Megapack have quicly become a preferred choice for large-scale energy storage worldwide. In 2024, Tesla’s energy storage deployments reached a record 31.4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) The company anticipates a further 50% growth in storage deployments in 2025 To support that growth, Tesla has recently opened its second Megafactory in Shanghai, China. This new facility, along with the original Megafactory in Lathrop have a combined capacity to produce 20,000 Megapacks annually or 80 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage Elon Musk quietly announced a third Megafactory Tesla’s Autonomous Vacuum Robot Could Revolutionize Robotaxi Fleet Maintenance Tesla Model Y Remains Europe’s Best-Selling BEV in 2024 Founder and Editor-in-chief of Drive Tesla Canada | Darryn@DriveTeslaCanada.ca The flurry of new Superchargers in eastern Canada continues Earlier this week two new Superchargers in Salisbury and New Brunswick came online Now a third new Supercharger is up and running Last month Tesla was forced to close down its factories in the US including the Fremont factory in California due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak and stay-home orders issued by local government Tesla will be shutting down Giga Texas next month to perform some upgrades to the Model Y production lines At the same time the company will be shifting some of its workers who were previously […] Enter your email address to subscribe to Drive Tesla and receive notifications of new articles by email Leaf KYOTO Shiga Kansai's largest illumination "Rosain Illumination 2021 ~Hikari Soderu Oka~" will be held at [Rosan Berry Tawada] (JR Tokai) officials are investigating the cause of a power outage that caused delays and cancellations of the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations on Dec on both the inbound and outbound lines between Toyohashi and Nagoya stations in Aichi Prefecture The inbound line resumed operations 18 minutes later after being sent electricity The outbound line continued to be suspended due to restoration work after an overhead line above a wire that supplies power to the trains was found to have been cut on the outbound line in Anjo It’s unclear why the overhead wire was cut The causality between the cut and the power outage is also unknown The suspension was initially only between Toyohashi and Nagoya but was eventually extended to all sections between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka 74 bullet train services were canceled and 114 trains were delayed up to 4 hours and 28 minutes as of 11 p.m affecting approximately 110,000 passengers One man was traveling from Tokyo to Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture when his Shinkansen stopped in a tunnel near Toyohashi Station “I was anxious because we were in a tunnel,” he said He said many people were coughing since the heating had been turned off and it was cold and children aboard were crying but he had to give up using it due to the long line A train bound for Nagoya stopped at Hamamatsu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture When an announcement was made at around 2:40 p.m that it would take more than two hours to restore services “I won’t be able to make it in time for the start,” said a woman who was scheduled to attend the concert of a male idol group in Nagoya “Now I’m just hoping I can see even a little bit of the concert.” A temporary bridge was placed from the carriages to the platform at around 3:30 p.m. allowing passengers to temporarily disembark so they could purchase drinks The area near the ticket gate at Tokyo Station was crowded with people carrying suitcases and souvenirs A 64-year-old part-time employee from Kani who was returning from attending her grandchild’s piano recital learned of the suspension when she arrived at the station She stood in line for more than three hours worrying whether she could return home by the end of the day The central ticket gate of the Shinkansen terminal at Shin-Osaka Station was also temporarily crowded with people carrying their luggage and souvenirs Passengers flooded the ticket gate at the Shinkansen exit of Nagoya Station when the bullet train began resuming operations at 5 p.m JR East mulls seats for dogs on some special Shinkansen rides New Shinkansen adds 18 km to ‘longest one-way train trip’ Train services suspended in Kansai region as typhoon nears JR East to offer ‘random trips’ on Shinkansen at deep discounts Shizuoka leader still at odds over maglev line plan Big is the operative word for Shinagawa redevelopment Leaf KYOTO Shiga [Grand Snow Okuibuki] ski resort is scheduled to open on Saturday Heavy snowfall that set single-day records in the Kansai region and disrupted traffic and travel nationwide is expected to continue until Dec The Japan Meteorological Agency is urging caution against additional traffic disruptions caused by icy roads A strong “once in several years” cold air mass of minus 45 degrees or lower has spread about 5 kilometers above northern Japan dumping snow even