How to plan a train journey around Japan in 2024

John Walton

Feb 9, 2024 • 9 min read

travel by train japan

On local trains in Japan, such as the Wakayama Electric Railway, you might be the only non-local on board © Shutterstock/george photo cm

 Japanese railway enthusiast John Walton shares advice on how to stretch your yen as far as possible on a train trip through Japan.

Whether you’re a train fanatic like me or not, exploring Japan by rail is a pleasure.

The country leads the way for the sheer variety of rail experiences. The network has ultramodern trains, vintage carriages, steam locomotives and every kind of rail runner in between – from slow-travel rural journeys to the fast Shinkansen bullet trains  that rocket between the country’s biggest cities. 

Anyone traveling to Japan will likely end up on a train at some point. But if you want to create a thorough train itinerary to see the best of the country, some advanced planning is necessary. Where to start? Which trains to take? Where to go? How much time will you need? Should you buy a Japan Rail Pass or not?

I’ve spent more than a decade visiting Japan, often multiple times a year. Traveling across this beautiful and fascinating country by train is one of my favorite things to do in the entire world. Here’s how to build your own Japan rail trip.

1. Define your must-do list 

Figure out how much time you have and which destinations are on your must-visit list, and build a route from there

As with any trip, what you can do will be determined by how much time you have and what  time of year  you visit. Japan is at its most delightful in spring and autumn as summers are very hot and humid everywhere south of Hokkaidō . Avoid national holiday periods like Golden Week (early May) and Obon (summer; usually July or August), when tickets and accommodation are scarce and many attractions close. If you want to do a lot of things that appeal to Japanese kids (amusement parks, anime or manga attractions, and so on), try to visit outside school holidays when they're packed.

Picking the “where” of your trip is entirely up to you and your interests. I'd recommend you think about a theme like visiting Japan’s 12 remaining original historic castles .  Or its best temples, shrines and Zen gardens. You might focus on dazzling big-city life, quiet rural trains that wind their way through the mountains, or a specific bit of Japanese popular culture like Pokémon, Studio Ghibli or Evangelion. Plotting out your stops on a map will help you build a route. 

View of a Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train passing Mt Fuji, Shizuoka, Japan

2. Figure out where you want to start and finish 

Where you fly in and out of may influence your route

The easiest option for most international travelers is to fly to  Tokyo . The capital has two airports: Haneda Airport (HND), which is the closest to the city center, and Narita Airport (NRT), about an hour east of the city. Haneda is usually more convenient, though Narita is connected directly to Tokyo Station (and several others) by train. It’s a good option if you want to get out of the capital and on the rails straight away.

Other major international airports like Osaka Kansai (KIX), Nagoya ’s Chubu Centrair (NGO), Sapporo ’s New Chitose (CTS) and Fukuoka (FUK) are also great alternatives if you’re heading to their respective regions. An open-jaw itinerary – where you start in one city and leave from another – is a great way to maximize your time in Japan and is particularly suited to those who want to slow down and explore by train.

Still, chances are you’ll be starting and ending your trip in Tokyo. I usually try to build a few days at the beginning and end of my trips here to plan and do a few of the many amazing things that the capital has to offer .

3. Find the right pass for your journey

Figuring out your precise travel times could save you money

If you want to do more than just take a return trip between Tokyo and  Kyoto  the national Japan Rail Pass is great value. is Designed specifically for travelers, there are three versions of the pass, which you can use over consecutive days:

the seven-day pass costs ¥50,000 (around US$335);

the 14-day pass costs ¥80,000 (around US$540);

the 21-day pass costs ¥100,000 (around US$675).

Considering a one-way Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥13,080 (around US$90), these passes are a no-brainer for most travelers.

Another money-saving option is the regional passes but these can get complicated. I usually recommend them to visitors on longer trips or those who want to cover specific areas of Japan:

  • On the westernmost island Kyūshū , JR offers passes in three- (¥20,000; around US$135), five- (¥22,500; around US$152) and seven-day (¥25,000; around US$169) versions;
  • JR-East to the north of Tokyo offers the five-day Tohoku Area Pass for ¥30,000 (around US$202) and the five-day Nagano-Niigata Area Pass for ¥27,000 (around US$182);
  • JR-West , covering the main island of Honshū west of Kyoto , offers a staggering and frankly confusing range of 10 passes for specific areas.

Two train personnel conduct safety checks before departure, Shizuoka, Japan

4. Choose how much time you want to actually be on a train

Separate passes for different legs can make things easier

Though the value of a rail pass increases the more you use it, it will constitute a big chunk of your travel budget. For me, the pass will typically cost about a third of the total outlay of a trip. Even as an avid rail fan whose idea of a great time includes whizzing around the country on a Shinkansen at 200mph (320km/h) or relaxing on a fancy Limited Express, I don't usually do more than a week of rail travel without settling down in one place for a few days. The same goes when I'm taking a cultural Joyful Train  trip or a countryside trundle on tiny rural trains.

As a rule, if I’m spending two weeks in Japan, I’ll book a seven-day Japan Rail Pass that begins a few days after I arrive in Tokyo and ends a few days before my flight home. If I’m here for three weeks, I might buy two separate seven-day passes, with some free time for a cultural city like Kyoto, Nara , or Kanazawa in between. Sometimes, I'll stick with one rail pass plus a one-way trip that takes me back to Tokyo.

A train in Japan runs under cherry blossoms

5. Plan your weekend travel early

Some of the most delightful trains run on weekends

Plan your weekends first. This is when cultural excursion trains known as Joyful Trains run. They are themed trains covering specific routes (think Hello Kitty or Pokémon).  Both the JR-East and JR Kyūshū regions have lots of Joyful Trains, many made especially for sightseeing. They cover some incredible terrain. 

I highly recommend JR-East’s SL (for “steam locomotive”) Gunma Yokokawa , which chugs from Takasaki to the Usui Tōge Railway Village at Yokokawa. JR Kyūshū’s Two Stars 4047 in the Nagasaki area follows the beautiful seaside route of the old main line. I also love JR-East’s High Rail 1375 , which travels along Japan’s highest railway line and also offers a nighttime stargazing trip.

Although it's best to book via the automated ticket machines, these usually require some previous experience with Japanese train travel. Newbies should book their trips at any JR Service Center or ticket counter (the midori no madoguchi , with a green symbol of a person relaxing on a seat).

Women bathing in an outdoor pool (rotemburo) at Yumotoso - a hot spring resort in Kurokawa Onsen.

6. Plan scenic trips and other highlights during the week

Hit popular attractions in the quieter mid-week period

Once you’ve planned your weekend trip(s), think about how else you want to fill in your journey in between your starting point, weekend Joyful Trains and your endpoint. With fewer tourists, weekdays are a great time to visit popular attractions.

You’ll also find reduced midweek rates at traditional Japanese resort hotels, ryokan , minshuku and other accommodations. Take a couple of days out of your schedule to take a soak at a mountain hot-spring onsen . It's a wonderfully Japanese way to relax.

Weekdays are made for longer train trips into Japan’s beautiful countryside, including on the long-distance Limited Express trains (slower than the Shinkansen, yet faster than local trains) or the wonderfully charming rural local trains that crisscross Japan’s countryside. Many have beautiful views; some of my favorites are JR Central’s Hida from Nagoya to Toyama through the Japanese Alps  and JR East’s Tsugaru from Aomori to Akita across the Tsugaru plain – a snowy must-do in winter.

I also love JR Hokkaido ’s Okhotsk/Taisetsu from Sapporo/Asahikawa to Abashiri, which offers a peek into this remote island, and JR Shikoku ’s Shiokaze from Okayama to Matsuyama, across the incredible Great Seto Bridge and beautiful countryside. Local trains are beautiful, too. JR-operated and private railway lines often trundle through areas of Japan without any other kind of rail service. Chances are you’ll be the only non-local in a small railcar where the other passengers are schoolchildren, grandmothers and folk going about their daily business.

JR Hokkaido’s Senmo Line between Abashiri and Kushiro runs through the Kushiro marshlands, where Japanese red-crowned cranes make their home . The Shinano Railway in Nagano Prefecture uses delightful vintage 115 series trains along the old Shinetsu Main Line. JR East’s Yamada Line from Morioka to Miyako is a springing-off point for the gorgeous Sanriku Coast , while the Wakayama Electric Railway south of Osaka is famed for its stationmaster cats at Kishi. And you can’t go wrong on almost any local line in Kyūshū, particularly in the area around Nagasaki.

A bento box aboard the Hida train line, Japan

If I could do it all again…

I’d eat more ekiben , the local bento-box lunches available at many stations that are made to take on board. Tiny rural stations may have a soba, ramen or udon noodle store or something similar in the waiting room – I’d eat more of that, too.

Bring a few essential things with you: a two-pin US-style fast phone charger, a power bank (as not all trains have power points) and a reusable shopping bag for snacks and drinks. Use the layers strategy when you pack – Japanese trains are much warmer than many other countries in cool weather and the air conditioning may not be as frosty as you’d expect elsewhere.

Take nothing bigger than a medium carry-on on the train, and use Japan’s excellent luggage delivery services like Kuroneko Yamato to deliver your suitcases between cities rather than toting them with you. This is especially important in peak hours or on non-express trains. Note: on some Shinkansen, you must make a baggage reservation if your luggage is more than 160 linear cm (length x width x height).

This article was first published March 2023 and updated February 2024

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Boutique Japan

Getting Around Japan: A Complete Guide to Train Travel

Japan’s railway system, including its world-renowned shinkansen (bullet train), is famously clean, safe, modern, and efficient. But to a first-time visitor, getting around Japan can also seem a bit confusing — especially at first.

Don’t worry if the idea of navigating Japan by train feels a little overwhelming to you now. After you read this introductory guide to train travel in Japan, you’ll be ready to:

  • Use an IC transport card to navigate the Tokyo Metro subways (and buy drinks at vending machines)
  • Understand the difference between Japan Railways (JR) and other railway companies operating throughout the country
  • Purchase train tickets — and avoid some of the most common mistakes most travelers make –– including how to read shinkansen timetable
  • Decide whether to reserve ordinary, Green Car, or Gran Class seats
  • Map out your travel plans utilizing a combination of shinkansen , limited express trains, and local trains

There’s no shame in feeling daunted by Japan’s extensive network of trains and rail operators, veritable web of stations, and dozens of different types of trains. But after experiencing Japan’s wonderful rail system for yourself, you’ll find it’s an absolute joy to travel by train in Japan!

Also, as if it weren’t enough that the trains are spotless (and run on time), it’s also worth remembering that Japanese people are extraordinarily helpful. If you are ever lost or in doubt, simply find the nearest station attendant and ask for help — unlike in many countries, they’ll actually be happy to assist (one of the many amazing things about Japan )!

Straphanger Tokyo Metro Japan

Guide to Train Travel in Japan

If you’re not sure where to begin, we suggest starting at the top. But if you’re wondering about a specific topic, refer to the Table of Contents below:

Types of Trains (Train Categories)

Ic cards (refillable transport passes), how to buy train tickets in japan, how to use train tickets in japan, planning your journey (and japan travel apps), useful rail and transport passes, non-train travel in japan.

Let’s be honest: The terminology below may not sink in for you immediately, but as you read the rest of this article, it should come in handy.

In Japan, as in any other country with a robust rail network, there are various types of trains, ranging from slower to faster. The classifications can get painfully specific in Japan, but for most travelers, it’s not necessary to get into excessive detail.

To avoid overwhelming you, here is a brief summary of the main types of trains you will encounter while traveling around Japan, in order of relative speed:

  • Express (急行)
  • Limited Express (特急) / Special Express (特急)
  • Shinkansen (Bullet Train) (新幹線)

If you want to nerd out, here is an excellent guide to the various types of trains in Japan .

You don’t need to do anything with this information yet. Just keep this in mind as we proceed. All aboard!

Toei Oedo line subway Tokyo Japan

Let’s start with the single easiest “travel hack” that will make your trip to Japan smoother and more pleasant: obtaining an IC card.

If there is one thing you can do to make exploring a city easy, it’s getting that city’s version of a transit card. Some well-known examples include London’s Oyster card, Hong Kong’s Octopus card, and New York City’s MetroCard.

In most ways, Japan’s IC cards put them all to shame.

IC cards are rechargeable passes that you can use to pay fares on public transportation. You can also use them to buy drinks and snacks at most conbini (convenience stores) and vending machines.

Japan’s IC cards come by different names across Japan, with several regional variants. Most travelers to Japan are likely to come into contact with the Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA cards, but they are essentially all interchangeable.

For example, if you have a PASMO (issued by Tokyo Metro), you can still use it on trains in other cities (for example, in Osaka). Or say you have an ICOCA (issued by JR West, where Kyoto and Osaka are located): Fear not, as you can use it elsewhere, including in Tokyo, for example.

Imagine being able to use your New York MetroCard in Boston or San Francisco!

You don’t strictly need an IC card. If you prefer inconvenience (why?!), you could simply buy tickets each time you need to hop on the subway.

But if you favor simplicity and ease of travel, an IC card is essential. With an IC card, you can explore much more freely, seamlessly switching between trains and buses, and even different railway companies.

IC cards are also easy to refill. On occasion, you may reach the end of your journey, perhaps after an evening exploring Tokyo nightlife , only to find that you don’t have enough credit to exit the station.

Don’t worry! There are always “fare-adjustment” machines in the vicinity of the ticket gates, where you can top up as needed.

JR Yamanote line Tokyo Japan

IC cards are ideal for short-distance travel and an essential part of getting around within cities in Japan. Referring back to the types of trains introduced above, IC cards are generally useful for these types of trains:

But for the following types of trains — this includes longer journeys and most intercity travel — you’ll need train tickets, or a rail pass:

Do You Need the Japan Rail Pass?

One of the most persistent myths about traveling in Japan is that the Japan Rail Pass is a must. We won’t bore you with all the details, but the short answer is that it’s not.

Yes, it’s true that the Japan Rail Pass can be the best option in certain circumstances (and it’s often ideal for budget travelers). But for travelers who prioritize convenience and comfort, the Japan Rail Pass is rarely the best option.

For more information on its pros and cons, check out our Japan Rail Pass guide .

Where to Buy Train Tickets in Japan

The easiest place to purchase train tickets is typically at your local station. In Japan, there are countless railway companies, with routes crisscrossing the country. But one railway company stands above them all: Japan Railways .

While traveling around Japan, it is likely you’ll come across other companies including Tokyo Metro, Keikyu, Odakyu, Tokyu, Hankyu, Kintetsu, and many others. But for most long-distance trips — including via the shinkansen (bullet train) — you’ll be on JR.

In major cities, most large stations have a ticket office (at JR stations, they’re called Midori no Madoguchi ) where you can speak with an agent to purchase the tickets you need. While you may feel daunted by the Japanese language barrier , most ticket agents are used to helping non-Japanese speakers, so don’t worry!

If you’d rather try your luck at an automated ticket machine, there is usually an option to go through the process in English. JR West has a useful video and visual guide to purchasing train tickets .

Inside a passenger train in Japan

Types of Train Tickets in Japan

Now that you’re ready to buy your tickets, a little train ticket terminology may help you make the right choices.

Reserved Versus Non-Reserved Tickets

If you’re traveling solo, or on a tight budget, then you may want to consider non-reserved seats.

Most bullet trains have a few non-reserved carriages, and finding a seat is usually not too challenging — provided you’re traveling on a busy route with frequent trains, it’s not peak season, and your travel party is small (naturally, if you’re traveling in a party of two people or more, you may not be able to sit together).

For most travelers, reserved seats are the way to go.

Classes of Service: Ordinary, Green Car, and Gran Class

Even ordinary class in Japan is of a very high standard, but if you’re looking for a bit of extra comfort, you may want to consider splurging on Green Car or Gran Class seats.

As you might expect, ordinary car seats are clean (the usual, in Japan), and they’re also surprisingly spacious. But if you’re looking for more space, consider springing for Green Car. In the Green Car, you have a bit more space (ordinary class seats are laid out in 3×2 configurations, while Green Car seats are 2×2).

Generally speaking, even ordinary car seats have electrical outlets, but on the whole, the higher-category seats are most likely to have electrical outlets and heated seats (it can vary by train).

We recommend browsing for ekiben (bento boxes designed for train travel) before departure. In most stations, you’ll find a colorful array of fresh, beautifully packaged meals to enjoy on the train, including local and seasonal specialties.

As for Gran Class: This is a whole different experience altogether. Gran Class cars have their own attendant, and come with lovely bento lunch boxes, and unlimited drinks (including beer, sparkling wine, sake , Japanese whisky , and more). The seats are also extra plush and spacious.

Unfortunately, most bullet trains don’t yet have Gran Class carriages, but more are being added to cater to demand!

For “advanced studies,” check out JR East’s detailed chart on the various types of tickets .

A bullet train (shinkansen) conductor monitoring the train

You have tickets in your hand. Now what?

Japan Train Ticket Dos and Don’ts

Tip 1: hold onto — i.e., don’t lose — your ticket(s).

This is not the New York subway! When riding trains in Japan, you always need your tickets for the whole journey.

Here’s how it works:

  • When entering the station, insert your ticket at the ticket gate. It will pop back up at the other end almost immediately.
  • Walk through the open gate and retrieve your ticket.
  • At the end of your journey, insert your ticket into the exit ticket gate.
  • This time, you can walk right through (your ticket stays in the machine).

The general rule is: If you haven’t left a station yet, you should still have your ticket on you.

Warning: If you get to the end of your journey and you’ve lost your ticket, there’s a good chance you’ll be asked to pay for the entire journey again.

Another reason you shouldn’t lose your ticket: Train attendants may ask to see your ticket while you’re on the train, so keep it handy.

Tip 2: Deal With Multiple Tickets

This is something that probably won’t make sense to you until you get to Japan … and then you’ll see what we mean!

For many long-distance journeys — for example, on the shinkansen or limited express trains — you’ll be provided with more than one ticket.

One of them is a joshaken (乗車券), or “base fare ticket,” which is essentially the basic fare from point A to point B. The other is a tokkyuken (特急券), or “special fare ticket,” which tells the ticket machine or agent that you’ve paid for the privilege of riding an extra-fast train, such as a bullet train or an express train.

You need both tickets!

The counterintuitive part for most travelers is what to do when passing through the ticket gates. Which ticket do you insert? The answer is both, simultaneously.

Simply insert both tickets into the gate at the same time. The machine will automatically process the tickets, and one or both will pop out at the other end. Retrieve the ticket(s) and proceed to your train.

Then remember tip 1 above. When you reach your destination, you’ll once more put the ticket(s) into the exit ticket gate to be on your merry way.

If you’re ever in doubt, simply ask a station attendant for help!

Tip 3: Know Your Train Number

Your train ticket contains a plethora of information, and much of it may be undecipherable if you don’t read Japanese. But you’ll also find plenty of useful information here, including travel times, plus your train and seat number.

After reaching your departure train’s platform, you’ll want to go ahead and make your way to the proper boarding point. Train and bullet train doors always open at the right place on the platform, and you’ll see car numbers labeled clearly on signs above and on the floor in front of the train doors.

When it comes to shinkansen platforms, keep in mind that they’re extremely long, so it’s not a bad idea to head to your boarding spot a little early … walking from one end of the platform to the other can take as long as 10 minutes or more.

Once you reach your spot, enjoy the delightfully orderly queues before boarding the train and finding your seat.

Shinkansen (bullet train) passing Mount Fuji, Japan

Of course, the easiest way to plan your travels is by asking an expert: whether a friend in Japan, a ticket agent, or a company such as Boutique Japan.

But if you prefer to do all the legwork yourself, there are some really helpful travel apps we recommend.

Useful Train Travel Apps for Japan

HyperDia is an essential transport app if you’re visiting Japan. It can take a little while to get used to the interface, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll find virtually everything you need within this app. Search routes, look up hyper-accurate train timetables, and plan away!

Like HyperDia, Jorudan is a super-powerful transport app, with a slightly more intuitive interface.

Google Maps

While not quite as robust as HyperDia or Jorudan when it comes to detailed routes and timetables, Google Maps is still a handy reference tool. It’s also ideal for navigating within a city, as you can compare train times versus estimated travel times via other means (such as taxi or walking).

If you plan to use travel apps, make sure you have reliable Wi-Fi in Japan , too!

Navigating the Subway and Local Trains

The apps mentioned above are great for planning, but what if you’re already at the station — and don’t have Wi-Fi? The best thing to do is probably ask a station attendant, but if you want to map out your own trip, here are some basic tips to keep in mind:

  • Determine whether your destination station is a local-only stop, or whether express trains stop there. Train maps will have a color-coded legend, and you can tell which trains (local versus express) stop at which stations.
  • Make your way to the departure platform, and consult the signs above to ensure you board the correct type of train. If you’re not sure, ask someone! Most people will be happy to help.
  • When the train arrives, make sure it is the train you want. Again, if you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask a stranger!

tokyo metro marunouchi line Ochanomizu Tokyo Japan

In addition to the famous Japan Rail Pass (mentioned above), many cities and regions in Japan have their own rail and transport passes local to their own area.

They vary by pass, providing unlimited travel over a set period of time in a given region, and might include a round trip to a particular station.

There are too many to list in detail here, but we like the following passes for their ease and convenience in their respective areas.

Tokyo Transport Passes

  • Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket (600 JPY): Unlimited rides for 24 hours on the Tokyo Metro underground. You’ll recoup the cost with three or four rides on the subway.
  • Common One-Day Ticket for Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway (900 JPY): Unlimited rides on both subway lines for 24 hours.
  • Tokyo Combination Ticket (1,590 JPY): Unlimited rides on Tokyo Metro, Toei Subway, and JR Lines. Valid only on the same day. If you’re traveling extensively around central Tokyo in a single day, this is a good pass to get.

Kansai (Kyoto and Osaka) Transport Passes

  • Kyoto City Bus and Kyoto Bus One-Day Pass : With only two subway lines in Kyoto, there’s much in the city that’s accessible only by bus. Most people who rely on public transportation will ride the city buses. At 230 JPY per ride, you recoup the 600 JPY pass in just three rides.
  • Subway, Bus One-Day (Two-Day) Pass : Gives you unlimited bus and subway rides within the central Kyoto area. Available in one- or two-day versions.
  • Osaka 1-day or 2-day pass: Gives you unlimited rides on the Osaka Metro and Osaka City Bus for one or two days.

Other Destinations

  • Hakone Freepass : Whether you choose the 2-day or 3-day pass, this gives you unlimited rides throughout the Hakone area on almost any mode of transport: trains, cable cars, buses, and even the sightseeing cruise boat. You can choose to include a round-trip ticket from Shinjuku Station to Odawara Station.
  • Koyasan World Heritage Pass : Valid for two consecutive calendar days, this rail pass gives you a round trip to Mount Koya from one of Osaka’s Nankai Railway stations (such as Namba Station), along with unlimited bus travel on Mount Koya.

Ibusuki Makurazaki Line in Ibusuki, Japan

While Japan does have an extensive train network, other forms of public transportation aren’t too shabby either. You’ll find buses in most major cities, and some more remote areas in rural Japan are accessible only by bus.

When in major cities, it is incredibly easy to hail a cab. Find a main road rather than a quiet side street, and chances are that a taxi will come drifting past.

Don’t bet on always being able to use ride-sharing apps such as Uber in Japan — due to a strong taxi industry lobby, these companies haven’t made significant inroads into the country. But given the quality of Japanese taxi services — the cars are clean, and the drivers unfailingly polite — we don’t miss ride-sharing apps in cities here. Much.

You can go to most places in Japan by train. Sometimes, though, the travel time and number of transfers make it more trouble than it’s worth.

A good rule: If your train journey looks like it’s going to be more than four to six hours and isn’t a direct train, and you have the option to take a domestic flight, just do it.

Ferries are a more unorthodox but fun way to travel in Japan. It’s an interesting option to look into if you’re keen on traveling to more remote parts of the country — especially if you like slow travel, and have good sea legs!

Need more reasons to get excited about exploring Japan by train? Don’t miss our article on the best time of year to visit Japan .

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travel by train japan

Traveling Japan By Train: Complete and Comprehensive Guide [2023]

Traveling Japan By Train

The complete file to prepare your stay

If more and more travel agencies offer alternative solutions, the train in Japan remains the most widespread and simplest means of transport. It must be said that the Japanese rail network is well developed, safe, fairly affordable for foreigners (thanks to the JR Pass !)… and above all renowned for the quality of its service.

But to be perfectly honest, the Japanese system isn’t the easiest to understand when you get to grips with it for the first time. How do train lines work in Japan? Which JR Pass to choose? How to choose, use and recharge an IC card? Personally, it took me three trips and a few galleys to start feeling really comfortable in my travels. Hence my desire to write this little guide to Japan by train which, I hope, will help you see things more clearly, especially if you are planning your first trip.

Table of Contents

Jr and jr pass lines.

Let’s start with THE basics. The acronym JR designates the  company Japan Railways . This company was born from the privatization of the Japan National Railways (JNR) in 1987. It is therefore, originally, the national railways, which cover the majority of the archipelago.

