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JRailPass.com » Japan Travel Blog » Train travel in Japan: a complete guide

Train travel in Japan: a complete guide

July 31, 2023

If you are planning a trip with the Japan Rail Pass, better be prepared! You will be riding Japanese trains quite often.

In Japan, railroads are the primary mode of passenger transportation , and they have been ever since the first passenger steam locomotives debuted in Japan during the Meiji Restoration in 1872.

There is 30,625 km of rail lines all over Japan and they carry more than 9 billion passengers per year. Due to the country’s extensive use of its rail system, 46 of the top 50 busiest stations in the world are located in Japan.

Most Japanese rail lines have a unique name, normally taken from one of the cities or regions along the route, which means that the system is incredibly easy to navigate (the line names are even indicated on the tickets!).

Even so, figuring out how to manage the Japanese transportation system might be somewhat of a challenge for some. With that in mind, we’ve created this complete guide to the train system in Japan to help solve any doubts regarding riding the densha (how you say train in Japanese!).

The Japanese train system

The railway system in Japan is so well developed, punctual, extensive and diverse that you can simply assume that wherever you plan to go – there is a train that will take you there.

The very first thing to know is that railway lines in Japan are not operated by a single company. Japanese National Railways , a government-owned company, used to be in charge of the entire rail network in Japan as well as everything associated with it.

However, In 1987, the JNR underwent privatization and was split into six independent rail companies:

• Hokkaido Railway Company
• East Japan Railway Company
• Central Japan Railway Company
• West Japan Railway Company
• Shikoku Railway Company
• Kyushu Railway Company

Together, they make up the Japan Railways Group, or JR Group. JR Group owns roughly 80% of the railroads , but the rest are privately owned companies.

Due to this, when reading the visual maps above any ticket-vending machine around Japan you will notice that some lines headed in the same direction have different prices. This is so because each company has its own price list.

You are free to select the company you wish. The Japan Rail Pass multi-use ticket is part of the National JR Group and the JR Pass can be used on the vast majority of main services!

For more information about the national, regional and local lines, please check our maps page.

Privately owned rail companies

There are dozens of private railway companies in Japan . Some operate just a single line, while others manage larger networks.

According to the Japan Private Railway Association, these are the major private railway companies currently operating in the country:

Greater Tokyo

• Keikyu – connects Tokyo with Yokohama and southern Kanagawa Prefecture
• Keio – manages a network of railway lines west of central Tokyo
• Keisei – operates lines from Tokyo to Chiba Prefecture, including one to Narita Airport
• Odakyu – runs 3 three lines from central Tokyo to the west and Kanagawa Prefecture
• Seibu – runs a network of lines in the suburbs west of central Tokyo
• Tobu – operates lines in Tokyo’s suburbs and prefectures to the north of the city
• Tokyu – oversees a network of lines in southern Tokyo

Greater Nagoya

• Meitetsu – runs a rail network around Nagoya that includes access to Central Japan Airport

Greater Osaka

• Hankyu – oversees lines in northern Osaka, connects Osaka with Kobe and Kyoto
• Hanshin – runs a line between Osaka and Kobe, as well as a few shorter branch lines
• Keihan – operates a main line that connects Osaka and Kyoto
• Kintetsu – manages the largest non-JR rail network, connecting Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Ise, and Nagoya
• Nankai – runs lines in southern Osaka and Wakayama Prefecture, facilitates access to Kansai Airport

Greater Fukuoka

• Nishitetsu – in charge of a network of lines in Fukuoka Prefecture

Combined, these companies operate over 2,870.1 kilometers of railways across Japan. However, remember that the JR Group controls over 20,135 km of lines in Japan , a far greater number, and that you can use the JR Pass on the majority of these services.

Types of trains in Japan

Following are the intercity and suburban Japanese train categories explained:

Shinkansen (Super Express)

Also known as bullet trains , these are the fastest transportation modes in Japan with very few stops (if any) in comparison to the rapid or local ones.

The Shinkansen run on separate tracks and platforms since their track gauge is completely different from the others. This is due to the line’s high-speed capabilities and overall construction.

A Super Express fee is required when boarding any of the bullet trains, in addition to the regular base fee. The price is usually between 800 and 8,000 yen, depending on your final destination.

Note : Shinkansen bullet trains are included in the Japan Rail Pass , which means that JR holders will not have to make any extra payments* when boarding this train during the validity of their pass.

*A surcharge and a special complementary ticket to the JR Pass are required to use the “Nozomi” and “Mizuho” train services (from October 1, 2023).

Limited Express trains

There are over a 100 different types of Limited Express trains, with a limited number of stops, so they only go to major Japanese stations. Similar to the Shinkansen, the Limited Express also requires an additional fee to be paid. The Japan Rail Pass does cover some of those trains, however not all of them. The extra cost can vary between 400 and 4,000 yens.

Express trains

Many of the Japanese Express trains have been stopped and upgraded to Limited Express or downgraded to Rapid. The JR Group operates the current Express trains, which means Japan Rail Pass holders can use them free of charge. All other passengers will be charged an additional fee.

The JR Pass also covers the main airport transfers , which are usually operated by express or limited express trains : Haneda International Airport ( Tokyo Monorail ), Narita International Airport ( Narita Express ), and Kansai International Airport ( Haruka Express ).

Rapid trains

Passengers will not be charged any extra fees when boarding a rapid train. A single train ride costs equally to one local train ride. The only difference is that rapid trains skip a few stops in comparison to the local one, which makes their time of arrival notably shorter.

Local trains

To ride a local train you will need to buy a regular ticket. No extra fee will be required. Local trains can either go from point A to point B or run at loop lines in both directions (like the Yamanote line in Tokyo or the Osaka loop line ), stopping at all stations. It is recommended not to take these trains for long distances as they are some of the slowest and least spacious in Japan.

Special trains

While most trains are geared toward commuting or business travel, there are many trains that are designed for tourists. In Japan, this type of train is broadly referred to as joyful trains .

The most popular trains are the various steam trains that run on more scenic lines. These mostly run on weekends and holidays and many operate only in the summer months. Many of them called character trains have been given unique designs to attract visitors to scenic locations.

This started with trains featuring characters popular with children, but more recently, prominent industrial designers have been recruited to design unique trains more appealing to adults.

One of the most recent tourist trains to debut in Japan is Kyushu’s 3.5- hour Coto Coto rolling restaurant train, launched in 2019.

Train tickets in Japan

Before explaining the ticket-buying process, let us focus on the train ticket options you will have with the different companies and services (you can also read our article about Train tickets in Japan for more detailed information):

The Japan Rail Pass

With the JR Pass , you can choose between a 7, 14 and 21-day pass, giving you access to all Japan Railways Group (JR) trains, buses, and ferry services available throughout Japan.

Book your Japan Rail Pass now

Standard train tickets

These are the regular tickets that will take you from point A to point B. For short distances, it is easier to purchase them from the ticket machines, which you can find easily on any platform.

IC cards  are prepaid rechargeable transportation cards, which can be used to pay your train or bus fare – similar to the London Oyster card, for example. Pasmo and Suica are the most popular transportation cards in Tokyo.

What is more, there is an increasing number of shops and restaurants where travelers can use an IC card to make a contactless payment.

Note : Please keep in mind that each Japanese city has its own prepaid travel card. The good news is that they are interchangeable, which means you can use your Tokyo Suica card on the Kyoto metro.

City passes

Many Japanese cities offer city passes that grant 24h unlimited access to any of the city transportation means such as trains, trams, buses, and metro. Such passes are also referred to as Day Pass. You can purchase them at a ticket counter in any of Japan’s big cities: Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, Nagoya, Hiroshima and more.

How to buy individual train tickets

Tickets for short-distance trips are sold at vending machines, whereas tickets for long-distance trips can be purchased at ticket counters.

First-timers might be puzzled by the typical Japanese ticket machines as grasping how to buy a ticket right from the beginning is not always easy. Don’t be scared! Here is our step-by-step guide to managing the Japanese ticket vending machines:

How to use the ticket vending machines

• Locate the ticket vending area at your station. Typically there will be a big map above it.
• Take a look at the map and find the name of your final destination. Tip :  The station you are currently at will be written with larger letters (usually red) and in some occasions indicated by a red arrow (“You are here” style). The map displays the names of the stations in both Japanese and English together with the price to get to each destination.
• Once you know how much your trip will cost you, take a look at the machine screen.
• Tap the “English” button on the top right corner of the screen for an English translation of the process.
• One the left hand-side of the screen select the number of passengers.
• If your final destination costs 200 ¥ (for example), select 200 on the screen (usually, you don’t choose the name of your destination but the price to get there).
• You can also insert coins/notes first. If you have added 200 (¥), the screen will highlight in green the options for this amount.
• Once you have selected the amount and inserted it, your ticket will be immediately printed and you will be given your  change (if any).

Even though it might seem complicated or too unfamiliar at first, don’t be discouraged. The second try will already be easier!

Note : Keep your ticket with you until the end of your trip. You will need it to get out at your destination station.

How to reserve train seats on Japanese trains

All Japan Rail Pass holders are entitled to free seat reservations . If you are a JR Pass holder, you can simply go to any of the ticket offices located at the stations, specify which train you are planning to take and that is all. You will be given a confirmation of your seat reservation within seconds.

The procedure is the same for passengers with no Japan Rail Passes. However, they will have to pay an extra fee. The exact amount depends on the selected type of train and class.

Note : Always remember that Japanese trains are punctual to the second. If you have a seat reservation, make sure to be at the station in advance.

Getting around Japanese train stations

Japan Rail Pass holders enter the train platforms at the station from a different gate than those with standard train tickets. To enter, JR Pass travelers should go to the glass booth located next to the gates  and show their JR Pass (and passport, if required) to the staff.

When at the station waiting for your train, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:

• Follow the queue like the Japanese do.
• Make sure to check which is your track before boarding, as sometimes more than one train leaves from the same platform.
• All the indications you need will be displayed on the monitors in both Japanese and English.
• Stand in a straight line. Personal space and waiting behavior matter to the Japanese!
• Follow the example of the Japanese when entering the train by first letting everyone get out.

Note : for more information about stations, please refer to our complete guide about Japanese train stations .

Where to store your luggage

Riding the trains with large suitcases is not recommended as there is little storage space provided on most trains. This excludes the Narita Express, which will take you to and from Narita Airport to central Tokyo, and the Haruka train. Both are well equipped for large luggage, however, the rest of the trains are not.

Shinkansen trains offer overhead storage compartments for regular luggage. Also,  there is space behind the last row of seats of each car. However, this space is limited, and there is no guarantee it will be available.

Check the Japan Railways regulations for Shinkansen luggage for full specifications.

Note : for more information about transporting luggage, please refer to our guide about  luggage forwarding and coin lockers .

Other travel tips

It is important to understand that the Japanese follow a strict etiquette in public and especially when riding a train or taking a bus. Always bear in mind that speaking on the phone is not accepted, as you are disturbing those who surround you.

Listening to loud music, placing your bags on the seat next to you or not giving it up to the elderly, sick or pregnant is practically forbidden.

A final recommendation will be to enjoy to the fullest your time in Japan but always to be mindful of those around you.

Cover photo – Local train next to Ueno Station (Tokyo) – By @chucknado (Flickr)

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Hi! This information is great for first time travelers. However, I just want to clarify something. If we are carrying a JR pass and will ride a local train, do we have to buy a regular ticket? Is the local train not covered by the JR pass? Thanks!

Hi Inna, the Japan Rail Pass covers all JR Group limited express trains, express trains, rapid and local ones. Shinkansen bullet trains are also covered, except of NOZOMI and MIZUHO. However, you have access to the ‘Hikari’ or ‘Sakura’ Shinkansen that cover the same routes. The Hikari and Sakura bullet trains reach the same top speed as the Nozomi and Mizuho trains and use the same type of actual train, but have more stops along each route. For example, from Tokyo to Kyoto, the Hikari takes 15mins more than the equivalent Nozomi. Happy travels!

Hi: Which JR train can I take from Haneda airport to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. I need to go to shinagawa to take the JR train to kyoto. How do I reserve seats on the same day if I am exchanging the JR pass when I arrive?

From Haneda Airport you can take the Tokyo Monorail, which is included in your Japan Rail Pass . Hamamatsucho Station (first station on the Yamanote Line , which will take you straight to Shinagawa Station) is reached in as little as 13 minutes.

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 to change to a reserved seat once you have boarded the train. Here’s how to book a seat :

1. Please take your Japan Rail Pass to the JR Ticket Office. 2. Once at the ticket office, you will be asked about your destination and preferred departure time. 3. You will be handed your reserved seat ticket, stating departure time, arrival time, train name, car and seat.

Happy travels!

Kristy, my daughter is studying in Tokyo right now. My other daughter and I will be traveling over to see her in a few weeks. We want to buy the JR Pass as we will be traveling down to Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima. I have read she is not eligible 🙁 but can she still reserve a seat with us if we all go to reserve together? I don’t want her to have to sit alone?? Any suggestions for us?

Hi, thank you for all the helpful information. Is 24 inch luggage OK to bring into trains or too big? I prefer to have my luggage with me when travelling from city to city, but worry my 24 inch luggage may be too big to bring into the trains.

