Dormy Inn over JAL and ANA! The “shareholder special benefit” for travelers is changing due to the rising cost of lodging… What do money professionals recommend?

Are railroad companies’ “lodging-related” benefits a “double” bargain?

Many railroad companies that operate hotel businesses offer preferential rates for both fares and lodging at their own lodging facilities. If you combine the fare and lodging benefits, you can get a double discount. Many of the lodging facilities operated by railroad companies are located near train stations, making them highly convenient.

Among railroad companies, three JR companies and 16 private railway companies offer lodging discounts. If there is a company you are interested in or use frequently, it would be a good idea to check the details on the company’s website for special benefit information.

List of Railway Companies Offering Lodging Benefits
East Japan Railway Company (9020) / West Japan Railway Company (9021) / Kyushu Railway Company (9142) / Tobu Railway Company (9001) / Sotetsu Holdings (9003) / Tokyu (9005) / Keihin Electric Express Railway (9006) / Odakyu Electric Railway (9007) / Keio Electric Railway (9008) / Keisei Electric Railway (9009) / Fujikyu Corporation ( (9010) / Seibu Holdings (9024) / West Japan Railway (9031) / Kintetsu Group Holdings (9041) / Hankyu Hanshin Holdings (9042) / Keihan Holdings (9045) / Kobe Electric Railway (9046) / Nagoya Railway (9048)

If the author were to target special benefits from among the above, the three JR companies would be the first candidates. The following is a summary of the benefits offered by each company.

JR East (9020) offers a large selection of facilities.

JR East (9020) issues “shareholder discount accommodation coupons” once a year to shareholders who hold 100 shares or more, allowing them to use hotels operated by the company at a special discount price. (3289), which are also affiliated with the company, giving shareholders a wide choice of facilities to use.
In order to receive the discount coupons, shareholders must hold 300 or more shares of the company’s stock or 100 or more shares of the company’s stock for at least two years.

◇Half-price discount coupons for the Hotel Granvia, which is directly connected to the station! JR West (9021)

JR West Japan (9021) issues once a year to shareholders holding 100 or more shares a special discount railroad coupon that offers a 50% discount on fares and charges, as well as a “shareholder discount accommodation coupon” that allows use of hotels operated by the company at a special discount price.

The appeal of these coupons is that they allow use at preferential rates at convenient hotels, mainly in western Japan, such as the Hotel Granvia, which is directly connected to a train station.

One-day passes within JR Kyushu’s service area are popular “JR Kyushu (9142)

Once a year, JR Kyushu (9142) issues shareholder special benefit tickets (worth 2,500 yen) to shareholders holding 100 or more shares, which can be used for one-day rides within JR Kyushu’s service area or at its group facilities.

The one-day pass allows unlimited boarding and alighting, so it is a good idea to get off the train and enjoy sightseeing during the day. Although the shareholder coupons are mainly for Kyushu, they can also be used at restaurants in Tokyo (e.g., Akasaka Umaya) and hotels in Kyoto (e.g., THE BLOSSOM KYOTO).

Shareholder Benefits Make Travel More Affordable and Fun

If you make good use of shareholder benefits, you can enjoy travel at a good price. However, investing in stocks involves risk, so no matter how attractive the benefits may be, one must carefully decide whether to buy stocks or not. Even if you gain from the special benefit, you will lose more money if the stock price falls and you lose more than that.

If you are satisfied with a hotel where you have actually stayed, it may be a good idea to buy shares of the company that operates the hotel. If the company provides good service, the stock price often rises over the long term, and it makes sense to support the company.

If you can enjoy both travel and stock investment through shareholder benefits, you can kill two birds with one stone.

The stocks introduced here are only examples and are not intended as a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any particular stocks. Final investment decisions should be made at your own discretion.