The JR network

Japan Railways  is divided into 6 regional entities responsible for passenger transport:  JR Hokkaido  ,  JR East  ,  JR Central  ,  JR West  ,  JR Shikoku  and  JR Kyushu  . 

Traveling Japan By Train

For the traveler, this breakdown can be important to know, since it determines the purchase of the  regional JR Passes  which I will tell you about a little later. It is, for example, impossible to buy a  Kyushu Pass  at JR Shikoku. 

National JR Passes VS Regional JR Passes

The  JR company  is well known for its famous  national JR Pass  .  Reserved only for foreigners, this unlimited Pass of 7, 14 or 21 days allows you to travel without restrictions on the entire  JR network  (to which all major Japanese cities are of course connected). Unless you venture deep into the countryside, a standard JR Pass is generally more than enough to enjoy your stay. But beware: it is not necessarily profitable.

How to determine if the purchase is worth it? All you have to do is study your itinerary on   Japan Travel by Navitime  or  Jorudan  , two very practical sites that allow you to find out the timetables and the cost of your various journeys at a glance (all lines combined). 

Your itinerary with the national JR Pass is not profitable? Why not look into the alternative of regional JR Passes? They can save you a lot of money. In concrete terms, these JR Passes offer very similar advantages to the National Pass, but are geographically limited. Moreover, they do not necessarily cover the same trains. The  Nozomi shinkansen  , for example, is included in the   Sanyo San’in Area Pass  …but not in the national JR Pass. So, I encourage you to study these passes carefully before making your choice.

Example of calculation for the JR Pass

For my part, having spent 3 weeks in Japan in December 2020, I opted for a  7-day Sanyo San’in Area pass  (146€), and 3  North Kyushu Passes of 5 days  to cover the remaining 15 days (3 ×€77). The total value of these 4 passes, for 22 days of travel, is therefore €377. The National Pass, meanwhile, would have cost me €456, for only 21 days. The calculation is quickly done.

Traveling Japan By Train

If you are staying in the same area for a long time, I therefore recommend that you get the corresponding  regional pass  , which will cost you less. On the other hand, if you plan to criss-cross Japan for a short period of time, the National Pass will be preferable.

Ordering JR Pass

Traveling Japan By Train

As the JR Pass has a limited validity period, do not order it too early before your departure. The process is simple, be careful however to fill in the same name as on your passport, to avoid complications with the Japanese administration.

After completing the form and paying online, you will receive your vouchers by post within a few days. The vouchers are to be handed in at the  JR counter  , once arrived in Japan. There is a JR counter at each international airport and at all major train stations.  Here you can find list of all pick-up locations.

Once you have your JR Pass in your pocket, you will need to present it at the  station  each time you travel. No need to use the security gates: just take the line called  Rail Pass Gate  (located at either end). This system is not complicated, but can be tedious in the long run, especially in large stations during rush hour. It can indeed happen that a queue forms at the level of the Rail Pass Gate. But generally, it’s pretty smooth.

Private train lines in Japan

This is where it gets complicated! Apart from Japan Railways, a multitude of  private companies  also join in the  Japanese railway network  …

The strong local presence of private companies

In large cities, these companies generally operate  public transport  . Often well established locally, they can also have other activities to offer. For example, in Kyushu, the private company  Nishitetsu  manages both private railway lines, but also bus lines… and hotels (like the Nishitetsu Hotel Croom Hakata).

Coming back to the train, let’s say it straight away: your JR Pass will be of no use to you on private lines. It is therefore an additional budget that you will have to take into account. If you are staying in Tokyo, however, be aware that the  Yamanote  is indeed a JR line. You will therefore be able to make the most of your pass in the capital.

A rather impressive aspect of the private Japanese network is that it does not just use the pre-existing railway lines. Some companies have their own lines, and therefore their own stations, which sometimes “double” with JR stations (but in reality complete the local rail network).  How do you know, then, if you are at the right station?  And generally, when necessary, the name of the private company precedes that of the station. An example, near Dazaifu: a JR station called Futsukaichi, whose private equivalent is called Nishitetsu-Futsukaichi. Quite simple.

Private rail passes

It was to be expected, the parallel network of private lines also has its own transport passes, which can also prove profitable depending on your route. I won’t dwell too much on the subject because I haven’t tested this kind of pass, but during the preparations for my first trip, I had strongly considered buying a  Kansai Thru Pass  , before giving up that idea.

I think these passes may be of interest to you if you want to explore a region in more depth, and get off the beaten track by freeing yourself from the comfort provided by the JR Pass. Because one of the effects of the JR Pass is that you end up designing your itinerary so that it is profitable, sometimes at the expense of more confidential destinations (because they are poorly served by JR lines). 

In the end, determining whether this or that pass is suitable for your situation can be a rather tedious exercise, which also leaves little room for improvisation.

The main rail passes

Here is a list of some private rail passes to know.

  • The Kansai Thru Pass :  as its name suggests, this pass allows you to travel on all of Kansai’s private lines, including  bus and metro  . Its other advantage is to offer reductions on the entry of many tourist sites, museums but also temples. You can find this pass at the tourist office.
  • The Kintetsu Rail Pass Wide:  this pass allows you to travel freely on all lines of the  Kintetsu  company , which serve (among others) Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Nagoya and Ise. It can be found at the tourist office or at Kansai International Airport (KIX).
  • The Hakone Free Pass :  if you plan to visit Hakone on an excursion from Tokyo, this pass is for you. Valid for two consecutive days, it includes the journey between  Shinjuku  (Odakyu station) and Hakone, via the trains of the  Odakyu  company , as well as many means of transport to get around once there: bus, gondola, funicular, boat… What’s better is that Hakone Free Pass offers you great discounts on the main tourist sites in the area.  You can get it in the stations of the private company Odakyu.

If you’ve made it this far, you now know that the choice of a pass in Japan is mainly conditioned by its profitability. But another problem arises, which I haven’t talked about much: the practical aspect. Having a pass means you can skip the ticket counter for each trip, saving you time and stress. However, as mentioned earlier, passes are not valid everywhere. They may be limited geographically, or not work on certain types of trains or companies. Hence the interest in having an IC card as a complement.

What is an IC card?

It is quite simply a  prepaid and contactless card  , which can be used at station security gates, but also to pay for purchases in certain distributors or at the konbini. In summary, an IC card is like a small virtual wallet that is used to make small purchases everywhere in Japan.

The different IC cards

Traveling Japan By Train

There are many different cards, all of which have similar properties. As a general rule, they all operate outside their original scope. For example, a  SUICA  from Tokyo could work perfectly in Fukuoka, Kyoto or Osaka. But beware: this does not mean that your card can replace currency absolutely everywhere. In the Japanese countryside, for example, few buses have a reader that takes IC cards into account. You will therefore have to buy your ticket “the old fashioned way”, and pay the driver in cash. In the big cities, on the other hand, the system is well established, just like in the konbini.

An IC card can be bought at the station. As for the SUICA, sold in Tokyo, the card is ready to use and already credited with ¥2000 (including ¥500 deposit) at the time of purchase. You can recover the deposit at the end of your stay, by returning your card to Tokyo , at JR East stations. But you can also choose to keep your card for the next trip. Its validity period is 10 years.

The name and look of your card will depend on where you get it.

Traveling Japan By Train

Recharge your IC card

When it comes to  recharging  , nothing could be simpler! You will frequently come across  IC terminals  like the ones below in the station: all you have to do is insert your card, choose the top-up amount and insert the amount (coin or banknote). The interface is available in English, if you are afraid of not finding your way around… 

Traveling Japan By Train

Each time you use your IC card, the remaining amount appears. If you do not have enough credit to pay for your trip, the security gate will turn red. You will then have to go to the nearest counter to top-up.

Trains in Japan

There you go, you know just about everything about the options available to you, in terms of  rail passes  and prepaid cards. Let’s now talk about the different types of trains that we come across in Japan…

The Shinkansen

Traveling Japan By Train With The Shinkansen

 Several generations of  Shinkansen  are currently circulating in Japan:  Kodama  ,  Sakura  ,  Hikari  ,  Nozomi  … The older the shinkansen, the slower it is, and the more accessible it is (from a price point of view or as part of the JR Pass)

To take the shinkansen, it is recommended to reserve your ticket, even if some trains are specially dedicated to travelers without reservation. In major stations, shinkansen run very regularly (one departure approximately every 15 minutes). In smaller stations, on the other hand, it all depends on the type of train. The Kodama, for example, an old model, will serve more stations than the Nozomi, a recent model. Note that stations dedicated specifically to shinkansen are named using the prefix shin-, such as  Shin-Osaka  station , or  Shin-Yamaguchi  station .

Traveling Japan By Trains With Shinkansen Lines In Japan

If Hokkaido and Shikoku are very poorly (if at all) served in places, the other two islands have an extensive network to connect the major cities between them.

Worth noting is a fact that several new Shinkansen routes are currently being built:

  • Hokkaido Shinkansen:  extension from Hakodate via Niseko and Otaru to Sapporo in 2030.
  • Hokuriku Shinkansen: extension from Kanazawa to Tsuruga in spring 2024 and via Obama and Kyoto to Osaka in the 2040s at the earliest.
  • Chuo Shinkansen:  Using maglev technology, this new line is scheduled to connect Tokyo with Nagoya sometime after 2027 and with Osaka sometime after 2037.

Local trains

Apart from the shinkansen,  local JR trains  and  Express  or  Super Express  are also included in the JR Pass. Which is very practical when you move away from the big cities or when you visit prefectures without high-speed lines. You will no doubt have to use these means of transport frequently, if you prefer roaming.

Tourist trains

Traveling Japan By Train With Sea Side Liner

Another interesting type of train to know:  tourist trains  . I’ve done quite a bit during my travels, so I won’t dwell too much on the subject. But some Japanese lines really surprised me. The  JR SeaSide Liner  to Sasebo (from Nagasaki) for example. Its particularity is to follow the coast as closely as possible. An incredible memory!

The small red train of the Hakone Tozan  line  (Hakone Machi), which connects Hakone to Odawara, is also very famous. It is nicknamed “the hydrangea train”, because of the many hydrangea bushes planted along the rails. These bloom in June. If you’re lucky, you can even stand at the front of the train to enjoy the view. It has a large panoramic window.

Stations in Japan

Traveling Japan By Train

To close this article, I will tell you a little about  Japanese stations  . If the small country stations are nothing special , the stations of the big cities are generally gigantic.  They integrate huge shopping centers, often on several floors.

It’s quite confusing when you first discover it, but you have to admit that it’s very practical.

Luggage lockers

If you are not familiar with the Takkyubin delivery service (to free you from your luggage between two stopovers), the  luggage lockers  (coin lockers) will be your best friends! These are lockers of varying sizes, the rental of which costs (depending on the size) from ¥100 to ¥700. It can be difficult to find a free  corner locker  at a station, especially if your luggage is bulky.

Omiyage and ekiben

If you are looking for  omiyage  (travel souvenirs), Japanese train stations are the ideal place to get them. You will find many shops there showcasing regional specialties and local crafts. 

Japanese stations are also true paradises for foodies. In addition to the many places offering something to nibble on the go, there are also kiosks specializing in   ekiben   . These  station bentos   are renowned for their excellent quality.

Now that you know everything about how the  Japanese rail system  works , a few last tips to get things organized…

Plan your route

To determine both the best route and the profitability of your passes,  Japan Travel by Navitime  or  Jorudan  are the two tools to know. They are very easy to use and give you, for each request, several alternative routes. You can also refine your search criteria (eg exclude shinkansen or JR lines, etc.).  Very practical and reliable.

Do not hesitate to compare prices

Before  ordering your JR Pass  , do not hesitate to take out the calculator. And don’t forget the wide range available to you via regional, JR or private Rail Passes.

Adapt your itinerary…

If you tend to set yourself many travel goals, don’t forget to take into account accessibility constraints when designing your itinerary optimally. Specifically, if some stops require taking 4 train connections, or three buses and a taxi, it may be better to rethink your route to avoid wasting considerable time in transportation (at the expense of discovery).

However, do not deprive yourself of a place if you really want to go there, because the logistics are a bit complicated. Apart from the train, buses can be a good alternative in some cases.

For urban journeys, invest in a prepaid card

If you have to travel frequently on private lines, or if the JR Pass is not profitable in your case, do as the Japanese do: consider IC cards. They will save you from having to buy your tickets for each trip. And can help you out at the konbini.

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Train advice from the Man in Seat 61...

The Man in Seat 61

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Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, explore japan by rail.

The best way to get around Japan is by train.  On this page you'll find an introduction to train travel in Japan, with advice on times, routes, tickets and passes.

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Japan Rail pass guide 2024

What are japanese trains like, airport links & other useful info, ferries to & from japan, useful country information, maps of the rail network, how to check train times & fares, the classic network, shinkansen high-speed lines, ordinary class or green car, reserved or non-reserved , busy periods to avoid.

The busy periods when reserved seats sell out way ahead and unreserved cars are very crowded are:

- Golden Week between late April & early May;

- Obon in mid-August;

- New Year from 29 Dec to 3 January.

The most crowded trains tend to be the ones heading out of the big cities into the country at the beginning of the holiday and back into the big cities at the end.  If you can, time your visit to Japan to avoid these times.  Christmas itself isn't such a big issue in Japan.

If you can't avoid travelling at these busy holiday periods:

Aim for the less popular first & last trains of the day;

Try booking the slower trains such as the all-stations Kodama shinkansen rather than the faster & busier Hikari or Sakura trains;

Try splitting the booking: If you can't get reserved seats from Tokyo to Kyoto, try Tokyo to Nagoya then Nagoya to Kyoto, that may work;

When using unreserved seats, pick a train that starts at the station you're at, not one which comes from elsewhere, already heavily-loaded.

Example journey times & prices

£1 = 180 yen.  $1 = 140 yen.

* Nozomi = fastest Shinkansen stopping pattern.

** Hikari = next fastest train type, Japan Rail Passes can be used.

*** Fare by Nozomi with reserved seat.

Check Japanese train times & fares at www.jorudan.co.jp . 

Children aged 0 to 5 travel free, children aged 6 to 11 travel at half fare, children aged 12 and over pay full fare.

Rail fares in Japan are expensive, and if you are an overseas visitor a Japan Rail Pass can be the cheapest way to travel even if you are only planning one return trip from (say) Tokyo to Hiroshima.  See the Japan Rail Pass section .

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How to buy tickets

You can of course buy tickets at the station, either at the staffed counters or using ticket machines, these have a touch screen with an English language facility.  There are many trains & seats, so buying at the station is unlikely to be a problem unless you hit one of the busy national holiday periods - and even then, you can always travel in the unreserved seats cars. 

How to buy local tickets

Use the self-service ticket machines.  At any main station you'll find a row of these with a big network map above them near the ticket gates onto the local platforms, see the photo in the Tokyo station section below .  You'll soon get the hang of buying tickets, like this:

-  Look at the big network map on the wall above the machines.  Find your destination station & note the fare shown next to it. 

-  On the touch screen, press English .

-  Press the side button for the number of adults/children in your party.  For 2 adults & 2 children you have to buy as 2 transactions.

-  You'll now see a screen full of possible one-way fares for one adult.

-  Touch the fare for your destination.  So if the fare shown on the map against your destination is 350, touch the 350 button.

-  It'll now show the total cost for the number of adults & children you have selected.

Japan Rail Pass guide

Japan Rail Pass or point-to-point tickets?

Train fares in Japan are expensive as there are no cheap advance-purchase fares, just one hefty fixed price for each journey.  A Japan Rail Pass can save money over point-to-point tickets even for one round trip, if it's a long-distance one.  A significant Japan Rail Pass price rise in October 2023 means it's no longer a foregone conclusion, but here are some comparisons after the pass price increase:

A 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 = £268 or $340 .

The normal return fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥27,940 = £150 or $190. 

The normal return fare from Tokyo to Hiroshima is ¥39,120 = £210 or $270.

The normal return fare from Tokyo to Nagasaki is ¥52,620 = £290 or $360.

So a 7-day Japan Rail Pass saves money for one round trip from Tokyo to Nagasaki, but not for a round trip from Tokyo to Kyoto.  It may be worth buying a Japan Rail Pass for a round trip from Tokyo to Hiroshima if you do one or more side trips as well.

How to work out if a pass makes sense

First check Japan Rail Pass prices at www.jrailpass.com .  Then use japantravel.navitime.com to check point-to-point fares for the journeys you intend to make.

Remember that the total point-to-point price you'd pay = basic fare + the reserved or unreserved seat fee.  A pass covers both of these elements, reservations are free.

Big price rise in October 2023

Green car or ordinary class?

A green class pass is great if you can afford it, but ordinary class on Japanese trains is perfectly adequate, there's no need to pay more if you don't want to.  Green car simply gets you more leg and elbow room, and carpet rather than synthetic flooring, that's all.

Personally, I find shinkansen ordinary class seats a little cramped where they are arranged 2+3 across the car width, the 2+2 seats in the green car are much more spacious.  On the other hand, if you plan to be spontaneous much of the time and not pre-plan everything you'll end up in the unreserved ordinary class cars, so don't fork out for a green car pass if you're not going to use it.

What does a Japan Rail Pass cover ?

You can buy a Japan Rail Pass for 7, 14 or 21 days in either ordinary class or green car (1st class).

The pass gives unlimited travel on all JR trains across the whole of Japan, including high-speed shinkansen (bullet trains), the local, rapid, express and limited express trains on the classic network and even the Narita Express between Narita Airport & Tokyo and the monorail to & from Haneda Airport .

There are just the following exceptions:

You can't use a Japan Rail Pass on lines run by private rail operators , only lines operated by one of the six JR companies.  For example, it doesn't cover the Tobu Railway from Tokyo to Nikko, or the Tokyo subway trains which aren't run by JR either.

But it does cover the Narita Express airport train as that's run by JR.  It also covers JR local trains in Tokyo & other cities including the useful Yamanote loop line linking Tokyo main station, Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shimbashi, Ikebukuro every few minutes, which you can use to get around Tokyo.

Sleeper trains:   There there's only one sleeper train left in Japan, the Sunrise Seto / Sunrise Izumo , but you can use this with a Japan Rail Pass if you either pay the hefty sleeper supplement for a private sleeper - we're talking ¥20,000 per room for a private 2-berth B-type sleeper - or use the open-plan shared nobinobi or 'carpet berths' which are free of charge with a Japan Rail Pass, reservation required.  Indeed, if you're on a budget, saving a hotel bill by taking the Sunrise Seto between Tokyo & (say) Himeji is an interesting option!

Nozomi or Mizuho shinkansen trains:   Until October 2023, Japan Rail Pass holders couldn't use the fastest limited-stop Nozomi or Mizuho category shinkansen trains.  You can now use them, but must pay an extra fee, typically ¥4,000-¥6,500 ($27-$44) depending on distance.

You'll find more detailed info at www.jrailpass.com .

How does a Japan Rail Pass work ? 

Order your pass & receive a voucher

You order your Japan Rail Pass online at an official pass agency website such as www.jrailpass.com and an exchange voucher is sent by tracked courier to your home address.  You'll also get a free Japan rail map and a Japan railways timetable booklet.

You need to buy the pass before you leave home, you can't buy a Japan Rail Pass in Japan.

When you get to Japan, exchange the voucher for the pass

When you arrive in Japan, you exchange this voucher for a Japan Rail Pass at any of the JR ticket offices & travel centres designated as a Japan Rail Pass exchange office.

The voucher can be exchanged for a pass any time within 3 months of buying the voucher, so there's no need to specify exact travel dates when you order it.

There are Japan Rail Pass exchange counters at around 50 JR stations, including Tokyo's main station which has Japan Rail Pass exchange counters on both the Marunouchi (west) & Yaesu (east) sides of the station, Tokyo's Ueno, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro stations, Narita Airport, Haneda Airport, Kansai Airport, Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and even Sakaiminato where (if & when operating) the ferry arrives from Vladivostok.

Tip:   The Japan Rail Pass exchange counters at Narita and Haneda airports are usually fairly relaxed places to exchange your voucher.  In Tokyo the JR East Service Centre in the historic North Entrance on the quieter Marunouchi (west) side of the station is also a good and relaxed place to exchange your voucher, more relaxed than the Japan Rail Pass counter on the more hectic Yaesu (east) side of the station.

When you exchange the voucher, you'll be asked to show your passport and to fill in a simple form with your name and passport number which they incorporate into the pass itself.  You'll be asked on what specific date you want the 7, 14 or 21 days to start, this can be any date within the next 30 days - the pass does not need to start on the same day you exchange the voucher for the pass.

For example, in July I booked a flight to Japan for travel in late October.  I ordered my 7-day Japan Rail Pass in September.  I didn't need to decide in advance exactly what days I would use it, as long as I exchanged the voucher for a pass within 3 months of ordering it.  So I could have delayed my visit until November and still used the same voucher.  Arriving in Japan on 20 October, I exchanged my voucher for a pass at Tokyo station on 21 October, asking for my 7 days of unlimited travel to start on 22 October.

Then ride as many trains as you want!   Once you have your pass and your 7, 14 or 21 days of unlimited travel have started, you use as many JR trains as you like, travelling whenever and wherever you like.  There is no limit on the number of trains you can take or the distance you can travel - that's what unlimited means.

Making reservations with your pass

Local & Rapid trains:   You don't need a reservation to travel on local or rapid trains on the classic network, such trains don't even have seat reservations.  Just hop on and show your pass when the conductor comes along.  Easy!

Unreserved seat cars:   Express, limited express and shinkansen trains usually have several non-reserved ordinary class cars, as the name suggests you don't need a reservation to travel in these.  Platform announcements, departure boards and platform signs in English will tell you which car numbers these are, and where you should stand on the platform for them - it's all very efficient.

If you are happy travelling in the non-reserved cars you can just get on and sit where you like, and show your pass to the conductor when he comes long.  Normally there's little problem finding a seat, indeed you may even be spoilt for choice.  But a seat isn't guaranteed, and at busy times of day or at busy holiday periods you may have to stand or sit on your luggage in the aisle if you find all the seats are taken.

Reserved seat cars:   To be sure of a seat on a shinkansen, limited express or express train, or to sit in a Green Car seat with a Green Car pass, you must reserve a seat in one of the reserved cars.

You are unlikely to have any problem getting the reservations you need, even booking at short notice when you get to Japan, unless you hit a busy holiday period .  And even then, you can always use the unreserved cars so you'll never be stranded, although it may be crowded so you may have to stand.

Reserving seats at stations:   You can reserve seats this free of charge at any JR ticket office or travel centre where you see the green seat reservation symbol.  Just show your Japan Rail Pass and passport and ask for a reservation in the class you want on the train you want.  You can make reservations at any time right up to a few minutes before the train leaves.

Reserving seats using a ticket machine:   You can also make reservations using self-service ticket machines, these have an English language facility.  Select the rail pass option.  Select the number of passengers.  Then scan the QR code on your Japan Rail pass and enter your passport number, repeating this for each passenger (so you’ll need their pass & passport numbers).  You then enter the starting station, destination, date & time and it will find trains and let you choose seats.  It will also let you select oversized baggage seats if available.  It’ll issue a seat reservation ticket.

You can't make seat reservations before you get to Japan

You can't reserve seats to go with your pass until you reach Japan and can get to a station.  There's one key exception:  JR East have set up a website for Japan Railpass holders to make reservations on their high speed trains north & east of Tokyo, including the Narita Express and the Joetsu, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Hokkaido, Yamagata & Akita shinkansen, but not the Tokaido, Sanyo or Kyushu shinkansen linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata, Nagasaki as obviously these aren't run by JR East, but by JR Central & JR West.

To make reservations on JR East services, see www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu (if this link stops working, try www.jreast.co.jp/e/eastpass and please let me know ).  Seat reservations made using this service must be collected before 21:00 the day before travel or they will be cancelled.

Green car seats:   Green car (1st class) seats on shinkansen & limited express trains are always reserved , if you sit in a green car seat without a reservation you'll be charged the hefty green car shinkansen reserved seat fee, even if you have a Green Car Japan Rail Pass.  So if you have a Green Car pass, either make a reservation to use the Green Car, or if you want to be spontaneous and hop on a train without a reservation, use the ordinary class unreserved cars.

Reservation tips

There's no penalty for not using a seat reservation you've made with a Japan Rail Pass.  Bad manners not to cancel it perhaps, but if you had a reservation for (say) the 18:45 and decided to leave earlier, you could hop on the 17:45 and sit in the unreserved cars, no problem.

If you know your itinerary, there's no reason why you can't make all the necessary reservations for your trip in one go when you exchange your voucher for the pass.  But do the legwork first.  Look up each of the trains you want using world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en then type out a clear written list of reservations specifying date, journey, train number, departure time, class and number of passengers.  If it's not too busy, the staff at the Japan Rail Pass counter may work through the list for you, issuing a reservation ticket for each reserved seat.  But if it's busy and there's a queue behind you, don't be surprised of they turn you away, asking you to make reservations as you need them at the ticket office.  Staff at the JR East Service Centre did all my reservations for me, no problem.  But a notice at the Haneda Airport travel service centre said they were only prepared to do reservations for today.  Feedback appreciated !

