Is Japan Railway Journal coming back?
Japan Railway Journal (2015–present) — travel on NHK World
The answer: Between seasons — last episode April 30, 2026, no return date announced yet.
12seasons
175episodes
About Japan Railway Journal
Japan Railway Journal is currently airing on NHK World; the next episode airs May 9, 2026.
The show is a travel series that explores the railways of Japan, highlighting the latest technological advancements, systems in use, and travel tips for viewers. It has been broadcast since its premiere on March 9, 2015, providing insights into the country's extensive railway network.
Each episode has a runtime of approximately 30 minutes.
Japan Railway Journal episode schedule
175 aired
Aired · 175
| Date | Ep. | Title |
|---|---|---|
| April 30, 2026 | S2026·E5 | Hojo Railway: From Preservation to Revitalization |
| March 26, 2026 | S2026·E4 | Railway Technical Research Institute: Leading the Way |
| March 5, 2026 | S2026·E3 | Battling the Snow: Japan's Northern Railways |
| January 29, 2026 | S2026·E2 | Must-see Railway News: The Latter Half of 2025 |
| January 15, 2026 | S2026·E1 | The Return of Japan's Night Trains |
| December 18, 2025 | S2025·E15 | Enhancing Railways with AI: Highlights from Mass-Trans Innovation Japan 2025 |
| November 27, 2025 | S2025·E14 | Vertical Separation: A Key to the Survival of Local Railways |
| November 13, 2025 | S2025·E13 | JR Geibi Line: Making Moves with Extra Trains |
| October 23, 2025 | S2025·E12 | Five Years On: Redeveloping the Joban Line |
| September 25, 2025 | S2025·E11 | Choshi Electric Railway: Fighting to Get Back on Track |
| September 18, 2025 | S2025·E10 | Hiroshima Station Transformed: A Bustling New Gateway to the City |
| August 28, 2025 | S2025·E9 | JR Ome Line: Turning Railway Stops into Overnight Stops |
| July 31, 2025 | S2025·E8 | Must-see Railway News: The First Half of 2025 |
| July 17, 2025 | S2025·E7 | 110 Years of Nagasaki's Beloved Streetcars |
| June 26, 2025 | S2025·E6 | Revitalizing Niigata's Third-Sector Railways |
| May 22, 2025 | S2025·E5 | On Track for a Carbon-Free Future |
| April 24, 2025 | S2025·E4 | Oigawa Railway: A New President Steps Up |
| March 20, 2025 | S2025·E3 | The Enduring Charm of Printed Timetables |
| February 13, 2025 | S2025·E2 | Major Railways Helping Local Communities Grow |
| January 23, 2025 | S2025·E1 | Must-see Railway News: The Latter Half of 2024 |
| December 19, 2024 | S2024·E16 | JR West's New and Improved Limited Express Yakumo |
| December 5, 2024 | S2024·E15 | Japan's Unique Railway Departure Melodies |
| November 21, 2024 | S2024·E14 | Hokkaido's Railway Heritage at a Crossroads |
| October 24, 2024 | S2024·E13 | The 60th Anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen: Part 2, The Evolution of Maintenance Technologies |
| October 10, 2024 | S2024·E12 | The 60th Anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen: Part 1, The Evolution of High-Speed Rail |
| September 12, 2024 | S2024·E11 | Affordable Luxury Trains: Kintetsu Railway |
| August 29, 2024 | S2024·E10 | Railcars Dressed in Tradition |
| July 25, 2024 | S2024·E9 | Must-see Railway News: The First Half of 2024 |
| July 4, 2024 | S2024·E8 | Branching Out with the Shin-Yokohama Line |
| June 13, 2024 | S2024·E7 | Iwate Prefecture: Promoting Railway Tourism |
Show 145 earlier episodes
| May 30, 2024 | S2024·E6 | The Challenging Journey of Akechi Railway |
| May 16, 2024 | S2024·E5 | New Regional Yamagata Shinkansen Series E8 |
| April 25, 2024 | S2024·E4 | Hapi-Line Fukui: Born Alongside the Shinkansen |
| March 28, 2024 | S2024·E3 | Riding in Style: Exploring Japan's Tourist Trains |
| February 29, 2024 | S2024·E2 | Shining a Light on Japan's Monorails |
| January 25, 2024 | S2024·E1 | Must-see Railway News: The Latter Half of 2023 |
| December 21, 2023 | S2023·E16 | JR Shikoku's Collaborative New Idea |
| November 30, 2023 | S2023·E15 | Oigawa Railway: Keeping Steam Alive |
| November 16, 2023 | S2023·E14 | Haga Utsunomiya LRT: Shaping Communities |
