Japan Railway Journal: Season 5
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Japan Railway Journal Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
New Year Trains: Beginning the New Year with a Journey
Jan 18, 2019
New Year is a special time in Japan with many unique traditions. There are special postcards and special foods, visits to shrines and temples, and even special trains. In this epis
JR Gono Line: A Popular Local Line Worth the Journey
Feb 8, 2019
JR East's Gono Line, which runs between Akita and Aomori Prefectures, currently boasts 3 popular tourist trains with the name "Resort Shirakami," attracting more than 100,000 passe
Amaterasu Railway: A Tourist Attraction Making the Most of a Discontinued Line
Feb 15, 2019
Amaterasu Railway was a third sector company located in Takachiho Town in the northern part of Miyazaki Prefecture. However, in 2005 the line was severely damaged by a typhoon caus
Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Ever Evolving Loop Line
Mar 29, 2019
The JR Yamanote Line is a 35km loop line that runs around central Tokyo carrying 3.5 million passengers per day. During the morning rush hour, 48 trains operate every 2 minutes, th
JR Hokkaido's Yubari Line: A Beloved Local Line Comes to an End
Apr 12, 2019
On April 1, 2019, the Yubari branch of JR Hokkaido's Sekisho Line is sadly coming to an end. Back in the days, Yubari was a prosperous mining town and the line was a major route fo
Tokyo Metro: A Subway Network On Time & On Track
Apr 26, 2019
Tokyo Metro operates 9 subway lines with a network stretching a total of 195km. Connecting to a number of main stations in Tokyo on both private and JR lines, Tokyo Metro carries 7
Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train
May 23, 2019
Nishi-Nippon Railroad's first tourist train "The Rail Kitchen Chikugo" began operating in March 2019 in the Kyushu region. The train, which is a showcase of traditional craftsmansh
Hiroshima Electric Railway: On Track on the Streets
May 30, 2019
Since the 1960's Japan's streetcar numbers have fallen into decline due to an increase of cars, subways, and railway lines. However, to meet the aging population's need for safe an
Hankai Tramway: Osaka's One & Only Tram Network
Jun 27, 2019
With a history of more than 100 years, Hankai Tramway, which connects Osaka City and Sakai City, is the only tram operator in Osaka Prefecture. With 2 other companies connecting th
Choshi Electric Railway: Finding New Ways to Get Back on Track
Jul 11, 2019
Choshi Electric Railway operates a 6.4km line in Chiba Prefecture. This beloved local line services around 20,000 people who live in the area. However, with a low population and a
JR Osaka Loop Line: Developing a Better, More User-Friendly Line
Jul 25, 2019
JR West's Osaka Loop Line is the main artery for public transport in Osaka. 13 of the line's 19 stations connect to subways and major private railways. Unfortunately, there were co
Kyoto Tango Railway: A Bus Company to the Rescue
Sep 12, 2019
Kyoto Tango Railway is a 114km line located along Amanohashidate, one of the 3 most scenic spots in Japan. Once the most in deficit railway company in Japan, it is now managed by t
South Hokkaido Railway: A Tourist Train Developed by a Tour Company
Sep 26, 2019
South Hokkaido Railway is home to a popular tourist train. A third sector company, South Hokkaido Railway began operation in 2016 with the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen. With
Chizu Express: A Top Tier Third Sector Railway
Oct 10, 2019
Chizu Express is a third sector local railway, which runs 56.1km through the Chugoku Mountains between Tottori and Hyogo Prefectures. From the beginning, the railway was constructe
Hitachinaka Seaside Railway: Pulling Together with the Local Community
Oct 24, 2019
Hitachinaka Seaside Railway in Ibaraki Prefecture opened in 2008. When it began operation, the 14.3km railway had a ridership of less than 700,000. Now, ridership exceeds 1 million
JR's Ekinaka Development Project: A New Lifestyle Below the Chuo Line
Nov 7, 2019
"Ekinaka" refers to the shops and facilities that are usually found inside the station. Now JR East is expanding on that concept, developing the viaducts beneath the Chuo Line in a
Introducing the N700S: JR Central's Next-Generation Shinkansen
Nov 21, 2019
JR Central's long-awaited next-generation Shinkansen; the N700S is scheduled to begin operation in summer 2020. The new N700S makes use of state-of-the-art technology to enhance sa
New Technology Opening the Future of the Railway
Dec 12, 2019
Railway companies in Japan are shifting toward the use of artificial intelligence and IoT systems to improve services. Responding to the increasing number of retiring railway emplo
Reviewing the New Trains of 2019
Dec 26, 2019
Many new express, commuter and tourist trains, as well as trams, began service in 2019. Join us as we take a look back at the trains and trends. See the innovative designs of Seibu