A railway operator in Osaka will conduct a trial to run trains past midnight, as part of government efforts to boost night-time tourism in the city.

Osaka Metro Co. will extend service on the Midosuji Line by about two hours after midnight on Jan. 24 and Feb. 21, both Fridays, with the last train no later than 3 a.m. the next day.

The transport ministry announced the plan on Dec. 26.

Depending on the number of passengers, the railway operator will consider changing the train schedules for after-midnight operation.

The move comes ahead of planned strategies by the ministry for boosting the relatively small night-time economy compared to Western countries, including dining, shopping and other events, to increase spending by tourists from overseas in big cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.

The ministry said it will conduct Japan's first trial following the examples of London and New York, where subways operate 24 hours a day.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, an economic effect of about 3.7 trillion yen ($33.8 billion) per year was reported in London.

The Midosuji Line runs through central Osaka from north to south between Esaka and Nakamozu stations, which is home to bustling shopping and business districts. About 1.2 million passengers use the line per day.

Tokyo Metro Co. considered 24-hour subway service in the capital in 2013 at the request of then Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose, but gave up the idea because it could not secure enough time for the necessary maintenance.

The ministry sought to work with railway companies in Tokyo and Osaka, which are visited by hordes of tourists from overseas.

Tokyo Metro and East Japan Railway Co. were unable to collaborate with the ministry.

As for the Osaka Metro's trial, some people oppose the idea of extended train service from the perspective of work-style reform.

"If operations are extended by two hours, the workers on the spot will bear a much heavier burden," said Eiji Kono, the branch chief of the Osaka Metro union that train drivers belong to.

"We oppose extended operations after midnight.”