| October 26, 2023 | S2023·E13 | Putting JR Hokkaido's Abandoned Lines to Use |
| September 28, 2023 | S2023·E12 | Countdown to the Hokuriku Shinkansen Extension |
| September 14, 2023 | S2023·E11 | Minamiaso Railway: Overcoming Disaster |
| September 7, 2023 | S2023·E10 | Fukushima's Iizaka Line: Keeping Business on Track |
| July 27, 2023 | S2023·E9 | Must-see Railway News: The First Half of 2023 |
| July 6, 2023 | S2023·E8 | Hisatsu Orange Railway: Fully Supported by Kagoshima Prefecture |
| June 22, 2023 | S2023·E7 | Collaborating to Revive Japan's Stations |
| June 8, 2023 | S2023·E6 | Yuri Kogen Railway: Getting People Back on Track |
| May 18, 2023 | S2023·E5 | JR Geibi Line and Kisuki Line at a Crossroads |
| April 13, 2023 | S2023·E4 | The Tohoku Shinkansen: Full Speed Ahead |
| March 23, 2023 | S2023·E3 | Choshi Electric Railway: Turning Creative Ideas into Profit |
| February 9, 2023 | S2023·E2 | Ichibata Electric Railway: Working Hand in Hand with the Region |
| January 19, 2023 | S2023·E1 | Must-see Railway News: The Latter Half of 2022 |
| December 22, 2022 | S2022·E17 | Reviewing the New Trains of 2022 |
| December 1, 2022 | S2022·E16 | Exploring the Labyrinth that is Tokyo Station |
| November 17, 2022 | S2022·E15 | JR Tadami Line: Back After 11 Years |
| October 27, 2022 | S2022·E14 | Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen: Half A Century Since Its Inception |
| October 6, 2022 | S2022·E13 | Yagan Railway: Surviving as a Connecting Line |
| September 22, 2022 | S2022·E12 | JR Okayama Branch: Using Old Trains to Attract Tourists |
| August 25, 2022 | S2022·E11 | Running a Luxury Tourist Train in Hokkaido |
| July 28, 2022 | S2022·E10 | Kosaka Railroad: A Second Chance for a Discontinued Railway |
| July 14, 2022 | S2022·E9 | Must-see Railway News: The First Half of 2022 |
| June 16, 2022 | S2022·E8 | Speeding Toward Carbon-Free Railways |
| June 9, 2022 | S2022·E7 | Working on the Move by Rail |
| May 26, 2022 | S2022·E6 | Tobu Railway: Restoring a Steam Locomotive |
| April 28, 2022 | S2022·E5 | Trains Evolving by Design |
| March 10, 2022 | S2022·E4 | Rebuilding Tohoku's Railway Network |
| March 3, 2022 | S2022·E3 | Konan Railway: Combating the Snow |
| February 24, 2022 | S2022·E2 | Ekiben: Making a Comeback |
| January 20, 2022 | S2022·E1 | Must-see Railway News: The Latter Half of 2021 |
| December 30, 2021 | S2021·E10 | Kominato Railway: Surviving with Wisdom and Ingenuity |
| November 25, 2021 | S2021·E9 | Shinkansen Freight: Carrying On Post Pandemic |
| November 11, 2021 | S2021·E8 | Asa Coast Railway: The World's First DMV |
| October 15, 2021 | S2021·E7 | This is Not the End of the Line: Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| September 16, 2021 | S2021·E6 | Shinano Railway: Investing in New Trains |
| July 30, 2021 | S2021·E5 | Back in Time at the Romancecar Museum |
| July 16, 2021 | S2021·E4 | Japan's Top New Trains: Awarded for Excellence |
| July 9, 2021 | S2021·E3 | Must-see Railway News: The First Half of 2021 |
| April 30, 2021 | S2021·E2 | Moka Railway: Pushing Forward with Steam |
| January 29, 2021 | S2021·E1 | Keeping Commuters Safe during the Pandemic |
| December 25, 2020 | S2020·E15 | Reviewing the New Trains of 2020 |
| December 17, 2020 | S2020·E14 | Tenryu Hamanako Railroad: Working with the Community to Revitalize the Railway |
| November 27, 2020 | S2020·E13 | JR West: Redefining the Role of the Railway Post Pandemic |
| October 30, 2020 | S2020·E12 | Beyond the Pandemic: Discussing the Railway with Industrial Designer Mitooka Eiji |
| October 16, 2020 | S2020·E11 | JR Freight: In Business for the Long Haul |
| September 18, 2020 | S2020·E10 | Tsugaru Railway: Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic |
| August 7, 2020 | S2020·E9 | Heisei Chikuho Railway: A Tourist Train Recovering from the Pandemic |
| July 30, 2020 | S2020·E8 | Bicycle Onboard: Cycling with JR East |
| July 9, 2020 | S2020·E7 | The Blue Ribbon & Laurel Prize: Japan's Best New Trains |
| June 4, 2020 | S2020·E6 | Securing the Future of Japan's Local Railways |