in areas along the Pacific coast Over the 24-hour period through dawn on Dec received 70 cm of snow over the same period The cold air sent the mercury plunging to minus 3.4 degrees in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward The heavy snow also stranded four trains on the JR Biwako Line including those bound for Maibara Station in Maibara Other trains were also forced to temporarily suspend services canceled 10 flights to and from airports in Hokkaido Many sections of highways were also closed off The expected snowfall for the 24-hour period through 6 a.m 28 for each region is: 90 cm in Hokuriku; 80 cm in Tokai and Kinki; 60 cm in Tohoku; 50 cm in Kanto-Koshin; 40 cm in Chugoku; 15 cm in northern Kyushu; and 5 cm in Shikoku and southern Kyushu Heavy snow falls across wide areas facing Sea of Japan Emergency snow warning for Sea of Japan areas from Dec Record snowfall covers Hokuriku; JMA warns more on the way 249 injured from heavy snowfalls around Japan EDITORIAL: Snow forecast gives another reason to take care on holidays Blizzard forecast for Hokkaido; snow expected over wide areas The country’s Shinkansen ‘Bullet Train’ network has been developed over more than 50 years and covers all main trunk routes The network centres on the capital Tokyo, with lines to the west, south, east and north of this densely-populated nation. New Shinkansen bullet train variants are still under development maintaining the country’s pre-eminent technological position The national Japan Railways Group (JR) operates the Shinkansen bullet train network The first line to see these ground-breaking trains was from Tokyo to Osaka increased with improvements in infrastructure Second-generation Shinkansen was introduced in 1972 between Shin-Osaka and Okayama three years later being extended to Hakata Infrastructure improvements later allowed line speeds to be increased to 220km/h has been improved to operate trains with line speeds of 300km/h The first Shinkansen to the north of the country began operating in 1982 with the introduction of Tohoku Shinkansen branch lines Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shinjo and the Akita Shinkansen between Tokyo and Akita Hokuriku Shinkansen line was opened in 1997 between Takasaki and Nagano extended in 2015 to run from Tokyo to Kanazawa The Shinkansen network also includes the Hokkaido line from Aomori to Hakodate with extension to Sapporo scheduled for 2030 The Kyushu Shinkansen line connects Hakata Station in Fukuoka with Kagoshima Shinkansen trains are capable of operating at a maximum speed of 320km/h high-speed railway creates enormous strains on the infrastructure and as a result around a third of all costs are consumed in maintenance Shinkansen run principally on conventional steel rail mounted on concrete sleepers but the fastest services use dedicated tracks to avoid conflict with slower trains Shinkansen trains run on two different gauges which precludes each part of the system from using the other’s trains many of the narrower gauge routes are to be converted to 1,435mm and JR East finished the conversion of its Yamagata-Shinjo route in December 1999 operate on tracks exclusively built for and used by bullet trains sections are much longer than is standard elsewhere A regular clock-face departure pattern for most services helps maintain a high level of reliability but train crews are in constant contact with their nearest control centre Information systems on newer variants of Shinkansen trains are proving much more reliable than previously thanks to their use of much shorter cable lengths Three types of trains operate on the Shinkansen routes Nozomi are the fastest and most modern trains The model is distinguished by its 15m-long power car nose The 500 Series also boasts an innovative pantograph design which also helps reduce wind resistance at high speed Drivers’ instruments are all laid out in groups according to their function Extensive soundproofing means there is little sensation of speed inside trains Japan began testing the Alfa-X (E956 Series) train which can reach speeds of 400km/h in May 2019 This new generation train will have a 22m nose considered to be one of the longest in trains along with environmentally-friendly carbide power converters The train will also be equipped with new safety measures to protect passengers from potential earthquakes Set to operate in the Tokoku region and Hokkaido Alfa-X will operate at speeds of approximately 360km/h during commercial functioning and is expected to start operations in 2030 is currently running on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines the series reached a maximum speed of 332km/h between Maibara and Kyoto Sixth-generation model of N700 series underwent a test run in July 2019 reaching a speed of 360km/h Battery-powered N700S train will be the first completely revamped Shinkansen in more than a decade The train will start running on the Tokaido line in 2020 with the aim to launch 40 N700S trains by 2022 Expansions of the Shinkansen bullet train network remain a