Midori-no-Madoguchi Day (Green Ticket Window Day)
Historical AnniversariesWhat Is Midori-no-Madoguchi Day?
September 24 marks Midori-no-Madoguchi Day (Green Ticket Window Day), commemorating September 24, 1965, when Japanese National Railways (JNR, the predecessor of JR) rolled out Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket counters equipped with the online reserved-seat system MARS at roughly 150 stations nationwide.
A Nationwide Rollout That Modernized Rail Ticketing
Before this, issuing a reserved-seat ticket meant clerks manually checking paper ledgers at each station, a slow and labor-intensive process. The arrival of Midori-no-Madoguchi brought a major shift to how train reservations worked.
- Origin: On September 24, 1965, JNR opened Midori-no-Madoguchi counters at about 150 stations nationwide
- Technology: The counters were equipped with MARS, an online reserved-ticket sales system
- Significance: Seat availability across the country could now be shared in real time
Why Midori (Green)?
The name Midori-no-Madoguchi is said to come from the green ticket machines and signage used at these counters. Ever since, it has become a familiar and iconic part of Japanese rail travel for anyone booking a reserved or limited-express ticket.
How to Spend the Day
- Learn about the history of Midori-no-Madoguchi and how the MARS system worked
- Visit a ticket counter or reserved-seat machine at your local station
- Book a ticket to somewhere you've been wanting to visit
- Read up on how railway reservation systems have evolved over time
The Green Counter Behind Modern Ticket Booking
Midori-no-Madoguchi Day commemorates the 1965 milestone that transformed how train tickets are reserved in Japan. September 24 is a day to appreciate the history behind a system many of us now take for granted.