Hi Angela! Travellers are allowed luggage on board of Shinkansen bullet trains for no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage, both of which should have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total of 250 cm in height, length and width. There is a delivery service option.

Hi, I will be arriving and departing from Chubu Centrair International Airport. Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the μ Sky Limited Express?

Thank you for any information.

Hi LaToya! Unfortunately there is no Japan Rail Pass access to Chubu International Airport. Happy travels!

Hi! Traveling in March 2019. we arrive at Narita at 3:00 pm and would like to travel to Kyoto on our arrival date. Planning to purchase the jrailpass… having a difficult time locating the train schedule. We want to make sure we don’t spend to much time waiting or miss the last train to Kyoto… any help is appreciated. Also, is it safe to arrive at night? Thank you!

Hi R! We sstrongly recommend you to check Hyperdia , the number 1 Japanese online transportation planning tool. Hyperdia offers detailed timetables, platform information, trip duration and exact distance, which will help you greatly in organizing your trips in Japan. You will even be able of filtering transportation included in your Japan Rail Pass 😉

Does the JR pass cover the Romancecar? If not, is there a list of all the services which are covered by the JR pass?

Hi Jacob! Do you mean the Sagano Scenic Railway , Kyoto’s romantic train? The Japan Rail Pass won’t cover this ride, however you will be entitled to travel to Saga-Arashiyama Station with it – the journey starts from that station!

Dear JL Pass,

We are planning to visit Japan in April for 2 weeks as below: Tokyo (6 days), Kyoto (4 day so), Osaka (2 days), Hiroshima (2 days). We would like to use JLPass but I wonder if it covers all the bullet trains from the city to city such as from Tokyo to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Osaka, from Osaka to Hiroshima OR from Hiroshima back to Tokyo? Thank you in advance for your time and looking forward to hearing your advice/ recommendation! By the way, I do appreciate your effort to answer all the concerned questions! ??

Yes, the Japan Rail Pass will cover all yur mentioned city-to-city trips. We recommend you to check our related articles for further detail:

Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka with the JR Pass How to go from Osaka to Kyoto Discover Hiroshima with the JR Pass

Hi, We’re visiting Japan in April and will be visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Himeji, Hiroshima, Takayama and Kanazawa before returning to Tokyo. As our travel dates and times are fixed can we book all our tickets in one go or do you recommend that we book each separately the day before we travel? We plan on using the 21 day JR Green pass. Thanks

Hi Glyn! All Japan Rail Pass holders are entitled to reserve seats on the trains they plan to ride. This can be done from the moment you exchange your pass in Japan. Happy travels!

Hi, I will be visiting Japan from 5th to 11th February. I will be arriving at Narita Airport. Would like to check if the 7-day Japan Rail Pass covers the following destinations I intend to visit:

Tokyo -> Osaka Osaka -> Kobe Osake -> Hiroshima

Yes, the Japan Rail Pass covers them all:

– Tokyo and Osaka are connected by the Tokaido Shinkansen line. – You have two options when traveling from Osaka to Kobe using the JR Pass. You may take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Kobe Station. This trip lasts approximately 15 minutes. Alternatively, you may take a JR Special Rapid Train from Osaka Station to the Kobe Sannomiya Station, with a trip duration of around 20 minutes. – To get to Hiroshima from Osaka city center, take the JR Haruka Express to Shin-Osaka Station, then transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen line (westbound, Hikari trains). This trip takes approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Hello, Four of us will be arriving in Haneda, international flight, on a Saturday afternoon, 3:40 PM, then wish to take the fastest bullet train to Kyoto; coming back to Tokyo no rush so we would use the JR rail pass. In your opinion, would we find seats on Nozomi on a Saturday afternoon/evening? Alternatively, we could take the Hikari to Kyoto(2 hr 40 min?), would we find seats on a Saturday afternoon/evening? Also, does the JR rail pass include train travel between Tokyo and Hitachi seaside park? Thank you!

Nozomi and Mizuho Shinkansen bullet trains (both reserved and non-reserved) are not included with the JR Pass . However, there are Nozomi and Mizuho alternatives which passengers can access with the JR Pass. Typically, Hikari and Sakura trains only make a few more stops than Nozomi or Mizuho trains so they do not take too much longer to reach Osaka or Kyoto from Tokyo . For example, traveling to Osaka from Tokyo takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes by Nozomi, or just over 3 hours by Hikari.

Hello, I’ve found a place to stay near Tokyo. But it is located near Station IkebukuroｰOhyama. The address is in Itabashi-ku. Can I use my JRPass up to Yamanote Line using only my Pass. Anh how long with the travel take? Thanj you so very much. Please answer me quickly. Cristina from Canada

Hi Cristina!

There are five Tokyo railway lines that travelers can use with their JR Pass: Yamanote line , Chuo line, Keihin-Tohoku line, Sobu line and Saikyo line. Besides, the Tokaido Shinkansen trains stop at Tokyo, Ueno, and Shinagawa stations. These are the only lines you can take at no additional cost with your Japan Rail Pass .

Hi there! If we use the JR pass for Narita Express, is it counted as DAY 1 of the pass usage already? Thank you!

Hi Karen! Yes, the first time you use the Japan Rail Pass already counts as the first day. Happy travels!

Good morning, I have JR Pass and I plan to go to Sapporo Hokkaido by Shinkansen. is there a direct Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sapporo or I will need to change trains? Would you kindly show me how and where to make transfer easier and how many transfer do I need to do? Please also kindly show me what website I can find shinkansen timetable for Tokyo to Sapporo. …. Thank you so much. Euro from USA

Hi Eurosong! Travel to Sapporo by train is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. This is an affordable option with the added bonus of views of much of the Japanese countryside. From Tokyo Station, take the JR Tohoku / Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate Station. From there, you will take the Hokuto limited express or Super Hokuto trains to Sapporo Station. Both are covered by the Japan Rail Pass . Happy travels!

Hi, I will be arriving in Narita Intl airport on 1st Dec, morning. I plan to visit Kyoto and Hakone. My trip starts on saturday morning and ends on Monday evening in Yokohama. Effectively I have got 3 days. How do i plan out? Will the JR pass make sense? Thanks

Hi Junaid! The JR Pass gives you unlimited access to all Japan Rail National trains, JR bus services, ferry services, and airport transfers. A 7-day JR Pass only costs ¥29.110 which is actually cheaper than a return ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto on a Shinkansen bullet train. This means that if you make just one long-distance trip you can already save money. If you make multiple trips then you start saving thousands of yen.

Thank you for such detailed and informative article. We are planning a trip to Japan next summer for 10 days. This will be our first time there and I would really appreciate all the information that I can get in regards to the transportation system. We will be spending the first half of our trip in Tokyo (Shinjuku is where we’re going to stay) flying into Narita Airport. Then, we wanted to take a bullet train to visit Kyoto for about 3 days. We would need to go back to Tokyo again for our last night because our departing flight will be at Haneda Airport. We plan on getting around using the public transportations (trains, buses, etc) that Japan offers, but I am pretty confused on what would be more cost efficient to purchase. Would it make sense to purchase the Japan Rail Pass for our last 7 days and then just individually buy subway tickets for the first couple of days we’re there? If I do buy the Japan Rail Pass, do I need to purchase it way ahead of time or can I purchase it when we get to Japan? How much is a two-way trip bullet train trip from Tokyo-Kyoto? I tried searching for that information, but haven’t had luck on finding it.

Again, any information would be very helpful. Please advise. Thank you so much!

Hi, We are 2 adults and 2 children (6 and 1 year old) traveling in Japan in December. We’ll be arriving in Osaka, then we will visit: Nara Koya-San Kumano Kodo Hiroshima Kyoto Tokyo We’ll spend 14 days. Do you suggest to buy 14 days JRPass? Does it cover all these destinations? Thank you very much

Hi, I am going to Japan for the first time. I will be arriving in KIX and staying in Osaka for a few days before moving to Kyoto, then Kanazawa, then Takayama, then Nagoya, then Nara and finally back to Osaka for flight via KIX.

As I am travelling with my family, can I carry luggages on the train when I travel between Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Takayama – Nagoya – Nara – Osaka.

Thanks Tom, Malaysia

Hi Tom! Travellers are allowed luggage on board of Shinkansen bullet trains at no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage, both of which should have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total of 250 cm in height, length and width. There is a delivery service option. Happy travels!

hi there, Firstly thanks for this blog, very useful info to understand the basic info on there train systems! We are travelling in japan in January 2019. Just wanting to know if JR pass will be suitable for all the following? 4-7: Osaka local travel (staying in dontoburi, travel to universal studios) 6: – day trip to kyoto (shrines, temples, etc.) 7:- travel osaka to hakuba (looks like osaka to kyoto, and nagayo to either nagano or matsumoto is covered by JR. However kyoto to nagayo is shinkansen nozumi which is not included in JR?) 12 – travel Hakuba to Shibuyu, Tokyo (possibly bus to nagano then shinkansen to tokyo) 12-14: local tokyo travel (i.e. shinjuku) 15 – shibuyu to narita (need to be at airport prior to 9am, is this peak hour?)

Also we will be travelling with our snowboard bags and suitcase each – is that too much luggage for train travel?

Thanks in advance!

Dear JRail Pass team,

we will arrive on 24th October to Tokyo. Our JRPass ordered and we plant to pick up it in Tokyo Main station. We would like to visit Kyoto (on 26th October) and Mt. Fuji (on 27th of October). Would you be so kind as to give me a suggested itinerary for these routes?

Many thanks in advance.

best regards, Géza

Sure – please find below our best suggestions for those locations:

Things to do in Kyoto: travel guide Mount Fuji from Tokyo: Day trip itinerary

We hope you enjoy your stay!

I’ll be travelling to japan in December for 2 weeks, our itinerary would be :

11th- 17th : Tokyo (Shin-okubo) 17th- 19th: Tokyo > Kyoto (Otsu) 19th – 21th: Kyoto > Osaka 21th- 24th: Osaka > Tokyo

There will be 5 of us and we will reach HND airport at 5am in the morning on the 11th. However i am unsure if i should get the JR Railway pass for 7days ( for kyoto and osaka) or would it be more cost-efficient if i get it for the full 14 days? Will travelling around tokyo be sufficient if i just purchased the subway pass? Please advice!

Hi Angelina! For the time you will be staying in Tokyo, if you are not travelling to the outskirts an IC Prepaid card should be sufficient. Regarding the days you will be travelling between cities, the 7-day Japan Rail Pass should be a perfect fit.

Hello JRailPass Team,

We are going to travel from Sendai to Aomori. When we checked on Hyperdia, it shows the route as follows: (Sendai – Morioka – Hachinohe – Aomori)

From Morioka to Hachinohe, it uses Iwate Galaxy/Aoimori Railway for Hachinohe. Meanwhile, from Hachinohe to Aomori, it uses Aomori Railway for Aomori.

We understand that there is a statement in JR pass brochure saying the below: The JR Pass covers Aomori Railway between Hachinohe and Aomori, Aomori and Noheji, or Hachinohe and Noheji (valid only for use on ordinary trains.)

Therefore, we would like to confirm with you if JR pass holder is able to take Iwate Galaxy/Aoimori Railway for Hachinohe and Aomori Railway for Aomori.

Yes the Japan Rail Pass should cover these local and limited express trains. Please check with the seat reservation counters in case you might have to pay an extra fee.

have a good time for olympic games I am very sorry that you all having it in place of the big croud of people in toyko olympics again thank you trains for invites for the team on the trains

wishing very well jr train mission travel and good night.

from gillian

Hi we are travelling to Japan arriving at Narita. When we arrive we have to travel to Yokohama for our first night. We then cruise for 8 days and on our return we would like to go to Kyoto for two nights. Is purchasing the Japan railway pass our cheapest option or should we just pay for the individual travel to Yokohama from Narita then Yokohama to Kyoto return?

Hi Jodi! The Japan Rail Pass may not be the best option for you since the scope of validity of the pass are 7 consecutive days. Considering you will be spending 8 days on a cruise and need to use it before and after it, it wouldn’t pay off.

Hello there 🙂

We’re first time travellers to Jap and will be covering these areas – We’ll land in Osaka stay for 6days with day trips to Kyoto and Nara, followed by Tokyo for 5days. We’re not likely to travel out from Tokyo.

I would like to check: 1. is JR Pass is necessary for us? 2. does the JR pass include the airport train Narita express if we were to travel from Osaka to Tokyo?

thanks and hope to hear from u soon!

You can always buy individual train tickets but the JR Pass would save you costs! It does include the Narita Express at any time, the trains from Osaka to Kyoto and Nara, the Osaka loop line and other local JR lines, and the Tokyo Yamanote loop line and other JR lines, and most importantly the bullet train Osaka-Tokyo (which would be the most expensive ticket). With that in mind, is up to you where to choose the 14-day pass or to choose the 7-day pass and activate it before leaving for Tokyo.

Have a nice trip!

Hi JRailPass Team, Appreciate the effort you take in answering all the questions of us.

I will be travelling to Japan on November 10th to 19th 2018 and will be purchasing the JR pass. I need your help in guiding me on how do i travel from Tokyo-Shinjuku to Mount Fuji, and from Mount Fuji to Osaka

Hi Desmond! Thank you for your nice words 🙂 Please check our article Mount Fuji from Tokyo: Day trip itinerary to get further insight on this magical location. We hope you like it!