priority Major experiments are being conducted into the use of magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology whereby magnetic power is used to levitate the vehicles and propelled by linear motors which offers the potential for even higher speeds View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network An Education Tauranga delegation visited Tokyo for the first time in early September to explore business opportunities The delegation of 20 education providers ranged from primary school to tertiary and were keen to establish new connections in Japan The three-day programme kicked off with a presentation on the Japan market by ENZ’s Misa Kitaoka This was followed by visits by most delegates to four primary schools arranged by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education and the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau “The primary school visits provided an excellent opportunity to introduce the Bay of Plenty region including its Maori language and culture as well as the primary school experience available in Tauranga,” says Misa ENZ and Education Tauranga co-hosted an agent seminar and networking reception for about 40 travel and education agents looking for new partners in the Bay of Plenty region Misa said the reception coincided with a visit by the director of the Maibara Board of Education in Shiga Prefecture Maibara is a city set to act as a ‘host town’ for New Zealand while taking part in the Japanese government’s promotion of exchanges between local municipalities and nations participating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics “The event provided a good opportunity for Tauranga and Maibara to explore future collaboration combining education and sports,” Misa said destination marketing plays a key role when agents students and families are choosing an overseas study destination “Visits by regional delegations are a good marketing practice because they combine the promotion of a region and the providers within the region “ENZ can provide in-market assistance by hosting an event at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and in other cities to gather a group of Japanese agents and educators resulting in a wider outreach to industry partners and stakeholders,” said Misa She added that the City of Atsugi in Kanagawa Prefecture will shortly start a programme to send high school students to Otago Polytechnic With the new opportunities lying ahead of Japan's major sporting games in 2020 Anne Young from Education Tauranga reported that "many new agent relationships were established” at the reception ENZ had been an excellent conduit for building and increasing market opportunities between Education Tauranga and Japan What's in it for me? Please try again All content © Education New Zealand 2016 The transport ministry showed Wednesday three detailed options for an extended route from Tsuruga to Osaka for the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train line begin at Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture and reach Shin-Osaka Station via another Fukui city of Obama and Kyoto.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The three options differ from each other when it comes to the location of the Kyoto stop All suggest that a station be newly constructed underground the new stop will be built running east to west or north to south beneath Kyoto Station the other proposed location is near Katsuragawa Station The ministry said the route extension is newly estimated to cost up to ¥5.3 trillion up over twofold from the initial estimate of ¥2.1 trillion assuming that the inflation rate will remain at 2% per year The ministry also said the route construction is expected to last up to 28 years over 10 years longer than its initial forecast The ruling camp hopes to reach a decision on the route by the end of this year with a goal to begin construction work in fiscal 2025 Some local governments concerned and opposition parties are advocating connecting the Hokuriku Shinkansen line with the Tokaido Shinkansen line's Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture due to cheaper construction costs and a shorter construction period A meter-long snake had brought the busiest bullet train route in Japan to a halt the snake wrapped itself around a power line causing a power outage and leaving hundreds of passengers stranded Travellers waited couple of hours for the services to resume as Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were brought to a standstill power supply inside the trains was not affected as lights and air conditions were functioning uninterrupted throughout the halt The incident occurred around 5:25 pm between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima stations after the snake appeared to have climbed an electricity pole where he got electrocuted as he touched the live wire the train stations already had an overhaul of passengers due to Golden Week series of national holidays Four national holidays occur around the beginning of May which give Japanese