Suggested 7-day itinerary

Click here for my recommended itinerary using a 7-day Japan Rail Pass, starting in Tokyo and visiting Kyoto for its temples & geisha district, Himeji for its castle, Hiroshima for its museum and Peace Park and Nagasaki for its history as the only point of contact with the outside world from the 17th to 19th centuries.  I think this is the ideal tour for a first visit to Japan!

Buy a Japan Rail Pass

You need to buy your Japan Rail Pass before you leave your home country as you can't (generally) buy a pass once you're in Japan.

Option 1 , buy a Japan Rail Pass at www.jrailpass.com .

Passes can be sent any address worldwide, you can book up to 180 days in advance, prices are shown in various currencies.  A reliable agency I've been recommending for some years now.

Option 2 , buy a Japan Rail Pass at www.klook.com , here's a direct link to their all-Japan pass page .

When you buy your pass

Japan Rail Pass exchange voucher

1. Exchange Voucher.   When you order your pass online, you are sent an Exchange Voucher (above, on left) plus a handy Japan Rail Pass user guide, a Japan rail timetable and a Japan rail map.  The voucher can be exchanged for a Japan Rail Pass at any time in the 3 months after ordering.

A Japan Rail Pass

2.  Japan Rail Pass.   You exchange the voucher for a Japan Rail Pass at any one of 50 designated JR exchange offices in Japan, including Tokyo main station (2 offices), Ueno, Shinjuku, Narita International Airport, Haneda International Airport, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki.  The photo above shows an old-school pass, from 2023 passes are being issued as credit-card-size card tickets which can operate ticket gates.

Regional rail passes

Japan east pass, sanyo pass, kansai pass.

There are also regional Japan Rail Passes covering smaller areas.

The Japan East Pass covers Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata, Sendai, Morioka, Misawa & Akita.

The JR West Pass covers Osaka-Fukuoka and all trains run by JR West, for 7 days.

The Sanyo area pass covers an area including Osaka, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima & Hakata.

The Kansai area rail pass covers Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara & Himeji and costs only around £15/$23 a day, a pretty good deal.

For more information and to buy a pass , see www.klook.com (passes sent to any address worldwide) or www.japan-rail-pass.com .

Seishun 18 Kippu

The Seishun 18 Kippu (Youthful 18 Ticket) gives 5 days unlimited travel on Japan Railways' local trains and kaisoku (accelerated local) trains for ¥12,050, about $97 or $20 per day.  It's possible to travel all the way across Japan this way, incredibly cheaply, but only using the narrow-gauge local trains.

It's sold to both Japanese citizens and overseas visitors of any age (in spite of its name), but only during specific Spring (March-April), Summer (July-September) & winter (December-January) periods.

Rather than explain it further here, see this page for details:  www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seishun_18_Ticket or www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html .

1, 2 & 3-day metro passes for Tokyo

Foreign visitors can buy Tokyo metro 24 hour, 48 hour & 72 hour tickets, see www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/travel .

If you like, you can buy a 1/2/3 day Tokyo metro pass online in advance at www.klook.com and collect it from the metro ticket machines.

You can buy one-day passes covering the Tokyo metro, or Tokyo metro+Toei Subway+JR local trains (called the Tokyo Combination ticket), see www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/1day .

What are Japanese trains like ?

Shinkansen high-speed trains.

Everyone has heard of Japan's bullet train lines, more properly known in Japan as shinkansen which means new trunk line .  These are high-speed lines, built to European and North American standard gauge with rails 4' 8½" apart.  The first shinkansen was the Tokaido Shinkansen opened in 1964 between Toyo, Kyoto and Osaka, later extended as the Sanyo Shinkansen to Hiroshima, Kobe and Hakata.  There are now a whole range of shinkansen lines linking all the most important cities in Japan, including Niigata, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata and Kagoshima.

Tokaido & Sanyo shinkansen N700A

These 16-car N700As owned by JR Central & JR West operate the Nozomi and Hikari services on the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka.  Many Nozomis and a few Hikaris extend to Hiroshima, Kobe & Hakata over the Sanyo Shinkansen.  These trains operate at up to 285 km/h (175 mph) on the Tokaido Shinkansen and up to 300km/h (186 mph) on the Sanyo Shinkansen.

Shinkansen seats are always rotated to face the direction of travel, and all seats come with a drop-down table attached to the seat back in front.  If there are four of you, you can rotate one pair of seats to make a face-to-face group of four.  There are power sockets (Japanese 2-pin) at all seats on these N700s.

Sanyo & Kyushu shinkansen N700

These 8-car N700 shinkansen trains owned by JR West & JR Kyushu operate the Mizuho & Sakura services on the Sanyo & Kyushu shinkansen lines between Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Himeji, Hakata and Kagoshima.

On most shinkansen trains, ordinary class seats are the same whether reserved or non-reserved.  But on these particular trains, ordinary class reserved seats (above left) are arranged 2+2 across the car width, much more spacious than the non-reserved cars (above right).  An added benefit of reserving a seat!

Joetsu, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Hokkaido, Yamagata & Akita shinkansen

You'll find a range of exotic trains on the Joetsu, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Hokkaido, Yamagata & Akita shinkansen routes heading north & east of Tokyo.

Limited Expresses

An extensive network of classic 3' 6" narrow-gauge lines covers the whole of Japan taking you to almost every city and town of any size.  The fastest trains on the classic network are classified Limited Express , and these train come in all shapes and sizes.  Indeed, the classic network often parallels the shinkansen:  For example, you can travel between Kyoto, Osaka and Himeji by Limited Express on the classic network just as easily as by shinkansen.  Give it a try!

Local & rapid trains

Completing the picture, there are many local & rapid trains on the classic 3' 6" narrow-gauge network, again of many shapes and sizes.

Sleeper trains : See the video

There's now only one sleeping-car train left in Japan, the Sunrise Express .  It runs as one combined train from Tokyo to Himeji & Okayama and then splits, the Sunrise Seto heading for Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku and the Sunrise Izumo heading for Izumoshi.

You can use the Sunrise Express at no extra charge with a Japan Rail Pass if you make a reservation for one of the basic nobinobi berths (see the photo below left) or you can pay the room fee to have a private compartment.  Expect a private sleeper compartment for one person to cost around ¥8,000 for a B-type single , around ¥7,000 for a similar but slightly smaller B-type solo , or ¥15,000 for a more spacious A-type deluxe single-bed sleeper with washbasin.  For two people, it costs around ¥15,000 per compartment in a B-type single-twin with upper & lower berths or ¥16,000 per compartment in a B-type Sunrise twin with two lower berths side by side.  Without a pass, you pay the regular fare and limited express extra fare plus these berth costs.

The sleeper train runs on the classic narrow-gauge network, but it can save time compared with daytime shinkansen travel but more importantly it's a unique experience, watch the Sunrise Express video .  It could save a hotel bill too!  See the official Sunrise Express information page , in Japanese, translatable with Google Chrome, to see photo of each accommodation type and check current berth fees.

Travel tip:   Himeji is a popular destination, but the Sunrise Express arrives there very early westbound and leaves late at night eastbound.  Remember that with a Japan Rail Pass you can easily double back, leaving or boarding the train an hour away in Okayama at a more attractive time instead.  The useful Tokyo-Nagasaki sleeper train is long gone, and the Hokutosei   & Cassiopeia sleeper trains between Tokyo & Sapporo disappeared in late 2015/early 2016 with the expansion of high-speed shinkansen services to Hokkaido.

Travel tips

Ticket gates.

When entering (or leaving) the platform area at any principal Japanese station, you'll need to pass through a set of automatic ticket gates like the ones shown here.  To catch a shinkansen train you may need to pass through two sets of gates, the first to access the JR Lines platform area serving the classic network, then another to access the Shinkansen platforms.  The gates are usually open by default, they'll spring shut if you try to pass through without a ticket.  All gate lines have a staffed side-gate, and if you have an old-style Japan Rail Pass you'll need to use this.  Just flash your pass at the side gate and you'll be waved through.  However, Japan Rail Passes are now being issued in the same format as normal magnetic-stripe card tickets, and passes in this format will operate the gates.

Finding your platform, train & seat

Many visitors worry about language in Japan, but signs are in both Japanese and English and the system is so efficient and easy to use.  The photos below show how easy it is to find the right platform, stand in the right place for your car when the train comes in, and be sure you're getting on the right train.

Tip:   The board also tells you which cars are unreserved.  If you want to use Sakura 557 without a reservation, you can see that cars 1-3 are the non-reserved ones.

Luggage on Japanese trains

Luggage is no real problem on Japanese trains.  Within reason, you can take what you like, nobody weighs it, measures it or argues about it.  You simply take it with you onto the train and stick it on any suitable luggage rack.  The overhead racks on shinkansen trains take anything up to backpack size.  If you have a huge suitcase or don't want to lift heavy bags to the overhead rack, go to the back of your car and put your bags in the gap between the wall and the rearmost seats, as in the photo below right.

Rules for very large suitcases from 2020

Extra large luggage rules have applied to the Tokaido, Kyushu & Sanyo shinkansen lines since May 2020.  Passengers with very large suitcases over 160 linear centimetres (linear cm = length + width + depth) will have to reserve a place for their suitcase at the same time they reserve their shinkansen seat, it's free of charge.  But if they don't reserve, they face a ¥1,000 fine (about $8) on the train.  It will no longer be possible to travel in an unreserved seats car with very large suitcases.  The suitcases will go in behind the rear row of seats, or (when modifications are completed) in a new lockable luggage area which will replace some of the washbasins in designated cars.  Obviously, the 160cm cut-off means this won't affect backpacks or normal-sized luggage, just over-sized cases.  For more details see www.tsunagujapan.com/large-suitcases-shinkansen-policy .

Luggage lockers at stations

All principal stations have luggage lockers in various sizes in various locations.  Expect a small locker to start at around ¥300 or ¥400, and you'll need coins.  It's not usually difficult to find vacant lockers at any time of day.  Below right, arriving in Himeji at lunchtime it was no problem to find a vacant large locker which took two backpacks and a holdall for ¥700.  There's also a small staffed left luggage office at Tokyo station, inside the Marunouchi central entrance inside the JR Lines gated area.

Food on board:  Eki-ben

First the bad news.  Japanese trains don't have restaurant cars or even a bar car, just vending machines and in some cases a refreshment trolley.  The trolley on premier shinkansen trains such as Nozomi, Hikari, Mizuho or Sakura services sells tea, coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer, sake, snacks, small tubs of ice cream.  The trolley accepts both cash and credit cards.

Now the good news.  You can of course take your own food and drink onto Japanese trains, and one of the joys of Japanese train travel is the ekiben - eki meaning station, ben short for bento , meaning traditional Japanese packed lunch.  Ekiben is sold at ekiben shops found at all main stations, and also from the refreshment trolley on principal shinkansen services.  Ekiben comes in all sizes, shapes and qualities, but expect a decent large box to cost perhaps ¥800 bought at the station or ¥1,000 bought from the trolley on board a train.  The ekiben boxes include chopsticks and finger wipes.

If you want to buy ekiben from the shinkansen refreshment trolley, just ask the trolley lady - she'll show you pictures of the what she has available in a little laminated menu booklet, just point to the one you want.  You'll soon be a Black Belt in the ancient and honourable Japanese martial art of Eki-ben...

Power sockets & WiFi

You can reckon on finding power sockets for standard Japanese plugs at seats on almost all shinkansen and most limited expresses.  Free WiFi is now available on most shinkansen routes including the Tokaido, Sanyo & Tohoku lines.  Check your mobile provider for a data package for Japan, there is good mobile data reception along most shinkansen routes.  You'll also find JR Free WiFi at a key stations including Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto & Shin-Osaka.

Tokyo station : See location map

Tokyo's main central station is shown as plain Tokyo in timetables.  Unlike most main stations worldwide, Tokyo station lacks a main entrance and main concourse.  It's something of a rabbit warren, but as most visitors end up there sooner or later, here are some tips.  You can read more about the station and its history at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Station .  It's the busiest station in Japan in terms of trains, though not in terms of passenger numbers.

The west side of the station is called the Marunouchi side , and it features the historic station building built in 1915 and now beautifully restored, with it's upper floors housing the wonderful Tokyo Station Hotel .  It's the quieter side of the station, close to the Imperial Palace.

There are Marunouchi North, Central & South entrances, each with a row of ticket gates to access the JR lines (classic network) platforms 1-10.  If you are catching a shinkansen, you'll need to pass through one of these gatelines and cross the JR Lines area to another set of ticket gates at the entrance to either the Tokaido/Sanyo shinkansen platforms 14-19 or the Joetsu, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Hokkaido/Yamagata & Akita shinkansen platforms 20-23.  It's all well-signed in English.

Which platform?

Tokyo station, marunouchi side, tokyo station, yaesu side.

Buying local tickets in Tokyo.   There's a row of ticket machines like this near every entrance to the platform area.

The yellow & green machines on the left sell Shinkansen & Limited Express reserved & unreserved tickets & reservation changes.

One-day metro & local train passes for Tokyo:   There are 1-day passes you can get to cover either metro trains or metro trains + JR local trains in the Tokyo area.  You need to clock up perhaps 5 or 6 journeys in a day to make one of these worthwhile.  See www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/value/1day .

The Tokyo Station Hotel : Check prices

The lovely 5-star Tokyo Station Hotel is another unique place to stay that deserves a special mention, even if (unlike capsule hotels) it's not a budget option!  The hotel occupies the 2nd & 3rd floors of the historic and beautifully-restored 1915 station building on the quieter Marunouchi side of Tokyo station.  Given that so many of Tokyo's classic hotels have been destroyed by earthquakes or wartime bombing then rebuilt as modern tower blocks, this has to be one of the most historically-interesting places to stay.  It's a luxurious and well-located choice, too, with a first-rate breakfast buffet served in the Atrium located inside the large central pitched roof above the 3rd floor.  And it's so handy for the trains.

Ryokans & capsule hotels

Any visit to Japan is a cultural experience.  Don't just stay in western hotels and visit the sights.  Make the places you stay part of the experience, by staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan, or even a capsule hotel.

Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns.  The rooms don't have beds, the floor is covered with tatami matting on which you place a bedroll.  You may be offered a hot cup of green Japanese tea when you first arrive.  You can sometimes find ryokans online on hotel booking sites such as www.booking.com .  The very best and most famous ryokans can be fabulously expensive, but cheaper ones can be a budget option.  Search for Ryokans in Tokyo .  Search for Ryokans in Kyoto .

In Kyoto, the excellent Gion Ryokan Q-Beh (pictured above) is 10-15 minutes walk from the Kyomizu-dera temple, 10 minutes walk from the Gion Geisha district.  It has budget dorm rooms and private rooms, and free WiFi.  The photos above show a family room with shower & toilet.

In Hiroshima, try the Chizuru Ryokan , 10 minutes walk from the Peace Park.

Capsule hotels

Another classic Japanese experience is to spend a night in a capsule hotel - which coincidentally is also a money-saving option for staying a night in the heart of Tokyo or another big city.  These are more civilised than you might think.

The hotel reception looks like any other hotel reception.  Remember to take your shoes off before you walk in, and place them in one of the lockers in the lobby.  Upstairs, there will probably be several floors of fibreglass sleeping capsules, each floor with its own locker room and shared showers.  You change in the locker room and put your clothes and bags into your locker.  Your capsule has radio, alarm clock and TV, and a screen or curtain pulls over the capsule entrance for privacy.  The main drawback is that the main clientele for these hotels is Japanese businessmen who have missed their last train home, so capsule hotels are usually male-only.  But capsule hotels for women do exist.  The pictures below show end-entry capsules, but some capsule hotels have side-entry types, and you'll now find some capsule hotels with larger, more hotel-style capsules too.

You can usually walk into a capsule hotel and ask for a bed for the night, but if you want to pre-book this unique experience, try the Capsulevalue Kanda in downtown Tokyo near Kanda station, one stop north of Tokyo station, a bed in downtown Tokyo for as little as ¥3,400 (about £26 or $32) per night.  Men and boys over 10 can stay there, but not women or children.

Haneda Airport to Tokyo

Emerging into the Haneda Airport International Arrivals hall, follow the signs to the Monorail which is just a few metres straight ahead of you. 

Narita Airport to Tokyo

Option1, narita express to tokyo main station, option 2, keisei skyliner from narita to ueno station, cheaper options, europe to japan by trans-siberian railway.

You can travel from London to Tokyo in just 12-14 days by Trans-Siberian Railway for roughly £800 in round figures.

Update 2024 :  War in Ukraine & sanctions on Russia currently make this route impractical.  Moscow-Beijing trains are suspended.

Option 1, via Vladivostok

- Travel from London to Moscow, see the London to Russia page .  This takes 48 hours using the Paris-Moscow Express .

- Take the Rossiya from Moscow to Vladivostok, this runs every second day taking 7 days, see the Trans-Siberian page . 

- Take the ferry from Vladivostok to Sakaiminato in Japan, sailing once a week taking 36 hours, see the Vladivostok-Japan ferry section .

Option 2, via Beijing & Shanghai

-  Travel from Moscow to Beijing on one of two weekly Trans-Siberian trains, taking 6 days, see the Trans-Siberian page . 

- Take an overnight or high-speed train from Beijing to Shanghai ( see the Beijing to Shanghai page ).

- Take one of the two weekly ferries from Shanghai to either Osaka or Kobe in Japan, see the China to Japan ferry section .

Going via Vladivostok is simpler to organise as you need fewer visas, but going via Beijing more varied and interesting, and the one I'd recommend.

Ferries between Japan & China, Korea, Vladivostok

For the weekly ferry from Sakaiminato in Japan to Vladivostok in Russia, see the Trans-Siberian page .

For ferries between Japan and Shanghai in China, see the China page .

For ferries between Japan and South Korea, see the Korea page .

Tours of Japan by train

If you want a tour agency to organise a tour of Japan for you with train travel, transfers & hotels included as a package, Railbookers specialise in train-based tours and have several suggested tours of Japan by rail, including Best of Japan, Scenic Japan and Golden Route of Japan.  These can be adjusted to your specification.

  UK call 0207 864 4600, www.railbookers.co.uk .

  us call free 1-888-829-4775, www.railbookers.com .,   canada call free 1-855-882-2910, www.railbookers.com .,   australia call toll-free 1300 971 526, www.railbookers.com.au .,   new zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or see website ..

Japan by Rail & Lonely Planet guides:  In the age of the internet, a printed guidebook may seem an unnecessary expense, but you'll see so much more and know so much more about it if you have a decent pocket guidebook.  The Trailblazer Japan by Rail guide is specifically aimed at train travel around Japan, with both city and train information - highly recommended!  Other than that, for the serious independent traveller, the best guidebooks to take are either the Lonely Planet or the Rough Guide.  I personally prefer the layout of the Lonely Planet, but others prefer the Rough Guides.  Both guidebooks provide excellent levels of both practical information and historical background. 

Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk

Flights to japan.

Overland travel around Japan by train is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground!  But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Japan in the first place. 

1)  Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com

2)  use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

skyscanner generic 728x90

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

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Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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These 7 Scenic Trains Offer the Best Views of Japan

By Marianna Cerini

These 7 Scenic Trains in Japan Offer the Best Views of the Country

Japan—where remaining pandemic travel restrictions drop today —knows a thing or two about great train rides. The country boasts a solid railway system that’s fast, punctual, and relatively affordable, particularly if you get a discount rail pass—from the country-wide Japan Rail Pass (most commonly known as JR Pass, which must be purchased outside of Japan) to local ones homing in on specific regions.

But it also includes some of the splashiest private train lines there are, with on-board services akin to those you’d find in an ultra-luxury hotel , comfortable private cabins, lounges that are essentially salons on wheels, and elevated gastronomic offerings.

Simply put, whatever area in Japan you decide to focus on, there’ll be a captivating train journey to zip you around it. Here are seven of the very best trains in Japan, from glamorous to panoramic and plain romantic.

Image may contain Tree Plant Outdoors Scenery Nature Transportation Train Track Rail Railway and Road

Kurobe Gorge Railway

The Japan Alps—the mountain ranges running along the spine of central Honshu (the country’s main island)—have long been the nation’s geographical and spiritual heart, home to shrines and sacred sites, hot springs, and traditional farmers’ villages. A trip to the region is an absolute must, and the Kurobe Gorge Railway is the perfect sightseeing train to set the mood for it.

Originally built in the mid-1950s to serve the construction of the Kurobe dam, the line operates along a winding 12.4-mile stretch that crosses the Kurobe Gorge—one of the deepest gorges in Japan—linking the stations of Unazuki and Keyakidaira. On the 80-minute ride, guests can take in views of rugged mountain landscapes and steep cliff sides, a forested ravine and the gurgling Kurobe River, as they traverse more than 20 bridges and some 40 tunnels. Different stops along the way offer plenty of opportunities to go for a hike or, why not, stop at an open-air onsen.

Tickets start at $18 (or 2,610 yen). Be aware that the train operates seasonally from late April through November, and it’s most popular in October, when the fall foliage turns the hillsides into a tapestry of reds and yellows. If you go then, bring a jacket: most of the cabins are open-sided.

Gonoline ran to side of the Sea of Japan. Vehicle Transportation Train Watercraft and Vessel

Running along the western coast of the Aomori and Akita Prefectures in northern Japan—a region brimming with wild nature and volcanic mountain ranges—the 91.5-mile Gono Line is an important route for residents of the area. It also happens to be one of the country’s most scenic railways. Depending on the season, the train passes through lush forests and snowy landscapes, rice paddies and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakami-Sanchi, a virgin forest of Japanese beech trees. Expect the standard quality of Japan trains—efficient, fairly comfortable, and extremely reliable. 

Word to the wise: Add an extra layer of entertainment to your sightseeing experience by booking the Joyful Train that runs along the Gono Line ( Joyful Trains are concept trains featuring on-board activities, special dining cars, and special station events). Called Resort Shirakami , it includes live “shamisen” (traditional three-string guitar from the Tsugaru region) performances and storytelling sessions in the Tsugaru dialect. JR Rail Passes can be used for the Gono Line and all Joyful Trains if reserved in advance.

Tourists taking pictures of Hozukyo Ravine nature scenery on Sagano Railway Romantic train sightseeing ride in Kyoto...

Sagano Scenic Railway

At only 4.35 miles long and a mere 25 minutes one-way, the Sagano Scenic Railway is the shortest route on the list, but possibly the most romantic. Running from the Torokko Saga Station in Arashiyama—the second-most important sightseeing district in Kyoto—to the town of Kameoka, the train snakes leisurely through the mountains along the Hozugawa River, offering front row seats to the surrounding wooded ravine. Each train is outfitted with retro-nostalgic touches like wooden benches—a nod to its original debut back in 1899—and made up of one fully open cabin and four enclosed cars (with windows that can be opened). It is particularly popular during the autumn foliage season as the leaves along the way change their colors, but spring passengers can enjoy pretty views too, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The line doesn’t operate from late December through February. Tickets start at $6 (880 yen), and can be purchased at Torokko Saga Station or at JR ticket offices in the Kansai Region.

running High speed train Tokaido Shinkansen and Fuji mountain with rice field on spring season.

Tokaido Shinkansen Line

No trip to Japan would be complete without getting a glimpse of Mount Fuji. The Tokaido Shinkansen Line (a bullet train) is the easiest way to achieve that. Connecting Tokyo and Kyoto in around two hours and 20 minutes, the route passes the majestic mountain in both directions, delivering picture-perfect vistas of the country’s highest and most famous peak. Pick a seat on your right if you’re headed to Kyoto, or on your left if you’re going to the capital. Even better, reserve the window-side E row for the very best views. Plus, access to the Tokaido Shinkansen line is covered by the JR Pass.

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Train Suite Shiki-shima

A hybrid electric/diesel deluxe sleeping train, the Train Suite Shiki-shima is one of the world’s most exclusive and expensive railroad rides in the world—so much so that passengers have to submit an online application to get on, and are chosen by a random draw. With interiors by industrial designer Ken Okuyama, known for his luxury car work with Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche, the 10-cabin, 34-passenger service features a lavish east-meets-west aesthetic, (think Japanese seating and western style beds), floor-to-ceiling windows in some of the carriages, and a futuristic observatory car kitted out with sinuous white chairs and grass-green carpets. Rooms are over-the-top spacious, and categorized as suites, flats, and maisonettes.

Once you’re on board, you’ll be heading from Tokyo into Japan's far north , namely Tohoku and Hokkaido—wide-open regions boasting spectacular nature and enduring traditions.

Itineraries are either two or four days long, and include sightseeing stopovers and overnight hotel stays, as well as some seriously superb culinary experiences, from breakfast to dinner. New routes are scheduled to start from April 2022 onwards. Tickets start at $3,830 (555,000 yen) for single occupancy in an entry-level suite.

Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Train Train Track Railway and Rail

Twilight Express Mizukaze

One of Japan’s most luxurious trains, the 10-cabin Twilight Express Mizukaze (also referred to simply as Mizukaze) rides some of the most breathtaking routes on the western side of the country. Five different itineraries take passengers along the coastline of the Seto inland sea, making stops in Osaka , Setonaikai National Park, Miyajima, and the lesser-visited San'in region, depending which way you go. On board, passengers—a maximum of 34—can expect five-star service from the dining car to the six ‘rooms,’ the swankiest of which consists of an entire railcar that comes with its own tub (it’s aptly called ‘The Suite’). Tickets for it are quite hard to get, with a waitlist that can be over half a year, but snag yourself a seat, and you’ll be in for one of the most exclusive train journeys in the world. Tickets—only purchasable in Japan—start at $2,800 (400,000 yen)

Seven Stars Kyushu Japan

Seven Stars

The luxury sleeper Seven Stars , which cruises around Kyushu island—Japan's southern and westernmost main island—is worth adding to your Japan bucket list if you’re ready to splurge. Launched in 2013, the 20-passenger, seven-cabin train is as fancy as it gets, with plush interiors across its 10 suites (all of which are built in maple, walnut, or teak wood), a fine dining restaurant run by Kyushu’s master chefs, and a lounge car that even has its own piano. The Seven Stars name refers to the region’s seven prefectures—Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Saga, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima—which the train passes on two- and four-day circular itineraries, covering some 1,864 miles in total. Tickets are steep, but, on the plus side, include a series of activities that go beyond the train journey: sightseeing trips to mountain ranges, volcanoes, and traditional pottery villages, onsen experiences, and overnight stays at traditional (but still top-of-the-class) ryokan. Tickets start at $4,400 (650,000 yen) per person for a two-day trip, or $8,450 (1,250,000) per person for a four-day sojourn.

If you’re after something less pricey, Kyushu also has plenty of simpler sightseeing trains, like the Hisatsu Line, a slow, local railway line (currently suspended due to floods caused by heavy rains last July).

Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

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travel by train japan

Japan Transit 101: Complete Guide to Using Trains in Japan

Japan's globally renowned train network is nothing short of a collective feat of engineering and structural genius. But with such complexity, comes the invariable concerns of being overwhelmed. While it would be disingenuous to claim that navigating the Japanese train network is always easy, or that you'll be a pro at it on your first outing; it is fair to say that with a little bit of guidance you shouldn't run into too many difficulties. So let's look at the LIVE JAPAN's Transit 101, with essentials tricks of the trade and some answers to the most frequently asked questions and commonly voiced concerns.

1. Types of train tickets in Japan: Japan Rail Pass, Paper Tickets, IC cards, Special Tickets

2. types of trains in japan: regular trains, express trains, overnight express, shinkansen, 3. types of seats: reserved/unreserved; regular, green car, gran class, 4. understanding local trains vs. express trains and how to read a train map, 5. navigating stations: getting around, 6. faq's and frequently voiced concerns.

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Japan Rail Pass The Japan Rail Pass is an excellent option for tourists; it's a cumulative effort by the six companies of the Japan Rail Group to create a ticket that can be used on all JR trains, in all prefectures, across the country. However, there are still a couple of restrictions: for instance, it cannot be used for travel on Nozomi and Mizuho trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines, or privately-operated train lines. The Japan Rail Pass is for tourists only and in order to be eligible, you must meet one of the following criteria: 1. You are a foreign tourist visiting Japan from abroad for sight-seeing under the entry status of "temporary visitor", or 2. You are Japanese national but living permanently abroad. To get a Japan Rail Pass, you must purchase it through one of the official websites (link below) and then activate it after your arrival in Japan. (There are ways to purchase a Japan Rail Pass in Japan as well, however the rates are higher.) After purchasing a voucher abroad, you can activate it at any JR office; these can be found at most airports and major train stations. The options are as follows:

travel by train japan

Note that it's worth doing a little calculating of potential travel expenditure beforehand to make sure you are getting your money's worth. The easiest way to do this is to have a rough itinerary in mind and then use a website such as Hyperdia or Google Maps to map out your trip and clarify fares along the way. Paper Tickets and Day Passes Paper tickets come in the form of one-use train fare tickets or day passes that can be purchased at machines in all train stations—said machines usually have language translation options. Single-fare passes rarely work out more economical in the long run, but day passes may suit some travellers. In Tokyo there are several day pass options: ・ Tokyo Metro Day Pass (access to all Metro lines in a given day for 600 yen) ・ The Toei and Tokyo Metro One-Day Economy Pass (access to all Metro and Toei lines in a given day for 900 yen) ・ Tokyo Metropolitan District Pass (access to all JR local and express lines in a given day for 750 yen) While these can save you a bit of cash, usually an IC card is a more convenient option, particularly if you will be in the capital for several days. Other Special Tickets On top of all the aforementioned ticket types, we have a miscellaneous category of specialised tickets. These tickets, which are often valid for a period of 48 hours or more, provide a hodgepodge of different benefits that vary from place to place. Popular special tickets in the Tokyo Metropolitan area include: ・ Greater Tokyo Pass (for all trains and streetcars in Kanto) ・Welcome Tokyo Subway ticket (for transport to and from Haneda ) ・ KEIKYU Misaki Maguro Day Trip Ticket (for transport to, and food in, the Misaki/Miura area).

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IC Cards IC ("integrated circuit") cards are the number one form of a train ticket in Japan. They are one-size-fits-all, electronic train passes that can be topped up at train stations around the nation. Though there are many variations—Suica, Pasmo, Icoca, PiTaPa, Toica, Manaca, Sugoca, Nimoca, Hayakaken, Kitaka—which depend on the region in which you purchase them, the Tokyo-centric Suica and Pasmo cards tend to be the most popular. These cards can even be used on many train lines from Sapporo in the north to Kyushu in the south. They can also be used on buses around Kanto (greater Tokyo) and Kansai (greater Osaka/Kyoto), at vending machines, and a variety of convenience stores and other shops. IC cards can be purchased at machines inside train stations that will have English (and other languages) translation options. Most cards cost 500 yen and the rest of the money you add will be deposited as a balance on the card. To use an IC card, simply tap your card on the indicated spot on one of the barriers for entry to the platforms, and repeat the process while exiting at your destination. The machines will calculate the fare and withdraw money from the card's balance.

Tip: Getting Your IC Card Money Back IC cards can also be refunded at the end of the trip (though the money on them stays valid for 10 years without being used...in case you plan on coming back). To claim a refund on your remaining balance, bring your card to one of the ticket offices (also called "midori-no-madoguchi"), which are in most of the major stations across Japan. It's worth noting that you should be sure to bring your IC card to a station in the region from which you purchased it—Pasmo and Suica for greater Tokyo area, Icoca cards for Kansai area, and so on. The refund will be comprised of the remaining balance on your card, plus the 500 yen "deposit" that you originally paid for the card (if you're balance is less than 220 yen, you will only receive the 500 yen deposit).

2. Types of trains in Japan: Regular Trains, Express Trains, Overnight Express, Shinkansen

Japan Railways (JR) vs. Private Railroads Japan Rail has a huge majority share of the privatised railway market in Japan. They do not however have a full monopoly, so there are a wide variety of other providers that operate in specific areas. Examples of these lines include: Keikyu, Odakyu, Seibu, and Tobu. The upshot is that you can only use your Japan Rail Pass for JR trains, otherwise you will have to buy a paper ticket or use an IC card. Private companies operate regular and express trains. Regular trains: Cheap but (relatively) Slow Intercity travel by train in Japan is incredibly efficient, with various options depending on how quickly you want to get to your destination and how much cash you're willing to fork out. Regular trains that stop at most/all stations en route to your destination are considerably slower than taking an express or Shinkansen bullet train. The advantage is that they are very reasonably priced and often provide stunning views of the surrounding Japanese wilderness. Express trains: Faster but Pricier Express trains can come in at a slightly higher price range than their regular counterparts, however, given that they miss many of the smaller stops en route to their destinations, they will get you there an awful lot faster, and the seats are usually somewhat comfier. Depending on the train, a separate ticket and/or seat reservation may be required to ride express trains. Overnight trains: Long Distance Hauls Though most overnight trains in Japan have been retired as a result of increased use in the Shinkansen, there are still a couple that run for long distance hauls. The Sunrise express trains—The Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto—leave from Tokyo travelling to Osaka, Himeji and Okayama stations. From Okayama the Izumo heads towards Matsue and Izumo-shi on the western coast; the Seto sets course for the inland sea and Takamatsu, Shikoku. Both Sunrise Expresses run the reverse route back to Tokyo. *Note: Japan Rail Passes will cover the train fare and seats, however you will have to pay extra for one of the compartments which contains a bed. The compartments start from 10,800 yen and can only be booked from Japan within 30 days of departure date. Shinkansen Bullet Train: Fastest but Priciest The Shinkansen bullet train is the fastest way to travel around Japan by train, though it will come at a price. A relatively short distance Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin Osaka Station would cost over 13,000 yen. This is where your Japan Rail pass can come in super handy. Shinkansen run very regularly, while providing various seating options to facilitate a pretty comfortable travel experience.

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For Shinkansen and express trains the majority of travellers either use a Japan Rail Pass or purchase paper tickets. For said tickets, there are (again) several options: Ordinary Car, Green Car, Gran Class, reserved, unreserved, or some mixture of the above. Let's start with the basics. Reserved seats vs. Unreserved seats The seating options range from basic unreserved seats to the most luxurious Gran Class. With unreserved tickets you can end up not getting a seat (and therefore having to stand for a 3-hour journey), or being unwillingly placed in a smoking car. For the longer journeys, forking out a little extra cash (typically around 500 - 700 yen) for a reserved seating ticket might be worth consideration. When purchasing your ticket at a machine, you will be offered both of these options; the same applies for purchasing your ticket with a member of staff in the relevant station. Seat classes: Regular, Green, Gran Class

Gran Class on the Shinkansen. (Piti Sirisriro - Shutterstock.com)

Upping the ante to the Green Car or top-tier Gran Class in the bullet train will provide a significantly more comfortable ride, but will obviously see an equally significant increase in cost. Gran Class cars are replete with plush leather recliners and all you can eat and drink services (these are however only available on selected Shinkansen train lines). Fare Tickets When purchasing Shinkansen tickets from the machines, usually you will have to purchase a fare ticket, and a ticket for the train itself—written as Fare+Base. While it may seem a little confusing or arbitrary, basically the fare ticket is the price of the journey itself, whereas the special ticket covers your seating option. If you buy a ticket from the ticket office, they will usually supply you with one ticket covering the fare and the base. The price in the office and at the machines is the same. (Note that when entering the Shinkansen ticket gates, insert both tickets into the wicket at the same time.)

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Regular Train types: How to Tell As you may have guessed, regular trains too come in a few different forms. Within the cities, most of the JR and Metro lines operate a standard route that stops at all stations. But (and here's where it can get confusing), there are certain train lines which function local, rapid, semi-rapid and express services, which stop at different stations along the same route. In Tokyo and other major metropolitan areas, these will—most likely—be indicated on the platform screens in English. If not, then you can keep an eye out for the following kanji to help you along the way: 各駅停車 - "kakueki teisha" - Train that stops at every station 普通 - "futsuu" - Ordinary / Train that stops at every station 準急 - "junkyuu" - Local Express 急行 - "kyuukou" - Express Train that stops at major stations 特急- "tokkyuu" - Limited Express (Faster than Express) Prices vary from line to line and operator to operator, but the general idea is around 20 yen per km for shorter journeys, and 10 yen per km for longer journeys. Reading Train Maps

travel by train japan

As you can see in the map, train lines are color-coded (the same for all stations). Major stations will be indicated along the lines which run through them, though the map isn’t necessarily to scale so best not to use it as a parameter for guessing the duration of the trip. Map apps are superb at this, and the most trains will have the time left until each station indicated clearly on the screen. For maps that show a specific route, there will also be a key at the side which states whether a train is local, an express or an airport express. The station names that a colored line runs through, are the ones at which it stops.

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Navigating stations in Japan gets easier with time, of that there is no doubt. In saying that, some of the bigger stations—JR Shinjuku immediately springs to mind—really are vast underground networks of tunnels, walkways, multicolored and multilingual signs, and throngs of tourists and commuters dashing about in a chaotic frenzy. For these larger stations, proceed with a little extra caution. Train Station Signs The signs in most stations are color-coded for specific train lines, which is super helpful in locating the train or platform that you are looking for. Train stations are also kitted out with maps showing the relevant train lines and arrows indicating how many meters you are from your target. If you need to orient yourself, many exits are denoted by the compass direction upon which they are located: West Exit, North Exit, South Exit, East Exit. Once you have found the appropriate platform there will be a map of sorts (often located on structural support pillars) showing the direction in which the train is going and all the respective stations at which it will stop. Tips on meeting people at busy stations First up, make sure you pick a specific exit. The bigger stations have multiple exits, and with the crowds of commuters swarming them every day, locating people is a none too easy task—even when you know your way around. Following that, find a specific landmark near the exit; often these are indicated on maps around the station. Meeting inside the busiest stations can be a recipe for disaster, so picking somewhere close by instead, can save you a lot of bother.

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Q: Do trains really not run 24 hours a day? How to find first train & last train time? A: Unfortunately trains usually end around midnight and start up again around 5 am, Monday through Sunday. This is the case nationwide. You can find first and last train time on most map applications on your smartphone. Q: What are the main benefits of having a Japan Rail Pass? A: It grants you access to the majority of trains in Japan, for one blanket payment and covers 7, 14 or 21 days, which is typically enough for most travellers. Q: Suica vs. Pasmo - what's the difference? Which should I get? A: The only difference is the company who sells them; Suica sold by JR East, Pasmo sold by non-JR operators in Tokyo. Q: Can I just buy paper tickets for each train that I want to use? Yes you can. However, paper tickets need to be purchased before each journey, whereas you only need one IC card for the entire trip. They are often more expensive than paying for the journey via IC card. Q: Do all train stations have English translations on the signage? A: The vast majority right across the nation do. If you are in any of the big cities, lines, platforms and stations are all clearly shown in English. Sometimes there are Korean and Chinese translations too. Q: Should I use a Japan Rail Pass in Tokyo or activate it after? If you are staying in Tokyo for a few days before travelling around Japan, using an IC card in the capital and then activating your Japan Rail Pass for the rest of your stay, may work out cheaper. Q: If traveling by train, approximately how much time should I give myself to get from Shinjuku , Shibuya , Roppongi , Ginza or Asakusa stations to Tokyo's main airports? A: Shinjuku to Haneda – 50 minutes, Shinjuku to Narita : 75 minutes A: Shibuya to Haneda – 35 minutes, Shibuya to Narita – 75 minutes A: Roppongi to Haneda – 40 minutes, Roppongi to Narita – 90 minutes A: Ginza to Haneda – 35 minutes, Ginza to Narita – 65 minutes A: Asakusa to Haneda – 50 minutes, Asakusa to Narita – 60 minutes Q: Are the trains in Tokyo really outrageously busy? A: Unfortunately, yes indeed they are (see picture above). If you avoid traveling on major train lines in the city from during the 7-9:30am rush hour or late in the evening, you may be able to circumvent this. Q: Are trains in Tokyo outrageously expensive? A: Not particularly, but if you want to save money, here are a few tips: use an IC card to save paying for paper tickets; day passes are also excellent savers; walking between closer stations when the weather is on your side may also save you a couple hundred yen here and there.

Written by:

David McElhinney

David McElhinney

David is a Northern Irish freelance writer living in Tokyo. He loves living in Japan, reading about Japan, writing about Japan and eating Japanese food. He also spends a lot of time exercising, playing rugby and risking a litany of muscle-related injuries in yoga class.

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PAID CONTENT FOR West Japan Railway Company

How to explore Japan by train

Train travel is one of the best ways to experience the varied landscapes and communities of Japan, whether you're drawn to the bright lights of Tokyo and Kyoto, or the quiet charm of lesser-explored towns like Kinosaki (pictured).

While many visitors to Japan beeline to the history and hubbub of Kyoto and Tokyo, surprisingly fewer travellers make their way to the region of Kansai: a hinterland of bubbling hot springs, snow-capped hills and stirring coastlines. It’s a region that’s readily accessible by train — criss-crossed by an intricate and efficient matrix of railways — yet it enjoys a remote feel, far from the country’s tourism hotspots. There’s no better way to discover the region than by hopping on a train to watch this beautiful corner of Japan unfurl.

For the first timer, Japan’s railway system can seem complex, so getting to grips with the different kinds of trains is a good starting point. King of them all is the Shinkansen — colloquially known as the ‘bullet train’ — with sleek services travelling dedicated high-speed lines at 200 miles per hour. Different lines have different names. Between the megacities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka it’s the original route, the Tokaido Shinkansen . West of Osaka, you’re travelling on the Sanyo Shinkansen , which runs more or less in a straight line along the southern coast of Chugoku region, dropping by spirited cities like Okayama and Hiroshima. The flagship service is the Nozomi — the fastest train in the west, which runs from Tokyo on the Tokaido line and then continues onto the Sanyo Shinkansen towards the island of Kyushu.

Riding the Shinkansen is an essential experience when travelling in Japan — it’s both an efficient method of transport and a cultural symbol of the country’s post-war renaissance. You’ll choose between standard seating and ‘green’ cars (essentially first class) and while there’s no dining car on board, you’re often able to buy delicious bento boxes from a roving trolley. Once onboard, you will be welcomed by smartly attired conductors, spotless stations (where you’ll hear a symphony of jingles) and on-board chairs that all face the direction of travel.

Aside from Shinkansen, you’ll come across many other types of Japanese trains — in descending order of speed there are tokkyu (often referred to as ‘limited express’ as they make fewer stops), kaisoku (rapid trains) and futsuu (slow, local trains). Indeed, there’s almost no corner of the country that isn’t served by rail. It’s easy to purchase specific tickets in advance online, or directly from stations shortly before travel. However, anyone planning to travel extensively in Japan should invest in a JR rail pass . With a number of different types on offer, these passes can make train travel easier and more affordable than buying individual tickets.

The resort town of Kinosaki is easily accessed by rail and has seven public onsen (hot ...

The resort town of Kinosaki is easily accessed by rail and has seven public onsen (hot spring baths) for travellers to enjoy.

Two train itineraries

Osaka to Kinosaki and Amanohashidate Start your rail odyssey in Osaka — the salt-of-the-earth city that’s both an economic powerhouse and a titan of Japanese gastronomy. Be sure to sample okonomiyaki — the city’s signature savoury pancakes — before storming the battlements of the historic castle and exploring the neon-lit thoroughfares of the Dotombori district. Then, travel by rail from one coast of Kansai to another, arriving in the town of Kinosaki. The archetypal Japanese spa town, this resort has seven public onsen (hot spring baths) dotted amid its willow-shaded streets. The standout pick is Gosho no Yu , where tranquil thermal pools are housed in a striking timber structure. Spend a few hours soaking before heading out to one of the town's many cosy restaurants to feast on local crab plucked from the Sea of Japan in winter. End your rail journey in Kansai at Amanohashidate: the so-called ‘bridge to heaven’ — not actually a bridge, but a long, pine-forested spit, protruding out into the Sea of Japan. It’s been a point of pilgrimage for domestic tourists ever since a 17 th -century scholar proclaimed it one of the ‘three scenic views of Japan’ and when the sun sets in the western seas, it can indeed be heavenly. Alternatively, you can take in the views from an Amanohashidate sightseeing boat  as you cross Miyazu Bay.

travel by train japan

Overlooking Miyazu Bay in the northern Kyoto Prefecture, Amanohashidate is one of Japan's most famous viewpoints. 

Kinosaki and Amanohashidate to Kyoto This route starts amid the charming streets of Kinosaki, continuing on to the sublime promontory of Amanohashidate. Here, instead of veering due south to Osaka, make connections westward through pastoral landscapes to Kyoto — stopping a little way short of the ancient Japanese capital, at Saga-Arashiyama station. At this point, you can change from the regular JR West train to the Sagano Romantic Train , a tourist service with antique rolling stock that meanders through the Hozukyo ravine at roughly the speed of a bicycle. Expect cherry blossoms in spring and the fiery reds of maples in autumn as you chug through the forests to arrive at the edge of Kyoto, Japan’s most historic and hallowed city. Most visitors spend their days here perusing the temples and idling in teahouses, but real rail aficionados should make tracks to the Kyoto Railway Museum , where exhibits include everything from the vintage steam engines of the Meiji era to the pioneering Shinkansen trains of the 1960s.

A journey on the Sagano Romantic Train is one of the highlights of a Japan rail ...

A journey on the Sagano Romantic Train is one of the highlights of a Japan rail odyssey. 

Plan your trip

British Airways, Japan Airlines and All Nippon all offer flights from London Heathrow to Tokyo Haneda Airport. From here, catch the Tokaido Shinkansen westbound from Tokyo station — it takes roughly two hours 20 minutes to Kyoto and two-and-a-half hours to Osaka on the flagship Nozomi service. JR West’s Kansai WIDE  Area Pass covers the entire Kansai region — including the places noted in the itineraries above (five days from £65). In addition, the Kinosaki Must Visit Pass offers access to the area's key attractions and museums, from the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway to the Museum of Art (pass around £15).

For more information, visit westjr.co.jp

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Guide to Japanese Train Tickets

Below is a list of the various railway tickets available in Japan:

Regular tickets simply get you from A to B. Our page about regular train tickets provides an introduction to the various fares and fees, such as the base fare and limited express fee, and the rules for using tickets. Read more...

IC cards are prepaid rechargeable stored value cards that can be used to pay the fare for trains and buses. There are ten major IC cards, including Suica and Icoca, that are interchangeably usable in most major cities in Japan. Furthermore, there are several minor IC cards whose usability is limited to local areas. IC cards can also be used for making purchases at many shops and restaurants across Japan. Read more...

Rail passes entitle their holders to unlimited usage of trains in a designated area. There is a variety of nationwide and regional rail passes available in Japan. The most famous of them all is the nationwide Japan Rail Pass , but other rail passes can be more suitable, depending on your itinerary. View a list of rail passes...

Passes for unlimited city travel on subways, trams, trains and buses on one day and similar tickets are offered in many cities across Japan . Take a look at the "Passes and Tickets" section at the bottom of the following city pages:

Tour packages combine transportation and accommodation at big discounts to individual or group travelers. They are offered by travel agencies inside and outside of Japan, including the railway companies themselves.

Discount ticket shops purchase large amounts of discounted tickets and re-sell them to individual shoppers at prices which are typically around five percent below the cost of regular tickets. Discount ticket shops can be found around major railway stations.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

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Shinkansen: The Japanese bullet trains

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest way to discover Japan. Discover more about the high-speed trains and the 9 rail lines they cover.

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan . The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This allows you to get to wherever you need in little time.

The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.

The other six lines either take you north or inland from Tokyo. These are the Akita, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tokoku, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines. The Hokkaido line takes you the furthest north, all the way to Hokkaido island.

Using the Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited access to all Shinkansen high-speed trains . A supplement is required for travel on the Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines.

The Hikari, Kodama, and Sakura bullet trains are the fastest trains you can board using the Japan Rail Pass without a supplement. They make just a few more stops than the Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Types of bullet trains

On each of the Shinkansen lines there are fast trains, semi-fast trains, and local trains:

  • The fast trains only stop at the main stations
  • Semi-fast trains make a few more stops
  • Local trains stop at every station

For instance, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line (which links Tokyo to Osaka) the fast train makes 6 stops, the semi-fast train makes between 7 and 12 stops, and local trains stop at all 17. See the “Shinkansen lines” section below for more information.

All Shinkansen trains are covered by the JR Pass. The Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (Tokaido and Sanyo lines) are also included, subject to purchase of a special complementary ticket. JR Pass holders wishing to travel free on these lines can board local and semi-fast trains. Semi-fast trains are slightly slower than Nozomi and Mizuho trains.

Shinkansen lines

The Shinkansen railway network includes several lines that cover most of Japan and connect all the main cities .

Thanks to this great railway system you can travel quickly and comfortably throughout the country without too much of a second thought.

The companies that make up the JR Group operate a total of 9 lines: 7 Shinkansen lines, and 2 mini-Shinkansen lines. Each line offers different train services.

The Tokaido Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka passing by Nagoya and its extension, the Sanyo Shinkansen , which connects Osaka with Fukuoka.

From here, you can take the Kyushu Shinkansen that covers the entire Kyushu island, from North to South.

Tokyo is connected to Kanazawa by the Hokuriku Shinkansen , a train covering Nagano, and to Niigata by the Joetsu Shinkansen .

The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo with Aomori and branches out into two mini-Shinkansen: the Akita Shinkansen and the Yamagata Shinkansen .

From Aomori you can cross the sea that separates the main island from Hokkaido, thanks to the Hokkaido Shinkansen.

Tokaido Shinkansen

Sanyo shinkansen, tohoku shinkansen, akita shinkansen, yamagata shinkansen, joetsu shinkansen, kyushu shinkansen, hokkaido shinkansen, hokuriku shinkansen.

The Tokaido Shinkansen line is Japan’s busiest and most popular Shinkansen line . It connects the three biggest metropolitan areas of the country: Tokyo to Yokohama, Osaka to Kyoto, and Nagoya .

It is also famous for being Japan’s first high-speed railway , opening in 1964 for the Japan Olympic Games.

Three types of train operate on this line: Nozomi, Hikari and Kodama.