I will be travelling to Japan on October 24 and staying until November 3. I will be purchasing a JR pass but would like some help. My plan is to visit several cities/prefectures but I am a little confused what are the limitations are to use of the pass. I understand not all trains will be available to me as well as not all buses. But can can you give me some information:

1. Where can I find schedules for the different trains/buses? I prefer to be travelling at night when going from 1 place to another to save up on time.

The plan is: Nagoya > Kyoto Kyoto > Osaka Osaka > Tokyo

2. Are there overnight trains/buses that I can use the JR Pass?

Can you provide some information on this please. Thank you

Hi Dionne! The most updated schedules can be found at Hyperdia , the number 1 Japanese online transportation planning tool. Regarding sleeper trains, the Japan Rail Pass will generally cover the base fare on overnight trains .

Hello With my partner, I will be travelling to Japan this October. It’s our first trip and we’d like to know whether Japan Rail operates on all of the lines we want to travel, and so whether a JP pass would be a good idea for us. We will stay for a week in Tokyo, then set off to Yakushima island for a few days, then on to Naoshima island, then Kyoto, and finally back to Tokyo. Does a travel pass with JP cover all connections? Thanks Niels

To get from Tokyo to Yakushima island you can take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kagoshima. The trip will last approximately 8 hours and requires several train transfers, but is completely covered by the JR Pass . From Kagoshima, you can take a boat or ferry to the island. To get to Naoshima island you will first need to reach Okayama, which is easy with your pass. From Okayama Station , take the JR Uno Line to Uno Station. From Uno Station, walk across the street to the ferry terminal. Please not that the ferry passage is not included in the JR Pass and costs ¥290 one way.

Naoshima is easily connected to Kyoto. You will just need to walk back all the path to Okayama Stations and once there you will just need to take the Hikari train on the JR Tokaido / Sanyo Shinkansen Line to Kyoto Station .

We are leaving Kyoto for Kanazawa on Sept. 29th. How long will that trip take? How often do these trains run? Also are are trains starting 9AM – 11AM. We would also like to know the same for the trip from Kanazawa to Takayama on Oct. 1st. and Takayama to Hakone on Oct. 3rd. Thank you.

The Limited Express Thunderbird, included in your Japan Rail Pass , connects Kyoto Staton to JR Kanazawa Station. Regarding Takayama and Kanazawa, there is no direct train line between them. Take an early Wide View Hida Limited Express Train from Takayama to JR Toyama Station, and then make your way to the Hokuriku Shinkansen which will take you all the way to JR Kanazawa Station.

Regarding the duration and time of trips in concrete days, please make sure to check Hyperdia . Hyperdia offers detailed timetables, platform information, trip duration and exact distance, which will help you greatly in organizing your trips in Japan.

Hi, If i buy jr pass for trip from tokyo to osaka, am I entitle for free ride from haneda airport to shinjuku as well as from osaka to kansai airport? Or it is just a one way free ride

Hi Wawanadjwa! The Japan Rail Pass is a multi-use all-you-can-ride discounted rail ticket. It gives you unlimited access to all Japan Rail National trains, as well as JR bus services, ferry services, and airport transfers during the time the pass is valid. Unlimited trips are valid with this pass, both one way and return trips. Enjoy your stay!

We plan on coming to Japan but the train is confusing to me can you tell me if JR rail pass will cover the below? Can you also tell me which train line we have to take?

a. our train ride from NRT to Shinjuku b. Our train ride around the city of Tokyo c. Our train ride from Tokyo to Osaka d. our train ride from Osaka to Nara e. Our train ride from Nara to Kyoto f. Our train ride from Kyoto to Tokyo

Hi Satwinder!

The Japan Rail Pass will fully cover all your itinerary:

– To go from Narita Airport to Shinjuku please take the Narita Express . – When in Tokyo, the JR Pass affords access to five main Tokyo railway lines: the Yamanote Line , the Keihin-Tohoku Line , the Rapid Chuo Line, the local Chuo-Sobu line and other metropolitan lines that circulate on the outskirts of the city such as the JR Keio line, JR Musashino line, JR Nambu line and JR Yokohama line. – Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are connected with by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, included with the Japan Rail Pass. – In order to get from Kyoto to Nara , begin at Kyoto Station. Take the Miyakoji Rapid Train, on the JR Nara line to JR Nara Station. – Begin your trip from Osaka to Nara at the JR Osaka Station. Take the Yamatoji Rapid Train to JR Nara Station.

I have some questions on getting from Narita to Tokyo. I will be landing July 1st at 9pm in Narita and would need to get to Nippori to the hotel, would the Narita Express not work? Or would I have to take the JR Line? If so, how exactly does that line work?

Also: 1. I will be traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto what is the best way to get around Kyoto? 2. I will be traveling to Kyoto, back to Tokyo, staying there for a couple of days and then heading to Osaka, what is the best pass to get? I know there are separate Kansai passes but they are CONFUSING, since I also want to use the JR pass WITHIN Tokyo? What is the specific name of the pass I should get?

Thank you so much!

I have a client who would like to take a train from Kyoto to Sapporo and a few days later take a train from Sapporo to Tokyo. Can you tell me how long those train rides would take and would he have to change trains. Also can he make reservations in advance and if so how can he do that?

To get from Tokyo to Sapporo he will need to take the JR Tohoku / Hokkaido Shinkansen to Shin-Hakodate Station from Tokyo Station . From Shin-Hakodate Station, he will take the Hokuto limited express or Super Hokuto trains to Sapporo Station. Both are covered by the Japan Rail Pass and the whole journey will take 8 hours.

The journey by train from Kyoto to Sapporo takes around 11 hours. From Kyoto Station , take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Tokyo Station. Then, proceed from Tokyo Station as described above. This is a great use of your JR Pass , as a one-week pass costs several thousand yen less than would the individual train fares.

Hi, we arrive in Haneda airport at 1730 on Tuesday March 27th. Will we have enough time to get to JR office to exchange our vouchers? I checked and they close at 1830. I looked on HYPERDIA what train to take from Haneda airport to Kyoto. It gave me different options with three to 6 transfers! I picked 3 transfer option which was the least transfer option: Walk from terminal 1 to the domestic terminal at the airport Take bus, Fare: 580 Yokohama track #4 JR Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi line local for Minami-Urawa Higashi-Kanagawa JR Yokohama line local for Hachioji Shin-Yokohama Shinkansen Hikari 533 Kyoto So do I have to take a bus before taking the train and do I need to pay for the bus or is that included in the JR pass? What time do JR trains start running from Tokyo to Kyoto and from Kyoto to Tokyo and what’s the latest time they stop running? I can’t find this information on HYPERDIA. Is it easier to go from Haneda airport to Kyoto in the evening or from Kyoto to Nareta airport very early in the morning?

If travelling with a Japan Rail Pass , from Haneda Airport you can easily reach central Tokyo at no additional cost in the Tokyo Monorail . It will take you straight to Monorail Hamamatsucho Station which facilitates transfer to the JR Keihin-Tohoku line. Then you just need to get off at Shinagawa Station and there you will be able to take the Hikari train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line that will take you all straight to Kyoto. All is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

The most updated information on timetables, tracks and trains can always be found at Hyperdia – the number 1 Japanese online transportation planning tool.

We hope you enjoy your trip!

Hi, I will come to Japan on April 2018 I need to buy a Rail Pass but I don’t understand after pay online how or where I receive an Exchange Order if is a printable Email or is send to me in a regular postal mail or I need to take from a JR office in the airport thanks chris

The Japan Rail Pass cannot be emailed nor scanned or photographed. Due to the strict regulations of the Japanese Government, it is required to present the physical Exchange Order at any of the exchange offices in Japan.

Hi, i am travelling fr kansei to kyoto, then internal travel to see sights iwthin kyoto, then travel to osaka, and back to kansei airport. Which is the best pass to get? Or which combination is best?

The Japan Rail Pass works nation-wide and thus you would be able to use it in your whole mentioned itinerary:

– From Kansai Airport you can easily reach Kyoto in the Haruka Express . – From Kyoto to Osaka just take the Hikari train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. – While in Osaka, you will be entitled to make full use of the Osaka Loop Line . – From Osaka to Kansai Airport you can also take the Haruka Express.

Hello, we will arrive at Narita Mar 29, leaving Narita Apr 09. We plan to stay in Tokyo (2 of us, my husband and I) from Mar 29 – Apr 02 and then to travel to Osaka Apr 02 – 08 where we will do several day trips for example to Kyoto, Nara, and Hiroshima. We will then come back to Tokyo Apr 08 for our last night, leaving the evening of Apr 09. We are wondering if it is better to buy a 72-hour Tokyo Metro Pass, then a 7-day JR Pass, then a 24-hour Tokyo pass? Or if a 14-day JR Pass would make more sense?

Also, if we are not activating/using the JR Pass until Apr 02, does that mean we cannot reserve seats until that activation date for our day trips?

Last, if we need to go from Narita to Tokyo Shinjuku Station and the reverse, but during the dates do not have the JR Pass active, how do we do that on the trains and what is the cost? N’Ex, is it included in the 72-hour or 24-hour Tokyo passes?

Thank you!!

To assess which is the ticket option that makes more sense in your case, we think the best would be to check the individual prices of each ticket at Hyperdia and compare them to the price of the Japan Rail Pass . Depending on the amount of trips and the distance you want to travel, even the longest validity pass could be cost-effective.

To book a seat it is essential to have your actual Japan Rail Pass (exchanged). However, should you have already exchanged your trip you will be able to book your seats in advance before its activation date . What this implies is that if you already have your itinerary mapped out, you can make seat reservations for your entire stay in Japan.

There is no limitation to the number of times a JR holder can use Narita Express , whereas other transportation cards like SUICA, are not valid for the service. A single ticket in N’EX from Narita Airport to Shinjuku Station costs 3,190¥ (standard class) or 4,730¥ (first class).

I will be travelling to Tokyo from 13-21 April,I will be landing on 14 April 8am+ and my flight return will be on 21st 11am+. So if I choose JR pass 7 days pass,it is able to cover?7-8 days…then first and last day will need to take NEX train back and forth from the Narita airport.

Secondly,if I buy the JR pass online,then I need to exchange the ticket at Narita Airport?where to exchange?

Thanks and look forward to your reply

Regards Keiyee

Hi Kei Yee!

The Japan Rail Pass validity period is calculated in days, not in hours. Therefore, if you have purchased a 7-day pass and your activation date (when you first use the pass) is the 14th of April, the exact expiration time will be midnight on April 20.

To activate your Japan Rail Pass , please go to any JR Exchange Office . They are spread through most Japanese Airports, such as Narita and Haneda. You can also find them at all the main train stations, located across the country.

Thanks for your reply.

Do you have any recommendations on the suggestion itinerary for 3 days two nights at Kyoto/Osaka? We will be staying at Kyoto, what’s Isa the better way to travel around there in order to save time/cost?

Thanks Kei yee

We recommend you to check our recommended itineraries thorughout the whole country and adapt them to the time you have available, specially the last days described in our 10 days in Japan: Travel itinerary article.

We hope you enjoy Japan!

Could you please advise, whether the JR Yamanote line goes in both directions or would I need to make a whole circle if I would need to go to the previous station?

The Yamanote is a circular line that connects Tokyo’s major city centers. Trains run in both directions.

Enjoy your trip.

Thanks very much for the very helpful article. I just wanted to confirm something with you since I was having a hard time finding a clear indication of the policy on this. I will be landing in Osaka-Kansai airport, and was planning to spend a few days around Osaka/Kyoto before heading to Tokyo. If I purchase a ticket from Kansai airport to Osaka (LTD-Express Haruka 54), Then a Shinkansen Nozomi to Tokyo(stopping at Kyoto) would I be able to do the following: Saturday: Land (at evening) at Kansai, take Haruka to Osaka Sunday evening or Monday morning: Train to Kyoto (Shinkansen Nozomi) Tuesday evening: Shinkansen Nozomi from Kyoto to Tokyo, without purchasing another ticket

ie, the question is, can I ‘separate’ a Shinkansen Nozomi single-fare train ticket from Osaka to Tokyo by a day or two in Kyoto, using the several days’ worth validity on it given the distance between Osaka and Tokyo?

Would this be possible? And, would it be what you recommend or do you have a better alternative in mind?

The Japan Rail Pass is valid on the Kodama, Hikari and Sakura types of Shinkansen, but is not valid on the Nozomi and Mizuho classes. You will not have access to the ‘Nozomi’ and ‘Mizuho’ Shinkansen that are the fastest trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines. However, you have access to the ‘Hikari’ or ‘Sakura’ Shinkansen that cover the same routes. The Hikari and Sakura bullet trains reach the same top speed as the Nozomi and Mizuho trains and use the same type of actual train, but have more stops along each route. For example, from Tokyo to Kyoto, the Hikari takes 15mins more than the equivalent Nozomi.

