Transportation & Infrastructure
Latest news and updates on transportation & infrastructure for expats in Japan
MLIT Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Revision to Vehicle Safety Standard Notices
Japan's transport ministry has opened a public comment period on draft changes to notices detailing vehicle safety standards under the Road Transport ...
National Police Agency Seeks Public Comment on Revisions to Driving School Instruction Standards
Japan's National Police Agency has opened a public comment period on a draft rule revising detailed standards for designated driving school curricula,...
ANA Flight Emergency Evacuation at Naha Airport Under Investigation
An ANA flight made an emergency landing at Naha Airport on September 23, 2026, due to suspected engine trouble. Three passengers suffered minor injuri...
JR East Suica Expansion: Area-Crossing Coming March 2027, New Mascot Vote
JR East will enable area-crossing Suica functionality across six zones from March 2027, ending travel restrictions. Public voting is open until Septem...
Heavy Rain and Fatal Accident Cause Major Transportation Disruptions
Heavy rain and a fatal accident have suspended Tōhoku Shinkansen service between Tokyo and Sendai with no resumption time set. Tokyo's Yamanote Line w...
Yamato Holdings to End Dedicated Cargo Flights Amid Rising Fuel Costs
Yamato Holdings will end dedicated cargo flights by June 2027 due to rising fuel costs. The service was launched to address truck driver shortage regu...
Japan Cuts Speed Limit to 30 km/h on Residential Roads from September 1
Japan reduced the legal speed limit on narrow residential "living roads" to 30 km/h starting September 1, 2026. The change affects residential streets...
Suzuki Launches First Kei-Class EV as Competition Heats Up in Japan
Suzuki unveiled its first electric kei-class vehicle, launching this autumn amid growing competition. The move brings eco-friendly options to Japan's ...
ANA and JAL Coordinate Schedules in Historic Move to Save Domestic Routes
ANA and JAL announced their first-ever flight schedule coordination on the Haneda-Okayama route to maintain domestic service amid rising fuel costs. T...
ANA and JAL Coordinate Schedules for First Time Amid Rising Costs
ANA and JAL are coordinating domestic flight schedules for the first time to maintain regional routes amid rising costs. The collaboration aims to red...
Tokyo Metro Suspends Half of Subway Network After Asbestos Found
Tokyo Metro suspended the Hanzomon Line for 14 hours on August 11 after discovering asbestos-containing debris. Service resumed after inspections, wit...
Typhoon 15 Disrupts Tokyo Metro and Transportation Networks Across Kanto
Typhoon 15 is disrupting Kanto transportation, with Tokyo Metro's Hanzomon Line suspended until midday and landfall expected August 11. Shinkansen del...
Haneda Airport Tightens Baggage Check-in Deadline to 30 Minutes
Starting September 1, six major airlines at Haneda Airport will require baggage check-in 30 minutes before departure, 10 minutes earlier than current ...
JR Tokai and Shizuoka Sign Deal to Begin Linear Shinkansen Construction
JR Tokai and Shizuoka Prefecture signed an environmental agreement on July 18, 2026, ending years of deadlock and allowing Linear Shinkansen construct...
JAL Introduces Online Alcohol Testing After Crew Violations Delay Flights
JAL submitted new alcohol prevention measures to transport authorities after two crew members violated drinking rules in May, causing flight delays. T...
Mobile Suica Outage: JR East Offers Compensation After Charging Failures
JR East will compensate Mobile Suica users after server overload on July 1st prevented account charging. The disruption affected thousands relying on ...
Major Shinkansen Developments: Linear Construction Approved, Route Debate Continues
Shizuoka approves Linear Chuo Shinkansen construction after years of delays, while Osaka officials debate Hokuriku Shinkansen extension routes. Both p...
Railway Capacity to Narita Airport to Nearly Double with New Infrastructure
Japan plans to nearly double Narita Airport railway capacity through new elevated infrastructure, enabling expanded JR and Keisei express services and...
Kintetsu Railway Incident Raises Safety Concerns for Foreign Passengers
A Chinese passenger's unauthorized entry into a Kintetsu train control room after mistaken boarding sparked safety concerns. The incident highlights t...
Shinkansen Safety Under Scrutiny After Platform Barrier Breach at Hamamatsu
A fatal platform barrier breach at Hamamatsu Station halted Tokaido Shinkansen service for three hours, affecting 140,000 passengers and raising quest...