| April 30, 2020 | S2020·E5 | Takanawa Gateway Station: The New Gateway to Tokyo |
| April 16, 2020 | S2020·E4 | Kintetsu Railway's Hinotori: Challenging the Shinkansen with Comfort |
| March 26, 2020 | S2020·E3 | A Guide to Tokyo's Airport Access Lines |
| February 13, 2020 | S2020·E2 | Echigo Tokimeki Railway: A Railway for Everyone |
| January 17, 2020 | S2020·E1 | Sunrise Seto and Izumo: The Last of the Overnight Sleeper Trains |
| December 26, 2019 | S2019·E19 | Reviewing the New Trains of 2019 |
| December 12, 2019 | S2019·E18 | New Technology Opening the Future of the Railway |
| November 21, 2019 | S2019·E17 | Introducing the N700S: JR Central's Next-Generation Shinkansen |
| November 7, 2019 | S2019·E16 | JR's Ekinaka Development Project: A New Lifestyle Below the Chuo Line |
| October 24, 2019 | S2019·E15 | Hitachinaka Seaside Railway: Pulling Together with the Local Community |
| October 10, 2019 | S2019·E14 | Chizu Express: A Top Tier Third Sector Railway |
| September 26, 2019 | S2019·E13 | South Hokkaido Railway: A Tourist Train Developed by a Tour Company |
| September 12, 2019 | S2019·E12 | Kyoto Tango Railway: A Bus Company to the Rescue |
| July 25, 2019 | S2019·E11 | JR Osaka Loop Line: Developing a Better, More User-Friendly Line |
| July 11, 2019 | S2019·E10 | Choshi Electric Railway: Finding New Ways to Get Back on Track |
| June 27, 2019 | S2019·E9 | Hankai Tramway: Osaka's One & Only Tram Network |
| May 30, 2019 | S2019·E8 | Hiroshima Electric Railway: On Track on the Streets |
| May 23, 2019 | S2019·E7 | Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train |
| April 26, 2019 | S2019·E6 | Tokyo Metro: A Subway Network On Time & On Track |
| April 12, 2019 | S2019·E5 | JR Hokkaido's Yubari Line: A Beloved Local Line Comes to an End |
| March 29, 2019 | S2019·E4 | Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Ever Evolving Loop Line |
| February 15, 2019 | S2019·E3 | Amaterasu Railway: A Tourist Attraction Making the Most of a Discontinued Line |
| February 8, 2019 | S2019·E2 | JR Gono Line: A Popular Local Line Worth the Journey |
| January 18, 2019 | S2019·E1 | New Year Trains: Beginning the New Year with a Journey |
| December 21, 2018 | S2018·E18 | Seibu Railway: Setting its Sights on the Chichibu Region |
| November 23, 2018 | S2018·E17 | Echizen Railway: Heading into the Future with the Community Onboard |
| November 9, 2018 | S2018·E16 | Iwate Galaxy Railway: Launching Services for the Community |
| October 26, 2018 | S2018·E15 | JR Central: Enticing Tourists with Helpful Services & Events |
| October 19, 2018 | S2018·E14 | Nagoya Railroad: Advancing with Easy Airport Access and a Famous Castle Town |
| September 28, 2018 | S2018·E13 | Chartered Tour Trains: Special Times for Special Tours |
| September 21, 2018 | S2018·E12 | Shinano Railway: Managing the Risks of the Next 30 Years |
| July 27, 2018 | S2018·E11 | New-Look Railway Museum: A Wonderland of Japan's Railway History |
| July 19, 2018 | S2018·E10 | The Golden Route to Hakone: Limited Express Romancecar and the Mountain Train |
| July 12, 2018 | S2018·E9 | Kominato Railway: The Strategy of a Quaint Local Railway |
| June 8, 2018 | S2018·E8 | Gakunan Electric Train: A New Outlook in the Foothills of Mt. Fuji |
| May 24, 2018 | S2018·E7 | Tobu Railway's Revaty Express: Moving Forward to a Better Nikko |
| April 20, 2018 | S2018·E6 | The Ultimate in Comfort: New Limited Express Super Azusa |
| April 6, 2018 | S2018·E5 | A New Generation of Commuter Train: Tokyu Corporation's Series 2020 |
| March 2, 2018 | S2018·E4 | Enoshima Electric Railway: A Good Old 10km Ride |
| February 15, 2018 | S2018·E3 | JR OITA CITY: The Station Complex that Changed the Game |
| January 19, 2018 | S2018·E2 | Hokuriku Shinkansen Update: Re-assessing the Effects and Challenges 3 Years On |
| January 12, 2018 | S2018·E1 | Driving Forward with Steam: Oigawa Railway's Strategy |
| December 14, 2017 | S2017·E18 | Safeguarding The System: Maintaining JR Central's Conventional Line |
