Third-sector Asa Coast Railway, which runs between Tokushima and Kochi Prefectures in the Shikoku region, has introduced what may be the world's first dual-mode vehicle (DMV) in an effort to revitalize the region and attract tourists. The DMV can run on both tracks and roads, making transportation in the area more convenient. See how the DMV works, as well as local efforts that lead to its introduction.

The JR companies have been working on ways to use the shinkansen to provide freight services to compensate for lost passenger revenue. JR East, in particular, began experimenting with the Tohoku Shinkansen in 2017 before expanding to include the Joetsu, Hokuriku and Yamagata Shinkansen. Now, the Tohoku Shinkansen is being used to transport freshly caught seafood to a restaurant in Tokyo. See JR East's plans for its shinkansen and conventional express trains post pandemic.

Kominato Railway is a 39.1km rural railway that operates in Chiba, the prefecture next to Tokyo. Unfortunately, damage caused by a typhoon in 2019 and the subsequent pandemic caused sales revenue to drop significantly. Now, the railway is working on ways to get back on track, including the operation of the Satoyama Trolley Train (a sightseeing train that runs through scenic valleys), old diesel trains manufactured more than 40 years ago, and a collaboration with a local art festival to attract tourists. See the strategies the company has implemented using wisdom and ingenuity to attract visitors.