citizens almost a week-off from their busy lives It is considered an exceptionally safe and fast travel route as it takes less than two and a half hours to reach Osaka from Tokyo an incident involving reptile also occurred last April when a 40 cm snake inside a carriage on a Nagoya to Tokyo service caused frenzy among passengers Japanese version By Hiromi Hoshi / Ryoko Yomiuri Publications A hot topic among railway enthusiasts these days is Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet trains which will extend its service from Kanazawa The new section of truck is part of the JR Hokuriku Line which currently runs between Kanazawa and Maibara The operation of this section will be transferred to a joint public-private venture the Thunderbird and Shirasagi limited express trains which connect Kanazawa with Osaka and Nagoya will no longer go to Kanazawa but terminate at Tsuruga Station Passengers going to Kanazawa will have to change to the Shinkansen and eat local ekiben train station lunch boxes which contain fresh seafood I took the limited express Shirasagi from Maibara Station and was able to see Lake Biwa around Nagahama Station in Shiga Prefecture It took me about 30 minutes to reach Tsuruga Station where there is an ekiben outlet of Shioso Co inside the shopping and communal facility Orupark Shioso is a bento and dining company founded in Tsuruga in 1903 and is the manufacturer of Ganso Taizushi a long-selling ekiben sold at Tsuruga Station Another notable choice is Tai no Mai (Dance of red sea bream) which uses renkodai yellowback sea bream sourced locally to make high-grade taizushi (sushi with salted and vinegared sea bream) The outlet is the only place where this ekiben is regularly available “We maintain the taste designed by trial and error by my grandfather and culinary workers before my time,” said Shobei Tone the company’s chairman and the seventh-generation head I had my first bite of the ekiben and found the pale pink skin of the fish very soft The thinly sliced fish meat tasted pleasantly light I could detect more of the flavors with mild umami The rice and the fish meat were put together at just the right amount of pressure was grown in Fukui Prefecture and cooked with groundwater obtained at the company which is committed to using locally produced ingredients a new hotel and commercial complex called Tsuruga Polt Square Otta opened in front of JR Tsuruga Station Renovation work on the station building is under way at a fast pace ahead of the opening of the extended Shinkansen services The platforms for limited express trains will be moved to below the Shinkansen platforms so passengers changing from a limited express train to a Shinkansen train will either go up or down between the platforms to transfer I walked down the stairs from the platform and headed to the ticket gate Then a bright red vending machine jumped into my sight The machine sold products from established ekiben maker Banjo Honten The company founded in 1902 is known for Echizen Kanimeshi crab meat bento the company launched a new product to widen sales The new bento is called Tojinbo Ebi Kani Kaisen Chirashi (Tojinbo prawn crab seafood sushi) Tojinbo is the name of a famous scenic spot by the sea in Fukui Prefecture I pressed the button on the vending machine and the bento of my choice was brought to me on a conveyor belt Some people were taking pictures apparently finding the sight curious I could feel the high level of interest it inspired An illustration of the Tojinbo cliffs adorns the package of the bento which contained chirashizushi — an assortment sushi with a variety of toppings on vinegared rice — packed with local seafood While viewing the elevated Shinkansen railway under construction from the window I traveled to Kanazawa on the limited express train Thunderbird there is fierce competition among various ekiben and the one that takes pride in maintaining popularity is Aburi Nodoguro Bozushi (grilled nodoguro fish pressed stick sushi) from Takano-Shoten based in the Kaga Onsen hot spring resort in Ishikawa Prefecture I opened the bento’s bamboo skin wrapper to find the grilled fish visible beneath the transparent pale jade kombu nodoguro and vinegared rice in my mouth and felt very happy Thinly sliced ginger between the kombu and nodoguro removes the smell of fish and enhances the delicious taste Japan Tourism is presented in collaboration with Ryoko Yomiuri Publication, which publishes Ryoko Yomiuri, a monthly travel magazine. If you are interested in the original Japanese version of this story, click here.   