| November 16, 2017 | S2017·E17 | Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems |
| October 19, 2017 | S2017·E16 | Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model |
| October 5, 2017 | S2017·E15 | Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation And Utilization Of Railway Heritage |
| September 7, 2017 | S2017·E13 | Train Suite Shiki-Shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train |
| August 10, 2017 | S2017·E12 | HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New Heights |
| July 20, 2017 | S2017·E11 | Prepaid E-Money Cards: The Smart Way To Travel In Japan |
| July 14, 2017 | S2017·E14 | A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival |
| July 13, 2017 | S2017·E10 | Airport Express Lines: How Competition Is Improving The Ride Into The City |
| June 15, 2017 | S2017·E9 | The Unsung Hero Of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel Trains |
| May 18, 2017 | S2017·E8 | All The Comfort You Require: Onboard Services On Japanese Trains |
| May 11, 2017 | S2017·E7 | Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem For Tourists From Overseas |
| April 13, 2017 | S2017·E6 | Using Railways To Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's Strategy |
| April 6, 2017 | S2017·E5 | Dreams Of A Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans For Japan's High-Speed Railways |
| March 9, 2017 | S2017·E4 | The Long Winter Of Discontent: One Railway's Battle Against Snow Summary History Search |
| February 16, 2017 | S2017·E3 | Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology That Dominated The Railway Hub |
| January 19, 2017 | S2017·E2 | Japan's World-Class Rail And Wheels |
| January 12, 2017 | S2017·E1 | Turning Problems Into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy |
| December 9, 2016 | S2016·E17 | The Seeds of Success: Kyoto's Sagano Scenic Railway |
| November 11, 2016 | S2016·E16 | Picking Up the Pace: JR Shikoku's Tactics for Survival |
| October 14, 2016 | S2016·E15 | Future Prospects Made in the Past: JR East's Steam Loco Strategy |
| October 7, 2016 | S2016·E14 | Railways Back on Track: Six Months after the Kumamoto Earthquakes |
| September 16, 2016 | S2016·E13 | World-Class Maintenance: The Backbone of Shinkansen Operations |
| August 5, 2016 | S2016·E12 | Keikyu: The Strive for World-Class Rail Operation |
| July 22, 2016 | S2016·E11 | Kyoto Railway Museum: The Story of Rail Transport in Japan |
| July 15, 2016 | S2016·E10 | Light Rail Vehicles: Modern Trams Reshaping Urban Transit |
| June 17, 2016 | S2016·E9 | The Future of Rail Freight Transport |
| June 10, 2016 | S2016·E8 | New Generation Express: Journey to Speed and Comfortability |
| May 19, 2016 | S2016·E7 | The Cat Stationmaster Who Rescued a Railway |
| May 13, 2016 | S2016·E6 | Premium Express Shimakaze: A Train of Dreams to Reality |
| April 15, 2016 | S2016·E5 | Ekiben: A True Rail Traveling Companion |
| April 7, 2016 | S2016·E4 | Superconducting Maglev: The Extreme Speeds of Tomorrow |
| March 11, 2016 | S2016·E3 | Earthquake Safety: What 5 Years has Taught Us |
| February 11, 2016 | S2016·E2 | Second Chances for Used Trains in Southeast Asia |
| January 15, 2016 | S2016·E1 | Seven Stars in Kyushu: The Local Revitalizing Cruise Train |
| December 4, 2015 | S2015·E9 | Yamanote Line: The Green Rotating Heart of Tokyo |
| November 13, 2015 | S2015·E8 | Special Preview - Hokkaido Shinkansen: Hopes and Challenges |
| October 9, 2015 | S2015·E7 | The Secret of Operating Preserved Steam Locomotives |
| August 14, 2015 | S2015·E6 | Japan's Subway Technology in High Density Operation |
| July 11, 2015 | S2015·E5 | Battery Hybrid Trains: Development of the Global Technology |
| June 12, 2015 | S2015·E4 | Diesel Hybrid Trains: Japan's World Leading Technology |
| May 15, 2015 | S2015·E3 | Isumi Railway: There's Nothing Here! |
| April 10, 2015 | S2015·E2 | The New Shinkansen: Technology and Economic Effects |
| March 9, 2015 | S2015·E1 | The Railway Revival: 4 Years after the Great Earthquake |