Beginning March 16th JR will start a special commuters car, the A-Seat, on the JR Kobe line. You can pay an extra ¥500 onboard and have a guaranteed seat.
The car includes 46 seats. Leg room has been extended, free wi-fi is available and each seat has a power outlet to keep your devices charged. The seats also recline and have a tray table.
The A-Seat car will run in the mornings only and is designed for commuters travelling long distances such as from Himeji into Osaka.
This could also be very handy for travellers who are exploring the countryside of Hyogo and like getting early morning starts.
Original article (Japanese): https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/sougou/201902/sp/0012102481.shtml