In a first for Japan, a funeral home operator in Nagano Prefecture will be offering a drive-thru service allowing the bereaved to give their final farewells without having to get out of their car.

Kankon Sousai Aichi Group, based in Ueda, central Nagano, plans to introduce the service in a new funeral home that will open in the city in December.

Like fast-food drive-thrus, funeral attendees will pull up to a window where they can sign their name on a touch screen panel and hand over customary condolence money. They can also pay their respects to the deceased using an electronic incense-burning device.