JR commercial roundup. A comprehensive look at commercials where you can see the trains!
You’ve probably often seen JR commercials—JR has a rail network spanning all across Japan—while watching TV or browsing video sites.
They’re full of things that make you want to go out, like announcements about great deals and travel campaigns you can enjoy using JR lines.
What’s more, JR commercials feature all kinds of trains, from the Shinkansen to popular limited express trains, so they’re fun to watch for the visuals alone.
We’ll be introducing JR commercials both old and new, so be sure to check them out.
JR commercial roundup: A comprehensive look at train-featured commercials (1–10)
JR Central “Off to Nara: Yakushiji” EditionNEW!Ryohei Suzuki
This commercial from JR Central’s travel-promotion campaign “Iza Iza Nara” was released in March 2026.
Set at Yakushiji Temple, it shows scenes of listening to the head priest and experiencing sutra copying.
In the latter half, it also features enjoying local cuisine and music, and the tagline “Nara is interesting because you go” leaves a strong impression.
JR East Tomorrow’s DESIGN. “The Future of Logistics” / “Greater Shinagawa Area”NEW!Minami Hamabe
One of a series of commercials in which Minami Hamabe’s future daughter time-travels to the present.
This time, her future son also appears, and the conversation among the three is depicted.
The topic this time is the Greater Shinagawa Area.
OIMACHI TRACKS, Takanawa Gateway City, and WATERS Takeshiba are introduced.
It’s a commercial promoting JR East’s efforts toward city-building for the future.
JR East Japan TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY “Mysterious Gateway Grand Opening” EditionNEW!Shinichi Tsutsumi, Ami Toma
This is a commercial announcing the grand opening of Takanawa Gateway City and introducing the facilities inside.
While saying he’s “so giddy from the grand opening that he’s floating,” Shinichi Tsutsumi, literally hovering in the air, leads Ami Toma on a tour of Takanawa Gateway City.
With one cutting-edge feature after another being showcased, you can’t help but feel excited!
JR Central “Meeting was something special.” VersionNEW!Eri Fukatsu
When you think of JR Central and Eri Fukatsu, the 1988 Hometown Express commercial comes to mind.
In this commercial, Fukatsu makes her first appearance in a JR Central ad in a long time.
In addition to emphasizing the importance of meeting someone dear to you, the Shinkansen is memorably portrayed as the means to go see them.
The background music in the commercial is “Nozomi,” a song released by odol in 2022.
Its lyrics, which depict meeting a loved one who lives far away, are warm, and together with the gentle vocals, they resonate deeply in the heart.
JR Central Smart EX “Simple! Reservation Changes” VersionNEW!Yuki Katayama
Yuki Katayama, who has a reservation for the Shinkansen, is waiting in line at a popular shop before boarding.
However, the line isn’t moving much, and it looks like she won’t make it in time for her reserved train.
She takes out her smartphone and quickly changes her reservation using Smart EX.
In the latter half of the commercial, it’s also shown that you can quickly change reservations with the EX Travel Pack, highlighting how convenient it is to use the Shinkansen with Smart EX.
JR Central: Yes, Let’s Go to Kyoto — “Around Hongwanji” EditionNEW!
When it comes to the JR Central travel campaign “Yes, let’s go to Kyoto,” the CM song is, of course, “My Favorite Things” from the musical The Sound of Music, also known as a jazz standard.
Each commercial features a different version, and in the “Around Honganji” edition, a cover by jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara is used.
It begins with a flowing, mysterious atmosphere, then in the latter half unfolds into a crisp, buoyant, and delightfully catchy melody.
You can’t help but be captivated by the ever-changing melodic lines.
JR Central “Xmas EXPRESS ’92”NEW!Takami Yoshimoto
In the 1992 Xmas EXPRESS commercial, the series came to a temporary end that year.
This time, Takami Yoshimoto appeared as the heroine, walking along the Shinkansen platform in search of her partner.
Though she has trouble finding them at first, her partner appears near the end of the commercial, and they embrace in tears.
The direction makes you imagine the hidden drama between the two.
The background music is Tatsuro Yamashita’s signature song, “Christmas Eve.”