JR Shinkansen train with a smoking vehicle
N700 and N700A


Two types of Shinkansen train at Tokyo terminal station 2017


The N700 is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train with tilting capacity, which was developed jointly by
the JR Tokai ( Central Japan Railway Company ) and the JR West ( West Japan Railway Company ),
for use on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines.

The N700 trains allow the trains to maintain the speed of 270 kms/h, even on 2,500 m radius curves that
previously had a maximum speed of 255 kms/h. Another feature of N700 is that it accelerates quicker than
other Shinkansen trains, with an acceleration rate of 2.6 kms/h/s. This enables it to reach 270 kms/h in
only three minutes. After these improvements, trains can travel between Tokyo and Osaka in as little as
2 hours and 25 minutes.

The Japan Railway Group, more commonly known as JR Group, consists of seven for-profit companies
that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned National Railways in 1987.
The JR Group lies at the heart of Japan's railway network, operating a large proportion of intercity rail service,
including the Shinkansen high-speed rail lines, and commuter rail service. The group consists of seven
operating companies, which are organized into six passenger operators and a nationwide freight operator.
Unlike some other groups of companies, the JR Group is made up of independent companies.

The list of railway companies, from the northern island of Japan: Hokkaido Railway, JR-Hokkaido, East Japan
Railway, JR-East, Central Japan Railway, JR-Tokail, West Japan Railway, JR-West, Shikoku Railway,JR-Shikoku,
and Kyushu Railway, JR-Kyushu.

(L) A train garbage collector at the JR-Tokai's plateform of Tokyo Station 2013
(R) The right-half of this photograph shows a buffer stop of the railway track of JR-Tokai at Tokyo Terminal.
The left-half of the photo is the shinkansen track of JR-East, which extends to Yamagata, Akita and Aomori.
2013

(L) The railway track of JR Tokai at Tokyo terminal station (R) A buffer stop of a railway track of JR Tokai at Tokyo station 2017

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Three major Japanese railway companies think the smoking space in a train is
the superb service to train passengers.
The Government of Japan allows smoking inside of a train.

The Japan Railway Group, more commonly known as JR Group, consists of seven for-profit companies
that took over most of the assets and operations of the government-owned National Railways in 1987.

Smoking is prohibited in all trains of JR-Hokkaido and JR-East. A smoking booth is provided in an express
train of JR-Tokai, JR-West and JR-Shikoku. In 2010, JR-Kyushu prohibits smoking in a train. However,
upon completion of a new shinkansen-track line, which connects with Hakata, and a long-distance running
to Shin-Osaka, the station of JR-Tokai, JR-Kyushu railway company will provide a smoking booth
in their jointly operated shinkansen trains. JR Tokai and JR West still have super-express trains,
which provide smoking seats. This policy is criticized by many citizens in Japan.


Smoking kills: The ideal train marking for the smoking vehicle of Kinki Nippon Railway


It is a suitable idea to put a mark of a death' head and cigarette on the body of Kintetsu-Car, so that
it becomes a good photo-subject for many tourists visiting Kyoto, Nara and Ise-Shima.


The smoking space in a train is necessary for all smokers, and that is the superb service to a customer?

I have traveled over many countries using a train, in Canada, US, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and European countries; however, nowadays, I have never experienced to hear the announcement of to guide a smoking room or booth in a train. This kind of guidance might be all train passengers to recognize the need of smoking space in a train, and for smokers, inhibit the feeling not to smoke for a while. As a result, it might work as promoting a smoking during his train trip until he arrives at the destination. In 2016, 49 countries, including the above-mentioned countries, allows smoking inside of the train. Japanese government should restrict such a smoking in a train by law. Otherwise, it will put our people in Japan shamed at the coming 2020 Olympic game. Junhaku Miymoto, M.D.,PhD. 　Announcement in a train with smoking booth of JR's Tokaido-Shinkansen super-express Cars 1, 2 and 3 are for the passengers without seat reservations. Smoking is not allowed on this train except in the designated smoking rooms located in cars 3, 7 and 15. The smoking room in car No.10 is for the passengers in the Green Cars. Please refrain from smoking in the train, including areas at either end of the cars.

The smoking room in the train infringes the health of the passengers.

The railway company, Kintestu, leading passengers to health damage

The smoking room in the train adversely affects the health of the passengers.

Smoking ban in the railway trains of Japan
A few Japanese railway companies think the smoking car and/or smoking booth in a train
is the superb service to train passengers.
All sleeper-trains in Japan are connecting a smoking vehicle.
JR-Tokai's Policy
All Shinkansen train stations between Tokyo and Osaka will have an enclosed smoking room.
JR Shinkansen Tokyo Station
A smoking-restriction policy is different between two JR railway companies.
Kyushu Shinkansen provides a smoking room.
Smoking ban in JR-Hokkaido trains
Smoking booth of JR Shikoku's express trains was closed in March 2011.
JR-East

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Smoke-free Railway Service: World's standard to prohibit smoking in a train

Narita Airport-City Rail Service
Keisei private railway company decided to close all smoking vehicles serving Narita International Airport, in July 2010.
No more, 'smoking-seat' ticket is available afterwards.


All non-smoking Tokyo-Aomori bullet train 'Hayabusa' debuted in March 2011.
Maximum speed is 320 kms/H, the same level of France's TGV, the world fastest train.

All non-smoking Tokyo-Akita bullet train 'Super-Komachi' debuted in March 2013.

All non-smoking Tokyo-Kanazawa bullet trains run between Tokyo and Kanazawa, via Nagano.

All Hokuriku shinkansen trains are smoke-free.


日本語

JR Shinkansen train with a smoking vehicle
2008年2月執筆　2010年7月加筆　　2012年6月加筆　2013年3月加筆　
「禁煙席ネット」主宰　日本タバコフリー学会顧問　医学博士 宮本順伯
★This Web site is link-free.
The article was written in February 2008, and last revised in April 2017,
by Junhaku Miyamoto, M.D., PhD.