Japan's JR東海 to trial overnight Shinkansen service in August

JR東海 is launching a trial run of its "night Shinkansen" service, dubbed the "Tokaido Lumiere Express," on August 8-9. The train will depart Tokyo at 10 p.m. and arrive in Osaka by 7 a.m. the next day, offering an earlier arrival than the first regular Shinkansen service. Passengers can board at Tokyo, Shinagawa, and Shin-Yokohama stations and alight at Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. Nagoya Station will not be a stop for boarding or alighting.

The "Lumiere" in the train's name signifies "light" in French, aiming to evoke the imagery of dawn and the start of a new day, highlighting the efficiency of overnight travel. While stopped at Gifu-Hashima Station from around midnight to 6 a.m., passengers can access vending machines and smoking areas within the ticket gates, but cannot use other station facilities or exit the station. The train will not offer onboard sales, and the interior lights will remain on during the 6-hour stop.

Standard reserved seats for the Tokyo-Shin-Osaka route will cost 15,000 yen (approximately $95 USD), with green car and child fares also available. Tickets go on sale July 3 via a dedicated website. The service will include women-only cars, and window seats are expected to be prioritized. JR東海 suggests the overnight service is ideal for travelers who want to start their day in Kansai early for tourism or business, or for those seeking an alternative to expensive hotel stays or uncomfortable overnight buses.

JR東海 stated that the overnight Shinkansen could be more convenient and comfortable than night buses, especially for families with young children, due to the availability of multi-functional accessible restrooms. The company will evaluate passenger feedback and usage from this trial run to determine if the service will continue in the future.

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We hope that through the imagery of 'the light of dawn' and 'the start of a new day,' we can showcase the characteristics of the night Shinkansen and allow travelers to use their time more efficiently.