JR West Shinkansen commemorative event

JR West has announced a ‘Shinkansen Fureai Day’ event scheduled for October 11, 2026, at the Hakata General Rolling Stock Depot in Fukuoka. The event serves as a final opportunity for fans to interact with the Doctor Yellow and the 500 Series Shinkansen, the latter of which is slated for retirement in 2027.

To support recovery efforts following the Reiwa 8 Kumamoto Earthquake, JR West is inviting up to 100 children from Kumamoto Prefecture and their guardians to participate via a lottery. The company will provide round-trip tickets for eligible participants traveling from Kumamoto or Shin-Yatsushiro stations to Hakata-Minami station.

In response to the expected attendance, JR West will increase service frequency on the Hakata-Minami Line. Downbound services from Hakata Station will increase from three to seven trains during the morning window, while upbound services from Hakata-Minami Station will increase from three to eight trains during the afternoon. These temporary services will operate as limited express trains, requiring non-reserved limited express tickets. The company has warned that IC cards cannot be used for these specific services and that station entry restrictions may be necessary due to crowding.