Line map and route

Train services.

The Hikari train connects Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in exactly 173 minutes. The maximum operating speed is 285 km/h (178 mph), which makes it the second-fastest train on the Tokaido line. Hikari also runs on the Sanyo Shinkansen line with an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph).

Kodama is the slowest of the three trains which operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. This is due to the larger number of stops in comparison to the other two bullet trains on this line. The Kodama train stops at every station and takes almost four hours to reach Shin-Osaka. It runs at a speed of 285 km/h (178 mph).

The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects the city of Osaka with Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. Completed in 1975, it is the second oldest Japanese Shinkansen line. There are 5 train services that run on this line: Nozomi, Hikari, Kodama, Mizuho, and Sakura. The fastest train is Nozomi which reaches an operating speed of 300 km/h (185 mph). It is covered by the JR Pass, provided you buy a special complementary ticket.

Hikari is the fastest train service on the Sanyo and Tokaido Shinkansen lines which is fully covered by the JR Pass. The majority of Hikari trains are formed of 16 cars though some have 8. There are three Green Class cars on the 16-coach Hikari train. The operating speed of the Hikari train is 300 km/h (185 mph). It takes a little over an hour to reach Okayama from Shin-Osaka.

This is the slowest train service on the Sanyo line, as it stops at all train stations until it reaches its final destination. Because of this, Kodama trains take almost five hours to arrive at Hakata station from Osaka. The trains have 8 cars but no Green Class cars. There are both reserved and non-reserved seating areas on the Kodama train service. The operating speed of the Kodama train is 285 km/h (185 mph).

This is one of the fastest train services operating on the Sanyo Shinkansen line. Its operating speed is 300 km/h (185 mph), similar to the other trains on the same line, but the Sakura trains make fewer stops. It operates with 8-car trains with both reserved and non-reserved sections. There are also some Green Class seats on one of the cars.

The Tohoku Shinkansen line connects Tokyo with Aomori . There are two branch lines - the Akita and Yamagata lines which go to the Akita and Yamagata prefectures. There are six different train services, which run on the Tohoku line: Hayabusa, Komachi, Hayate, Yamabiko, Nasuno, Tsubasa.

Hayabusa is the fastest train in Japan , reaching a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). There is a direct train connecting Tokyo to Shin-Aomori in just 189 minutes.

Yamabiko is a high-speed Shinkansen. It operates at a speed of 240 km/h (150 mph) and connects Tokyo with Morioka. There is a direct train service that will take you to Morioka in exactly 198 minutes.

The Hayate trains connect Tokyo with Morioka. Unlike Yamabiko trains, they do not stop between Sendai and Omiya . The Hayate train’s operating speed is 275 km/h (170 mph) and it takes approximately two hours to get from Tokyo to Morioka.

The Nasuno serves all the stations between Tokyo and Koriyama. It is the slowest type of train on the Tohoku Shinkansen line and it is designed for commuters who travel from the Fukushima and Tochigi Prefectures.

The Akita Shinkansen is the branch of the Tohoku Shinkansen line which connects Tokyo with Akita . The Komachi Shinkansen is the only type of train which runs on the line. It is an E6 series, also known as the Super Komachi.

All seats on the Komachi train services requires seat reservation . There is a direct train service from Tokyo to Akita which takes exactly 237 minutes. The Komachi train can run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) on the Tohoku line. The Komachi train services are operated by E6 series trains with 7 coaches.

Between Tokyo and Morioka, the Komachi trains are coupled with Hayabusas Shinkansens to form 17-car trains. The Komachi trains detach from the Hayubasas at Morioka and run to Akita.

Yamagata Shinkansen is a Tohoku Shinkansen branch line. Tsubasa is the only type of train that runs on the Yamagata line between Tokyo and Shinjo . Tsubasa services are operated by 7-car E3 series trains.

All cars on the Yamagata Shinkansen line are non-smoking. There is a direct train service from Tokyo to Yamagata which takes 165 minutes. The maximum operating speed of the Tsubasa train is 275 km/h (170 mph).

The Joetsu Shinkansen line dates back to 1982 and connects travelers between Tokyo and the hot springs and leisure resorts of Niigata and the surrounding area. Toki and Tanigawa are the two train services that operate on the line.

The Toki trains include a range of models including double-decker trains called Max Toki. The operating speed of the train is 240 km/h (150 mph). The Toki Shinkansen takes you from Tokyo to Niigata in just over an hour and a half .

This is the slower of the two types of trains which operate on this line (Toki and Tanigawa). This is because Tanigawa Shinkansen stops at all train stations between Tokyo and Echigo-Yuzawa.

During the winter season, the train runs to Gala-Yuzawa, getting travelers to the nearby ski resort .

The Tanigawa Shinkansen takes you from Tokyo to Echigo-Yuzawa in a little over an hour. The operating speed of the train is 240 km/h (150 mph).

There are three types of trains which operate on the Kyushu Shinkansen line connecting Fukuoka with Kagoshima-Chuo : Tsubame, Sakura, and Mizuho. The Tsubame and Sakura trains are fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Mizuho trains are covered by the pass if you pay a supplementary fee.

Tsubame is the slowest of the trains operating on the Kyushu Shinkansen line as it stops at all stations until it reaches its final destination. It is also has the fewest cars and there are no Green Class ones. The operating speed of Tsubame trains is 260 km/h (160 mph). A trip from Kagoshima-Chuo to Hakata with the Tsubame train will take you a little over an hour and forty minutes.

The Sakura train is the second-fastest train on the Kyushu line, serving fewer train stations than Tsubame Shinkansen trains. There are two different types of Sakura trains: 8-car and 6-car trains . The larger one offers both Standard and Green Class cars, while the smaller one only has Standard cars. The operating speed is 300 km/h (185 mph). It takes approximately an hour and a half to reach Hakata from Kagoshima-Chuo Station.

The Hokkaido Shinkansen line connects Aomori (on the main island - Honshu) with Hakodate (on Hokkaido island) via the Seikan Tunnel. Two types of train run on the line: Hayabusa and Hayate. The line will be extended to Sapporo by 2030.

The majority of the trains which run on the Hokkaido line are Hayabusa Shinkansen trains. They operate between Tokyo and Hakodate with a top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph). The journey from Tokyo to Hakodate takes approximately 280 minutes . The Hayabusas go all the way to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, a station located between Hakodate and Hokuto. From there, you can take the local Hakodate Liner to get to Hakodate in 19 minutes.

A few of the trains on the Hokkaido Shinkansen line are Hayate. They usually operate between Hakodate and Shin-Aomori (and Morioka) during the morning and late evening .

The Hokuriku Shinkansen line was originally opened in 1997 for the Nagano Olympic Games. The line now stretches from Tokyo to Kanazawa after it was extended in 2015. Before this development, it was commonly known as Nagano Shinkansen . There are four types of trains that operate the Hokuriku line: Kagayaki, Asama, Hakutaka, and Tsurugi.

The Kagayaki train is the fastest on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line. It only stops twice between Tokyo and Kanazawa. The overall journey takes less than two and a half hours from Tokyo to the final destination - Kanazawa. The train operates at 260 km/h (160 mph) and has 12 cars (10 Standard cars, a Green Class car, and a Gran Class car).

The name Asama comes from the name of an active volcano on Mount Asama, located near Karuizawa. Two train types operate on this line: 8-coach and 12-coach trains. Both are have reserved and non-reserved seating spaces, Green Class cars, and wheelchair spaces.

The Hakutaka and Kagayaki trains are the only two on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line that runs from Tokyo all the way to Kanazawa . Hakutaka is the slower of the two trains as it makes more stops. The operating speed of Hakutaka trains is 260 km/h (160 mph). A trip from Tokyo to Kanazawa takes under three hours.

The Tsurugi train serves as the main connection for locals between Toyama and Kanazawa. The service was first introduced in 1961 and includes a sleeping car . The trains are formed of 12 cars including a Green Class car.

Shinkansen tickets

If you don’t have a JR Pass you can buy bullet train tickets individually. The ticket prices depend on the distance of the journey, whether you reserve a seat, and which class of ticket you choose. You can buy Shinkansen tickets at train stations or online (through the websites of individual JR operators).

The price of a basic Shinkansen ticket is made up of base fare and limited express fee (Shinkansen supplement). Additionally, it is possible to add a seat reservation fee and Green car fee, if required.

Extras on board

There is now free WiFi on most Shinkansen trains running on all lines. Learn more about WiFi on the Japanese bullet trains .

Passengers are allowed to take their bicycle with them on board for no additional fee . However, its front wheel needs to be removed (unless it is a foldable bike) and it needs to be stored in a bike bag.

Small pets such as cats, dogs, and birds are allowed on board as long as they weigh less than 10 kg, are shorter than 90 cm in length, and are safely put into a container.

Travellers are allowed luggage on board for no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage .

All luggage items must fall within the size and weight ranges permitted :

  • Maximum weight of 30 kg
  • Maximum size of 250 cm

There is a delivery service option.

Travellers with oversized bags (length, height, and depth dimensions over 160 cm and up to a maximum of 250 cm) will be required to make a seat reservation in the last row of seats on the train, in front of the oversized luggage area.

The Tōkaidō (Tokyo to Osaka), San’yō (Osaka to Fukuoka), and Kyūshū (Fukuoka to Kagoshima) Shinkansen no longer have separate baggage compartments , meaning that the oversized luggage area is the only space for large items.

It will not be possible to bring oversized luggage into non-reserved cars on the specified lines. Passengers who have not made a seat reservation will be required to move their luggage to the designated area and pay a ¥1,000 surcharge not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

Certain items can be brought onto the Shinkansen regardless of size and do not require a reservation unless you plan to put them in the oversize baggage area:

  • Baby strollers
  • Musical instruments
  • Sports equipment

Ease of Access

The bullet trains are very easy to access for passengers in wheelchairs and parents with strollers and the stations are well-equipped with elevators and escalators.

You can book special seating free of charge if you are in a wheelchair. The only requirement is that you make this request two days in advance at the train station where you will board. Strollers are also allowed on board free of charge. The only requirement is for them to be folded and safely placed in the designated places.

Can I make seat reservations on Shinkansen bullet trains?

Japan Rail Pass holders are entitled to book a seat on all Japan Railways trains free of charge. All seats should be booked before boarding the train. The JR Group does not allow passengers to change to a reserved seat once you have boarded the train.

What is included in the Japan Rail Pass?

The Japan Rail Pass is valid on the JR Express Trains, all Rapid and Local trains along the JR lines, JR local buses, the JR Miyajima ferry, as well as airport transfers like the Narita express and the Haruka express. Shinkansen high-speed trains are also covered.

I left something on the train. What should I do?

The Japan Railways lost property service is excellent. If you have lost something on a JR train, there is a good chance that you’ll recover your belongings. When a member of staff finds something on a Japan Rail train, they hand it to one of the lost and found counters, where it is kept for around one week. After this, the lost property is transferred to the regional Police Lost and Found Center.

Are Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen covered by the JR Pass?

Shinkansen Nozomi and Mizuho high-speed trains (reserved and non-reserved seats) will be included in the JR Pass from October 2023. To travel on these trains, a special ticket must be purchased in addition to the JR Pass. However, there are alternatives to the Nozomi and Mizuho services which you can access at no extra charge.

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  • How to Travel By Train In Japan?

How to Travel By Train In Japan?

It may not surprise you to know that travelling around Japan can seriously eat into your budget. That said, there are a huge number of options to choose from when it comes to getting around this beautiful country, and one of the best ways to do so is to travel by train.

However, many travelers to Japan are understandably wary about this as they are worried not only about the prohibitive cost, but also the logistics of getting around using an unfamiliar railway system.

Here we cover some of the basics of how to travel by train in Japan...

  • What Kinds of Trains are there?

How to Travel By Train In Japan?

Japanese rail services are known for being some of the best in the world and are very efficient, clean and comfortable. To add to this, there are train services that run all over Japan, so wherever you want to go, there is a good chance that there will be a train that can take you there.

There are different kinds of trains in Japan, but the most common is the national railway of Japan which is called Japan Railways and is usually depicted as JR on tickets.

Once you decide to go by train you need to choose which kind you want to take, and here again you will be spoiled for choice. If you are not in any hurry then you can take a slow train called an ordinary car ("Futsu", 普通) or local train ("Kakueki teisha", 各駅停車) which will allow you a scenic and leisurely way of seeing the country.

If you want to go a little faster and stop at fewer stops along the way, then you can consider taking the Express Train which is known in Japanese as "Kyuko" (急行).

A little faster than this is the Rapid service which is known as the "Kaisoku" (快速) or you can opt for the fastest trains which are the Limited Express Trains called "Tokkyu" (特急).

If you want to go really fast, then you can go on the famous "Shinkansen" (新幹線) or bullet trains which have a separate railway line to regular JR trains and that use high speed tracks to travel at higher speeds.

  • What Different Classes Can you Choose from?

How to Travel By Train In Japan?

When it comes to Japanese trains you will usually get a choice of regular and what are known as Green Car carriages which are like business or first class carriages on western trains. If you choose a Green Car carriage then you can expect to have more space in your seat as well as being less crowded making them often quieter and more relaxing.

One thing to note about the Green Car carriages is that you can select them if you have a Japan Rail Pass, but you will need to reserve a seat in advance.

  • How Much will it Cost?

How to Travel By Train In Japan?

Train travel in Japan is of an excellent standard but it is not particularly cheap. With that in mind, you can expect to pay quite a hefty price for a single journey of a few hours and even more so if you take the Shinkansen bullet train. If you are travelling for more than 600km, you are entitled to a 10% discount on the return journey, although this is not a particularly big sum and there are some easier ways of saving money on train travel.

One thing to also look out for is the fact that prices often go up during peak travel periods (usually April, May, and December) and you can expect to have to pay around 200 yen more on the price of your ticket than at other times.

  • Are there any Discounts or Train Pass?

How to Travel By Train In Japan?

Yes! The best thing to do if you are travelling in Japan and want to go by train is to invest in a Japan Rail Pass that will also allow you to travel on intracity trains like the Metro. This means that you will not have to buy single tickets each time and you can save a lot of money. Unless you are only going on a single trip during your entire time in Japan (including all train lines and metro lines) then you should invest in a Japan Rail Pass.

The pass can be selected for different lengths and you can travel as much as you want during that time. For a seven day pass the price is 29,110 yen, or you can get a 14 day pass for 46,390 yen. There is also a 21 day pass if you are travelling in Japan for longer which is 59,350 yen.

At first glance the prices may seem expensive, but if you were to buy two single tickets from Osaka to Tokyo the price would be around 14,000 yen each way, meaning that it comes to the same price as the 7 day pass.

  • Do I need to Make a Reservation?

You can make a reservation on all train journeys in Japan although there is no real need to do so. The only exception to this rule is around major holidays such as New Year, Obon Festival in August, and Golden Week in April, as these periods see higher numbers of travelers. As such, it is prudent to book, and you can do so from an agent or at a Japan Railways office.

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  • Published on : 20/04/2022
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Check out a few of our favorite apps to use when traveling Japan by rail, including applications for navigation, time schedules, and general quality of life!

Hara Station Entrance

Hara Station Nagoya

Hara Station is a subway station in the east of Nagoya on the Tsurumai Line. Hara is one stop after Hirabari going west; the next stop is Ueda Station.

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Akechi Tetsudo Akechi Railway

The Akechi Tetsudo (Akechi Railway) train makes the journey between Ena and Akechi in Gifu Prefecture, not far from Nagoya.

Kuramaguchi Station, Kyoto.

Kuramaguchi Station

Kuramaguchi Station (鞍馬口 ) is a subway station on the Karasuma Line of the Kyoto subway one stop north of Imadegawa Station.

Tsurumai Line Train

Tsurumai Line Nagoya Subway

The Tsurumai Line of the Nagoya subway runs east-west from Kami Otai Station to Akaike Station with connections to Inuyama from Kami Otai and Toyota from Akaike.

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The JR Yamanote Line

The JR Yamanote line runs in a loop around Tokyo; a full circuit takes about an hour.

Hanzomon Station, Kojimachi

Hanzomon Station Tokyo

Hanzomon Station (半蔵門駅) is in the Kojimachi district of Tokyo’s Chiyoda ward and serves one of Tokyo’s most elegant neighborhoods.

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Nakatsu Station

JR Nakatsu Station in Oita Prefecture, Kyushu is served by the Sonic and Nichirin Limited Express trains which run between Hakata Station and Miyazaki.

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JR Banetsu Line

The JR Banetsu West Line and JR Banetsu East Line connect Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture with Niitsu and Iwaki respectively.

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Matsuyama-shi Station

Matsuyama-shi Station (as known as Matsuyama City Station or shieki) is the other major railway station in Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku along with JR Matsuyama Station.

Meguro Station

Meguro Station Tokyo

Meguro Station in Tokyo is on the circular Yamanote Line, the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, the Tokyu Meguro Line between Meguro and Hiyoshi and the Toei Mita Line from Meguro to Nishi-Takashimadaira

Nagoya Tsurumai Train

The Tsurumai Line (鶴舞線) is one of the six main subway lines of the Nagoya subway system. It runs east to west from Kami Otai (T01) to Akaike (T20).

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Kochi Station

Kochi Station is the main point of access for Kochi city and is also a highway bus terminal and on the Kochi tram network.

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Umisachi Yamasachi Limited Express

The Umisachi Yamasachi Limited Express sightseeing train runs along the scenic Nichinan Coast from Miyazaki Station to Nango.

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JR Kisuki Line

Starting at JR Shinji (San-in Line), on the shore of Lake Shinji the JR Kisuki Line travels 82 kilometers to terminate at Bingo-Ochiai Station Hiroshima.

Fujigaoka Station Entrance

Fujigaoka Station Nagoya

Fujigaoka Station is at the eastern end of the Higashiyama (Yellow) Line of the Nagoya subway.

Kamiiida Station sign

Kamiiida Line & Meitetsu Komaki Line

Kamiiida Line & Meitetsu Komaki Line: the Kamiiida Line & Meitetsu Komaki Line connects Heian-dori Station in Nagoya with Inuyama to the north.

Izumo Station

Izumo-shi Station

JR Izumo Station JR出雲市駅 in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture is built in the style of the nearby Izumo Taisha shrine. Izumo Taisha is the main attraction in town.

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Horyuji Station Nara JR Yamatoji Line

Horyuji Station is on the JR Yamatoji Line and is a 20 minute walk from Horyuji Temple in Nara. The station has coin lockers and is staffed.

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Anpanman Train

The Anpanman Train is a special train running in Shikoku with liveries and interior decorations on the theme of the popular Anpanman children's manga and anime series.

Marutamachi Platform Sign

Marutamachi Station Kyoto

Marutamachi Station is a station on the Karasuma Line of the Kyoto subway one stop north of Karasuma Oike (the interchange station with the Tozai Line).

View of Nagoya

Nagoya Kintetsu Station

Nagoya Kintetsu Station: read a guide to Nagoya Kintetsu Station and Kintetsu train information from Nagoya to Osaka.

Sakaisuji Line Map

Sakaisuji Line

The Sakaisuji Subway Line in Osaka runs from Tenjimbashisuji Rokuchome Station north-south to Tengachaya Station via Kitahama, Ebisucho and Dobutsuen-mae stations.

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Osaka Monorail

Osaka Monorail at 21km was once the longest monorail in the world and runs from Osaka Itami Airport to Kadoma via Banpaku-Kinen-Koen.

Imadegawa Station, Kyoto.

Imadegawa Station Karasuma Line Kyoto Subway

Imadegawa Station is a subway stop on the Karasuma Line of the Kyoto subway one stop north of Marutamachi Station and one stop south of Kuramaguchi Station.

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JR Gifu Station

JR Gifu Station services one of the country's most central Prefectures, allowing access to a number of locations throughout Honshu. 

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Kanayama Station

Kanayama Station Nagoya: read a guide to Kanayama Station in Nagoya including train and subway lines and surrounding attractions.

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Nerima Station

Nerima Station in western Tokyo is a busy commuter station on the Toei Oedo Line, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and the Seibu Toshima Line.

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Okuizumo Orochi Train

The Okuizumo Orochi train offers a relaxed and scenic train ride through remote mountains and valleys in an open car through Shimane and Hiroshima prefectures.

Tsurumai Station environs at night

Tsurumai Station Nagoya

Tsurumai Station Nagoya is a railway station on the Tsurumai subway line and JR Chuo Line from Nagoya Station to Nakatsugawa.

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Asakusabashi Station

Asakusabashi Station: read a guide to Asakusabashi Station on the Toei Asakusa Subway Line and the JR Chuo-Sobu Line.

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Hiroshima Station

Hiroshima Station is the main point of access for train travelers to Hiroshima city with shinkansen connections west to Hakata and east to Osaka and Tokyo.

Shibuya Crossing

Japan Train Travel Tips

Optimize your time in Japan with these travel tips to help you get around!

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The Linimo is an unmanned Maglev (magnetic-levitated) train that runs from Fujigaoka Station on the Higashiyama Line in Nagoya to Yakusa near the site of the 205 Aichi Expo.

Hagi Yamaguchi

Getting Around Hagi

Getting Around Hagi: find information on trains to Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, its railway stations, long distance buses and the Hagi Loop Bus.

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Yamashina Station Kyoto

Yamashina Station in north east Kyoto is made up of three stations: JR Yamashina Station, the Yamashina subway station and Keihan Yamashina Station on the Keishin Line.

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Meijo Line Nagoya Subway

The Meijo Line is a circular, loop line of the Nagoya subway network running from Kanayama through Sakae, Motoyama, yagoto and Aratama-bashi stations.

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Aso Boy Trains

Aso Boy Trains: Since 2011 the Aso Boy limited express train has been running, not surprisingly considering its name, to and from Mount Aso, the massive volcano in the middle of the island.

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Shin-Kobe Station

Shin-Kobe Station in Kobe is a shinkansen station on the Sanyo Line and also connects with the Kobe subway and the Shin-Kobe ropeway.

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Kawasemi-Yamasemi Kingfisher Sightseeing Train

The Kawasemi-Yamasemi, Kingfisher Sightseeing Train entered service in 2017 and runs between Kumamoto and Hitoyoshi in Kyushu.

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Keio Inokashira Line

The busy 12.7km Keio Inokashira Line runs from Shibuya Station to Kichijoji Station in Tokyo.

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Utsunomiya Station

Utsunomiya Station is the main point of access for rail services to Utsunomiya city in Tochigi Prefecture in the northern Kanto.

Kiso Fukushima Station

Kiso Fukushima Station

Kiso Fukushima Station is a JR station serving the pleasant town of Kiso Fukushima in Nagano Prefecture. Kiso Fukushima Station is on the Chuo Main Line.

Sonic Express

Sonic Train

Sonic Train From Hakata to Oita ソニック: JR Kyushu's Sonic is an express train running from Hakata Station in Fukuoka to Oita via Beppu.

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Gifu Meitetsu Station

A guide to Gifu Meitetsu Station in Gifu city, Gifu Prefecture.

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Nijo Station

Nijo Station Kyoto: find information on Kyoto's JR Nijo Station including train and subway services and nearby attractions including Nijo Castle.

Tokyo Tower

Kyoto Station

Kyoto Station: find information on Kyoto Station including rail services from Kyoto Station, the Kyoto subway and trains to Kansai international Airport (KIX).

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Nagasaki Station

Nagasaki Station: read a guide to Nagasaki Station which has connections to Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Sasebo, Huis Ten Bosch and other destinations in Nagasaki Prefecture.

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Fukui Station

Fukui Station: read a guide to Fukui Station with connections to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka and Nagoya,

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Takamatsu Transport

Takamatsu, the prefectural capital of Kagawa Prefecture, is one of the four main cities (Kochi, Matsuyama and Tokushima are the others) on the island of Shikoku.

Kitanohakubaicho Station, Kyoto.

Kitano Hakubaicho Station Kyoto

Kitano Hakubaicho Station is a terminus of the Keifuku Electric Railway out further west to Arashiyama. The station is close to Ritsumeikan University.

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Musashi-Kosugi Station

Musashi-Kosugi Station is a major railway station in Kawasaki on the Yokosuka Line, Nambu Line, Toyoko Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line and the Meguro Line.

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Osaka Subway

Osaka Subway: read a guide to the Osaka Subway including fares, subway lines, passes and station information.

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Hitoyoshi Station

Hitoyoshi Station in Kumamoto is on the Hisatsu Line and is the terminus for several scenic trains: the Kawasemi Yamasemi, Isaburo Shinpei and Hitoyoshi SL.

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Bantan Line

Bantan Line (播但線): the Bantan Line connects Himeji and Wadayama in Hyogo Prefecture. One train on the line called the Sky Castle train depicts Takeda Castle Ruins.

Resort 21 Kurofune

The Resort 21 Kurofune Train

The Resort 21 Kurofune is part of a series of trains that travel the Izu area, between Atami Station and Izukyu Shimoda Station in Shizuoka Prefecture.

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Airport Narita Rapid Train

The Airport Narita (not to be confused with the Narita Express, NE'X) is a rapid train providing access between Narita Airport and south-western greater Tokyo.