I will be going to Tokyo over the marathon weekend, and then leave to Kyoto straight after the marathon. From Kyoto I will visit Nara and Osaka over the course of 3 days and will then fly to Hokkaido from Osaka. Since I will only be travelling by train over the course of those 4 days (I will be renting a car in Hokkaido) I am unsure which rail pass to buy. Buying the 7-day pass seems excessive, so I thought of buying the Kansai Pass and then separately buy a one way ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto – does this make sense economically? Or would it be cheaper to actually buy the 7-day pass for those 4 days?

To assess if the Japan Rail Pass is the most cost effective ticket for your trip, we recommend you to check at Hyperdia which would be the cost of the individual ticket. When you have this detail you will be able to compare this price to the nation-wide pass price.

Information on your page entitled “Where to Store Your Luggage” is CONFUSING! We are a family of 9 planning to use the Shinkansen Hikari to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto in October of 2018. We will have large piece of luggage, but your information about large luggage on the Shinkansen seems to conflict with each other. One part says “Riding the trains with large suitcases is not recommended as there is little storage provided on most trains…..” Then it says, “Shinkansen trains offer overhead compartments for regular luggage….” Well, what is considered “regular” luggage. Then the same article continues with “The Japan Railways regulations state the following: each passenger can carry 2 pieces of large luggage….each suitcase should not exceed 30 kg in total…..the total of the luggage’s dimensions should add up to 250 cm. maximum…..” I am confused: so does this mean that the Shinkansen WILL ACCEPT large luggage? And if so, where will they store it?

Travellers are allowed luggage on board of Shinkansen bullet trains at no additional cost. However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage, both of which should have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total of 250 cm in height, length and width.

Hello Im from Malaysia and will travel to Japan this coming october 2018..got a few questions to ask if you dont mind.. 1) If i wish to travel in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido, which JR pass that suits my trip ? Or any better recommendation other than JR pass?

2) If i Buy the JR East pass, is It possible to ride on shinkansen from Tokyo to hokkaido which means direct to Hakodate? Is It includedbin jr east pass?

3) how about going to osaka from Tokyo or to Kyoto?is It possible to use jr east pass ?

4) which pass jr offer to use in osaka and kyoto? Or any better recommendation other than jr pass?

Thank you in advance

The Japan Rail Pass would cover all your itinerary:

– Transfers from main airports to Japan’s biggest cities (it covers Narita Express from Narita Airport, Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport and Haruka Express from Kansai Airport). – During your stay in Tokyo, the JR Pass affords access to five different local railway lines: the Yamanote Line , the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Rapid Chuo Line, the local Chuo-Sobu line and other metropolitan lines that circulate on the outskirts of the city such as the JR Keiyo, Musashi, Nambu and Yokohama lines. – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are connected with by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, included with the Japan Rail Pass. – In Osaka you will be entitled to fully use the Osaka Loop Line . – Sapporo, capital of the northern island of Hokkaido, is fully reachable with your Japan Rail Pass. Visit our guide to check the route depending on the city you are travelling from.

Please note that none JR East Pass covers both Tokyo and Kyoto/Osaka.

Hello, we are going to Tokyo Narita on 23rd April and we will stay for 10 days in Japan. We will also stay in Kyoto for two nights, then return to Tokyo and fly back home from Narita. I was thinking of getting a Japan Rail Pass (or activate it) after we have been three days in Tokyo, to explore the city first and then use it on the last 7 days. We plan to visit Mount Fuji with one of the Azusa Trains (limited express) to Otsuki (and then with Suica Card to the rest of the Fujikyko Line) and also Matsumoto from Tokyo. For Kyoto and back, we’d choose the Hikari bullet Train. In my opinion, the JR Pass would already save us some money on the mentioned routes. As the JR Pass does not cover all tracks, I wanted to get a Suica Card for like Tokyo or Kyoto Metro and the main private lines. Do you think this makes sense to combine JR Pass and Suica?

Hi Sabrina!

It makes perfect sense to combine a nation-wide Japan Rail Pass and a SUICA/PASMO Card for local transportation. 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:

– The Narita Express between Narita Airport and Tokyo city center (which already costs between 3,020 and 6,160 yen depending on the station you want to travel). – The trip to Mount Fuji through the Gotemba trail is almost fully covered. – You will also be able to travel to Matsumoto at no additional cost: from Tokyo Station, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Nagano (the fastest train is called Kagayaki). From there you can easily reach Matsumoto by train on the JR Shinonoi Line.

If you want to plan your itinerary taking into account times and costs of each trip we recommend you to check Hyperdia , the number 1 Japanese online transportation planning tool.

Enjoy your trip!

Hello, we are a party of 4 and will be planning to travel to Tokyo to Kyoto and then Osaka. We will each have one full size luggage and one hand-carry. Will we be able to bring it with us on the Hikari train from Tokyo to Kyoto station?

Travellers are allowed luggage on board for no additional cost in Shinkansen bullet trains . However, there is a limitation of two pieces of luggage, both of which should have a maximum weight of 60kg and a total of 250 cm in height, length and width. There is a delivery service option. Please note the Japan Rail Pass you be enough to travel between Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka .

Very happy travels!

Greetings jrailpass My name is franky and there is a lot of question that i want to ask (I already buy 7 days JR pass for my trip at 5-12 december 2017) I have make ittenary for 8 day 5-7 december at tokyo stay near Uguisudani Station 7-8 december at takayama (stay there) and seeight seeing at shirakawa 8-10 december stay at osaka (hotel diamond Taishi, Nishinari Ward, Osaka)

Question 1. Would you tell me what is the name of the station are for these spot ( i hope nearest the JR pass station) – Tokyo : tokyo imperial palace, tokyo skytree, asakusa, sensojji temple, ueno park, meiji shrine, odaiba (diver city), mount fuji, rainbow bridge – Takayama / Shirakawa go : hida no sato, old house, samurai statue, observatroy point, ogimachi village – Kyoto : kinkakuji temple, fushimi inari taisha, gion, the sagano bamboo forest, – Osaka : osaka castle, universal studio, shinsekai, shinsaibashihsuji street, dotonburi, umeda sky building, tempozan feris wheel 2. I will arrive at narita international airport terminal 1, how do i get to Uguisudani Station from narita (use JR pass) 3. Please give me advised about my trip, is there is a change i visit those spot (no 1) 4. Is JR pass can use for night train ? Thank you very much for your attention

Find below the answers to your questions:

– To move around the city of Tokyo the JR Pass affords access to five different Tokyo railway lines: the Yamanote Line , the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Rapid Chuo Line, the local Chuo-Sobu line and other metropolitan lines that circulate on the outskirts of the city such as the JR Keiyo, Musashi, Nambu and Yokohama lines. – Takayama is easy to access using your Japan Rail Pass, you can read all the details in our article Takayama and the Japanese Alps: Travel guide with the JR Pass . – Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka are connected with by the Tokaido Shinkansen line, included with the Japan Rail Pass. – When in Osaka, you will be granted full, unlimited access to the Osaka Loop Line . – From Narita airport you will be able to take the Narita Express to central Tokyo.

Should you want to discover more spots to visit we strongly recommend you to surf through our blog 🙂

We are planning a 6 days trip to Japan. We will fly in at Kansai Airport and fly out from Narita airport. We will stay in Kansai area for 4 days, station at Osaka and make days trips to Kyoto, Nara, Kobe. Then we will take the Hikari Shinkansen (one way) to Tokyo and stay there for 2 days. We are thinking of buying a 4 days JR West Kansai area pass. Will the JR West pass be good enough for the stay? or should we purchase a JR pass instead. Does this JR West Kansai pass cover the Hikari Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo?

Thx and regards Cindy

The JR West Kansai Pass won’t cover your whole trip. Should you travel with this pass you wouldn’t be entitled to take the Hikari Shinkansen from Osaka to Tokyo, Tokyo’s internal lines or the final transfer from Tokyo to Narita Airport. We would recommend you to check which would be the individual cost of those trips at Hyperdia and compare it to the cost of the nation-wide Japan Rail Pass .

The Japan Rail Pass would definately allow you to make all the mentioned trips:

– From Kansai Airport you will be entitled to travel in the Haruka Express straight to Osaka. – While in Osaka, you will have full acess to the Osaka Loop Line which “loops,” or circles, through downtown Osaka. – Travelling between Kyoto and Osaka is as easy as pie with the Japan Rail Pass: just take the Hikari train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. You will get between Kyoto Station and Shin-Osaka Station in less than 30 minutes. – Begin your trip from Osaka to Nara at the JR Osaka Station. Take the Yamatoji Rapid Train to JR Nara Station. These trains run once per hour; the trip lasts around 45 minutes and is covered by the JR Pass. – When traveling from Osaka to Kobe using the JR Pass, you may take the Sanyo Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Kobe Station. – To get from Osaka to Toyko, you will need to take either the Hikari bullet train or Kodama from Shin-Osaka to Tokyo or Shinagawa stations in central Tokyo. Both run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. – When in Tokyo, the JR Pass affords access to five different Tokyo railway lines: the Yamanote Line , the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Rapid Chuo Line, the local Chuo-Sobu line and other metropolitan lines that circulate on the outskirts of the city such as the JR Keiyo, Musashi, Nambu and Yokohama lines. – And last but not least, you will be entitled to take the Narita Express from central Tokyo to Narita Airport.

We hope you enjoy your visit!

Hello,. We are having trip to Japan on Nov 26 to Dec 4 and we are planning to purchase the JR pass. we will be staying in Hilton Tokyo bay in Maihama which is quite far from the Tokyo center. Can you guide us what train to take if we are going to shinjuku graciery hotel?how about to tsukiji market? Shibuya stn? and if we want to go to lake lake kawaguchi from Maihama tokyo bay? And froM Maihama to Kyoto station? Thanks

We strongly recommend to check all these routes at Hyperdia – a website, iOS app and Android app, that can be used as a guide to any city/town/village in Japan. Alternatively please check our article 7 best apps for traveling in Japan which is dedicated to the most useful apps to check while traveling in Japan.

Traveling to Japan. Our itinerary is Fly into Narita then travel to Osaka.

From Osaka, we are planning day trips to Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Then return back to Tokyo. Our total trip is 7 days.

Questions: – Should we buy a 7 day rail pass? – Is there a train from Narita airport down to Osaka or do we need to travel from the airport west to Tokyo to grab the train to Osaka.

First, we would recommend you to take the 7-day pass since you are planning to go to Kyoto, Hiroshima and Tokyo as well, so you would be making savings. To compare the prices of all the alternatives, check Hyperdia app or website. Also, the best way to get from Narita Airport to Osaka is to take the Narita Express to Tokyo station, from where you can board the Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka. This is the bullet train station for Osaka.

Hope this helps. Kind regards

Good Day, I will buy a JR Pass so that I can see all the stadiums for the rugby world cup in advance. I wish arrive in late May 2018 and visit each of them within 21 days. What is the best itinerary arriving from Hong Kong and leaving for Hong Kong. I guess arrive Fukuoka and leave from Sapporo – what rail routes should I take within the time available? Thank you. Alex

The Japan Rail Pass will easily allow you to have the unique opportunity to discover the whole country, which will be specially useful for you since all venues are spread through the country. In the Rugby World Cup official website you will find the exact location of all the venues. Having that it should be as easy as cake to draw the best itinerary with Hyperdia ‘s help!

Wish you an amazing trip!

Hi Japan Rail Team,

Will I be able to use my JR Pass from Tokyo to Nikko?

Regards, Charisse

Hi Charisse!

Yes – you will be able to travel from Tokyo to Nikko with your Japan Rail Pass. The trip is fully included in the pass. To get from Tokyo to Nikko, simply take the JR Tohoku Shinkansen (“Yamabiko” or “Nasuno Trains”) from Tokyo Station or Ueno Station to Utsunomiya; then, take the JR Nikko Line to Nikko Station.

This is Kathy, I am coming to Tokyo with my daughter and grand-duaghter on 1st November. My jusband will join us on the night of 8th and we want to go straight to Kyoto next morning as quickly as we can – then we will all return to Narita on 15th November. I am thinking of buying either the 7 day JR pass or the Japanican E-voucher for Nozomi Tokyo/Kyoto/Tokyo for all of us. My question is whether I will be able to buy our tickets to Kyoto on either Nozomi or Hikari before my husband arrives. I will have his E-voucher or JR pass with me but not his passport of course. I am concenred that in mid-November these trains will be busy and he doesn’t get in until quite late on 8th.

To exchange the voucher all passengers are required to go to any of the JR offices in person, and to bring their passport together with the Japan Rail Pass exchange order. In our FAQ section you will be able to see all the JR Exchange Offices and their service hours to check if any of them would work for your husband.

Thanks for the reply about the JP pass. I am still unclear about the Haruka Express to Shin Osaka (as opposed to Osaka city). It looks like from KIX that it goes first to Tennoji. Do we stay on the train or do we need to transfer to get to Shin Osaka (for instance, to catch the Tokaido Shinkasen line to Tokyo.

The Haruka Express stops at Tennoji Station before getting to Shin-Osaka as you state. However you won’t need any transfer to get to Shin-Osaka as it will take you there directly. Should you want to go to Osaka city center, once you get to Shin-Osaka Station you may want to transfer to a local train to Osaka Station. The trip from Shin-Osaka to Osaka takes only three to four minutes.

