Regarding the Nov. 6 Kyodo article "Foreign tourism in Yamanashi plummets": If Japan is really serious about attracting more tourists, Japan Railway needs to get rid of the rule that forbids rail pass holders from traveling on Nozomi lines of the Shinkansen (bullet train). This rule might have been fair when there were only a few Nozomi trains running. That's not the case now.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

barbara hartley