Japanese version Focus features two in-depth reviews each month of fine art architecture and design exhibitions and events at art museums galleries and alternative spaces around Japan The contributors are non-Japanese art critics living in Japan before speeding at 300km/h towards Japan’s former capital Kyoto – just over two hours away by shinkansen bullet train Kyoto’s historic districts are filled with ancient shrines and temples while Tokyo has everything you’d expect in a modern capital – from world-class art galleries to iconic sights such as the Shibuya Crossing and the towering Tokyo Skytree If clients are stopping off at Shizuoka station for its breathtaking views of Mount Fuji suggest that they try some of the fiery wasabi produced in the region It pairs well with fresh sashimi: head to Shimizuko Minami Shizuoka prefecture is also home to tea fields giving visitors the chance to sample some of the country’s finest green tea right where it’s grown Minutes away from Hikone and Maibara stations is Biwa One of the best ways to see the lake’s floating torii gates and explore its abandoned islands and untouched villages is by renting a bike from one of the shops along its perimeter or inside Maibara station home to several retro shopping arcades and a well-preserved 17th-century castle that offers stunning views of the lake below Japan is celebrating 150 years of rail travel this year while 2022 also marks 30 years since the Tokyo-Kyoto-Fukuoka Nozomi bullet train first took to the tracks which opens this month and will connect the hot-spring town of Takeo Onsen with Nagasaki Bullet trains are now equipped to be safer during earthquakes and tests are under way to make them travel even faster Audley Travel offers a 14-day ‘Classic Japan tour by train’, which is a round-trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima, stopping in Kyoto, with plenty of opportunities to ride bullet trains. Prices start from £5,995 per person including flights and accommodation.audleytravel.com PICTURES: Shutterstock/norikko/beeboys; Japan National Tourism Organization; Hoshinoya Kyoto Jacobs Media is a company registered in England and Wales Japanese version One of Fujitec's strengths is its tightly integrated operations covering everything from development and manufacturing to maintenance services TOKYO -- Elevator maker Fujitec is one of the 285 listed Japanese companies forecast to report record pretax profits for the fiscal year ending this month      The company anticipates its pretax profit for fiscal 2013 to jump 34% on the year to 13.5 billion yen ($132.35 million) Its market capitalization now stands at more than 110 billion yen nearing its all-time high of about 140 billion yen during Japan's bubble economy of the late 1980s Take a look at Western Japan's top 5 most delicious "ekiben" to eat on Japan bullet trains Continuing our series of highlighting Japan's most delicious and unique ekiben, we continue from Eastern ekiben to Western ekiben Here are some of the most well-known and popular bento which will make a great lunch as you travel on the Sanyo Shinkansen edible wild vegetaion (although not too wild-- many of these foods are quite mainstream!) zenmai (a kind of stem common in Asian cusine) located north of Lake Biwa ("kohoku" means "north of the lake") is just one shinkansen station away from Kyoto on the Tokaido Shinkansen line it might be worth a lunch break at this station to taste this amazing ekiben This bento has been a top seller for more than 20 years and includes okowa rice (rice with musrhooms and sweet sauce) and tamago yaki for a country home cooking feel Wakayama Prefecture's main station sells this amazing sushi bento, featuring all kinds of fresh fish wrapped in big wasabi leaves.A great lunch stop if you're traveling on the Hanwa Line to see its beautiful cherry blossoms Japanese train stations may have a variety of well-known wine ekiben To go along with your little bottle of Kobe chardonnay and other little treats that will highlight the flavors of the wine Hiroshima's sushi ekiben samples many different kinds of Hiroshima's great seafood The "omakase" part of this bento's name means "leave it up to the chef." In other words you never know exactly what the chef thinks is the freshest catch of the day but you trust him to serve you nothing but the best Each piece is a different kind of "rare" sushi If you didn't have a chance to taste Hiroshima's famous oysters this is a great opportunity to do so as you move on to your next destination Japan will celebrate Golden Week from April 29 to May 6 which comprises four national holidays: Showa Day on April 29th How fast does the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train go? one would expect the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan to zip across the country at high speeds How Japan’s Trains are Always on Time: The Keys to Japan's Public Transportation Known for their efficiency and punctuality Japan's train system is as much an attraction for visitors as it is a staple of everyday life for residents Unique Trains in Japan Japanese Stations Getting Around Tokyo Shinkansen Travel Tips Itineraries for Japan Getting Around Kyoto Sign up and be the first to hear our news and special offers このサイトを利用するには、コンテンツブロック機能（広告ブロック機能を持つ拡張機能等）を無効にしてページを再読み込みしてください。 