This is Henry–There will be 5 of us travelling. We will fly into KIX and have reservations at the Remm Shin Osaka. We plan to spend 3 days in Osaka, then travel on the Shenkansen to Tokyo for a couple of days, then to Narita to fly back to the USA. I’m unclear about the Japan Rail Pass and costs. Can I buy 5 tickets for a seven day period and make all these trips with no additional costs. Or do I also have to purchase separate rail tickets. Can I do what needs to be done when I arrive at KIX or do I need to purchase passes in advance?

The JR Pass can be purchased online or through specialized agents, like this website . However, since March 8, 2017, and on a trial basis, the pass is also sold at selected stations inside Japan, at an increased cost. While you are now able to purchase the JR Pass in Japan, please keep in mind that it is only sold in particular stations, at a higher price and you are required to pay in Yens, as no other currency will be accepted.

If travelling with a Japan Rail Pass, you can make the following trips at no additional cost: – Travel from KIX to Osaka city with the Haruka Express . – Travel from Osaka to Tokyo in either the Hikari bullet train or Kodama: both run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line and will take you to Tokyo or Shinagawa stations in central Tokyo. – From central Tokyo you will be able to easily reach Narita Airport through the Narita Express at no additional charge.

Hello Japan Rail Team,

I am Prudence and I will be visiting Japan in December 2017 with my family. We will arrive in Haneda and stay in Tokyo for a few days and sightseeing around in Tokyo city. On 27 Dec we are planning to go from Tokyo to Osaka by bullet train and stay there for 3 nights. But we will also make a day trip to Kyoto (from Osaka) and do sight seeing. What do you recommend i should buy? JR pass or JR pass plus Kansai Pass ? Thank you

Hi Prudence!

The Japan Rail Pass will already cover all the mentioned trips.

– The Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport will take you straight to Hamamatsucho Station in central Tokyo, on the Yamanote line . – To get from Tokyo to Osaka , you will need to take either the Hikari bullet train or Kodama from Tokyo or Shinagawa stations in central Tokyo. Both run on the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the two cities. – To travel between Kyoto and Osaka just take the Hikari train on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. You will get between Kyoto Station and Shin-Osaka Station in less than 30 minutes.

I will be arriving and departing at Narita Airport and will be staying at Shibuya for 4 days explore around Tokyo and Disneyland and am planning to go to USJ, Kyoto, and Mt. Fuji for 2 days. My stay will be 6 days in total, can I use the JR Rail Pass for all of my trips? Also, may I have the detailed stations and trains to ride? Thank you! 🙂

Yes – the Japan Rail Pass mainly covers all your scheduled trips.

– While in Tokyo you can use the Yamanote Line , included in the pass, to discover the city. Since you will be staying at Shibuya and one of the stops of this line is there, it can be a great starting point for exploring Tokyo. – To go to Tokyo Disneyland, use your JR Pass to travel from Tokyo Station to Maihama Station, on the JR Keiyo line. Travel time is 20 minutes and the park is a mere five-minute walk from the station. – Universal Studio Japan is located nearby Osaka. To get there, from Osaka Station, take the Osaka loop line to Universal City Station. From Nishikujo Station, you can also take the JR Sakurajima line (also called Yumesaki line). The park is a five-minute walk from the station. – Getting from Tokyo to Kyoto with the Japan Rail Pass is easy. You should take the Shinkansen Hikari train from either Tokyo Station or Shinagawa Station in central Tokyo, and arrive at Kyoto Station. – And last but not least, to go from Tokyo to Mount Fuji take JR Tokaido line for Kozu from Tokyo Station, using your JR Pass; once at Kozu (Kanagawa), take the JR Gotemba Line for Numazu and get off at Gotemba Station.

We hope you have an amazing experience in Japan!

I am going to Osaka in October, I will be travelling from Kansai airport to Osaka, and planning to do one or two Kyoto day trips, along with a weekend in Tokyo. I would prefer to go via Shinsaken as it’s quicker.

Would the JR 7 day pass be worth this?

Hi Natalie!

All the mentioned trips are included in the Japan Rail Pass:

– To travel from the Kansai Airport to the city of Osaka, board the Limited Express Haruka at the Kansai Airport Station using your Japan Rail Pass. – There are many day trips you can make from Kyoto . Among our favorites are Nara, Kobe and Himeji Castle, all of them included in the pass. – To go from Osaka to Tokyo , you can either take Hikari bullet train or Kodama to Tokyo or Shinagawa stations in central Tokyo. TTo go back you can just travel the other way around. – While in Tokyo, you are entitled to use some local lines such as JR Yamanote one.

If you did all the mentioned trips travelling with the Japan Rail Pass would for sure be cost effective.

Have an amazing vacation!

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Taking the train in Japan - all you need to know

Mar 28, 2024 • 11 min read

Find your way in Japan with our ultimate guide to rail travel © Chay_Tee / Shutterstock

You will fall passionately in love with trains in Japan .

Japanese people didn’t invent rail travel, but they arguably perfected it. Whether you’re on the newest shinkansen (bullet train) zooming across the country at 320km/h (199mph) or an elderly regional railcar, you can count on your train being scrupulously clean, safely operated, highly reliable, famously punctual and generally a joy to ride.

You can see almost the entire country by train, and with a wide variety of rail passes — including the iconic Japan Rail Pass — you can travel across Japan for less than US$50 per day, including the shinkansen.

Signs are in English even at the smallest stations, translation apps and devices are widely used for complicated questions, and staff are genuinely happy to help travelers.

Japan has an enormous number of train lines and kinds of train, but don’t be put off by the sheer volume: it’s surprisingly easy to navigate , even on your first trip, with your phone’s maps app and a sense of adventure.

There are different services on the Japanese train network

Trains run almost everywhere in Japan. The main backbone of the network, and the fastest, is the shinkansen. These bullet trains run from Hokkaidō  in the far north all the way to Tokyo Station , where you have to change for the shinkansen going to Nagoya , Kyoto , Osaka , Hiroshima and on to Kyushu. For travelers visiting Japan’s main sights , this will be the kind of train you take the most.

The next fastest are Limited Expess trains — “limited” as in “limited stops” — that run between cities and to rural areas on pre-shinkansen conventional lines (the non-high-speed ones). Many run through beautiful parts of Japan, so don’t count them out.

Local trains are the slowest and may even be as small as one single car. “Rapid” trains are fairly rare, and are essentially local trains that skip a few of the smaller stops.

Urban rail, commuter trains and subway lines are widespread in cities. These usually work very similarly to what you might be used to in your home country, although do watch out for limited-stop semi-expresses. The big picture transit maps can look a little intimidating, but most major cities now have a system of colors and station codes in place to help you navigate, and your phone's maps app is great for a quick idea of how to get from A to B.

Confident visitors outside major cities will love Joyful Trains, which are special tourist trains operated largely on weekends and holidays in rural areas. These might be renovated steam trains, or specially themed — JR East’s Koshino Shu’Kura is all about sake, including tastings, while the  JR Kyushu A Train is jazz-themed.

Japan’s train stations are destinations by themselves, with larger and newer stations offering a huge range of restaurants for every appetite and budget, and shops ranging from high-quality handmade artisanal local goods to Japanese malls to 100-yen stores. Convenience stores and pharmacies are also often on hand.

Do look out for special local snacks in the omiyage souvenir shops (these are intended for Japanese travelers to take back to friends and colleagues as presents) and for ekiben,  local specialty boxed bentō  lunches.

Travel short distances with a prepaid travel card

Coming from overseas, traveling short distances on Japanese railways often feels very inexpensive, while traveling longer distances without a rail pass can feel more costly. Let’s start with shorter distances.

Taking subways and urban rail is simple if you get an IC card – one of the many prepaid stored-value contactless cards – that works in a similar way to Oyster in London or Clipper in San Francisco: just tap on and tap off. Most rail operators across Japan will sell you their version, which are almost all interchangeable when it comes to loading and spending them — you can use an ICOCA card from the Osaka region in Tokyo , or a Pasmo from Tokyo in Sapporo . You can also use iPhones to get a virtual Suica card (JR East's version of a prepaid card) via the Wallet app and load it with money using Apple Pay. If you're using an international Visa card, be aware that JR East has had issues processing those payments in the past, so you may need to use a different credit card.

Travel long distances with the JR Pass

Over longer distances, the Japan Rail Pass (¥50,000 or about US$335 for seven days – less than US$50 a day!) is generally a good deal if you are planning anything more than simply Tokyo–Kyoto–Hiroshima–Tokyo, and the flexibility it gives you to take an earlier or later train is an added bonus.

You can either buy the ticket online or from an overseas travel agent. Note that you don’t actually buy the pass itself from overseas — you buy a voucher called an Exchange Order, which you then  exchange at a major station (including all international airports) for the pass itself. 

If you don’t have a pass, tickets cost the same no matter what time of day you travel, where you book, or how busy it will be — it’s not like airline tickets where that can change wildly. Most overseas travelers still use paper tickets for everything outside urban travel.

Long-distance travel fares are based on two elements:

• Ticket price, essentially the distance you travel
• Whether you want to reserve a seat or not, and in which class, if that’s available: Limited Express and Shinkansen trains will offer non-reserved seat tickets, a reserved seat in standard class, a reserved seat in the Green Car business class, or in some regions a reserved seat in Gran Class (first class).

Tickets can be bought at stations or at JR Travel Service Centers

Use Google Maps or the  Japan Transit Planner from Jorudan to find fares, or for JR trains visit your local JR station (look for the “green window” ticket booking office or a JR Travel Service Center), where you can also reserve a seat. At major airports and in Tokyo, you can expect some basic train-related English to be spoken by "green window" ticket agents. JR Travel Service Center staff tend to be more multilingual. Elsewhere, if you speak no Japanese you may well get lucky with someone who speaks English, and you can always lean on your phone's translation apps. Write down (on a printout or even just on your phone's notes app) the dates, times, destinations and details of the train you want, for example: "12 April, Tokyo–Osaka, 12:00, window seat, Mt Fuji side please."

Unless you’re visiting during a major Japanese holiday or want to take a specific Joyful Train, there’s little need to book before arriving in Japan. You can in some cases book online, but it’s pretty complicated and I wouldn’t recommend it to first-time visitors. If you’re confused and want English-speaking advice, head to  one of the stations that specializes in Japan Rail Passes . Only a few trains outside the JR network allow prebooking.

There are many rail passes to choose from

Japan has a wide variety of rail passes available to overseas visitors, from the JR Pass valid across the JR network (with a few exceptions like the very fastest trains west of Tokyo) to regional and commuter passes.

The most useful is the  Japan Rail Pass in its six variants: 7/14/21 days and standard car or Green Car business-class versions. This is probably what you should get your first time in Japan if traveling outside Tokyo.

Adventurous travelers and long-term visitors, or anyone wanting to go deep in a particular region, could also consider:

• The  various regional passes from JR East , including the very useful  Hokuriku Arch Pass for traveling the slower way between Tokyo and Osaka via Kyoto and Kanazawa
• The many  JR West Passes , including the  All Area Pass for most of western Honshu
• The  four JR Kyushu passes
• The  three JR Hokkaido passes  
• The  JR Shikoku ALL SHIKOKU pass

You’ll usually need to be visiting with the “temporary visitor” stamp in your passport, and there may be a small discount (a couple of thousand yen or US$5–10) for buying it online or outside Japan. Otherwise, check out the details online or visit a large station, including those at airports: the bigger, the better, and the more likely to have English-speaking assistance.

Train etiquette means not disturbing fellow travelers

Japanese urban trains can be famously crowded during rush-hour, but by and large even Tokyo is no worse than any major global city.

Even if crowded, the etiquette on a Japanese train is to be as quiet as possible and disturb others as little as possible: headphones on quiet, very little chatting, backpack on your front, give up your seat to anyone who needs it more than you.

There is something of a stereotype of loutish tourists yapping away to their traveling companions on long-distance trains. Try not to contribute to it. Separate your trash according to the recycling bins, and always leave the seat as clean and tidy as you found it.

Eating and drinking is fine (even encouraged!) on longer distance trains. General rule: if the seats are subway-style along the sides of the car facing inwards then don’t, but feel free if the seats are airline-style facing forwards. If in doubt, follow the lead of the nearest senior Japanese person.

On-board facilities vary depending on the service

With the exception of the Joyful Train tourist excursion services, Japanese trains don’t have buffet cars any more, although you can see what they used to look like at several of Japan’s excellent railway museums. A shrinking number of trains still have a trolley service offering snacks, sometimes bentō  and a variety of drinks.

Good news, though: any station smaller than the tiniest rural halt will have a convenience store inside or nearby, which will offer bentō , hot meals, snacks, drinks and essentials. Many larger stations have restaurant complexes, while some smaller ones will have delightful smaller options like a soba or ramen shop.

Long-distance trains will usually have toilet facilities, with newer ones (including all shinkansen and some Limited Expresses) having excellent facilities for disabled passengers, people with reduced mobility and often ostomy facilities too.

Shinkansen and newer Limited Expresses offer two-pin US-style 110V charging ports, while wi-fi is also increasingly available and easy to use.

Most Japanese trains are not set up for luggage bigger than a small carry-on — and “small” here does not include a US-sized rollaboard or anything like a bicycle. On some trains you have to pre-reserve anything bigger. Take advantage of the nationwide luggage shipping services like Yamato  – known as Kuroneko Yamato for its black (kuro) cat (neko) logo – that ships larger bags for US$10–20.

