Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd.
Japanese publisher and newspaper company specializing in railway and transport titles, best known for the JR Timetable.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. (株式会社交通新聞社) is a Japanese newspaper and publishing company headquartered in Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It is best known as the publisher of the JR Timetable (『JR時刻表』), the official timetable jointly edited with the JR passenger railway companies, and of the transport-industry newspaper Kotsu Shimbun (『交通新聞』). Its catalogue spans timetables, travel and railway magazines, books, calendars, digital timetable apps and web media, and it also runs advertising, custom publishing and timetable-solution businesses. The company traces its origins to the publishing operations of the Railway Welfare Association (鉄道弘済会). Its predecessor, Kosei Shuppansha (弘済出版社), was established in February 1958 in Moji, Fukuoka Prefecture, and moved its head office to Tokyo in 1960. A separate first-generation Kotsu Shimbunsha was founded in 1987 to take over the newspaper and publishing business of the Transport Cooperation Association (交通協力会), whose roots go back to the 1899 Railway Times. In December 2001 Kosei Shuppansha merged with Kotsu Shimbunsha and adopted the current name. Ownership changed in May 2001, when the shareholder shifted from the Railway Welfare Association to the seven JR companies, Japan Telecom (now SoftBank) and Railway Information Systems. The company is therefore closely tied to the JR group while operating as an independent private corporation. Its head office moved to its current location in October 2014. Today Kotsu Shimbunsha publishes monthly and quarterly timetables such as JR Timetable, the nationwide Compass Timetable, the Hokkaido Timetable and the JR West Japan Timetable, alongside magazines including Tetsudo Daiya Joho, Tabi no Techo and Sanpo no Tatsujin. It also produces digital products such as the Digital JR Timetable apps, the Tetsudo Daiya Joho app and the Toretavi web magazine, and provides timetable solutions, signage and data services to railway operators and businesses.
History
The origins of Kotsu Shimbunsha lie in the publishing activities of the Railway Welfare Association (鉄道弘済会). In August 1947 the association's Shimbunko-sha published the 'Tokyo Railway Bureau Compiled Train Timetable', and its Moji branch publishing department took over the 'Kyushu Line All-Station Train Timetable'. In September 1949 the Moji branch launched the 'Nationwide Timetable', the predecessor of today's 'Nationwide Compass Timetable'. In February 1958 Kosei Shuppansha Co., Ltd. was established in Moji, Fukuoka Prefecture (now part of Kitakyushu) with investment from the Railway Welfare Association, taking over the Moji branch publishing operations. In December 1959 Hokkaido Kosei Publishing was founded, inheriting a timetable and launching the 'Hokkaido Timetable'. In 1960 the head office moved from Moji to Tokyo, and the 'Kansai/Shikoku Timetable' was launched. In February 1963 the 'Nationwide Sightseeing Timetable' was first published, later becoming the 'Large Timetable' and ultimately the 'JR Timetable'. In November 1972, amid a steam locomotive boom, 'SL Daiya Joho' was launched, the predecessor of 'Tetsudo Daiya Joho'. In February 1977 'Tabi no Techo' was first published. In March 1987 the 'Large Timetable' was renamed and renewed as the 'JR Edited Timetable', the official timetable replacing the 'Japan Travel Bureau Timetable'; the April 1987 issue was titled 'JNR Edited Timetable' because it was published before the JR launch. In March 1988 it was renamed 'JR Timetable'. In April 1996 'Sanpo no Tatsujin' was launched, and in September 1998 'MY LINE Tokyo Timetable' was launched. In May 2001 the shareholder changed from the Railway Welfare Association to the JR companies. Separately, the first-generation Kotsu Shimbunsha traced its roots to the 'Railway Times' first published in January 1899 by the Railway Association's Railway Times Bureau. In February 1943 the Land Transport Cooperation Association was established, and under newspaper control the 'Railway Times' and other railway and land transport industry papers were merged into the 'Land Transport News'. In January 1946 the Transport Cooperation Association was established, and the 'Land Transport News' was renamed 'Kotsu Shimbun'. In December 1947 the 'Transport Yearbook' was launched. In October 1987 Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. was established and the newspaper and publishing business of the Transport Cooperation Association was transferred to it. In December 2001 Kosei Shuppansha merged with Kotsu Shimbunsha and changed its name to Kotsu Shimbunsha Co., Ltd. In October 2008 the JR-group-supported railway and travel web magazine 'Toretavi' was launched. In June 2009 the Kotsu Shimbunsha Shinsho series began, and in the same year the book publishing business for titles such as 'JR Train Formation Tables' was transferred from JR R. In October 2014 the head office moved to its current location. In recent years the company has produced timetables not only for JR but also on commission for major private railways in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
- 2026
Special 30th anniversary issue of Sanpo no Tatsujin published
- 2025
'Railway 150-Year History' produced
- 2024
'Tabi no Techo WEB' launched
- 2024
Timetable system (T21-IV) begins operation
- 2019
Web media 'Santatsu' launched
- 2018
Electronic edition of Kotsu Shimbun begins distribution
- 2014
Head office relocated to Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku
- 2009
Kotsu Shimbunsha Shinsho series launched
- 2008
Web magazine 'Toretavi' launched with JR group cooperation
- 2001
Shareholders change from Railway Welfare Association to JR companies
Products and positioning
Specialist publisher and newspaper company for the railway and transport industry, closely affiliated with the JR group and the official source for JR timetables.
JR Timetable
Monthly official timetable jointly edited with JR passenger companies, listing all JR lines and stations.
Nationwide Compass Timetable
Monthly nationwide timetable.
Hokkaido Timetable
Monthly timetable for Hokkaido, published by the Hokkaido branch.
JR West Japan Timetable
Quarterly timetable for western Japan, published by the West Japan branch.
Tetsudo Daiya Joho
Monthly railway magazine with beautiful photos and topical articles, supported by JR group.
Tabi no Techo
Travel magazine conveying the joy of travel and beauty of Japan.
Sanpo no Tatsujin
Walking information magazine covering the true charms of towns.
Kotsu Shimbun
Comprehensive specialist newspaper covering transport and related industries.
JR Gazette
JR group in-house magazine.
Digital JR Timetable Pro/Lite
Smartphone and tablet digital timetable apps.
Kotsu Shimbunsha Shinsho
Book series launched in 2009.
JR Train Formation Tables
Book series transferred from JR R in 2009.
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