Railways Hope New Services Draw Foreign Tourists

TOKYO (Nikkei)--Railway operators are offering more services aimed at overseas tourists, which they hope will stop at sightseeing spots along the lines.

Odakyu Electric Railway Co. (9007) has redesigned its website to vary the contents according to the location of the viewer. If the viewer is outside Japan, the website first presents an overview the tourist spots near Odakyu stations. When viewed within Japan, it provides practical information such as making transfers and how to buy tickets.

Odakyu's websites can be viewed in English, Korean, and simplified and traditional Chinese characters. The site, which has been optimized for smartphones, also offers such sightseeing information as suggested tour routes in popular tourist areas, including Hakone, Enoshima and Kamakura.

Keikyu Corp. (9006) has introduced automatic IC Card-enabled fare adjustment machines that give instructions in Chinese and Korean, in addition to Japanese and English. The machines will be installed at 12 major stations initially, including Shinagawa Station in Tokyo, and later at all 72 of its Tokyo-area stations, excluding Sengakuji Station.

(The Nikkei, Feb. 20 morning edition)

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