East Japan Railway to open cafe in Singapore

SINGAPORE — Japanese train operator East Japan Railway (JR East) will be opening a cafe here in less than five months, and it will feature a ticketing counter where prospective tourists can get their rail passes before setting off to the land of the rising sun.

Called Japan Rail Cafe, the themed eatery in Tanjong Pagar will also update its menu monthly to reflect the latest recipes offered at JR East’s restaurants in Tokyo, and it will carry the latest Japan-imported collectables and food products, some of which are “kawaii items” found in JR East’s in-station malls.

The cafe came about as a collaboration with the Japan National Tourism Organisation, as well as Japanese local governments and corporations, as a way to promote travel destinations beyond Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, said the Singapore’s cafe general manager, Makoto Yamataka.

Japan Rail Cafe is expected to open in early November and will be on the ground level of Tanjong Pagar Centre, the upcoming tallest building in Singapore that will be connected to Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.