[Train Trip of the Year Executive Committee] Call for submissions for the general category of the 15th Railway Trip of the Year!!
Travel of the Year Executive Committee Press Release: October 15, 2025 To Members of the Media “15th Annual Railway Travel of the Year” General Category: Call for Entries!! This year, we are once again accepting “Dream Train Trip” proposals from all train travel enthusiasts. Deadline December 19th (Friday)
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https://www.instagram.com/tetsutabi_oftheyear/ ■The Railroad Trip of the Year Awards are open to not only travel professionals but also the general public! We are accepting submissions from individuals and clubs, so that people who love rail travel and are particular about planning and itineraries, as well as those interested in this award, can actively participate. We’re looking for dream train trips from travelers who wish they could have a train trip like this. ■ How to Apply Tetsutabi of the Year Official Website ( ■ Award-Eligible Works A rail travel tour project targeting one of the 2026 Destination Campaign locations: Fukushima Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, or Kyoto City. (This also applies to projects aimed at foreign visitors to Japan) ■ Awards and Prizes At the awards ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (at the Railway Museum in Omiya), one entry will be awarded the “Best Amateur Award,” along with a prize of 50,000 yen and a commemorative gift (scheduled) sponsored by JR. ■ Announcement of the Results Winners will be contacted by the Executive Committee in early March 2026 and will be invited to attend the award ceremony. *Participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation costs to the award ceremony venue. Submitted works will be posted on the Railway Travel of the Year official website (https://www.tetsutabi-award.net/) in mid-April 2026. ● Award Recipients ＜General Category＞ Railway travel tour planning targeting one of the 2026 Destination Campaign hosting locations: Fukushima Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, or Kyoto City. ● Awards Best Amateur Award: 1 entry (prize money of 50,000 yen and a commemorative gift sponsored by JR (planned)) ● Judging (planned) Travel of the Year Executive Committee Judges (titles omitted, listed in alphabetical order) Chairman: Yamaguchi Masahiko, Editor-in-Chief of Monthly “Tabi no Techo” Committee Member: Takao Imon, Professor, Faculty of Tourism and Urban Planning, Kokugakuin University Committee Member: Masayuki Enomoto, Owner, Bar Ginza Panorama Shibuya Committee Member: Taku Ozeki, Singer-songwriter Committee Member: Keiichiro Otsuka, Deputy Director of the Economic Department at Kyodo News, Author of the Railway Column “Shiodome Railway Club” Committee Member: Kei Kurihara, Photowriter Committee Member: Takeshi Sakimoto, Professor and Head of the Department of Contemporary Sociology, Faculty of Sociology, Edogawa University, Japan Association for International Tourism Studies Chairman Committee Member: Hiroshi Sakurai, Railway Photojournalist, Visiting Professor at Tokyo College of Transportation Committee Member: Yusuke Minamida, Railway-Enthusiast Manager (Horipro Inc.) Committee Member: Masumi Toyooka The original railway idol and representative of the Mama-Tetsu community Committee member: Naomi Yano – Photo writer who “takes photos and writes” while traveling ◎This year’s final judges for the general category will be famous railway enthusiasts Masahiro Yoshikawa, Tomomi Kuno, and Yusuke Minamida. Final Judges for the General Category (Titles omitted, listed in alphabetical order) Tomomi Kuno, Freelance Announcer, Women’s Train Fan Yusuke Minamida, Train-loving Manager (Horipro Inc.) Masahiro Yoshikawa, Comedian (Darling Honey) ● Announcement and Award Ceremony The announcement of the judging results and the award ceremony are scheduled for Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Venue: Railway Museum, Omiya) *The date, time, and location of the award ceremony are subject to change. ● Organization ■ Organized by: Railway Travel of the Year Executive Committee ■Committee Member: Railway Passengers Association ■Sponsors (planned): Hokkaido Railway Company, East Japan Railway Company, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Shikoku Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company, Japan Private Railway Association, Japan Travel and Tourism Association, Japan Association of Travel Agents (General Incorporated Association), All Nippon Travel Agents Association (General Incorporated
Association) ■ Cooperation: Kotsu Shimbunsha, various travel media companies (planned) For more information about this release