Tsukuba Station

Tsukuba Station TX Express Ibaraki

Tsukuba Station is the terminus of the Tsukuba Express (TX) that runs between Akihabara and Tsukuba (Science City) in Ibaraki Prefecture.

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Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line

The Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line of the Osaka subway runs from Taisho Station is the south west to Kadoma-minami Station in the north east of Osaka.

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Tokorozawa Station

Tokorozawa Station in Tokorozawa, Saitama has Seibu Line trains to Ikebukuro and Nishi-Shinjuku stations in Tokyo.

Akita Station

JR Akita Station

JR Akita Station in Akita Prefecture 秋田駅 the main station in the center of the city.

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Haruka Express Train

The JR Haruka Express connects Kyoto Station with Kansai International Airport (KIX) with trains at busy times running through Shiga Prefecture to Maibara Station.

Akihabara

Akihabara Station

Akihabara Station: read a guide to Akihabara Station which connects to the Tsukuba Express, Yamanote Line and Chuo-Sobu Line.

Meitetsu Railways

Nagoya Meitetsu Railways

Meitetsu Railways 名古屋鉄道: Nagoya Railroad company aka Meitetsu Railways is a major railway network in the Chubu region of central Japan.

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Takamatsu Station

Takamatsu Station in Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku is a major railway station with rail connections to Okayama, Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima.

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Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train

Mojiko Retro Kanko Line Shiokaze Train: The Mojiko Retro Tourist Train Line runs just over two kilometers from near Mojiko Station in Mojiko to Mekari Park.

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Yufuin Station

Yufuin Station serves the very popular rural hot spring resort of Yufuin in the mountains of Oita Prefecture in Kyushu.

Keio Line Train

Keio Line & Keio New Line

The Keio Line is a private railway line in Tokyo connecting Shinjuku Station in Shinjuku with the western suburbs of Chofu, Fuchu and Keio-Hachioji.

Kobe Subway train

Kobe Subway

Kobe subway: read a guide to the Kobe subway including subway lines, stations and travel passes.

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Kokura Station

Kokura Station: Kokura Station in Kokura, the second largest station in all of Kyushu, is the main transportation hub for the city of Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, northern Kyushu.

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Nagoya Subway

Nagoya subway guide: read a guide to Nagoya's subway system including information on Nagoya subway lines, fares, pre-paid cards and connecting stations.

Chikusa Station Entrance

Chikusa Station

Chikusa Station in Nagoya is on the Higashiyama Line of the subway and also the JR Chuo Line with Shinano trains to Matsumoto and Nagano.

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Sapporo Subway

Sapporo Subway the Sapporo Subway system has three lines and is a quick and easy way to get around the city.

Panorama Super Express

Meitetsu Station Nagoya

Nagoya Meitetsu Station: read a guide to Nagoya Meitetsu Station as well as Meitetsu train services and Meitetsu buses.

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Limited Express Super Hakuto

The Limited Express Super Hakuto is the fastest train to Tottori from Kyoto and Osaka, and travelers from Tokyo can easily change to it from the shinkansen at Shin-Osaka.

Nakatsugawa Station

Nakatsugawa Station Gifu

Nakatsugawa Station, Gifu is on the JR Chuo Line from Nagoya via Tajimi to Nakatsugawa. The Chuo Line then continues to Shiojiri, Takao, Mitaka and Tokyo.

Hamamatsucho Station, Tokyo

Hamamatsucho Station Tokyo

Hamamatsucho Station Tokyo 浜松町駅 is a busy station on the Yamanote Line and the Keihin-Tohoku Line as well as connecting to the Tokyo Monorail for Haneda.

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Fukuchiyama Line

The Fukuchiyama Line is a JR railway line between Osaka Station and Fukuchiyama in Kyoto Prefecture.

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Yurakucho Station

Yurakucho Station is one stop south of Tokyo Station on the Yamanote Line and also on the Keihin-Tohoku Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line.

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Hibiya Station in Tokyo

Hibiya Station in central Tokyo serves three subway lines: the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Chiyoda Line, and the Toei Mita Line.

Takaracho Station

Takaracho Station

Takaracho Station Tokyo 宝町駅: Takaracho Station is located in the Kyobashi district of Tokyo close to Tokyo International Forum and the National Film Center.

Chiyoda Line, Tokyo Metro Subway

Chiyoda Line Tokyo Subway

The Chiyoda Line is a Tokyo subway line that connects seamlessly at both ends to the Odakyu Line to the west and the Joban Line to the east.

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Joetsu Shinkansen

Joetsu Shinkansen: read a guide to the Joetsu Shinkansen which connects Tokyo Station with Niigata Station in Niigata via Echigo Yuzawa.

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Kita Senju Station

Kita Senju Station is a major railway station in Tokyo on the Hibiya and Chiyoda metro lines, the Tsukuba Express, Joban Line and the Tobu Skytree Line.

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Higashiyama Line

The Higashiyama Line is the busiest of the six subway lines in Nagoya and runs west to east from Takabata to Fujigaoka, where it connects with the Linimo.

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Hakodate Station

Hakodate Station is a major station and point of access in Hakodate in Hokkaido with trains to Sapporo, Otaru and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto.

Sendagi Station

Sendagi Station Tokyo

Sendagi Station Tokyo is a Tokyo metro line station on the Chiyoda Line close to the historic Yanaka district of Tokyo and Yanaka Ginza.

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Yonago Station

Yonago Station: Yonago Station in Tottori Prefecture is a major rail hub with trains on the San-in Line, Hakubi Line and Sakai Line.

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Kawagoe Train Stations

Kawagoe train stations: Kawagoe, in Saitama is served by three train stations: Hon Kawagoe Station, Kawagoe Station and Kawagoe-shi Station.

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Oita Station

Oita Station: read a guide to JR Oita Station which is on three lines: Nippo Line, Kyudai Line and the Hohi Line. The station is also a large shopping and entertainment center.

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Takadanobaba Station

Takadanobaba Station in Tokyo is located in the north of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, about halfway between Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations.

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Karasuma Oike Station Kyoto

Karasuma Oike Station in Kyoto is the intersect station of the Karasuma and Tozai Line of the Kyoto Municipal Subway network.

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Tennoji Station

Tennoji Station: read a guide to Tennoji Station in south Osaka with details on train and bus connections and nearby sights and attractions around Tennoji.

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Jingu-Mae Station Nagoya

Jingu-Mae Station: read a guide to Jingu-Mae Station in Nagoya, a major Meitetsu Line connecting station.

Tōhoku Main Line Akabane Station platform

Akabane Station Tokyo

Akabane Station in Kita Ward in the very north of urban Tokyo is a busy commuter train station entirely operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

Matsue Station

Matsue Station Sanin Line

JR Matsue Station in Matsue in Shimane Prefecture is a main point of access for visitors to the city. JR Matsue Station is on the Sanin Line.

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Tobu Skytree Line

The Tobu Skytree Line runs from Asakusa Station in Tokyo to Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station in Saitama Prefecture.

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Tozai Line Kyoto Subway

The Tozai Line of Kyoto Subway runs east-west from Rokujizo Station to Uzumasa Tenjingawa Station. The Tozai Line intersects with the Karasuma Line at Karasuma Oike Station.

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Kuramae Station

Kuramae Station on the Oedo Line and Kuramae Station on the Asakusa Line are both Toei-operated subway line stations in the Kuramae district.

Nippori-Toneri Liner

The Nippori-Toneri Liner is a short, automated, elevated railway in the north-east of Tokyo, serving the suburban wards of Arakawa and Adachi wards.

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Osaka Station City

Osaka Station City is the new development of the JR Umeda Station that includes department stores, roof gardens and a cinema.

Fukuchiyama Station Kyoto Prefecture

Fukuchiyama Station connects the city by train with both Osaka and Kyoto, Kansai's two biggest cities. Fukuchiyama is on the Sanin Main Line to Shimonoseki.

Tsurumai Station

Tsurumai Station: read a guide to Tsurumai Station in Nagoya with information on train connections and local attractions.

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Mito Station

Mito Station in Mito city, Ibaraki Prefecture has trains on the Joban, Suigun and Oarai Kashima lines. Ueno Station is just over an hour by express.

JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station

JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station

JR Kaihin-Makuhari Station 海浜幕張駅 - Kaihin-Makuhari Station (Kaihimmakuhari Station) in Chiba Prefecture is on the JR Keiyo Line to Tokyo Station.

Mojiko Station

Mojiko Station Kitakyushu

Mojiko Station 門司港駅:, Kitakyushu, on the Kagoshima Main Line, is one of few remaining large scale stations made of wood in Japan.

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Aomori Station

Aomori Station is on the Ou Main Line for Shin-Aomori Station, Hirosaki Station, Akita Station, Yamagata, and Niigata and the Aoimori Railway Line for Hachinohe and Morioka.

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Gomen Nahari Line

The Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen Nahari Line (ごめん・なはり線) in Shikoku runs just over 42 kilometers between Gomen and Nahari stations.

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Aonami Line Nagoya

The Aonami Line in Nagoya runs from Nagoya Station to Kinjo-Futo Station for Port Messe Nagoya convention center and the SCMaglev & Railway Park.

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Seibu Shinjuku Station

Seibu Shinjuku Station in Shinjuku, Tokyo serves only one private railway company, Seibu Railways.

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Shintetsu Arima Line

The Shintetsu Arima Line (Kobe Dentetsu Arima-sen) is a 22.5km-long commuter railway line in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture operated by Kobe Electric Railway. It connects Arima Onsen with central Kobe.

The Meiko Line is a continuation of the Meijo Line of the Nagoya subway system and runs 6km from Kanayama Station to Nagoyako Station in the Nagoya Port district of the city.

JR Hohi Main Line Kumamoto - Beppu

JR Hohi Main Line: The 148 km-long JR Hohi Mainline runs in the Aso caldera region of Kyushu and connects Kumamoto Station with Oita Station.

Kuko Line Fukuoka Subway

The Kuko Line (Airport Line) is one of the three subway lines in Fukuoka. The line operates from Meinohama to Fukuokakuko (Fukuoka Airport) in Hakata Ward.

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Hisatsu Line

Ride the slow train of the Hisatsu Line, a local railway line in Kyushu which wonderful views of the Kirishima Mountains.

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Chuo-Sobu Line

Chuo-Sobu Line: the Chuo-Sobu Line is a main east-west rail link in central Tokyo between Mitaka and Chiba.

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Miyazaki Station

Miyazaki Station is the main station for Miyazaki city, the capital of Miyazaki Prefecture at the southern end of Kyushu.

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Nose Railway Myoken Line

The Nose Railway Myoken Line runs from Kawanishi in Hyogo Prefecture to Nose in Osaka Prefecture.

Namboku Line Sapporo Subway

The Namboku Line of the Sapporo subway in Hokkaido runs north-south through Sapporo Station, Susukino, Odori and Nakajima Park.

Morioka

How to go from Sendai to Morioka?

From Sendai to Morioka, you will find outstanding views of rural Japan to the left and right of the train.

Dotonbori, Osaka

Osaka Loop Line

The Osaka Loop Line in one of the many convenient train lines that runs through the metropolitan Osaka area.

Zao Onsen

How to go from Tokyo to Sendai?

Located just an hour and a half away from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Sendai is known for its tree-lined streets and Tanabata festival. A variety of sightseeing spots are abound on the way, too!

Sendai Subway

Sendai Subway

Sendai subway has two lines: the north-south Namboku Line and the east-west Tozai Line. Sendai Station is the major intersection of the two lines.

Tohoku Emotion train

The Tohoku Emotion

The Tohoku Emotion is a Japanese train, which crosses the northernmost part of the main island of Honshu and makes you taste the specialties of the region.

Koraku-en Garden, Okayama

How to go from Okayama to Matsue?

Japan has always boasted a very rich historical background, and the itinerary from Okayama to Matsue is especially representative of that.

Aso

How to go from Beppu to Aso? 

The journey from Beppu to Aso will take you through Japan's volcanic areas.

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Wakayama Electric Railway

Wakayama Electric Railway (Dentetsu) is a private railway that runs from Wakayama city to Kishi in Kinokawa.

Nara

How to go from Kyoto to Nara ?

Discover how to go from Kyoto to Nara and its famous temples from Kyoto.

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Cute Character Trains In Japan

Character Trains In Japan: see a listing of Japan's many cute character trains with special liveries and interiors such as the Anpanman train, Tama train and Yokai train.

Tsuruoka, Haguromachi Touge

How to go from Akita to Niigata? 

The route from Akita to Niigata offers great views with a Japan Rail Pass : as the train enters Yamagata Prefecture, mountains give way to the coast.

Tosa-Kitagawa

Japan's Most Unique Train Stations

Check out some of Japan's highest and deepest train stations. Order your Japan Rail Pass today!

Osaka

Visit the Best Plum Blossom Spots in Japan by Rail

Our thoughts on the best plum blossom spots in Japan, and how to get there by rail.

Niseko Grand Hirafu

Japan's Best Ski Spots by Rail

Five of the best ski resorts in Japan, plus their great rail pass package deals. Order your Japan Rail Pass online today - 7, 14, & 21-day Passes available.

Nagoya

How to go from Tokyo to Nagoya ?

Discover the Tokaido Line and reach Nagoya with your Japan Rail Pass

Otoineppu

The Best Winter Views by Rail

Explore the incredible beauty of Japan in winter from the window of your Japan train. Order your Japan Rail Pass today.

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How to go from Matsumoto to Nagoya ?

This train line between Matsumoto and Nagoya is covered by the Japan Rail Pass and runs through the Kiso Valley, along the route of the Nakasendo Highway, the old postal route between Edo (Tokyo) a

How to go from Aomori to Akita ? 

How to go from Aomori to Akita? 

If on the first part of the journey the JR trains from Aomori to Akita via Odate run through residential areas, the landscape gradually opens up to reveal beautiful scenery of the Japanese countrys

Takachiho, Miyazaki

How to go from Oita to Miyazaki ?

Running down the east coast of Kyushu the journey between Oita and Miyazaki on the Limited express Nichirin or Nichirin Seagaia is a contrast of mountain and sea.

Nachi, Kumano Kodo, Wakayama

How to go from Shingu to Osaka ?

The Kuroshio  is the most frequent train, connecting Kii peninsula, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and Tennoji.

Biwa, Shiga

How to go from Kanazawa to Kyoto ?

Discover with your Japan Rail Pass the route between Kanazawa and Kyoto, it follows the northern coast of japan, before heading south along Lake Biwa. If you have time, make a stop at Fukui.

Shinkansen au quai d'une gare au Japon

Practical tips on JR PASS

Japan is the country of trains, with probably the densest network in the world, the highest traffic... It has therefore developed a culture of train travel unique in the world.

Kawaguchiko

Direct access to Mont Fuji from Shinjuku 

Starting from March 16, a new train reach Kawaguchiko Station directly from Shinjuku Station : the Limited Express FUJI EXCURSION.

Yokohama

Navigating Yokohama Station

Yokohama Station is about half an hour from Tokyo with a Japan Rail Pass. It provides access to Chinatown, Landmark Tower and Minato Mirai district close to the sea.

Omotesando, Harajuku

Harajuku station along the JR Yamanote Line

Harajuku station (JY19) is a key station in Tokyo served by the Yamanote Line.

Fukuoka

How to go from Fukuoka to Kumamoto ?

Let's discover the journey between Fukuoka and Kumanoto !

The Chuo Main Line in Tajimi, Gifu - serving mainly the localities

The Chuo Main Line is a Japan Rail-operated railway line that goes between Tokyo and Nagoya, and is not to be confused with the Chuo Line (Rapid), which is the special section of the line that serv

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Chuo Line Subway

The Chuo Line in Osaka is a municipal subway running west-east from Cosmosquare at Osaka Port to Nagata Station through Hommachi and north central Osaka.

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Chuo Main Line Nagoya-Nakatsugawa

Chuo Main Line Nagoya-Nakatsugawa: read a guide to the Chuo Main Line and the 20 stations between Nagoya Station and Nakatsugawa Station.

Shinkansen Nozomi à quai

Nozomi Shinkansen Train

The Nozomi is the super-express bullet train service on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line, faster than the Kodama and Hikari services, and is the only shinkansen service not covered by the Japan Rail Pas

Limited Express Kamome

How to go from Fukuoka to Nagasaki?

The route between Fukuoka and Nagasaki is served by the Limited Express Kamome trains. For great views of the Ariake Sea, be sure to reserve a seat on the left-hand side of the train!

Bus in Kyoto

Kyoto Bus & Subway Travel Cards & Passes

The city of Kyoto is a center of traditional culture in Japan that is one of the country's most popular destinations.

Train on the Ōedo Line

Oedo Line Tokyo Subway

The Oedo Line operated by Toei is a large subway loop line around Tokyo that also has a long branch line to its north-west.

The Sanyo Shinkansen Line 

The Sanyo Shinkansen Line 

The Sanyo Shinkansen Line is the Shinkansen Line between Shin-Osaka station and Hakata Station Station (Fukuoka) operated by JR West.

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Okachimachi Station

Okachimachi Station is the main station for the ebullient market, dining and entertainment area of Okachimachi in Tokyo's Taito ward.

Rugby 2019

Rugby World Cup 2019 : access to the stadiums

For each stadium of the RWC 2019, you will find our tips to access to the cities and to the stadium.

Yamanote

How to travel in Tokyo during the Rugby World Cup 2019 ?

How to find your way in Tokyo ? which Pass is needed ? Here is our tips selection to prepare the Rubgy World Cup !

The transport prepayment card, essential for any trip to Japan!

The new Pasmo Passport 

Starting from 1rst of september 2019, a new Pasmo Card is available and dedicated to Japan visitors.

Rugby 2019

Do I need a Japan Rail Pass during the Rugby World Cup 2019 ?

Do I need a Japan Rail Pass during the Rugby World Cup 2019 ? here is our guide.

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Orange Hisatsu Railway

The Orange Hisatsu Railway is a private railway that runs 117 kilometers between Yatsushiro in Kumamoto and Sendai in Kagoshima.

Tokyo Monorail

Hamamatsucho Station 

Hamamatsucho Station is a gateway of Tokyo city if you take the Monorail from Haneda International Airport with a Japan Rail Pass.

Fukuoka

The Mickey Mouse Shinkansen

Since May 2019 and until November 2019, you can ride a Mickey Mouse shinkansen to explore Kyushu with a Japan Rail Pass.

JR Yokosuka

The JR Yokosuka Line

The JR Yokosuka Line connects Tokyo Station to Yokohama, Kamakura, Zushi, Yokosuka and Kurihama and is covered with a Japan Rail Pass.

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Kumamoto Station

Kumamoto Station, in Kumamoto city, Kyushu, is on the Kyushu Shinkansen to Hakata, the Hohi Line and JR Kagoshima Main Line.

Fuji

Train in Japan : What ’s new in march 2019 ?

Limited Express and S hinkansen

La Malle de Bois

Access to Naoshima with a Japan Rail Pass 

You can reach Naoshima by boat from Takamatsu (Shikoku) or Uno Port (Honshu). Let's study the route from Okayama with a Japan Rail Pass.

Kojimachi Exit, Yotsuya Station, looking towards the Atre building

Yotsuya Station

Yotsuya Station on the border between Shinjuku and Chiyoda wards is a large, conveniently located train station containing a lot of facilities, about 20 minutes walk west of the Imperial Palace, To

Akasaka-Mitsuke Exit 10 on the Sotobori-dōri Avenue side

Akasaka-Mitsuke Station

Akasaka-Mitsuke Station is a subway station in Minato ward, Tokyo, serving a lively entertainment, shopping and hotel district.

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Tarumizu to Kamoike Ferry

The Tarumizu to Kamoike Ferry crosses Kogoshima Bay from Tarumizu on the east to Kamoike on the west. There are frequent sailings that take 50 minutes.

Kyotrain

The Kyotrain between Osaka and Kyoto

Starting from march 2019, the Hankyu Railways added a new beautiful train to link Osaka and Kyoto : the Kyotrain Garaku.

Shiretoko National Park, Hokkaido

How to go from Abashiri to Kushiro ?

The journey along the Senmo Line from Abashiri to Kushiro in Hokkaido offers some stunning scenery !

Tottori Station Entrance

Tottori Station

Tottori Station is the main station serving Tottori city, the capital of Tottori Prefecture - the least-populated prefecture in Japan.

Projected image of station signboard for Takanawa Gateway Station. Courtesy of @seibu271_rs on Twitter

Takanawa Gateway Station - Tokyo

One of the newest additions to Tokyo's public transportation, Takanawa Gateway is representative of a progressive Tokyo that looks to be sustainable and community centered. 

Asakusa Line Trains, Tokyo

Asakusa Line Tokyo Subway

The Asakusa Line is a Tokyo subway line that connects seamlessly at both ends to other lines, linking both Narita and Haneda airports.

Shinkansen

Train in Japan : on line reservation Overview

Train in Japan : on line reservation Overview with a Japan Rail Pass

Reservation Shinkansen

Online reservation : JR East Area

JR East is the only company who offers advance on line seat reservation.

Hello Kitty Haruka

Character Trains and Japan Rail Pass

In Japan, many destinations can be reached by lovely and useful trains, Character trains. Most of them are covered with the Japan Rail Pass.

Yufuin, Oita

Yufuin no Mori

Yufuin no Mori from Fukuoka to Yufuin and Beppu

Ryogoku Station, Tokyo

Ryogoku Station

Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Line serves the Ryogoku (sumo) district on the east bank of the Sumida River, in Tokyo's Sumida ward.

Sapporo

Discover Sapporo Station

Sapporo Station is the main station of Hokkaido Island. It is also home to many shops and to the JR Tower, the tallest building in Sapporo.

Furano

The Lavender Farm station

The area near Furano and Biei is famous for its beautiful flowers blooming in July and August. Here is our guide to reach the Lavender Farm Station.

Shinkansen 500

The Shinkansen 500

On June, 30, JR West introduced a Shinkansen 500 refurbished with the famous character Hello Kitty. Let’s study the story of this Shinkansen model introduced in 1997.

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Kurofune Black Ship Train

The Kurofune or Black Ship Train is a Commodore Perry-themed train that operates between Atami and Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula. The trains offer spectacular ocean views.

Kids

Japan : Take the train with your children

Traveling with children in Japan is quite easy. Here are our tips for taking the train and purchase the right Japan Rail Pass.

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Sunrise Izumo Night Train

The Sunrise Izumo from Tokyo to Izumo or Takamatsu is one of Japan's last remaining sleeper trains. Every night at 10 pm the Sunrise Izumo leaves Tokyo with the train dividing at Okayama.

Shinkansen

Free wifi on bullets train 

Free wifi on Shinkansen with a Japan Rail Pass

Hello Kitty Shinkansen

The Hello Kitty Shinkansen

In march 2018, JR West introduced a special shinkansen in the summer : the Hello Kitty shinkansen !

Susukino district in Sapporo city, Hokkaido, Japan.

How to go from Sapporo to Asahikawa with a Japan Rail Pass ? 

Trains from Sapporo to Asahikawa are quite frequent. Let's go north !

AirDo

Accessing New Chitose Airport

Let's see how to access to New Chitose Airport.

Kyoto

Seven days itineraries

If you are planning to travel seven days in japan, the seven itineraries below can be useful. Have a look !

Himi

The Himi Line

The Himi line is a 16,5 km line between Takaoka station and Himi station in Toyama prefecture. The train is decorated with the manga Ninja Hattori-kun.

Shimanami Kaido

How to go from Matsuyama to Okayama ?

The Shiokaze Limited Express runs direct from Matsuyama to Okayama and is covered with the Japan Rail Pass.

How to go from Kushiro to Sapporo ?

How to go from Kushiro to Sapporo?

The route between Kushiro and Sapporo is covered by the beautiful blue, green and red Super Ozora Limited Express Train.

Odakyu

The Graceful Super Express Romance Car

The Odakyu Electric Railway, a private company in Japan, revealed at the end of 2017 its new limited express train : The Graceful Super Express Romance Car

Ryogoku Kokugikan

The Chuo Sobu Line in Tokyo

From Ryogoku Station to Nakano Station, you will ride a section of the Chuo Sobu Line running from Chiba to Mitaka.

Keihan Line Train Carriage Elegant Saloon 8000 Series Double Decker

Keihan Main Line

Keihan Railways operates train services in the Kansai area of west central Japan, namely Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga prefectures.

Shibuya Starbuck

Discover Shibuya Station

Shibuya is a vibrant shopping area with many department stores. Let's discover the gateway of this area, Shibuya Station.

SL_Hitoyoshi

The SL Hitoyoshi train

Starting from Kumamoto, the SL Hitoyoshi Steam train ride along the Kuma River and reach Hitoyoshi in 2 hours and 24 minutes

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Yoro Railway (Yoro Tetsudo), is a small subsidiary of Kintetsu Railways that operates a single line, just under 60km in length, that connects Kuwana in Mie Prefecture with Ibi in Gifu Prefecture.

Lockers in Station in Japan

Lockers in Station in Japan

There are several situations in which you may need to use lockers during your journey in Japan : before check-in or after checkout, during a one-day stop. Here are our tips.

