Transportation & Infrastructure
Latest news and updates on transportation & infrastructure for expats in Japan
Tokyo Skytree Elevator Emergency Traps 20 Visitors for Over 5 Hours
Twenty people, including children, were trapped in a Tokyo Skytree elevator for over 5.5 hours on February 22. The facility remains closed for inspect...
Tokyo Skytree Elevator Malfunction Traps 20 Visitors for Over Five Hours
Twenty people, including children, were trapped in a Tokyo Skytree elevator for over five hours on February 22. All were rescued safely without injuri...
Fatal Boat Collision Off Mie Coast Claims Two Lives, Navigator Arrested
A cargo ship collision off Mie Prefecture killed two and injured ten on a fishing boat. The 21-year-old navigator was arrested for professional neglig...
JR Utsunomiya Line Overhead Wire Failure Disrupts 190,000 Commuters
An overhead wire failure on JR's Utsunomiya Line disrupted service for 20 hours, affecting 190,000 passengers. Damage occurred across 100+ locations o...
JR Joban Line Halted 7 Hours: 230,000 Commuters Affected by Cable Failure
JR Joban Line suspended service for 7 hours on January 30 due to severed cables at Ueno Station, affecting 230,000 commuters. Service resumed at 2:00 ...
Fatal Government Vehicle Crash and Violent Robbery Highlight Safety Concerns
A fatal government vehicle crash at 130 km/h and a 400-million-yen armed robbery disrupted Tokyo this week, while multiple morning train suspensions a...
Winter Weather and Incidents Cause Major Train Disruptions Across Japan
Major train disruptions hit Tokyo area on January 28 due to accidents, while heavy snowfall forecast through January 30 threatens wider transportation...
Winter Weather Cripples Hokkaido Transport as 330,000 Affected
Heavy snowfall in Hokkaido affected 330,000 rail passengers over two days, stranding 2,000 at New Chitose Airport overnight. Tokyo area commuters also...
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Transportation and Daily Life Across Japan
Severe snowfall is disrupting transportation across Japan, with the Tokaido Shinkansen experiencing delays and highways affected. Peak snowfall expect...
Heavy Snowfall Disrupts Transportation Across Japan's Sea of Japan Coast
Heavy snowfall across Japan's Sea of Japan coast has triggered emergency warnings in Ishikawa and Shiga prefectures, causing major transportation disr...
Train Disruptions Hit Tokyo and Tohoku: What Expats Need to Know
Multiple train lines in Tokyo and Tohoku experienced service disruptions on January 17 due to accidents and fallen trees. Seibu lines and Akita Shinka...
Power Outage Halts Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku Lines for 8 Hours
A power outage halted Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines for eight hours on January 16, affecting 670,000 commuters. A related track fire near Tamachi S...
Power Outage Halts Tokyo Trains While Snowstorm Strands Drivers in Iwate
Power outages halted JR Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines on January 15, while heavy snow stranded dozens of vehicles overnight on Route 282 in Iwate P...
Railway Fare Hikes Hit Japan: What Commuters Need to Know in 2026
Multiple railway companies including JR East are raising fares in 2026 due to rising personnel costs. The increases affect commuters nationwide despit...
Holiday Travel Disruptions and Safety Concerns Mark New Year Period
Japan's New Year U-turn rush brought major transportation congestion, with train delays from a fatal accident on the Takasaki Line and a serious pedes...
Heavy Snowfall Causes Major Transportation Disruptions Across Japan
Heavy snowfall caused major disruptions across Japan, including 16-hour highway closures in western regions, stranded shrine visitors in Saitama, and ...
Major Train Accident Disrupts Tokyo-Area Commutes on New Year's Day
A train-vehicle collision on January 1 halted JR Utsunomiya and Shonan-Shinjuku Line services through day's end. Separately, Kyoto buses faced severe ...
Major Highway Pile-Up and Road Collapse Highlight Infrastructure Risks
A 67-vehicle pile-up on Gunma's Kan-Etsu Expressway killed two and closed the highway for three days, while Saitama's Yashio road collapse recovery co...
Fatal Highway Crash and New Bicycle Rules Signal Transportation Safety Push
A deadly 60-vehicle crash on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and upcoming bicycle traffic fines signal major transportation safety changes. New "blue ticket" ...
Heavy Snow Triggers Fatal Accidents and Travel Chaos Across Japan
Severe snowstorms caused fatal multi-vehicle accidents and widespread flight cancellations across Japan on December 26-27, coinciding with year-end tr...