Special Trains in Japan You Can Still Ride in 2026
Quick answer: the Hello Kitty Shinkansen ended regular service on May 17, 2026, but Japan has not run out of trains worth planning a trip around. The best current alternatives…
train travel
Hidden Onsen Towns Accessible by Train
Eight hot-spring towns that deliver ryokan atmosphere without requiring a rental car.
Best Hidden Towns Near Tokyo Without a Car
Seven rewarding train trips from Tokyo with old streets, canals, castles and mountain scenery—plus honest planning advice.
A 10-Day Hidden Japan Family Itinerary
A realistic no-car route through Tokyo, Nagano, Matsumoto, the Kiso Valley, Kyoto and Uji, designed around family energy rather than a checklist.