These are the best seats for great views

Always take a window seat, whether you’re gazing out on Japan’s sprawling megalopolises from an urban train, watching the country fly by at 320km/h (199mph) from a shinkansen, or enjoying picturesque views from a slow rural train.

On the shinkansen, if you want the best mountain views — including the iconic Mt Fuji between Tokyo and Shizuoka — select a window E seat in standard class and a D seat in the Green Car.

Limited Expresses are wonderful for countryside views, with the  Hida from Nagoya to Toyama through the Japanese Alps and the Inaho from Niigata to Akita just two great examples.

Ask for help when navigating busy city networks

Urban trains, commuter rail and subways may have a set of complicated and confusing names with different stopping patterns, especially during rush hour, but this is no worse than figuring out what a “Watford Semi-Fast” is on London’s Tube or how skip-stop works on the subway in New York. As a visitor, just ask station staff or, in a pinch, a fellow passenger — and be prepared to get on the wrong train with a confident smile and a sense of affable adventure.

The majority of trains are wheelchair accessible

A significant majority of intercity, urban rail and subway stations in most major cities (80–90% in Tokyo  according to official numbers ) are accessible for wheelchair users, with elevators, stair-climber lifts, and ramps widespread. 

Older stations, such as the main Tokyo Station, may be complex and accessible only from certain entrances. Tactile strips to assist blind people or those with reduced visual acuity are almost everywhere. 

Accessible Japan is an excellent resource for information, while the very detailed  For Safe and Convenient Accessibility website offers route and station search as well as  contact details for further assistance. Station staff are keen to help wherever they can.

Many trains offer wheelchair positions, level boarding, with ramps available if you need them. Urban rail and subways have priority seating, and Japan developed the  Help Mark badge system for people with invisible disabilities to easily signal their needs. The badge is  free from a number of locations in Tokyo , under US$10 from Amazon Japan (consider having it delivered to your first night hotel), or you can DIY your own before leaving home.

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The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

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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.

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.

Option 2 , buy a Japan Rail Pass at www.jrpass.com .

Also a well-known and popular vendor, in GBP, Euro, USD or AUD, with shipping worldwide.

Option 3 , 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

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.

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 .  Update:  Most online info seems to have disappeared, but in March 2024 it's confirmed that the pass still exists if you buy in Japan.

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....

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.

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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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 )!

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!

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.

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 .

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 .

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.

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!

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.

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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• Los Angeles

Two weeks in Japan: the ultimate rail itinerary for first-time visitors

Got two weeks to explore Japan? Lucky you. Here’s how to spend your time in the island nation using the 14-day Japan Rail Pass

Photograph: jiratto / Shutterstock.com

It’s cliché to say you could spend forever in Japan and not get bored. What I will say is that two weeks in Japan will never feel like enough, but makes for a great introduction to this endlessly fascinating country. Using the Japan Rail pass, you can take in the lights and buzz of Tokyo  before experiencing the country’s rich local culture. 

This two-week Japan itinerary takes you on a round-trip from Japan’s delightfully disorienting capital, whisking you from castle towns in the north to the cities of Osaka ,  Kyoto  and Hiroshima in the south – and finishing off with a relaxing break in the hot spring town of Beppu. You’ll travel the length of Japan’s main island of Honshu and experience the onsen island of Kyushu,  visiting craftspeople, rolling through rice paddies,  marveling at  mountain temples, feasting on local specialties like  okonomiyaki –  and much, much more. 

Spoiler: some of the best places in Japan are the ones that you stumble upon in between hitting the major attractions. Do treat this as a guide and feel free to go your own way – that’s the flexibility the Japan Rail Pass can offer (more on that below).

How to travel around Japan

There’s no more natural way to travel in Japan than by train. I’ve traveled extensively from north to south using Japan’s famously efficient, modern rail system, which reaches nearly every corner of the country. 

For maximum freedom and flexibility, a rail pass is a great way to go. The best pass for visitors is the Japan Rail Pass or JR pass, an all-inclusive ticket covering almost any Japan Rail train in the country – including most high-speed trains. 

The current price for a 14-day adult pass purchased outside of Japan is ¥47,250 (£275, $341); ¥52,960 (£302; $380) if purchased inside Japan. Note that the price will rise in October 2023 to ¥80,000 ( £457; $575) for a 14-day pass. Before the increase, the pass is excellent value; after the hike, the pass is still a good choice if you want to travel all over Japan, visit several different places, and plan to spend no more than a few days in each location. 

You should order your passes well in advance of your trip, as shipping can take a while. Note that passes are only open to foreign visitors, and cannot be purchased by residents of Japan or those with Japanese passports. 

If you’d rather concentrate on seeing one area, a regional pass is a good bet. Choices include the JR East Pass (Tohoku), the JR Tokyo Wide Pass (Area surrounding Tokyo), the JR West All-Area Pass (Western Honshu), as well as passes covering Kyushu , Shikoku , and Hokkaido . 

The following itinerary uses the nationwide Japan Rail Pass.

Selena Takigawa Hoy is a Japanese-American writer based in Tokyo. A t Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our  editorial guidelines  and check out our latest  travel guides  written by local experts.

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🇯🇵 The   best things to do in Japan 🏨 The   best hotels in Japan

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

The ultimate two-week Japan itinerary

Days 1-3: tokyo.

Welcome to Tokyo! It’s time to start your trip with a few days in Japan’s exhilarating capital. Most of central Tokyo is accessible by the metro – this is a separate system from Japan Rail and does not fall under the pass, so we recommend you don’t activate your rail pass yet (more on that later).

Shop your way through bustling  Shibuya , stroll through Yoyogi Park , visit Meiji Shrine , look for toys and anime goods in Akihabara , and eat and drink your way through the city, from Michelin-starred restaurants to cheap noodle stands and quirky street food  (make sure to snap a photo of the crazy cotton candy from Momi & Toys ). 

Where to stay in Tokyo

The Asakusa Kokono Club Hotel is spacious by Tokyo standards, close to the famous  Sensō-ji (temple), and loaded with delightful design details. On a tight budget?  The Toyoko Inn chain has locations all over the city. Quarters are on the smaller side, but rooms are clean and serviceable, and there’s a basic free breakfast.

Next stop… Hirosaki

It’s time to activate your rail pass! Take it to the ticket office of a major Japan Rail station to activate, then book a seat on your northbound train. You can travel from either Tokyo Station or Ueno Station. Reservations (free) are required on the Tohoku Shinkansen, so be sure to secure a booking as soon as you validate your pass.

Ride the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori Station, then switch to the limited express Ou Line to Hirosaki Station. The journey takes four hours.

Days 3-4: Hirosaki

Hirosaki is a castle town in Aomori Prefecture, the northernmost prefecture in Honshu. Once there, stroll the grounds of Hirosaki Castle and the adjacent park, and visit the Neputa Village to learn about the fascinating culture of neputa :  huge paper lanterns covered with depictions of gods and warriors that grace the summer Neputa Festival floats. Don’t leave without sampling the city’s famous apple pastries and hard cider. 

Where to stay in Hirosaki

The Good Old Hotel , in the heart of the drinking and nightlife district, is a row of tiny former ‘snack’ bars converted into accommodation. The Dormy Inn  is an efficient chain known for its on-site hot spring baths and free late-night instant ramen. 

Next stop… Akita and Sendai

Train enthusiasts will want to reserve a seat on the scenic Resort Shirakami , running between Hirosaki and Akita. The one-way trip takes under five hours, spent gazing out at the ocean and enjoying some of the onboard interludes, such as a Tsugaru-jamisen performance and a puppet show. Change in Akita , where you can spend a few hours visiting Akita Museum of Art and Senshu Park , adjacent to the station, before boarding a southbound shinkansen (don’t forget your reservation) to Sendai , the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture. The Akita-Sendai train takes two hours 20 minutes. 

Days 4-5: Sendai

Delve into Sendai’s samurai history, learning about the exploits of Masamune Date and the Date Clan, whose mausoleum and statues dot the city. Spirits fans will enjoy visits to the Nikka Whisky Distillery or touring some of the many local sake breweries. In the hot spring enclave of Sakunami Onsen , you’ll find traditional artisans making carved wooden kokeshi dolls and other crafts. 

Where to stay in Sendai

A fun choice in Sendai is the Hen-na Hotel (literally ‘Strange Hotel’) featuring a high-tech, hologram-driven check-in. 

Next stop... Kanazawa

You’ll need two shinkansen to get to Kanazawa on the west coast of Honshu: the Tohoku or Akita Shinkansen from Sendai to Omiya (just over an hour) and the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Omiya to Kanazawa (about two hours). 

Days 5-7: Kanazawa

The capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, Kanazawa has loads of traditional charm and well-preserved areas with a fraction of the tourists of Kyoto or Tokyo. There’s a lot to pack in here. Stroll around  Kanazawa Castle  and the colourful Edo-era gardens of  Kenroku-en , admire the handsome wooden buildings in the teahouse districts of  Higashi Chaya  and Nishi Chaya , browse the stalls at  Omicho Market , learn about the art of gold leaf and its history in the region, and check out the  21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art .

Where to stay in Kanazawa

A new(ish) opening in May 2023, Omo5 Kanazawa Katamachi is a boutique mid-range option not far from the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. 

Next stop... Kyoto 

You have a few options to get between Kanazawa and Kyoto; the most direct is the Thunderbird Express, taking about two hours 15 minutes.

Days 7-10: Kyoto, Osaka and Nara

There’s so much to see in Kyoto  –  and everyone else wants to see it too. If possible, visit during the week for slightly fewer crowds. Highlights include Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion), the pagoda and shopping street at Kiyomizu-dera , and the Zen garden at  Ryōan-ji . Use Kyoto as a base to visit nearby cities as well: head over to Osaka (30 minutes by shinkansen) to explore foodie neighborhoods like Dotonbori , Shinsekai , and Kuromon Market . You might also want to visit the ancient capital of Nara to see the enormous Buddhist temple Todaiji and its accompanying tame deer. 

Where to stay in Kyoto

For a nice midrange hotel right near Kyoto Station, try the Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto , which has an indoor swimming pool and several dining options onsite. For something more classic, there’s Kyomachiya Ryokan Sakura Urushitei , with futon bedding, tatami mats, and traditional furnishings. Do opt in for the excellent Japanese breakfast.  

Next stop... Hiroshima

Time to board the Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto to Hiroshima; 1 hour 40 minutes. Reservations are recommended, but not required. 

Days 10-12: Hiroshima

The focus of any Hiroshima visit is of course Peace Park , the A-Bomb Dome , and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum . Hiroshima is also a beautiful, resilient, and thriving city.

Spend at least half a day visiting the island of Miyajima ; with a  moderate hike, you’ll catch sight of roaming deer and monkeys, as well as  Itsukushima Shrine ,  a Unesco World Heritage Site  famous for its ‘floating’ torii  (the red shrine gate that rises from the sea off the coast).

Don’t forget to get your fill of okonomiyaki , Hiroshima’s most famous food, a thick savory pancake made with batter, noodles, vegetables, meat or seafood, and more. Vegan versions are available at several locations including Okonomimura .

Where to stay in Hiroshima

The Knot Hiroshima is a stylish, affordable option near Peace Park; or if you don’t mind tight spaces, why not try a budget capsule hotel? The Sejour Inn Capsule offers pods for all genders (some capsule hotels only accept men), with compact sleeping quarters, lockers, and shared bathing facilities.  

Next stop... Beppu

Take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Kokura Station, then change to the Sonic Nichiren Express to Beppu Station; 2 hours 30 minutes. 

Days 12-14: Beppu

The island of Kyushu generally has a more laid-back vibe than much of Honshu (Japan’s main island), and in the hot spring resort town of Beppu , relaxation is the name of the game. Check out the sulfuric pools and geysers called the ‘Hells’ of Beppu and soar over the active volcano of Mt. Tsurumi on the Beppu Ropeway   – then unwind in the region’s famous hot spring baths. Each has different mineral properties that are believed to soothe various ailments. 

Where to stay in Beppu

When in a hot spring town, staying at a ryokan is a must. Try Beppu Nagomitsuki  or Ryokan Sennari , both of which offer sumptuous multi-course meals and on-site open-air hot spring baths. 

Next stop... back to Tokyo

Use the last day on your pass to return to Tokyo . Take the Sonic Nichiren Express back to Kokuro, then the Tokaido Shinkansen all the way back to Tokyo; about 6 hours. Don’t forget to pick up a bento at the station or buy one on the train.

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[Osaka/Kanazawa/Takayama] Make the Most of the “Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass”!

Have fun exploring central Japan! Visit the bustling metropolis of Osaka, the historic city of Kanazawa, and the World Heritage Site at Shirakawa-go

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Take a train journey to visit famous shrines from Ise in Mie Prefecture to Izumo in Shimane Prefecture. Feel good ki energy throughout your entire body at these leading spots of Japan.

