Following the well received campaign in collaboration with THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS in Yamanashi, JR EAST will once again have some idols from there as PR ambassadors, this time for Nasu and Niigata. So as you pack your bags and make your plans this autumn, read on for more information about the upcoming campaign!
Event period
Nasu area
Starting from 7 September 2024, the campaign will last for just over a month, ending on 13 October 2024.
Using the NASU-Ways MaaS (Mobility-as-a-Service), for digital ticketing for attractions in the area allows you to redeem postcards made specially for this collaboration. On top of that, a digital stamp rally will also take place, together with the placements of full-sized character standees in certain locations, alongside related merchandise sales.
Niigata area
Starting from 11 October 2024, the campaign will last for a month, ending on 10 November 2024.
Users of the Echigo One Day Pass or Echigo Two Day Pass (JP only link) allows you to redeem postcards made specially for this collaboration. Similar to activities in the Nasu area, a digital stamp rally will also take place, together with the placements of full-sized character standees in certain locations, alongside related merchandise sales.
Unique to the Niigata area, character standees will also be placed onboard several Joyful Trains, with sales of related merchandise on board the trains.
Character Standee displays
Nasu-Shiobara area
Featuring Kako Takafuji, Shizuku Oikawa and Tochigi native Akane Hino, full-sized standees uniquely created for this collaboration will be placed in the following area:
Niigata area
Featuring Kyoko Igarashi as well as two Niigata natives, Akira Sunazuka and Sanae Katagiri, their unique standees will not only be placed at certain train stations, but also onboard some Joyful Trains.
Acrylic stands will be sold in limited quantities at the respective NewDays convenience stores at Nasushiobara Station (2nd Floor near Ticket Gates) and Niigata Station (East Exit outlet) at ¥2,200 apiece. Do check out the following graphic for a summary of the designs. One unique feature for the Niigata area designs is the respective logos of the Joyful Trains that correspond to where each character is placed on.
Postcard giveaway
Nasu-Shiobara area
A total of four postcards can be redeemed at various attraction in Nasu. The requirements to redeem the postcards are also summarised below.
*Price info for each ticket can be found at the link here and can be bought via NASU-Ways.
Sales of electronic tickets for the above attractions can be done through NASU-Ways service. Register a JaM id account to use as well as enter the necessary registration details. On the service, there’s a ticket purchase function along the bottom navigation bar, through which you can purchase the relevant electronic tickets via credit card.
To use the ticket, when you are logged in, there is a “Use Ticket” function on the top navigation bar. Tap on the relevant ticket to start using, and then show the corresponding ticket to staff to redeem your postcard!
Niigata area
Similarly 4 types of postcards can also be redeemed, by showing to staff your active Echigo One Day Pass or Echigo Two Day Pass (JP only link) and spending at least 500 yen at each respective NewDays stores.
| Type | Location |
| Kyoko Igarashi | NewDays Mini Murakami store |
| Akira Sunazuka | NewDays Mini Niitsu store |
| Sanae Katagiri | NewDays Mini Nagaoka 2nd Floor No.1 store |
| Combined | NewDays Niigata East Exit store |
Aside from using the Echigo One Day Pass or Echigo Two Day Pass to track down the various postcards through the prefecture, there is also another free service that helps you navigate it proper.
Known as Niigata choi navi, without needing an additional app download, you can search for route information, as well as other sightseeing spots near the NewDays store where you’ve just picked up a new postcard. There are also additional functions, such as the rental of share bicycles around Niigata Station itself or event the STATION WORK working pods when you need to.
Joyful Trains on-board sales
Exclusive to trains operating in the Niigata area, on days that the Joyful Trains run, acrylic keychains will also be on sale onboard.
Please refer to the respective time and date schedules for each Joyful Train to find out when the keychains are available, linked below.
Digital Stamp Rally
On top of the placement of the life-sized standees, a digital stamp rally is taking place in 7 locations in the Nasu-Shioabara area, and 4 locations in the Niigata area. Purchase of the corresponding acrylic stands and keychains goes into the completion of the stamp rally.
Completion of the stamp rally grants you an entry ticket into the lucky draw where you stand to win some wonderful prizes.
*Lucky Draw entry tickets for the stamp rally in the Nasu-Shiobara area are only distributed during the sales period of the related acrylic stands between 7 September and 13 October.
*Lucky Draw entry tickets for the stamp rally in the Niigata area will occur throughout the campaign period as summarised below.
Locations and the period to collect the stamps are as follows:
Conclusion
Aside from the Cinderella Girls idols, JR East has also collaborated with other idols from SideM as well as Shiny Colors, in campaigns centred in Chiba promoting Choshi and the Choshi Electric Railway Line as well as the JR Sotobo line respectively. Besides the related activities at the various destinations, spice up your train journey as well and have fun with your favourite idols!
Getting there
JR東日本鐵路周遊券（長野&新潟地區）
To get around both the Nasu and Niigata regions, check out the JR東日本鐵路周遊券（長野&新潟地區）. At only ¥27,000, it is only slightly more than a round-trip between Tokyo and Niigata (~¥21,000), and cheaper than a return trip to the furthest point covered by the pass between Tokyo and Sakata with a transfer at Niigata (~¥29,000). With 5 consecutive days of unlimited use available, it is of great value if you ride trains often during that period.
Joyful Trains that are covered with the JR EAST PASS (Nagano, Niigata area):
- HIGH RAIL 1375
- KAIRI
- Koshino Shu*Kura
- Oykot
- Resort View Furusato
- SL Banetsu Monogatari (only between Niitsu and Hideya)
- SL Gunma
Online seat reservations
All Joyful Trains require seat reservations in order to board. JR EAST PASS holders can make seat reservations for the covered trains for free, either online (here) up to 1 month in advance, or in-person after arriving in Japan.