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Kawaramachi Station Takamatsu

Kawaramachi Station in Takamatsu city, Shikoku, is a major hub for Kotoden trains and buses. Kawaramachi Station in Takamatsu incorporates Flag department store.

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Matsuyama Station

JR Matsuyama Station is the main point of access by train to Matsuyama city in the western part of Shikoku. There are trains to Matsuyama from Okayama Station and Takamatsu Station.

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Shin-Aomori Station

Shin-Aomori Station is the northern terminus station for the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo and the starting point for the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hakodate.

Sendai Station, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture

Sendai Station

JR Sendai Station is Akita and Tohoku shinkansen lines, the Sendai subway, the Tohoku Main Line, the Senseki Line and the Joban Line.

Takamatsu

How to go from Okayama to Takamatsu ? 

If you are coming to Shikoku from Honshu, your first stop will probably be Takamatsu, the capital of Kagawa prefecture.Take the Marine Liner rapid train along the Seto-Ohashi Line in Okayama.

Kinosaki Onsen

How to go from Kinosaki Onsen to Kyoto?

Kinosaki Onsen is a pleasant town, built along a willow-lined river and is one of the most popular onsen destinations of the Kansai Region.

South Exit of Shimokitazawa Station, Keio and Odakyu lines, with Inokashira line train in background

Shimokitazawa Station

Shimokitazawa Station serves two lines connecting the bohemian Shimokitazawa commercial area to Shinjuku and Shibuya stations a little to the east.

Soya super service

How to go from Asahikawa to Wakkanai ?

The route is covered by the Soya Service, a limited express train which runs between Sapporo and Wakkanai and the Sarobetsu Service, which runs between Asahikawa and Wakkanai.

Kyoto, Momiji

Automn colors by train 

In Japan, Autumn means with colorful garden and forest. To view the red leaf (Momiji-gari) many places can be reach by rail. Discover our selection.

Kanazawa, Ishikawa

How to go from Takayama to Kanazawa ?

First take a Limited Express (Wide View) Hida train from Takayama to Toyama and then jump on a Hokuriku Shinkansen from Toyama through to Kanazawa.

Discover Kamakura

Discover Kamakura

Kamakura is a lovely town by the sea, with an easy access from Tokyo. It counts 65 Buddhist temples and 19 Shinto shrines, located throughout the town and in the surrounding hills.

Resort_View_Furusato

The resort view Furusato Train

The resort view Furusato train runs between Nagano and Minami-Otari and is covered with a Japan Rail Pass. All along the journey the view on the Northern Alps is breathtaking.

Naruto, Shikoku

The Inland Sea 

As Japan is made up of so many islands, it is naturally home to an extensive network of ferry routes.

N700N700

The Shinkansen N700S

The N700S is the 6th generation model based on the N700 series. It will debut in 2020 on the main Shinkansen line in Japan, the Tokaido Line.

Takamatsu, Kagawa

How to go from Takamatsu to Kochi ? 

From Takamatsu, located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, you can head south on the Dosan Line to Kochi.

Karasuma Line, Kyoto Subway

Karasuma Line Kyoto Subway

The Karasuma Line of the Kyoto Subway runs north south from Kokusaikaikan Station to Takeda Station via Kyoto Station. The Karasuma Line intersects with the Tozai Line at Karasuma Oike Station.

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Yotsubashi Subway Line

The Yotsubashi Subway Line in Osaka runs north-south from Nishi-Umeda to Suminoekoen Station. Yotsubashi Subway Line runs through Namba and Yotsubashi stations in central Osaka.

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Sennichimae Line

The Sennichimae Line of the Osaka Municipal Subway connects Nodahanshin in the north west and Minami-Tatsumi in the south east of Osaka via Namba, DenDen Town and Tsuruhashi.

Genbi_Shinkansen E3-700

The Genbi shinkansen

In the Genbi shinkasen between Echigo Yuzawa and Niigata, passengers can enjoy modern art created by some of today’s most prominent artists.

Hanshin Train

Hanshin Railway

The Hanshin Railway lines connect Umeda and Namba stations in Osaka with Amagasaki and Sannomiya in Hyogo Prefecture. Hanshin lines include the Hanshin Main Line and the Hanshin Namba Line.

Gero Onsen

How to go from Nagoya to Takayama?

The Limited Express "Wide View" Hida trains ply the route from Nagoya to Takayama. Near Takayama if offers some amazing scenery.

Pokemon

The Pokemon with You Train

Starting from the Saturday, July 15, 2017, the Pokemon Train with You is operating with a new design.

travel by train japan

Twilight Express Mizukaze

The Twilight Express Mizukaze is a new super luxury train in Japan. The JR Twilight Express Mizukaze operates between Kyoto-Osaka and Shimonoseki at the western tip of Honshu in Yamaguchi.

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Nishitetsu-Fukuoka Tenjin Station

Nishitetsu-Fukuoka Tenjin Station in Fukuoka is a terminus for Nishitetsu trains and buses as well as being a busy entertainment and shopping center.

Owakudani, Sengokuhara, Hakone, Kanagawa

Your itinerary to Hakone

Hakone is a very popular destination among Tokyoites, as well as tourists, for its gorgeous scenery around the Mount Fuji, its many onsens and vacation resorts.

Okayama, Japan

How to go from Kyoto to Okayama ?

Okayama is the largest city in the Chugoku Region after Hiroshima and an important transportation hub. Korakuen, a spacious landscape garden, is the city’s star attraction.

Kamikochi

The Kamikochi Line

The Kamikochi Valley is in the heart of the Japanese Alps. It is only open to visitors from April to November.

How to go from Nagano to Matsumoto ?

How to go from Nagano to Matsumoto ?

The Limited Express Shinano runs from Nagano to Matsumoto before continuing on to Nagoya. In Matsumoto you can explore one of the best preserved castles in Japan.

Fuji, Ise

How to go from Nagoya to Shingu?

From Nagoya to Shingu, get on the Limited Express Wide View Nanki or on the Mie ‘rapid’ train. This last train is more convenient to reach Ise.

Kanazawa

Discover Kanazawa Station

With its huge glass dome, Kanazawa Station is connected to Nagano and Tokyo with the Hokuriku Shinkansen since March 2005.

Hanayome_Noren

The Hanayome-noren train

The train "Hanayome Noren" is a sightsseing train connecting Kanazawa station on the Hokuriku shinkansen line and Wakura Onsen station along the Nanao line.

Kyushu Shinkansen

The Kyushu Shinkansen

Since 2011, ii is very easy to explore southern Japan with a Japan Rail Pass. The Kyushu Shinkansen has a new extension providing services from Hakata (Fukuoka Station) to Kagoshima.

Hokuriku shinkansen

How to go from Nagano to Kanazawa ?

Opened in March 2015, the new Hokuriku Shinkansen Line connects Tokyo with Kanazawa via Nagano. The fastest train with limited stops takes 2.5 hours.

Koshino Shu*Kura

How to go from Niigata to Tokyo ?

The fastest way of returning to Tokyo from Niigata is by Joetsu Shinkansen and takes around 1h40.

JR_IZU

The resort train Izu Craile 

The Izu Craile resort train was launched in July 2016 and operates between Odawara along the Tokaido Line and Izukyu Shimoda, Izu Peninsula.

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Sakura-dori Line

The Sakura-dori Line is a subway line in Nagoya that runs from Nakamura Kuyakusho via Nagoya Station to Tokushige in the south western suburbs.

Shinjuku

Discover Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku station is the busiest station in the world. Here is our guide to find your way.

Hikone, Shiga

How to go from Nagoya to Kyoto ?

On the second part of the journey from Tokyo to Kyoto, the JR Tokaido Shinkansen does not hang around and stops only a couple of times.

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Chichibu Railway

The Chichibu Railway is a scenic railway that runs from Mitsumineguchi Station to Hanyu taking in many famous sights of Saitama Prefecture.

Shinkansen

Japan Train schedule and price

In Japan, the railway network is the best way to travel but it can sometimes be difficult to find the right way to reach your destination.

Twilight_Express_Mizukaze

New luxury trains in 2017 

The year 2017 will be s special year for luxury trains. Three new trains should go into service this year.

How to go from Hakodate to Sapporo ?

How to go from Hakodate to Sapporo ?

With a Japan Rail Pass, the quickest way to Sapporo from Hakodate is to take the Hokuto or the Super Hokuto Limited Express on the Hakodate Line.

Private Lines in Japan

The Japan Railways and a Japan Rail Pass will take you all over Japan but you may also come accross "private lines" or railways that are not owned by the Japan Railways Company.

Kinkakuji

The JR Sagano Line

A trip along the Sagano Line from Kyoto Station to Saga-Arashiyama is the best way of making use of your Japan Rail Pass while staying in Kyoto

Itsukushima, Miyajima

Access to Miyajima with a Japan Rail Pass

Easily reached in about 40 minutes from Hiroshima with a Japan Rail Pass, Miyajima is a treasure of an island only 2 km (1 ¼ miles) off the mainland in the Seto Inland Sea.

Akihabara

Discover Akihabara Station

Akihabara Station is the gateway to the neighborhood of the same name known for its electronic, anime,manga, figurine stores and maid cafe.

How to go from Tokyo to Nagano ?

How to go from Tokyo to Nagano ?

Nagano, the Japanese Capital of the Winter Sports, is along the Hokuriku Shinkansen, which opened in March 2015 and connects Toyama and Kanazawa to Tokyo.

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Choshi Dentetsu Railway

Choshi Dentetsu Railway is a private railway line connecting Choshi JR Station to the outlying coastal attractions of Choshi in Chiba Prefecture.

Haruka

Discover Shin-Osaka Station 

If you are using a bullet train to Osaka you will arrive at Shin Osaka Station.

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The Joban Line is a four-section Japan Rail train line running between the greater Tokyo and Tohoku regions.

Ikebukuro, Toshima

Navigating Ikebukuro Station

Ikebukuro Station is one of the busiest train station in Tokyo with JR, Tobu and Seibu lines. Read our guide of Ikebukuro Station, its train connections and area.

Yokosuka line of JR East E235 series

Yokosuka Line

The Yokosuka Line is a railway connecting Tokyo to the Miura Peninsula that forms the western flank of Tokyo Bay.

Kakunodate Station Top

Kakunodate Station

Kakunodate Station in Akita Prefecture serves the JR East and Akita Nairiku Jukan, and is attractive in its antique samurai style.

Ameyoko

Discover Ueno Station

Ueno is the gateway to Ueno area. Discover our travel tips and our maps to navigate in the station easily !

Maglev

The Maglev between Tokyo and Osaka

The maglev train between Tokyo and Osaka will be the fastest train in the world with a speed approximately twice that of current Shinkansen at 500 km/h

Fukuoka

How to go from Hiroshima to Fukuoka ?

In just one hour from Hiroshima, you can reach the city of Fukuoka, the economic and cultural heart of the island of Kyushu.

Hiroshima

How to go from Okayama to Hiroshima ?

Discover the itinerary between Okayama and Hiroshima ? If you have time make a stop at Kurashiki and explore the Bikan Chiku historical area.

Discover Shinagawa Station

Shinagawa station is an important transportation hub where are connected many lines Discover our tips to navigate in the station including a station map !

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Tokushima Station

Tokushima Station is the main station in Tokushima, Shikoku with rail connections to Takamatsu, Kaifu and Naruto.

Shibuya

Train Platform Markings and Symbols

Learn the meanings of some of the strange symbols and markings you'll see on Japanese train station platforms.

Twilight_Express

The Twilight Express Overnight Train

The Twilight Express train was a very famous overnight train between Osaka and Sapporo.

Future Shinkansen

Future Shinkansen

Japan's amazing network of bullet trains is always expanding. Read about planned and upcoming shinkansen! Japan Rail Pass - Available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes. Order yours today.

Seven_Stars

Even More of the Seven Stars in Kyushu

Exclusive Japan-Rail-Pass.com photos of the luxury cruise train, the Seven Stars in Kyushu!

Fujikyuko

The Fujisan View Express

The only train line with direct access to Mt. Fuji, the Fujikyu Railways is operated a new, fancy train to ride to Mt. Fuji.

Osaka

An explanation of Osaka's biggest transportation hub, the newly restored Osaka Station. Visit today with your Japan Rail Pass!

Shiki-shima

The New JR East Luxury Train

Discover the Japan Railways's latest luxury train and order your Japan Rail Pass online today to ride it! Available in 7, 14, and 21-day passes.

Tokaido Shinkansen

The 3 Trains of the Tokaido Shinkansen

The bullet train going from Tokyo to Osaka has three different lines. What's the difference? Read more to find out. Japan Rail Pass - available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes!

Kitadake

The Minami-Alps Aputo Line

Information about the quiet and beautiful Minami-Alps Aputo Line.

Tohoku-Hokkaido Shinkansen

The New Hokkaido Shinkansen

Since March 2016, the brand new Hokkaido Shinkansen line is in operation. Read more about it here, and get your Japan Rail Pass today! Available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes.

'Wanman"

Unmanned Stations and Trains

Our explanation of rural trains and stations that may not have attendants. Be prepared to travel anywhere and everywhere with your Japan Rail Pass! Available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes.

Shibuya

Japan's Christmas Trains 

Although Christmas isn’t an official holiday in Japan (everyone still has to go to work!), the Japanese still love to get festive.

Watarase Keikoku

The Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railways

Escape the busy Tokyo metropolis with a side trip through the countryside!

Sekihoku

The JR Train Station with One Passenger

Did you know there is a JR station in Hokkaido with a single passenger? Learn about this viral story and get your Japan Rail Pass today - available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes.

Hitsumabushi Bento

The Best Ekiben of Western Japan

Take a look at Western Japan's top 5 most delicious "ekiben" to eat on Japan bullet trains! Order your Japan Rail Pass online today.

Seto Ohashi

Japan Rail Trivia - Part 2

What is the Japan's longest railway bridge ? What is the longest train station name in Japan? Learn some fascinating trivia about the amazing Japan Railways!

Shinkansen 100

The 50-Year History of the Shinkansen

The shinkansen turned 50 years old this year! Learn about its history here. Japan Rail Pass - Available in 7-, 14-, and 21-day passes.

Isumi

Restaurant Kiha

High-quality Japanese-Italian fusion dining, all while racing through the countryside on a train! Read more about this amazing experience.

Hayatono-Kaze_Hisatsu

The Top 10 Views from JR Trains

Ten of the Most Stunning Views From Japan Rail Trains. Order Online Today - 7, 14, & 21 Day Passes Available.

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10 Cool and Unique Trains in Japan

travel by train japan

Mao Goto is a Japanese freelancer who was born in Hayama, Kanagawa prefecture, and raised in Tokyo. Since 2016 she lives in the Taito Ward, home to a lot of Japanese culture hotspots such as Asakusa, Akihabara, and Ueno. She has been interested in the field of English education in Japan and got her Master’s degree in March 2020. A lover of photography, travel, sweets, and cross-stitch. Contact her via  Facebook .

This post may contain some affiliate links. When you click through and make a purchase we may receive some commission, at no extra cost to you .

Japan has an excellent network of railroads with trains crisscrossing the country from Kagoshima in the south to Hokkaido in the north. Stations across Japan come in unique and impressive designs and are loved by tourists and locals alike. However, did you know that Japan is also home to an array of special trains which have gained popularity in recent years due to their cool or cute designs? Japanese trains are evolving in their own unique way, boasting nostalgic retro designs and featuring Japanese characters and mascots. In this article we are going to introduce some special Japanese trains that are sure to wow you and will make you want to ride them all whether you’re a railroad fan or not!

1. Aso-Boy!

2. setsugekka, 3. sagano romantic train, 4. fifty two seats of happiness, 5. thomas the tank engine, 6. aru ressha, 7. pokémon with you train, 8. hello kitty shinkansen, 9. train suite shiki-shima, 10. twilight express mizukaze, find the other tours, other articles you might be interested in.

travel by train japan

JR Kyushu ‘s train “ Aso-Boy! ” operates between Kumamoto and Beppu and is especially fun for those traveling with children. The train’s interior is bright, and car 1 has panoramic viewing seats making you feel like you’re a train conductor. Car 3 is equipped with parent-and-child seats where everyone can enjoy Kyushu’s spectacular nature through the wide windows. There is also a ball pit inside this car which is great fun for younger children. Between Akamizu and Miyaji the train passes through the caldera of Mount Aso , providing a truly unique experience.

Official website (Japanese): Aso-Boy!  

travel by train japan

“Setsugekka” is a resort train that runs in the Joetsu region of Niigata Prefecture , allowing passengers to fully enjoy the natural scenery of both sea and mountains . The train is divided into two cars, both boasting extra large windows to allow passengers unrestricted views of Niigata ’s beauty from their seats. Furthermore, some outstanding meals are served onboard this train that you wouldn’t want to miss out on. The French bento box , created by a local two-star Michelin chef from Tokamachi City, is a luxurious lunch made with an abundance of local fresh ingredients. This is the perfect train trip for those who want to enjoy the scenery of Niigata with a feeling of grandeur.

Official website: Setsugekka

Sagano Romantic Train

The “Sagano Romantic Train” runs between Kameoka and Arashiyama , one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kyoto . This train can be enjoyed during all four seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer , autumn leaves in fall and snow in winter. The train makes the journey from Kameoka to Arashiyama in 25 minutes, and you can admire the nature of the Hozugawa Valley from inside the train. The fifth car of this train is an open car with no window glass, making it the perfect car for summer as you can enjoy the fresh air. If you come to Kyoto for sightseeing, why don’t you add the charming “Sagano Romantic Train” to your itinerary?

Official website: Sagano Romantic Train

travel by train japan

The mysteriously named “fifty two seats of happiness” is, as the name suggests, a sightseeing train offering 52 seats and a delightful experience. This train is operated by Seibu Railway with the concept of “a traveling restaurant”. It runs between Ikebukuro and Seibu-Chichibu , and between Shinjuku and Seibu-Chichibu, making it an easy train to ride from Tokyo . Brunch and dinner courses are available for passengers to enjoy during their journey. The menu changes every three months, so you can try a different meal on every ride. With reservations, this train is also available for weddings and private tours, making it a great choice for special occasions.

Official website: fifty two seats of happiness  

Thomas the Tank

Thomas the Tank Engine, operated by Oigawa Railway , is a train that runs between Shinkanaya Station and Senzu Station in Shizuoka Prefecture . Thomas the Tank Engine is a British-born animated CG railroad cartoon, and now Thomas has come to Shizuoka Prefecture from the island of Sodor! Inside the train there are many special experiences for Thomas the Tank fans, including the sale of Thomas the Tank goods and train announcements made by Thomas on behalf of the train crew. A boxed lunch made in collaboration with Thomas the Tank is also available in front of Plaza Loco at Shinkanaya Station. Enjoy nature and Thomas the Tank nostalgia together in Shizuoka Prefecture!

Official website: Thomas the Tank Engine

Aru Ressha

One of the most popular sightseeing trains departing from Hakata is JR Kyushu’s “Aru Ressha” (或る列車). The story behind the creation of the “Aru Ressha” is that the former Kyushu Railway company in 1906 ordered a luxury train from an American railroad company, but the train never saw the light of day because Kyushu Railway was later nationalized. A century later, “Aru Ressha” finally made its debut in the summer of 2015! With Fukuoka as the starting point, this luxury train will take you to Yufuin which is very famous for its outstanding hot springs. The onboard meal sets are not to be missed as the cuisine, using local Kyushu ingredients, is nothing short of exceptional. Indulge in a luxurious rail journey through Kyushu onboard the “Aru Ressha”!

Official website: Aru Ressha

Pokemon with YOU train

Pokémon lovers around the world, gather ‘round! You can enjoy a unique train ride together with everyone’s favorite Pikachu in the Tohoku region ! The “Pokémon with YOU Train” runs between Ichinoseki and Kesennuma and is overloaded with Pikachu inside and out. This train is so cute that you will definitely want to snap a few photos in front of it! Other than Pikachu, there are several other Pokémon lurking around the train, so go Pokémon-hunting and try to spot them all during your ride. A journey with the “Pokémon with YOU Train” is sure to become an unforgettable memory!

Official website: Pokémon with YOU Train

travel by train japan

A cute bullet train dressed in pink ribbons!? Yes, this is “Hello Kitty Shinkansen”, created in collaboration with Sanrio’s Hello Kitty. This special shinkansen operates in western Japan between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. Each train car has a different Hello Kitty design, and the carpets inside are pink and decorated with ribbons. It’s a bullet train overflowing with kawaii culture that fans of the adorably cute cat are sure to love. Board this train for a unique ride through western Japan in the company of Hello Kitty!

Official website: Hello Kitty Shinkansen

Train Suite Shiki-Shima

“Train Suite Shiki-shima” is the train to ride if you want to experience the highest level of attentive service on a luxurious train journey. They provide train itineraries for overnight journeys of either one or two nights, and you can indulge in mouthwatering meals during your ride on the “Train Suite Shiki-shima”. Shiki-shima Suites and Deluxe Suites in car 7 area are equipped with a special hinoki cypress bath, and guests can relax in the tub while enjoying the fragrant wood. For those who want to experience ultimate hospitality, “Train Suite Shiki-shima” is a perfect choice.

Official website: Train Suite Shiki-shima

Twilight Express Mizukaze

We saved one of the best for last: the “TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE” is a luxury train offering overnight journeys where passengers can savor delectable meals prepared by a top chef. Operating in western Japan , “TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE” travels to various sightseeing spots in a few different regions. The lounge space in car 5 is also a place to relax and meet other passengers, with concerts, tea ceremonies and other events being held there. For an overnight train ride experience offering the utmost in luxury and comfort, we highly recommend the “TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE”!

Official website: TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE

In this article we introduced 10 special Japanese trains with different concepts and designs, but which one made it on your bucket list? Japan’s railroad companies are constantly striving to attract more people, so we are sure we will see even more special trains in the coming years! Some trains require reservations, so be sure to check the official website well in advance. Enjoy Japan from the seat of your favorite special train on your next visit!

Japan Wonder Travel Tours 

Japan Wonder Travel is a travel agency that offers guided tours throughout Japan.  From private walking tours to delicious Food and Drink tours, we can help you organize the best tours just for you! If you want to explore Japan and learn more about the history and backstories of each area you are visiting, our knowledgeable and friendly English speaking guides will happily take you to the best spots!  In addition, we can provide you with any assistance you may need for your upcoming trip to Japan, so please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need some help! 

▶ Tokyo Fish Market Tour @Tsukiji – Enjoy Local Food and Drink Explore the most lively and popular fish market in Tokyo and try some of the local’s favorite street foods and sake with one of our friendly and knowledgeable English speaking guides! 

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▶ Tokyo 1–Day Highlights Private Walking Tour (8 Hours) There’s no better way to explore an area than taking a tour with a knowledgeable local guide. You will have the chance to learn about the history and interesting background stories of Tokyo, as well as discover some hidden gems which can be hard to do without a guide.

Asakusa Tokyo private tour

▶ Mt. Fuji Day Trip Bus Tour from Tokyo Experience the breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji by visiting the highlights of the area on our guided sightseeing bus tour! Departing from Shinjuku in central Tokyo, you can travel comfortably to all of the best spots in the area by bus.

mount fuji chureito pagoda

▶ Kyoto Private Full Day Walking Tour On this full-day private tour of Kyoto, you will be able to see the highlights of Kyoto in just one day and at the same time develop a deeper understanding of both the culture of the area and Japan as a whole.

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▶ Tour Packages If you want to make travel easier, we suggest you look into tour packages.There are a wide range of tour packages out there to suit the accomodate for each traveler needs. Click the button below to find the best tour package from various Tour Operators!

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Japan Bullet Train: Speedy and stress-free Shinkansen tickets

Japan – July 2019 : High Speed Train passing Fuji Mountain Background in Summer, Fuji City, Shizuoka, Japan

Japan – July 2019 : High Speed Train passing Fuji Mountain Background in Summer, Fuji City, Shizuoka, Japan (Metropolis Magazine)

Plan your next train journey around Japan with ease like never before. On January 31, 2024, Inbound Platform Corp launched a new Shinkansen ticket service, specially catered to visitors and foreign residents in Japan. This new foreigner-friendly platform allows non-Japanese speakers to book and arrange Shinkansen tickets without the worry of encountering language barriers.

Previously, online booking of train tickets had been a confusing ordeal. Websites written mostly in Japanese with limited translation available, made navigating the information difficult. Not to mention the need to create an account on booking sites prior to arranging tickets, making the process lengthy and complicated. Such confusion may have deterred some travelers from traveling around Japan to their heart’s content.

Now, this brand-new platform allows users to arrange Shinkansen and express train tickets in three easy steps. First, find your ticket directly through the website by choosing the date and time of your train. Once arranged, you’ll receive a QR code confirming your ticket booking. Then, simply pick up your paper ticket using the provided QR code to complete the exchange. If you would prefer an in-person exchange, some stations have JR ticket offices (known as midori no madoguchi) where you can inform an operator you would like to receive your tickets with the ticket confirmation QR code. Alternatively, you can use the reserved seat ticket vending machine or the Green Ticket machine to collect your ticket.