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Rail travel in Japan is perhaps the most efficient way to travel across the country with an extensive network of over 27,000 km of track covering all the four main islands of Japan, served primarily by Japan Railways ( JR ) in addition to other smaller private and municipal operators. Japan pioneered high-speed trains with the bullet train , known by its Japanese name Shinkansen ("new main line"), which allows you to travel along almost the entire length of the country at up to 320 km/h. As stations are usually in the city center and trains are extremely punctual, traveling by train can be significantly faster than travelling by air , not to mention emitting much less CO 2 . It's no wonder that almost 19 billion passengers traveled by train in 2021, signifying the paramount importance of rail travel to the Japanese.

Japan 's railways are fast, highly efficient and cover the majority of the country, making this the transport mode of choice for most visitors. The first and most confusing aspect of Japan's railway system (especially within large cities like Tokyo ) that you will encounter is the overlap of several private railway networks with the JR network. A given station can host several companies (JR and/or private), or the stations of distinct companies can be located next to the others. Tokyo also has two separate metro systems to add to the confusion. Being aware of this one fact will substantially reduce the confusion you experience trying to understand railway maps and find your way around.

Visitors are usually astounded to find that Japanese trains, like other forms of mass transit, nearly always leave and arrive promptly on time , following the published schedule to the second. If you are late, you will surely miss the train! If you are affected by a delay, you can in fact, apply for a delay certificate either from the station, or by accessing the rail company's website. This is particularly essential for people working in Japan, as you may be penalized for being late should you not present one to your boss.

Most trains do not operate 24 hours ; for example, in Tokyo they do not run in the early morning 01:00-05:00, and the Shinkansen never runs overnight. If you are planning to be out late and are relying on the train to get home, be sure to find out when the last train is leaving. Many bars and clubs are open until the first train runs again in the morning, so keep this in mind as another option, or you can sleep at a capsule hotel or 24 hour internet cafe like the locals do. The one date where overnight train travel is possible is the evening of December 31, as some companies operate train services throughout the night for New Year's shrine visits.

Finding routes

Route search engines are a fantastic tool, whether you're just starting to plan a trip or are already in the country. For sorting through transport schedules and fares, Navitime computes to-the-minute directions including connecting trains, as well as buses and planes. Jorudan is a similar service, but with fewer options for exploring alternate routes. Google Maps ' and Apple Maps' limited search options and the routes they present make them better for getting around subways and city trains than planning long distance trips, although even then you'll often have better results using apps like Jorudan's Japan Transit Planner to navigate the train system, then use Google or Apple for walking to/from the stations. JR-EAST Train Info is an app that shows train connection information down to the platform number at the station. The app only shows a map of JR East lines, but it can provide guidance for train lines throughout the country.

The paper version of these is the Daijikokuhyō (大時刻表), a phonebook-sized tome available for browsing in every train station and most hotels, but it will not be useful to most tourists since it is in Japanese. A lighter version that just includes limited express, sleeper and bullet trains (Shinkansen) is available from the Japan National Tourist Organization 's overseas offices. English timetables are available on the websites of JR Hokkaido , JR East , JR Central and JR Kyushu . Timetables for the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen can also be viewed in English at Tabi-o-ji .

Navitime and Tabi-o-ji offer schedule searches to find routes you can use with the Japan Rail Pass (see below), as does Jorudan with a paid subscription. Navitime is also the only one that can search fares compatible with the Seishun 18 Ticket (see below).

Smart cards

One of the first things any visitor to Japan should do is purchase a public transport smart card (スマートカード sumāto kādo ), also called an IC card (ICカード ai shī kādo ) or jōsha kādo (乗車カード, "boarding card"). Using a smart card, fares are calculated automatically no matter how complicated your journey or how often you transfer; just tap on and tap off at both ends. In addition to public transport, smart cards are increasingly used for all sorts of electronic payments, so they can be used at vending machines, convenience stores, fast food restaurants, etc.

The ten major ones listed below are fully interchangeable , meaning you can purchase a card in any major city and use it in virtually the entire country, the main exceptions being Shikoku and Okinawa . By region from north to south, they are:

• Kitaca — Hokkaido
• Suica — Tohoku and Kanto
• PASMO — Tokyo
• TOICA — Chubu
• manaca — Nagoya
• ICOCA — Kansai and Chugoku
• PiTaPa — Kansai — A postpaid card linked to your Japanese bank account, so this one is not useful for most visitors
• SUGOCA — Kyushu
• Hayakaken (はやかけん) — Fukuoka
• nimoca — Fukuoka

These cards can be purchased from any station ticket counter and many station ticket vending machines, including those at airports. The base deposit is ¥500 plus the amount you wish to load. The deposit and any remaining value can be refunded when you leave Japan, or you can keep the card for your next visit as they stay valid for 10 years (except Welcome Suica and PASMO PASSPORT cards, which are intended for short-term tourists and expire after 28 days). You cannot use the deposit to enter negative balance on the card. You must go to fare adjustment machines within the station or on the bus to top up the card.

You cannot use smart cards themselves to travel between two different regions on regular train services. For example, if you were to start your journey in Tokyo and travel west to Atami using the JR Tokaido Line, you can use a smart card as these stations are within the boundaries of the East Japan Railway (JR East). However, if you continue west of Atami towards Shizuoka you would then enter an area operated by a different company — in this case, Central Japan Railway (JR Central) — and your card would not be accepted when you try to tap out of the system. Traveling between two regions requires a paper ticket, but even smart cards can be accepted at ticket vending machines as payment (your paper ticket would have the letters IC printed on it). Be aware that separate "regions" may exist even within the same company; for example, each of the metropolitan areas or cities in JR East's operating boundaries that supports Suica is considered a separate region, so a trip from Morioka to Akita on local or regional trains would still require a paper ticket. JR West does not have separate operating regions but does have a limit of 200km traveled on a single tap.

Smart cards are accepted for travel on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen in lieu of paper tickets. Bullet train tickets can be purchased online with a credit card and tied to a smart card, which can be used to tap in and out of the ticket barriers. The service is available in both English and Japanese via the Smart-EX website.

If you have an Apple iPhone or Watch , it's possible to add Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA to your Apple Wallet and pay with your device. Android users are mostly out of luck. While Google Pay does support the cards, most non-Japanese Android devices do not have the necessary "Osaifu-Keitai" (FeliCa) chip installed.

Station Numbering

Most railway/subway operators in urban areas show Station Numbers on signs and transit maps. Station Number is a combination of one or two alphabets and a two-digit number starting from 01 or 00, shown in a rectangle or circle color-coded by line or operator. Though a station may have multiple numbers if used by more than one line, platform signs show the corresponding one only.

Buying a short-distance ticket

In some cases, you may still need to buy paper train tickets, such as when crossing from one region to another, or in remote areas that don't accept smart cards yet.

Most train tickets in Japan are priced by distance, so there will be a map above the ticket machines. Near the center, the current station is usually marked in red with 当駅 ( tōeki ) or a red arrow ← . Around it will be all other stations you can get to with a price below them. The nearer stations have the smaller numbers (e.g. the closest stations will probably be about ¥140, more distant ones rising to perhaps ¥2,000). As long as you stay on the same rail system, you can take any route and transfer between trains for free.

To buy a ticket, insert coins or cash into the ticket machine. As you do, options will light up for the tickets you can buy with that amount of money. Usually you just need a regular ticket for the correct amount, but for some journeys you may need to purchase a transfer fare or some other special option.

The coin slot is large so that you can insert multiple coins at once. One trick is to dump your whole change purse in; whatever change you get back will be in the largest coins possible, reducing the amount of small change you're carrying (except for pesky ¥1 or ¥5 coins, which machines pass through and don't accept as payment).

Insert the ticket at the fare gate and don't forget to pick it up once you are through. Don't throw away the ticket yet ; you have to insert it again when exiting the fare gates at the end of your journey.

If you cannot figure out the price, buy a minimum fare ticket and pay when you arrive at your destination. You can either present your ticket to the staff at the gate, or pay the balance at the "Fare Adjustment" machine. Look for a small ticket vending kiosk before the exit fare gate. Insert your minimum fare ticket and pay the balance indicated on the screen.

At unstaffed stations

Unlike in major cities and suburbs, in rural areas there are a good number of unmanned stations where there are no ticket gates or ticket vending machines. In these cases, you'll likely have to take a seiriken (整理券) or numbered ticket when you get on the train, and settle the fare with the driver or conductor before you get off. At the front of the train will be a display board with numbers and fares that increase as the journey goes on. When you disembark, surrender your seiriken and pay the amount indicated next to your number. On most of these services you'll board at the rear of the train (denoted by 入口 or "entrance") and exit at the front of the train (denoted by 出口 or "exit"). Also note that most trains, like buses, have fare collection machines that only accept coins; however, either the machine itself or the driver can typically change notes into coins.

You can use a smart card on the train if it is supported. Tap your smart card when boarding, and again when you exit, and the fare is automatically deducted. In some stations, entrance and exit readers are located on the station platform. If you are using a JR train and have a Japan Rail Pass, simply show your Rail Pass to the driver as you exit. You will be informed of any fare difference that is owed.

If you disembark at a manned station, hand your seiriken and your fare to a manned station agent at the ticket gates. Conversely, if you get on at a manned station and exit at an unmanned station, hand your ticket to the driver before you get off.

Trains where the role of the driver and conductor are combined are called "one man" trains, and will have a sign in katatana characters (ワンマン) at the front of the train.

The JR network is extensive as one would expect from what used to be the national rail system. The JR Group operates the Shinkansen lines, as well as a multitude of regional and urban mass transit lines. In the countryside the group companies also run bus services to connect places that don't have a rail service. However, the JR network is not a monopoly and the larger cities have additional private rail lines.

Interestingly, people refer to JR in Japanese by its English initials, jē āru . Even non-English speakers can help you find a station if you ask " Jē āru wa doko desu ka? "

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass may be a good option for visitors who plan to do a great deal of travelling or who want the convenience of an all-you-can-ride pass. It allows unlimited travel on almost all JR trains, including the Shinkansen, and on certain segments of private railways (see exceptions below) for a fixed period of 7, 14 or 21 days. Following a big increase in its prices on 1 October 2023, the pass will probably not pay off unless you do a lot of travelling. It covers only JR lines (and a few non-JR lines in rural areas), and does not cover rides on the subway or most private railway lines.

To be eligible for the pass, you must be a foreign national visiting Japan as a tourist (with the temporary visitor stamp in your passport), or a Japanese national who has lived outside of Japan for at least ten years. If you're using the Japan Rail Pass as a Japanese national, you'll need to show specified proof such as documentation obtained from the consulate or embassy of Japan where you live in addition to your Japanese passport.

Effective October 2023, Japan Rail Passes can be purchased before your departure or after your arrival, there is no longer any price difference. The easiest way is through the Japan Rail Pass Reservation (JRPR) website, which also lets you make seat reservations before arrival.

The other option is to purchase a voucher via an accredited travel agency. Agencies charge a markup and the voucher must be exchanged within three months of issuance, and within one month of the date you want the pass to start. Japanese nationals that qualify for the rail pass, and those who wish to purchase the pass by means other than a credit card, must use the exchange voucher system through a travel agent. Japanese nationals living abroad can purchase Exchange Orders through to at least December 2025.

Japan Rail Pass prices

You must go to a staffed ticket agent at a major JR station and present your passport to pick up the Japan Rail Pass. If it was purchased in advance, you will need to show either proof of purchase (if the pass was purchased through JR) or your exchange voucher (if purchased through a travel agency). If exchanging a voucher, you must inform the ticket agent of the date that you want the rail pass to start. Dedicated counters with English-speaking staff are available at major airports such as Haneda , Narita and Kansai . There are also counters specifically for rail pass pickups at major JR stations such as Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ueno, Nagoya, and Sapporo.

Unlike the previous paper versions, the Japan Rail Pass is now a magnetic train ticket with a printed QR code unique to the user. You can use the ticket to pass through the automatic ticket barriers as you enter and exit the train station.

The rail pass includes free seat reservations on eligible JR trains, including most Shinkansen and limited express services. If you purchased the pass in advance through JR, you can make online seat reservations as soon as you have purchased your pass. Once the rail pass has been obtained, reserved seat reservations can be made or collected at a JR station using the reserved ticket machine. You will be able to access the machines by scanning the QR code printed on your rail pass (or entering the identification number printed on the pass) and then entering your passport number. Even if seat reservations were made online, the actual seat reservation tickets must be printed out at the ticket machine and in your possession before boarding the train. Note that with the automated system, seat reservations are linked to each individual Rail Pass and you will not be permitted to reserve services that overlap with each other. This isn’t usually a problem, but if you miss your reserved train you may not be able to make a reservation for the next departure right away. For unreserved seating, no ticket is needed; just show your rail pass when the conductor comes through checking tickets.

The rail pass does have a few exceptions:

• If you travel on the Tokaido, San'yo, or Kyushu Shinkansen , the Japan Rail Pass does not cover travel on the faster Nozomi or Mizuho services unless you buy a supplemental Nozomi Mizuho ticket. Prices depend based on the section of usage, e.g. ¥4960 between Tokyo and Kyoto or Shin-Osaka.
• Many of the newer trains on the Shinkansen networks of JR East have a premium first class cabin known as "GranClass". You cannot use the GranClass cabin with any Japan Rail Pass unless you pay the limited express and GranClass surcharges (i.e. ¥27,220 on the Hayabusa if going from Tokyo all the way to Hakodate).
• The Tokyo Waterfront Railway (TWR) Rinkai Line between Osaki and Shin-Kiba, used to access Odaiba
• The Izukyu Railway from Ito to Shimoda on the Izu Peninsula
• The Kyoto Tango Railway from Fukuchiyama to Toyooka , which is used by JR trains running from Kyoto to Amanohashidate
• If you stay in a private compartment — available on overnight trains and a small number of Shinkansen trains between Osaka and Fukuoka — you must pay the limited express and accommodation charges.

