Transportation & Infrastructure
Latest news and updates on transportation & infrastructure for expats in Japan
Toyota Recalls 160,000 Sienta Vehicles Over Seatbelt Warning Defect
Toyota recalls 160,000 Sienta minivans in Japan due to seatbelt warning system wiring defects. Owners will receive notifications and can schedule free...
Shinkansen Introduces Private Compartments: Premium Travel from October 2026
JR Central and JR West will launch private "Supreme Class" compartments on Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen from October 2026. Single compartments cost 32,660...
Japan's Major Airlines Raise Fuel Surcharges Again Amid Oil Price Surge
ANA and JAL will raise fuel surcharges from July 1, with maximum charges reaching 65,000 yen per ticket on long-haul routes. This is the second consec...
ANA's New Fare System Sparks Customer Service Crisis for Travelers
ANA faces severe customer service delays following its May 2026 domestic fare system launch, with email responses taking two weeks to two months and p...
JR East Switches to QR Code Tickets, Ending Magnetic System in Spring 2027
JR East will replace magnetic stripe tickets with QR code tickets starting spring 2027. The change affects paper tickets but not IC cards like Suica, ...
Middle East Crisis Disrupts Supply Chains: Oil Changes, Methanol, Deliveries Affected
Middle East tensions are disrupting supply chains in Japan, causing Suzuki oil change delays, methanol shortages affecting municipal services in Kagos...
Fatal Expressway Crash Exposes Safety Gaps in School Trip Transportation
A fatal expressway crash involving 21 high school students has exposed potential illegal transportation practices and safety gaps in Japan's school tr...
Fatal Highway Bus Crash Sparks Investigation into Unlicensed Charter Operations
A fatal bus crash on Fukushima's Ban-etsu Expressway killed one student and injured 20 others. Police arrested the driver and are investigating possib...
JR Yokohama Line Disrupted as Train Doors Fail at Higashi-Kanagawa Station
A JR Yokohama Line train experienced door failures at Higashi-Kanagawa Station on April 19, forcing passengers to transfer at Yokohama Station and cau...
Japan Bans Mobile Battery Use on Flights, Limits Carry-on to 2 Per Person
Starting April 24th, Japan bans mobile battery use on all flights and limits passengers to two units in carry-on luggage. The new rules address safety...
ANA Receives Business Improvement Order Over Falsified Maintenance Records
Japan's transport ministry issued a business improvement order to ANA on April 14 after discovering falsified maintenance records. The airline must su...
Mazda Halts Middle East Production as Hormuz Strait Crisis Continues
Mazda suspended Middle East vehicle production until May 2026 due to Hormuz Strait blockade, while shifting output to European markets. Three Japan-re...
Domestic Flight Costs Set to Rise as Airlines Eye Fuel Surcharges
Major Japanese airlines are considering introducing fuel surcharges and raising fares on domestic routes due to surging oil prices, potentially ending...
Japan Introduces Blue Ticket System for Bicycle Traffic Violations
Japan's new blue ticket system for bicycle violations launched April 1, 2026, allowing police to issue on-the-spot fines for infractions like smartpho...
Middle East Crisis Halts Auto Exports, Threatens Japan Supply Chains
Japanese automakers have halted Middle East exports due to Strait of Hormuz blockade. Manufacturers considering production cuts and alternative routes...
Express Train Door Opens Mid-Journey, Classified as Serious Incident
A door opened on the moving Limited Express Kaiji train, prompting authorities to classify it as a serious incident. Investigations are underway to de...
Iran Crisis Disrupts Japan's Fuel Supply, Raising Costs for Expats
The Iran crisis is disrupting Japan's fuel supplies, causing transportation delays, manufacturing cuts at Nissan, and price increases for eggs and pet...
Tokyo Subway Power Outage: Tokyu Toyoko Line Suspended for 9.5 Hours
A power supply failure suspended the Tokyu Toyoko and Minatomirai Lines for 9.5 hours on March 13, affecting 120,000 passengers during evening rush ho...
JR East Implements First Fare Increase Since 1987 Founding
JR East raised fares by 7.1% starting March 14, 2026, marking its first increase since 1987 excluding tax adjustments. The change affects 16 million d...
Tokyo Skytree Reopens After Elevator Malfunction Traps 20 Visitors
Tokyo Skytree reopened February 26th after a fuse malfunction trapped 20 people in an elevator on February 22nd. The operating company identified the ...