The 500 series Shinkansen runs as a Nozomi again — weekends from 16 January 2027 before it retires

JR West brings back 500 series Nozomi trains between Himeji and Hakata on 12 weekend days in January–February 2027; the train retires in July 2027 and Doctor Yellow T5 also bows out.

16 Jan – 28 Feb 2027 · Himeji – Hakata (Sanyo Shinkansen)

Autumn Shinetsu: a one-off through train from Naoetsu to Nagano, 21–22 November

Echigo Tokimeki Railway runs its local train all the way to Nagano for the first time, past the Myoko highlands, with free seating and souvenir certificates.

21 Nov – 22 Nov 2026 · Naoetsu – Nagano

Chichibu Night Festival 2026: extra Laview expresses and a steam train on 3 December

Seibu adds limited expresses from Ikebukuro roughly every 30 minutes on the main festival day, and Chichibu Railway runs a one-way steam train into Chichibu.

2 Dec – 3 Dec 2026 · Chichibu, Saitama

Kyoto's maple tunnel train: Eizan Railway slows down and lights up the leaves, 7 Nov – 6 Dec

Trains to Kurama crawl through a 250 m tunnel of autumn maples by day and glide through it with cabin lights off after dark; a reserved-seat special stops inside it in mid to late November.

7 Nov – 6 Dec 2026 · Ichihara – Ninose (Eizan Kurama Line), Kyoto

Hokkaido Shinkansen speeds up to 260 km/h in the Seikan Tunnel over New Year, 30 Dec – 4 Jan

For six days the bullet trains run faster under the Tsugaru Strait, cutting Tokyo–Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto to 3 hours 51 minutes — and some departures move earlier.

30 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 · Seikan Tunnel (Hokkaido Shinkansen)

Keisei timetable change on 21 November: an earlier 5:20 Skyliner to Narita Airport

The first Skyliner from Keisei-Ueno now leaves 20 minutes earlier every day, and on weekends one evening Liner becomes a Skyliner to the airport.

Kyoto Railway Museum raises admission to ¥1,900 from 1 March 2027

Adult same-day tickets go from ¥1,500 to ¥1,900 and the steam-train ride from ¥300 to ¥500; advance tickets will be ¥100 cheaper.

Kyoto Railway Museum opens after dark with lit-up trains, 20–22 November

For three evenings the roundhouse and outdoor areas stay open until 19:30, with headlights on, a sleeper car to walk through and two turntable runs.

20 Nov – 22 Nov 2026 · Kyoto Railway Museum, Kyoto

Kyoto's Sagano trolley train gets new glass-roofed cars from 1 March 2027 — and reserved seats will cost extra

The Arashiyama–Kameoka scenic train switches to new cars with floor-to-ceiling windows and a ¥9,000 private tatami room; today's train makes its last runs on 29 December 2026.

SL Taiju steams through a lit-up Kinugawa valley on five Saturday evenings from 21 November

Tobu's steam train runs special evening trips past illuminated stations and the Kurakazaki flower field, and the line stays lit nightly until the end of February.

21 Nov – 19 Dec 2026 · Shimo-Imaichi – Kinugawa-Onsen