Transport in Japan: what will change in 2026?

If the pass were divided into two distinct zones (JR East Tohoku to cover the north of the country and JR East Nagano/Niigata for the far east), it now converges the two destinations, allowing 10 days of free travel throughout this part of the archipelago!

Valid for 5 days at a price of 35,000 yen for adults (17,500 yen for children aged 6 to 11), the pass will be sold at Japan Experience from spring onwards, and can be collected by exchanging your e-ticket at vending machines equipped with passport readers in the country's major stations. Older passes will remain available until March 12, 2026, with the possibility of exchanging e-tickets until June 12, 2026. Once the e-ticket has been exchanged at the counter, users have one month to activate their pass.

From April, the Welcome Suica will once again be on sale at Japan Experience! Specially designed for foreign tourists, the IC Card is a practical solution for making contactless payments, whether for public transport or in-store purchases.

While the physical version of the card is valid for 28 days, the mobile version is valid for up to 180 days! Starting in March, the mobile application will also enable users to book shinkansen (high-speed train) tickets and top up their card even before arriving in Japan!

Private compartments on JR Tokai

Want to travel in total privacy? Central Japan Railway Co (JR Tokai) will introduce fully private compartments on the Tokaido Shinkansen from October 1, 2026.

These compartments mark the return of private carriages to the line for the first time in 23 years, since the retirement in 2013 of the now defunct 100-series double-decker trains. These special compartments complemented a series of dining cars, buffets and cafeterias installed on the Tokaido line between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations .

From April, Nankai Electric Railway Co is launching a new luxury train: the GRAN Tenku. Comprising four panoramic cars, this exceptional train will link Namba station (in Osaka) to Gokurakubashi station on the Koya line. For 90 minutes, discover the wooded hills of Mount Koya and enjoy seasonal delicacies, while admiring the scenery. In Gokurakubashi, a funicular will take you up to the mountain, famous for its 100 temples at altitude.

Tickets for the GRAN Tenku go on sale on March 24, 2026 on the official website of the Nankai Electric Railway with the first departures scheduled for April 24.