The announcement that the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) will be delayed due to snow happens fairly often there is often snow in a historically famous location where a battle to decide who would rule the country occurred in 1600 The only thing that can beat the Tokaido Shinkansen which is known for its remarkable on-time record Even when the train is running accurately down to the second once it snows the timetable gets thrown off there is a lot of snow in the Maibara-Sekigahara area on the border between the Shiga and Gifu prefectures the Maibara-Sekigahara area snows 40 days a year receiving anywhere between 150-200 centimeters of snow The 1,182 centimeters recorded on Mount Ibuki in 1927 remains the world record for snowfall the snowfall in the Sekigahara area caused various incidents such as the passenger cars’ glass windows cracking and the underfloor trash containers and water tanks breaking Results of an investigation into the cause of the incidents revealed that the high speeds of the Shinkansen would create winds that would lift the snow up from the tracks and apply it underneath the cars and trolleys The snow would gradually grow into hard balls of ice and the impact when the balls hit the ground would scatter the gravel on the rails into the air and damage the passenger cars’ glass windows the Shinkansen would be forced to travel at low speeds when it snowed a sprinkler system was installed that would spray water to keep the snow from billowing there are sprinklers installed along the 68.5-kilometer area of Maibara/Sekigahara and the water can now reach where it couldn't before this only changes the quality of the snow; it doesn’t remove the snow snowplows remove the snow in the middle of the night The standard snowplows remove the snow without touching the tracks in order to avoid damaging them about 10 centimeters of snow is left on the tracks The rotary snowplows use rotating brushes and actually remove the snow 5 centimeters beneath the top of the tracks By adjusting the brush shape according to the rails it is even possible to get a deeper clean and remove snow from around the cross ties The rotary snowplow itself has evolved significantly over the past 10 years There were initial problems with efficiency because rotary snowplows could only move in one direction after removing snow from Maibara to Gifu Hashima the snowplow had to return to Maibara out of service since it couldn’t remove snow in the opposite direction a new rotary snowplow that could move in both directions was developed One of these new snowplows costs 270 million yen There are plans to introduce four of these models by 2016 there are cameras installed on the undercarriage of the N700 Shinkansen and on the ground to check for gusts of snow and for snow sticking to the carriage the weather conditions that used to be checked by the driver’s eyes are now monitored by snowfall information devices equipped with optical sensors When the information reaches the Nagoya or Osaka stations it is time for the “Snow Removal Teams” waiting under the platforms to leap into action the teams use high-pressure washers to quickly remove the snow As a result of the combined use of sprinklers the peak of 635 train cancelations in 1976 has been reduced to 0 since 1994 The average delay due to snow has also been significantly improved from a 1974 peak of 28.1 minutes to around 5 minutes the crews on the ground are working hard to rid the Shinkansen of its reputation as being “vulnerable to snow.” Whenever you get irritated at the Shinkansen being late due to snow just remember the railway workers and their hard work to keep the train on time you'll want to visit the Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden in Japan Shaun the Sheep is a British stop-motion animated television series spin-off of the Wallace and Gromit franchise Fans of this show who are travelling to Japan should consider adding the English Garden Rozanberry Tawada in Maibara City Photo from English Garden Rosa & Berry Tawada this peaceful English garden of roses and shrubs has just turned into the world of Shaun the Sheep on the hillside of Rosa & Berry Tawada The Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden was created as a collaboration between Aardman and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation Stroll around the 5,000 square-metre attraction and explore the life-sized replica sets and characters from the Shaun the Sheep series including Bitzer and the Farmer Take photos next to the Farmer as he sits in his favourite armchair in a life-sized recreation of his house Head upstairs to see his bedroom and bathroom Head over to the barn where Shaun and the flock sleep at night There's also a gift shop with official Shaun the Sheep merchandise including items developed exclusively for Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden the café offers Shaun the sheep-themed meals and snacks too Tickets costs ¥500 (~S$6.59) for children aged 3 to 12 years ¥1,000 (~S$13.17) for those above 13 years and free for children aged 2 or under Let's look forward to the days where it's safe to travel again! ✈️ Check out more cool places to visit while you're in Japan ❣️ Follow us on Instagram girlstyle.sg❣️ 👉🏻 Join our Upcoming Campaigns