The "Hokuriku Shinkansen Crew Experience Tour" project by Nippon Travel Agency was selected as the winner of this year's Grand Prix of the "Tetsudabi of the Year" awards, which recognize outstanding domestic railway travel. The awards are organized by the Tetsudabi of the Year Executive Committee, which is made up of the Railway Passenger Association, and are supported by JR companies, the Japan Private Railway Association, the Japan Tourism Agency, the Japan Association of Travel Agents, and the All Japan Travel Agents Association. The aim of the awards is to promote the appeal of "railway travel" by honoring railway travel products created by travel agencies, and this year marks the 13th time the awards have been held. This year, there were 65 entries in total. The judges were Shin Ashihara, honorary editor-in-chief of "Travel and Railways," and Takao Imon, well known for his column "Signpost to the Future" at Travel News. The results were announced and the award ceremony was held on April 17th at the Omiya Railway Museum in Omiya Ward, Saitama City, and the Grand Prix was decided by a final vote on the day. The grand prize winner, the "Hokuriku Shinkansen Crew Job Experience Tour," is a tour that allows participants to see and experience railway work that is normally off-limits. Activities such as preparing to work as a crew member, making a name tag, taking commemorative photos in a uniform, and trying out a simulator in a training room were well-received by children who love trains. The judges gave it high praise, saying, "It's a plan that children who love trains will love. It's not just a tour, it's a series of experiences that allow you to become a railway company employee, and it also has marketing elements that will keep families drawn to trains, such as the opportunity to experience Gran Class" (Imon). Other awards were as follows: Escort Category Award - JTB "Battle at a top speed of 285 km/h, Shinkansen Pro Wrestling" Personal Category Award - JTB "New Sensational Battle: Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome VS Kyushu Shinkansen Sakura, Which are you? Travel to Nagasaki, Saga VS Kumamoto, Kagoshima by JR" DC Category Award - JTB "'Ibaraki DC Special Project' One-day only revival of service "A trip on the Kashima Rinko Line on the Oarai Emerald Train." ▽Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Railway Bureau Director's Award = Nippon Travel Agency "Celebrating the resumption of full-line operation of the Minamiaso Railway! A two-day trip around Minamiaso and Takamori on a special trolley train (jointly planned by JAL, JR Kyushu and Minamiaso Railway)" ▽Judges' Special Award = JR East Japan View Tourism & Sales "A trip to Oku-Aizu on the 'Tadami Line Night Train' / A tour of the bridge viewpoints of the Tadami Line at dusk and the Ban'etsu West Line and Tadami Line on the 'Tadami Line Night Train'" ▽Best Amateur Award = Yabe Kohei of Tokai University Endo Seminar Train Trip FC Project Team "You'll definitely fall in love with Fukui. ~ A trip across Fukui on the Setsugekka"