The new Japan Bullet Train ticket service website has been created with ease of use for visitors and foreign residents in mind, taking measures to ensure the website is easy to understand and navigate for anyone. Online booking from the site is available in English, Chinese, and Korean, with plans to expand to include French and Spanish in the near future. To answer any questions that may arise in the booking process, customer service provides telephone assistance in seven languages.

Travelers who prefer to plan trips far in advance can book tickets through Japan Bullet Train from both within and outside Japan. Allowing users to plan their trip before coming to Japan. The site is also equipped with various guides, including how to receive your paper ticket at the station, boarding procedures, and what to do in case of exchanging or canceling your ticket. Guaranteeing travelers the smoothest sailing train journey.  

The Japan Bullet Train ticket service of course caters to JR Shinkansen with destinations headed all over Japan, but also all conventional JR lines nationwide. This includes popular routes such as the Narita Express, convenient for those traveling from overseas. You can also purchase tickets various express train types. However, the JR Rail Pass is currently not available for purchase on the platform.

Arrange your next trip around Japan with the Japan Bullet Train ticket service for utmost ease. The careful considerations compiled by Inbound Platform Corp in creating this platform ensure a stress-free train journey for you.

Visit the website to book your trip. https://www.japan-bullettrain.com/

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  • » An overnight trip on the Sunrise Izumo, Japan’s awesome Tokyo-Shimane sleeper train【Photos】
  • Studio Ghibli

An overnight trip on the Sunrise Izumo, Japan’s awesome Tokyo-Shimane sleeper train【Photos】

Casey Baseel

Mr. (and Mrs.) Sato ride the overnight rails back to his hometown on one of Japan’s coolest cross-country travel options .

Our ace reporter Mr. Sato might live and work in Tokyo, but he grew up in Shimane Prefecture . He’s still got family there too, so every year in February he takes a trip back to visit and reconnect with his roots in his hometown of Matsue .

But it’s a long way from Tokyo to Matsue.

Since there’s no Shinkansen bullet train line that goes to Shimane, usually Mr. Sato’s trips home involve a airplane ride. This year, though, he decided to make the trip by taking the Sunrise Izumo overnight train, which leaves from Tokyo Station and takes about 12 hours to reach Matsue .

It’s not easy to snag Sunrise Izumo tickets, though. Reservations can only be made one month in advance, and sometimes sell out in less than an hour after they go on sale at 10 o’clock in the morning. Using West Japan Railway’s Odekake.net website , though, and checking ticket availability as soon as reservations for his travel date opened, he managed to secure passage home.

▼ Note, though, that you still need to print out your tickets at a JR station kiosk prior to getting on the train.

travel by train japan

And so it was that on a late-February night, Mr. Sato was standing on Platform 9 at Tokyo Station, waiting for the arrival of his train .

▼ Some of the text is a little scrunched, but 寝台特急サンライズ出雲 translates to “Sleeper Train Limited Express Sunrise Izumo”

travel by train japan

Sunrise Izumo leaves Tokyo Station at 9:50 p.m. , and even before Mr. Sato could see the train, he coud hear it.

travel by train japan

Announcing its presence with a quick blast of its whistle, the train drew up to the platform, with Mr. Sato and other travelers pulling out their phones to snap a commemorative pic.

travel by train japan

Right away, you can tell that the Sunrise Izumo is a special train, because of how may windows it has, with each “room” having its own .

travel by train japan

Stepping inside, you’ll notice that the central passageway is pretty narrow, in order to maximize the interior space in the private rooms on both sides of the walkway.

travel by train japan

Opening the door to his room, Mr. Sato found a clean, tidy space with a 196-centimeter (77.2-inch) long bed with sheets and pillow, and even a set of pajamas to sleep in .

travel by train japan

It’s not palatial, but there was plenty of room for Mr. Sato to stretch out in, and he knew he was in for a cozy and comfortable ride.

travel by train japan

▼ The clever cupholders by the windowsill to keep your drinks from tipping over are a nice touch.

travel by train japan

The breakdown for the ticket price is a little complicated . There’s the standard fare from Tokyo to Matsue that Japan Railway charges regardless of which train you’re taking between those two points, an additional limited express train fee, and one more surcharge for the private room. Since you can’t really opt out of any of those charges with the Sunrise Izumo, you can basically just consider the ticket price as their total, which, for a single traveler, would be 25,110 yen (US$175), which isn’t a bad price considering you’re essentially getting transportation and a night of lodging out of the deal.

However, Mr. Sato’s ticket was a little more expensive, since his room had two beds…

travel by train japan

…because he wasn’t traveling alone. Accompanying him on this overnight ride to Shimane was none other than his wife, Mrs. Sato .

▼ Rest assured that Mrs. Sato really did have an emoji-caliber smile at her excitement at getting the top bunk.

travel by train japan

The total price for both of them to make the trip came to 46,120 yen, again, not bad since they didn’t have to pay for a hotel for the night.

travel by train japan

Before we get underway, we should talk a little more about the route of Sunrise Izumo, which is actually two trains in one, Sunrise Izumo and Sunrise Seto, with the train splitting in half part-way along the route .

After leaving Tokyo, major stops include Yokohama, Odawara, Atami, Fuji, Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Nagoya, Gifu, Osaka, Sannomiya (Kobe), Himeji and Okayama. After Okayama Station, Cars 1 through 7 head north on the Sunrise Izumo route, with stops at Kurashiki and Matsue, among others, before their final stop at Izumoshi Station in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture. Meanwhile, after Okayama Cars 8 through 14 head south to the island of Shikoku and ends up at Takamtasu in Kagawa Prefecture on the “Sunrise Seto” route.

▼ This is why the train’s destination is labeled as both Izumoshi and Takamatsu.

travel by train japan

And yes, the trains run overnight in the reverse, towards-Tokyo direction too, leaving Izumoshi at 6:55 p.m. and Takamatsu at 9:26 p.m., arriving in Tokyo at 7:08 a.m.

Getting back to the amenities, inside Mr. Sato’s room was an alarm clock and controls for the lights and heater. There’s also a radio knob for NHK-FM broadcasts, but service has been discontinued, so you’ll need to supply your own tunes. There are also showers onboard the train, located in Cars 3 and 10, which can be used after purchasing a 330-yen shower card from the nearby vending machine .

travel by train japan

And with all that, it’s now time to get underway!

travel by train japan

Pulling out of Tokyo Station was a slightly surreal experience. Looking out the window at the other trains, Mr. Sato could see they were full of downtown Tokyo office workers on their way home, but Mr. Sato’s journey was just getting started.

While there’s no dining car on the Sunrise Izumo, leaving out of Tokyo Station gives you access to just about the biggest selection of bento boxed meals available anywhere in Japan, so Mr. Sato had made sure to grab one at one of the many in-station shops before boarding .

travel by train japan

He’d picked a beef chanko bento , inspired by the flavors of chanko nabe hotpot, the traditional meal of in-training sumo wrestlers. If room-temperature hotpot sounds like an unappealing linguistic contradiction to you, fear not: this is one of Japan’s amazing special bento boxes that includes a heater that activates when you pull its string to warm up your food with no need for a microwave.

travel by train japan

It would have been a tasty meal under any circumstances, but tucked into his own private room while riding the rails, it felt especially delicious.

travel by train japan

About two hours after leaving Tokyo Station, they’d reached Atami , at the eastern end of Shizuoka Prefecture . Rain had started to fall, with waterdrops streaking the windows and the clouds overhead obscuring what was supposed to be that night’s full moon.

travel by train japan

Warm and dry inside his room, though, Mr. Sato was perfectly comfortable, with the rhythmic clack of the tracks acting like a soothing white noise, combining with the rocking of the train to lull him into sleepiness as he sat up, enough so that he decided it was time to lie down completely and catch some Zs.

travel by train japan

He briefly woke up somewhere around Kyoto. Peeking out the curtain, he could see that the train had passed out of the rainy weather, and he got to appreciate a little moonlight before closing the drape again and going back to sleep.

travel by train japan

At around 5:30, the Sunrise Izumo pulls into Sannomiya Station in Kobe . By this time, regular trains have started running and people with early morning shifts are on their way to work, so the station was livelier than the others Mr. Sato had passed through in the middle of the night.

travel by train japan

A little before 6:30, with the morning sun starting to come up, they reached Okayama . Like we mentioned above, this is where the train splits into two, so there’s a short stop while the JR workers carry out the procedure and new staff comes onboard. If you’re a rail fan, you can actually get off the train while this is going on and watch the work from the platform, though Mr. Sato decided to stay in bed.

travel by train japan

After the train split, the Sunrise Izumo heads up the Hakubi Line, moving from the south side of Japan’s main island of Honshu to its north . In between the terrain gets more mountainous, the towns smaller, and the scenery more rural, with the shorter skylines giving Mr. Sato a nicely framed view of the morning sun. The nature of our work at SoraNews24 turns most of our staff into night owls, so it’s rare for us to see the sunrise without the foggy-headedness of having been up all night, but this was a beautiful, nicely rested exception for Mr. Sato.

▼ Sunrise on the Sunrise Izumo

travel by train japan

Climbing into the mountains feels a bit like going back in time . Especially when the mists start creeping into the valleys, it’s easy to picture Japan’s ancient myths and folklore being born as people of eras past wondered about what sorts of things might be hiding just out of sight.

travel by train japan

▼ To Mr. Sato’s still slightly sleepy eyes, this line of clouds looked like a dragon flying over the town.

travel by train japan

This part of the route also had Mr. Sato thinking about more recent history . For example, before he made the move to Tokyo, Mr. Sato was a part-time construction worker whose projects included helping with track maintenance around Neu Station in Tottori Prefecture, Shimane’s neighbor to the east.

travel by train japan

Once the Sunrise Izumo crossed over the border into Shimane, it passed by Auto Parlor Yasugi, which now houses a drone repair shop but which used to have a video game arcade that Mr. Sato frequented in his junior high days.

travel by train japan

But things started to get really nostalgic once Mr. Sato caught sight of Nakaumi . Though its name translates to “inner sea,” Nakaumi is actually Japan’s fifth-largest lake, whose eastern half Matsue is wrapped around.

travel by train japan

And Mr. Sato really knew he was back in his hometown when he passed by this apartment complex .

travel by train japan

Long ago, Mr. Sato’s dad was a traveling craftsman, and when a job took him to Shimane, he met a local girl. The two of them got married, and after she gave birth to twin boys (Mr. Sato and his twin brother ) they moved into an apartment in this complex, where they lived for the next 17 years, until the boys graduated from high school.

Mr. Sato spent his early childhood days fishing for crawdads in this river, and adventuring out into the hills to explore and build secret forts, coming home covered in mud. Many years have passed since then; his parents now live in a different part of town, and Mr. Sato has gotten a lot better at keeping his clothes clean. All the same, he was still coming home, and couldn’t help feeling a little bit like a kid again.

travel by train japan

The Sunrise Izumo arrived at Matsue at 9:29 in the morning, almost 12 hours after leaving Tokyo and reminding Mr. Sato that he lives pretty far away from his hometown. But maybe a long trip back isn’t such a bad thing if it gives you time to think about how far you’ve come and the path you took to where you are now, plus gives you a chance to see some of the milestones you passed by on the way one more time.

Related: Sunrise Izumo official website (JR Odekake.net) Photos ©SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter ! [ Read in Japanese ]

  • ( COK • cool • Izumo • Matsue • Mr. Sato • overnight trains • Shimane • SNJO • Sunrise Izumo • Sunrise Seto • tourism • trains • travel )

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China debuts 'floating' magnetic train which could travel faster than speed of sound

China’s ‘T-Flight’ train is so quick we might end up ditching planes altogether. 

Chinese engineers have reported that their engineering marvel recently reached a record speed of 387mph on a test track- which would have broken the world speed record .

For context, Japan ’s MLX01 Maglev, currently the world’s fastest train, reaches a top speed of 361mph. 

But, once commercialised, engineers hope the T-flight train will reach speeds of 1,243mph, which is faster than the speed of sound and more than twice the speed of a Boeing 737 plane.

The train uses magnetic levitation (maglev) technology to reach its incredible speeds, removing the need for wheels and instead replacing them with magnets, which lift the pods above the track to allow them to glide effortlessly. 

The concept was first proposed by Robert Goddard, a US engineer in 1910, but came back into fashion after billionaire Elon Musk  wrote a white paper  on the subject in 2013.

Now, the T-Flight has been built by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) in the hopes it could be used as a hyperloop train to transport people from one place to place.

If the engineer’s predictions are correct, the T-Flight could travel from Wuhan to Beijing in just over 30 minutes, rather than the four-hours it currently takes to make the journey on a high-speed train.

Testing took place on track roughly 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) long in a low-pressure vacuum tube, which was flattered within a 0.01-inch (0.3 millimetres) tolerance to ensure no friction could affect the train so it could reach its full potential. 

In its second phase of testing, the agency aims to extend the track 60 km to allow the train to hopefully reach 621 mph. 

‘Science and technology progress step by step, and some aspects of this project are still in uncharted territory in China. Every step is challenging, and it’s a complex system,’ said the project’s chief designer Mao Kai. 

South China Morning Post reports  the test proved that the vehicle tube and track interact well, and the heavy maglev vehicles floats steadily. The safety controls also functioned as expected.

So just maybe, we can grab a high speed train cross country.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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A model of T-flight supersonic train (Picture: Yuan Yi/Beijing Youth Daily/VCG via Getty)

Mt Fuji begins charging on Japan’s most popular mountain walk

Thomas Bywater

Thomas Bywater

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Last year saw over 220,000 climbers in the short 3-month season. Photo / Ryan Sq, Unsplash

Mt Fuji is one of the most recognisable volcanoes in the world, but from July pilgrims and tourists will be charged $22 to climb the sacred mountain.

Local authorities say they are trying to get on top of an overcrowding problem, with almost a quarter of a million people climbing it during the late summer season.

After 220,000 visitors last year in the three months between July and September - the mountain is struggling to cope with the volume of hikers, their rubbish and regular rescue callouts.

This year the Yoshida Trail will be capping visitors at just 4000. And charging climbers for the privilege.

As the most direct route from Tokyo, currently around 60 per cent of hikers take this route.

The draft plan to cap numbers and introduce a toll gate at Yoshida was revealed late last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported.

In December, Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki said it would be in place for the beginning of the climbing season, July 1.

“This is a measure to alleviate congestion on the trail and previous surveys have shown that excessive crowding occurs near the summit.”

The measures are to deter 'bullet climbs' of Mt Fuji, which have resulted in several emergency callouts. Photo / Clement Souchet, Unsplash

The gate will be locked from 4pm to 2am every day. This measure is to deter poorly-planned speed walks or so called “bullet climbs” - which see tourists try to make the 3776m climb without breaks and often late into the night.

There were 3800 of these unorthodox climbs with some tourists reportedly making bonfires on the mountain, according to the Shimbun.

Last year also saw 61 rescue callouts by Shizuoka prefecture police for lost, poorly-prepared or sick walkers.

The new rules which were presented to the prefectural assembly last month were approved on Monday. The Y2000 ($22) charge will go toward maintenance and conservation.

Why is Bullet Climbing forbidden on Fuji?

Within sight of much of Tokyo and the there is a folkloric tradition that all good pilgrims should climb Mount Fuji’s 3776 metres.

Unfortunately in recent years this rite of passage has become more of a scramble, as tourists attempt to climb Mount Fuji in a day.

This has led to the rise of bullet climbing or ‘ dangan tozan ’ - climbing in a single day or through the night.

As one of the country’s three sacred mountains “Fuji-san” there are plenty of domestic as well as international mountain baggers who make the trip every year.

Those underestimating the time it takes for the climb are often the ones that are worst prepared for the undertaking.

Recently the Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures have published English language information to stop tourists attempting to climb through the night.

As well as dangers and increased difficulty of pathfinding, they warn that altitude sickness is more acute in climbers who have not slept properly, and they are also more prone to hypothermia.

The authorities advise tourists to break the night in mountain huts or take a guided tour to reduce risk to themselves and other climbers.

travel by train japan

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  1. The 10 Best Scenic Train Journeys In Japan

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  5. Train travel in Japan: a complete guide

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COMMENTS

  1. GUIDE Traveling by Rail

    To break it down, there are three main types of railway systems in Japan, with differing advantages and options. Japan's leading railway company, Japan Railways (JR), has a well-organized and well-established railway network throughout the country. Among its comprehensive network, the JR-operated Shinkansen, also known as the Bullet Train ...

  2. GUIDE How to travel by train and bus in Japan

    How to travel by train and bus in Japan; When traveling throughout Japan, most visitors use public transport, such as trains, the shinkansen (bullet train), and buses. The convenience of trains in Japan. In Japan, trains are very convenient.

  3. How to plan a train journey around Japan in 2024

    the 14-day pass costs ¥80,000 (around US$540); the 21-day pass costs ¥100,000 (around US$675). Considering a one-way Shinkansen ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥13,080 (around US$90), these passes are a no-brainer for most travelers. Another money-saving option is the regional passes but these can get complicated.

  4. Train Travel in Japan: A Comprehensive Guide

    Japan's railway system, including its world-renowned shinkansen (bullet train), is famously clean, safe, modern, and efficient. But to a first-time visitor, getting around Japan can also seem a bit confusing — especially at first. Don't worry if the idea of navigating Japan by train feels a little overwhelming to you now.

  5. Train travel in Japan: a complete guide

    The Japan Rail Pass tends to be more cost effective the more you travel and the longer the distance. A round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto could cost between 26,000 and 27,000 yen. Given that the 7-day standard Japan Rail Pass has a cost of 29,110 yen, adding very few rides you are already saving money. In your case you will also be entitled to use:

  6. Japan Railways (JR)

    Japan's leading railway company, Japan Railways (JR), has an elaborate and well-established network of trains throughout the country. From scenic local trains to the super express shinkansen, if you are traveling on rail in Japan, the chances are it will be with JR.

  7. Traveling Japan By Train: Complete and Comprehensive Guide [2023]

    Example of calculation for the JR Pass. For my part, having spent 3 weeks in Japan in December 2020, I opted for a 7-day Sanyo San'in Area pass (146€), and 3 North Kyushu Passes of 5 days to cover the remaining 15 days (3 ×€77). The total value of these 4 passes, for 22 days of travel, is therefore €377. The National Pass, meanwhile ...

  8. TRAIN TRAVEL IN JAPAN 2024

    A 7-day Japan Rail Pass costs ¥50,000 = £268 or $340. The normal return fare from Tokyo to Kyoto is ¥27,940 = £150 or $190. The normal return fare from Tokyo to Hiroshima is ¥39,120 = £210 or $270. The normal return fare from Tokyo to Nagasaki is ¥52,620 = £290 or $360.

  9. Japan Travel Tips

    Japan's railway system is widely considered to be one of the most efficient, reliable, and convenient in the world. With over 27,000 kilometers of train tracks spanning the length and breadth of the Japanese archipelago, train travel is not only a convenient mode of transportation but also an experience in and of itself.

  10. Taking the train in Japan

    It is typically between 500 and 4000 yen depending on how far you travel. Among the companies that charge a limited express fee is JR. Super Express (shinkansen) Shinkansen are operated only by JR and use separate tracks and platforms. A limited express fee has to be paid in addition to the base fare.

  11. These 7 Scenic Trains Offer the Best Views of Japan

    Gono Line. Running along the western coast of the Aomori and Akita Prefectures in northern Japan—a region brimming with wild nature and volcanic mountain ranges—the 91.5-mile Gono Line is an ...

  12. Japan Transit 101: Complete Guide to Using Trains in Japan

    The Shinkansen bullet train is the fastest way to travel around Japan by train, though it will come at a price. A relatively short distance Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Shin Osaka Station would cost over 13,000 yen. This is where your Japan Rail pass can come in super handy. Shinkansen run very regularly, while providing various seating ...

  13. How to Travel Japan by Train: Everything You Need to Know

    For example, Japan travel from Tokyo to Kyoto can easily cost ¥20,000 yen one-way during high season, which is practically as much as the seven-day JR pass costs, as of March 2018. Other benefits of using the Japan Rail Pass are priceless. If you choose to travel without a seat reservation (which is free to make, but usually isn't required ...

  14. Trains in Japan: First-Timer's Guide to Japan's Rail Network

    To put it simply, the Whole Japan JR Pass: ️ Allows tourists unlimited travel on all Japan Railways Group (JR) Shinkansen, trains, buses, and ferry services across the country. ️ Is available in 7, 14, or 21-day validity depending on the duration of your trip. ️ Price starts from USD 206.95 for 7-day pass.

  15. How to explore Japan by train

    Train travel is one of the best ways to experience the varied landscapes and communities of Japan, whether you're drawn to the bright lights of Tokyo and Kyoto, or the quiet charm of lesser-explored towns like Kinosaki (pictured). While many visitors to Japan beeline to the history and hubbub of Kyoto and Tokyo, surprisingly fewer travellers ...

  16. Guide to Japanese train tickets and rail passes

    Guide to Japanese Train Tickets. Below is a list of the various railway tickets available in Japan: Regular tickets. Regular tickets simply get you from A to B. Our page about regular train tickets provides an introduction to the various fares and fees, such as the base fare and limited express fee, and the rules for using tickets.

  17. Japan Rail Pass

    Order your JR Pass now and SAVE up to 60%! 7, 14 or 21 Days Best Price Free Delivery Japan Travel Guide + Map 24/7 Customer Service. ... The Japan Rail Pass is valid on JR express, express and local trains on JR network lines, JR local buses, the JR Miyajima ferry, and airport transfer trains such as the Narita Express and Haruka Express. ...

  18. Scenic Railway Journeys

    The Story of 13000 Feet (Ainokaze Toyama Railway) Board this train for a unique experience from the peaks of Tateyama to Toyama Bay, unfolding throughout 4,000 meters change in elevation. Relax and enjoy sublime scenery and on-board dining, with the finest farmland and fish dishes from each of the seasons. More Info.

  19. Shinkansen: Bullet Trains in Japan

    The Japan Rail Pass gives you unlimited access to all Shinkansen high-speed trains. A supplement is required for travel on the Nozomi and Mizuho express trains on the Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. The Hikari, Kodama, and Sakura bullet trains are the fastest trains you can board using the Japan Rail Pass without a supplement.

  20. How to Travel By Train In Japan?

    Train travel in Japan is of an excellent standard but it is not particularly cheap. With that in mind, you can expect to pay quite a hefty price for a single journey of a few hours and even more so if you take the Shinkansen bullet train. If you are travelling for more than 600km, you are entitled to a 10% discount on the return journey ...

  21. Tips for First-Time JR Pass Users

    Tip 1: Make the process smoother with a Japan Rail Pass. Those preparing for their first venture out to Japan will likely have come across the Japan Rail Pass in their pre-travel research. In essence, the Japan Rail Pass is a specialized commuter ticket that allows unlimited travel via Japan Railway (JR) public transport & train lines all ...

  22. Articles in Travel by Train category

    Traveling Japan often entails railway travel, and with that, the Japan Rail Pass is a very popular options. Different types of Shinkansen Cars. The Shinkansen bullet train is one of the most popular ways of traveling across Japan and hosts a number of types of cars with varying features that cater to travelers of all needs.

  23. 10 Cool and Unique Trains in Japan

    Rsa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. JR Kyushu's train "Aso-Boy!" operates between Kumamoto and Beppu and is especially fun for those traveling with children. The train's interior is bright, and car 1 has panoramic viewing seats making you feel like you're a train conductor. Car 3 is equipped with parent-and-child seats where everyone can enjoy Kyushu's spectacular nature ...

  24. Japan Transport Guide 2024

    JR Passes used to be the cheapest way to get around Japan. However, with recent price increases in 2024, a 7-day pass can cost you ¥50,000 (~S$450) and a 21-day pass can cost you ¥100,000 (~S$896).. A cheaper alternative would be to get the JR Regional Passes.This pass allows for unlimited train travel and some access to local buses and ferries, limited to specific regions.

  25. Japan Bullet Train: Speedy and stress-free Shinkansen tickets

    The Japan Bullet Train ticket service of course caters to JR Shinkansen with destinations headed all over Japan, but also all conventional JR lines nationwide. This includes popular routes such as the Narita Express, convenient for those traveling from overseas. You can also purchase tickets various express train types.

  26. An overnight trip on the Sunrise Izumo, Japan's awesome Tokyo-Shimane

    Since there's no Shinkansen bullet train line that goes to Shimane, usually Mr. Sato's trips home involve a airplane ride. This year, though, he decided to make the trip by taking the Sunrise Izumo overnight train, which leaves from Tokyo Station and takes about 12 hours to reach Matsue. It's not easy to snag Sunrise Izumo tickets, though.

  27. China debuts 'floating' magnetic train which could travel faster than

    But, once commercialised, engineers hope the T-flight train will reach speeds of 1,243mph, which is faster than the speed of sound and more than twice the speed of a Boeing 737 plane.

  28. Mt Fuji begins charging on Japan's most popular mountain walk

    Mt Fuji is one of the most recognisable volcanoes in the world, but from July pilgrims and tourists will be charged $22 to climb the sacred mountain. Local authorities say they are trying to get ...