Last month, the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) installed a single pair of heart-shaped hand straps on one of its lines in hopes of sparking romance among their passengers. However, with Valentine’s Day behind us it seems they aren’t through playing matchmaker.
This time JR Shikoku is strapping on some cupid wings by installing “Love Love Benches” in two of their stations. The seat of the bench slopes inwards so that no matter how two people sit on it they will quickly be brought together thanks the marvel of gravity.
Love Love Benches can currently be found in Ekawasaki Station in Shimontoshi, Kochi Prefecture and in Tsubojiri Station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture. You might understandably wonder why JR Shikoku chose to install these new benches in Ekawasaki, which has a population of 1,590, and Tsubojiri Station which sees an average of two passengers a day.
Worry not! There’s a convoluted reason for all of this. Ekawasaki is the nearest station to Nishitosamura where the highest temperature in Japan was recorded last year (41.0℃ on 12 August). So clearly JR Shikoku figured that it’s the place in Japan most conducive to get people hot and heavy.
On the other hand, Tsubojiri Station is a station located on a hairpin turn deep in a part of the mountains of Kochi inaccessible by car. Because of the switchback, trains must pass by at an extremely slow speed which JR Shikoku feels make a perfect setting for a romantic getaway where a couple may enjoy each other’s company.
So if you’re looking for a way to facilitate some romance with that special guy or gal, why not take a trek out to Shikoku and enjoy a Love Love Bench? Meanwhile, I’m going to try and find out how my mom managed to get on the board of directors of JR Group.
Source: JR Shikoku via Netlab (Japanese)
Ekawasaki Station Image: Wikipedia – Risa
Tsubojiri Station Image: Wikipedia – Spaceaero2
The weird and wonderful things people leave behind on Japanese trains
All-you-can-ride Shinkansen deal coming to Japan for a limited time
Japan’s new luxury sightseeing train will show you part of the country most foreigners never see
Japan Rail apologises for discrimination “misunderstanding” with Russian sign
Japan’s new random-destination die-roll train tickets — Amazing bargain for just 36 bucks
Starbucks Japan releases a new Cream Puff Frappuccino for a limited time
Japanese government planning higher ticket prices for foreign tourists at Tokyo National Museum
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
That awkward moment when anime becomes reality
In Japan, you can buy bloom-at-home cherry blossom bouquets for super-easy hanami【Photos】
Romance an ancient Egyptian god in the newest bizarre dating sim for mobile
One Piece creator has hidden secret of anime treasure’s identity in chest at bottom of real-world ocean
Japanese bookstores harassed by people making them say title “My Husband’s D**k Doesn’t Go In”
Take a trip to Japan’s Dododo Land, the most irritating place on Earth
I can’t believe it’s not fish eggs? Taste-testing Japan’s imitation “almost ikura”【Photos】
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Is Tokyo Station’s startlingly expensive wagyu bento boxed lunch worth its high price?[Taste test]
Live-action One Piece’s Luffy teaches Sesame Street’s Elmo a Japanese word for friendship[Video]
Studio Ghibli now sells Ursula’s backpack from Kiki’s Delivery Service at its anime shop in Japan
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda mixes illuminations, boats, music, and Rilakkuma in the heart of Tokyo
Silicone testicle covers banned from Japanese sauna following cups being left behind and on shelves
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreigners accounting for over 80 percent of off-course skiers needing rescue in Japan’s Hokkaido
Super-salty pizza sends six kids to the hospital in Japan, linguistics blamed
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Foreign tourists in Japan will get free Shinkansen tickets to promote regional tourism
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
One of the busiest stations in Tokyo is changing the name on its signs, but not necessarily to make it easier for people to find their way around.
Set of 4,368 train tickets goes on sale to commemorate Japan Railways 150th anniversary
Online pilgrimages along Japan’s famous Shikoku Henro route begin later this year
Japan’s Moonlight Nagara train service ends, leaving a hole in overnight rail travel
Japanese train station returns lost item to customer with a heartwarming message
Man passes away on Tokyo train, no one notices until nearly 12 hours and 650 kilometers later
What is this weird train spotted at a Japanese railway station?
How to do an overnight bus trip to Tokushima from Tokyo – Part 1【Photos】
How to escape the Tokyo crowds with a trip to a hidden gem on a special Japanese train
Tokyo’s busiest train line to be partially shut down this weekend as part of Shibuya renovations
Japan Railways wants to build a team of robots to help travelers, catch criminals in its stations
An overnight trip on the Sunrise Izumo, Japan’s awesome Tokyo-Shimane sleeper train【Photos】
Station of despair: What to do if you get stuck at the end of Tokyo’s Chuo Rapid Line
We visit Kyushu’s oldest wooden train station building, get hit with a nostalgia overload
Navigate your way through Japan’s busiest train stations with Google Street View
We roll the die on Japan’s new random-destination train tickets