JR companies will discontinue all smoking rooms in the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen trains this spring.
In the JR West Japan area, smoking corners at Sanyo Shinkansen stations will also be closed (Shin-Kurashiki, Shin-Omichi, Mihara, Higashihiroshima, Shin-Iwakuni, Tokuyama, Asa, and Shin-Shimonoseki stations).
Although the specific date of discontinuation has not yet been announced (as of February 22), in light of the growing health promotion awareness and declining smoking rate in recent years, the company plans to use the smoking rooms for emergency drinking water distribution and other purposes to strengthen its ability to respond to disasters and other emergencies.
Kintetsu also announced that it will discontinue smoking rooms in all limited express trains on March 1.
© Source travel watch