Tokaido Line

JR Central and JR West have announced that Nozomi trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines will operate with all seats reserved during the year-end and New Year holidays, as well as the Coming of Age Day long weekend in January. The temporary measure aims to ease crowding during peak travel seasons, meaning passengers will need advance seat reservations rather than relying on non-reserved cars.

Japan has introduced a new track and overhead-line inspection train, nicknamed Doctor S, which will succeed the famous Doctor Yellow on the Tokaido and Sankyo Shinkansen lines. The new train takes over the long-running role of monitoring track conditions at full speed while blending in with regular passenger services. Japanese media reported the debut, drawing attention from railway fans who follow the inspection trains closely.

Multiple transport disruptions are being reported across Japan. A fatal-accident-related closure has shut the Shin-Tomei Expressway between Fujieda Okabe and Shimada Kanaya interchanges, the Tokaido Line suspended service between Kikugawa and Hamamatsu stations after a person was struck at Kakegawa station, the Kan-Etsu Expressway saw a temporary closure between Muikamachi and Uonuma, and night closures are planned on the Chuo Expressway's Bando to Shimosa section through December.