OSAKA -- Aiming to welcome more foreign tourists, JR West will give visitors to the commercial complex at its Osaka Station a quiet place to pray.

The roughly 30-sq.-meter prayer room -- a first for the Japan Railways group -- will open Oct. 22 on the first floor of the South Gate Building, part of Osaka Station City.

A partition will create separate areas for men and women, each with washing facilities. The room will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and cater to people of all faiths, not only Islam, JR West says.

In another new perk for foreigners, Osaka Station City will offer a simultaneous interpretation service using tablet computers starting next month.

(Nikkei)