By AYATERU HOSOZAWA/ Staff Writer
October 28, 2023 at 07:30 JST
All bullet trains in Japan will be smoke-free from spring next year following a decision by the operators of the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines to abolish smoking rooms.
The flagship N700-series trains that currently service the three lines have three smoking rooms in the deck areas on the 16-car version and two on the 8-car version.
Each room is equipped with a ventilation and deodorization system.
The operators, Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) and Kyushu Railway Co. (JR Kyushu), said the decision to go smoke-free reflected growing health-conscious trends and the fact that fewer people smoke these days.
After the smoking rooms are removed, the spaces will be used to store drinking water and other emergency items in case of a disaster.
JR West said it will also abolish smoking rooms on its 500-series bullet trains that service the Sanyo Shinkansen Line and remove smoking areas not separated by walls at Shin-Kurashiki, Mihara and six other stations.
Smoking seats on bullet trains for the Tohoku, Joetsu, Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen lines were abolished in 2007.
The Hokuriku, Hokkaido and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen lines have prohibited smoking since they first opened.
As JR Tokai and JR West were in sharp competition with airlines, the companies allowed smokers to indulge in designated rooms on the Tokaido and Sanyo bullet trains to cater to the needs of both smokers and non-smokers.
JR Kyushu kept in step with the two companies as they connect to the Kyushu Shinkansen Line.
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A smoking room aboard an N700S bullet train on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line (Provided by Central Japan Railway Co.)