A few extras are included:

• Between Hachinohe and Noheji, between Aomori and Noheji, and between Hachinohe and Aomori on the Aoimori Railway for access to the JR Ominato Line.
• Between Kanazawa and Tsubata on the IR Ishikawa Railway for access to the JR Nanao Line.
• Between Toyama and Takaoka on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway for access to the JR Johana and Himi Line.
• The JR Pass covers travel, including stopovers, on the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Hamamatsucho in Tokyo.
• The JR Pass covers travel on the JR Ferry to Miyajima .

Regional rail passes

Regional JR companies also sell their own passes that cover only parts of the country. If you plan on visiting only one or two regions, then they may be a better deal than the standard JR pass. From north to south:

• Hokkaido : JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
• JR East Rail Pass – Tohoku Area (also covers Kanto and some private rail lines)
• JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (includes the Tohoku Pass coverage area plus the Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate and JR trains to Sapporo )
• Kantō : JR East Tokyo Wide Pass (also covers some private rail lines)
• JR East/JR West Hokuriku Arch Pass – Covers travel between Tokyo and Kansai via the Hokuriku region, and also covers some private rail lines
• JR East Rail Pass – Nagano/Niigata Area (also covers Kanto and some private rail lines)
• Aozora Free Pass - Weekend and holiday pass for local JR trains in Aichi, Mie, Gifu prefecture up to Gero , and southern Nagano
• Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
• San'yo-San'in Area Pass
• Kansai Wide Area Pass
• Shikoku Birthday Kippu - A 3 day ticket covering all JR trains, as well as the private Kuroshio Railway in Kochi Prefecture in the month of the purchaser's birthday. Purchaser may buy a set number of additional tickets for travel companions regardless of their birthdays, Green Car option available
• Shikoku Free Pass - 3 Day pass providing access to all JR trains in Shikoku, more costly but more flexible than the Birthday Kippu
• Kyushu : All Kyushu Area Pass, Northern Kyushu Area Pass (covers areas north of Kumamoto and Oita )

Many JR East and JR West rail passes can be purchased online in advance at a small discount, while other passes must be purchased when inside the country.

• Seishun 18 Ticket

The Seishun 18 Ticket (青春18きっぷ Seishun jūhachi kippu ) is the most economic deal for travel in Japan, offering five days of unlimited train travel for just ¥12,050. Better yet, unlike the Rail Pass, the days do not have to be consecutive. You can even split a ticket so that (for example) one person uses it for two days and another for three days. The main catches are that tickets are only valid on local trains and that tickets are valid only during school holidays (March–April, July–September, December–January), so you need good timing and plenty of time on your hands to use it.

Buying a long-distance ticket

Standard JR tickets are usually split into two categories:

• Basic Ticket or jōshaken (乗車券): These tickets cover the basic fare for trains operating between two stations/areas. Stopovers are permitted on long trips, though you must stay on the ticketed route and cannot backtrack. Tickets are valid for 2 days for journeys over 100 km, 3 days for journeys over 200 km, and then one day for each additional 200 km. The exception to this is tickets entirely within the Kanto or Kansai urban areas, in which stopovers are not permitted no matter the distance (for example, Nikko to Atami is over 200km but because it is entirely within the Kanto urban area, no stopovers are included in the ticket).
• Limited Express Ticket or tokkyūken (特急券): With a few variants on the name, limited express tickets are purchased for premium long-distance trains, including the Shinkansen. Generally, unreserved (自由席 jiyūseki ) tickets are valid for unreserved seats on any service, while reserved (指定席 shiteiseki ) tickets are valid for a specific train. Refunds will be given if the train is delayed in arrival by 2 hours or more.

At major stations there will be an obvious travel section where you can buy your ticket from a human being; look for the little green sign of a figure relaxing in a chair or ask for the midori no madoguchi (みどりの窓口, lit. "green window"). Since you probably need to know the train times and may want to reserve a seat as well this is a good thing. Generally speaking you can make your desires known by means of hand waving and pointing at destinations if the staff are unable to speak English. Writing down information helps as most Japanese have a much easier time reading English than listening to it.

For express trains that require a surcharge and seating reservation, you will usually be able to find a staffed window. However, some trains have their own specific machines to do this. First, buy a regular train ticket to your destination. On the touchscreen machines, there will usually be a button for express services. Choose the name of the service you wish to travel on, your destination, preferred departure time and seating preferences, and then insert the surcharge amount. You will be issued a reservation card showing the departure time and your seat number. You must also have either a travel ticket, pass, or smartcard to get through the ticket gates: a surcharge on its own is not valid for travel.

General purpose automatic ticketing machines are becoming more prevalent. These machines can be made to display English and are able to issue long-distance fare tickets and limited express tickets for both reserved and unreserved seats. They are usually located around ticketing windows. When buying fare tickets, take note of the route displayed, as you are required to travel on the ticketed route (stopovers are not allowed outside of that route).

For unreserved local trains, just use your smart card . If the fare happens to cost more than you had left on the card, you can pay the difference at a ticket counter or fare adjustment machine at the destination station. However, if your journey crosses the boundaries of different operators then there is the possibility that your smart card will not be accepted. Further, some stations do not have smart card readers. Details of such limitations can usually be found near the boundaries of different rail companies or on the websites of card issuers. It is recommended to always buy a fare ticket at a ticket machine or a ticket counter when traveling long-distance. Additionally, doing so may enable you to buy a fare ticket all the way to your final destination, making stopovers in between, which may save you plenty of money due to the fare per kilometer being cheaper the longer the ticketed distance.

If you happen to use a smart card mistakenly, you will settle the fare at the destination and the station staff or conductor will write you some kind of proof that you will take either to a nearby station or the origin station for them to unlock your card.

Examples of smart card boundaries can be found on the Tōkaidō Main Line between Tokyo and Kansai (not the shinkansen ): At Atami (JR East and JR Central), and at Maibara (JR Central and West).

Train types

JR pioneered the famous bullet train , referred to by its Japanese name Shinkansen (新幹線). With speeds of up to 320 km/h (360 km/h in the near future), these services are classified as "superexpress" (超特急 chō-tokkyū ) and remain the fastest way to travel around the country. Note that the Shinkansen does not run overnight . The Shinkansen is also known for its enviable safety record, with not a single accident resulting in a passenger fatality since it began operation in 1964.

Tokaido/San'yo/Kyushu Shinkansen

The most important, most-travelled Shinkansen route in the country is the Tokaido Shinkansen , which links Tokyo with Nagoya , Kyoto and Osaka . This line continues from Osaka to Okayama , Hiroshima and Fukuoka (Hakata station) as the San'yo Shinkansen , then to Kumamoto and Kagoshima as the Kyushu Shinkansen .

There are six different types of services operating on the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. These can all be grouped into three types, reflecting the number of stops made:

• Nozomi (のぞみ), Mizuho (みずほ)
• Hikari (ひかり), Sakura (さくら)
• Kodama (こだま), Tsubame (つばめ)

Other Shinkansen routes

Japan's other bullet train routes are operated primarily by JR East and radiate north of Tokyo station. These include:

• Tohoku Shinkansen to Sendai , Morioka and Aomori , continuing to Hakodate as the Hokkaido Shinkansen
• Akita Shinkansen to Akita , coupled with Tohoku Shinkansen trains as far as Morioka
• Yamagata Shinkansen to Yamagata and Shinjo , coupled with Tohoku Shinkansen trains as far as Fukushima
• Joetsu Shinkansen to Yuzawa and Niigata
• Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano , Toyama , Kanazawa , Fukui and Tsuruga
• Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki . Operated by JR Kyushu, but only up to Takeo-Onsen where you'll need to take a regular train to rejoin the main Kyushu Shinkansen at Tosu or Fukuoka.

The Japan Rail Pass is valid for all of these services, except for the GranClass cabin operating on certain routes (additional fare is required).

Other JR train types

Other JR services, particularly suburban ones, use the following generic labels:

• Regular / Local (普通 futsū , 各停 kakutei , or 各駅 kakueki ) – stops at every station
• Special Rapid / New Rapid (新快速 shinkaisoku ) — faster service unique to JR West and Central, only stops at designated stations, no surcharge
• Express (急行 kyūkō ) – skips approximately 2 out of 3 stops, requires a surcharge (less common on JR these days compared to locals and rapids)
• Liner (ライナー rainā ) – skips approximately 2 out of 3 kyūkō stops, requires a surcharge
• Limited Express (特急 tokkyū ) – skips approximately 2 out of 3 kyūkō stops, requires a surcharge and usually a reserved seat as well

Express services may offer first-class Green Car (グリーン車 guriin-sha ) seats. Given that the surcharge of almost 50% gets you little more than a bit of extra leg room, most passengers opt for regular seats. However, if you really need to ride a particular train for which the regular seats are full, the Green Car is an alternative. The JR pass is available in two types: "Ordinary", which requires paying the surcharge to use the Green Car, and "Green", which includes Green Car seats at no additional charge.

Depending on where you travel in Japan, Green Cars do have some little perks. On the premium Nozomi and Mizuho (not valid with the rail pass) you are greeted by a female attendant who will bow to you as you enter the train and check your tickets in place of the train conductor. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Green Car is the only car left with food and drink purchase available on board; there is no buy-on-board available in the standard reserved or unreserved cars. Depending on the day and time that you travel, Green Cars can be less crowded and quieter than the regular cars, but, of course, during Golden Week and other high-peak travel periods, all bets are off.

Most trains operating on the bullet train networks of eastern Japan and Hokkaido (those operated by JR East and JR Hokkaido) offer a premium Green Class experience known as GranClass (グランクラス guran-kurasu ). The service can be equated to international business class on an airline and features 18 wide, power-reclining "shell seats" in a 2+1 configuration.

GranClass on the fastest services offers a personal in-cabin attendant, an increased selection of soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, and premium quality food items made with local ingredients. GranClass may also be offered on slower, stopping services during the morning and evening peak periods, but food and attendant services will not be available.

A special GranClass fare structure is in place for these services. Japan Rail Pass holders and JR East Rail Pass holders will need to pay the Shinkansen express charge and the GranClass surcharge to travel in GranClass. Even if you have a Green Car pass, it will still cover just the basic fare — however, trains with GranClass also offer regular Green Car seating which can be used for no extra charge with the Green Car pass.

Many of Japan's rail companies have restricted or banned smoking on platforms and on trains.

Only a very few long-distance services and bullet trains have segregated carriages for smokers, including on some of the older bullet trains that are in service. Most others - including the new and refurbished bullet trains - restrict smokers to small ventilated rooms, known as "smoking corners", in between certain cars. In March 2024 bullet train lines will eliminate the remaining smoking rooms, and all bullet trains will be smoke-free. All suburban and commuter services, and many long-distance trains, do not permit smoking at all.

Usually non-smoking trains are marked in timetables with the universal no-smoking sign, or with the Japanese kanji for no smoking (禁煙; kin'en ).

Food and beverage

When taking a shinkansen or long-distance limited express service, it's best to buy any food or beverages for consumption before boarding your train.

Consider purchasing an ekiben (駅弁), which are packaged meals sold at train stations intended to be eaten on trains. Every large station has several stalls selling ekiben , and even medium-sized stations will typically have some available. Every ekiben is different and represents the taste of the region from where it was packaged. Some major Shinkansen stations such as Tokyo and Shin-Osaka will have stores selling ekiben from all over the country. It's not uncommon for Japanese to pick up an ekiben along with a beer or can of sake and have a mini-party on the train, a custom you could happily adopt.

Some major stations will have restaurants or quick-service eateries in their station concourses or even on the platforms themselves where you can have a bite to eat before taking your train. The Shinkansen platforms at Nagoya , for example, have a few noodle shops just steps away from where the bullet trains pull in.

On-board food and beverage sales are now rarely available, particularly on JR services. If a train does have at-seat catering, there will often be a selection of ekiben available, but it's usually more expensive and more limited than what's available at stations. As of November 2023 Tokaido Shinkansen trains (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka) offer Green Car passengers a mobile ordering service, with items delivered by an attendant after scanning a QR code and ordering with a smartphone.

Food and beverage consumption is usually not permitted on regular commuter trains. Generally speaking, if you have your own seat with a tray table, it's okay to eat and drink on the train.

Making a reservation

On Shinkansen and tokkyū trains, some of the carriages require passengers to have reserved their seats in advance (指定席 shiteiseki ). For example, on the 16-carriage Hikari service on the Tokaido Shinkansen, only five of the carriages permit non-reserved seating, all of which are non-smoking (禁煙車 kin'ensha ). On a busy train, making a reservation in advance can ensure a comfortable journey. Especially consider it if you're travelling in a group, as you're unlikely to find 2 seats together, let alone more, on a busy train.

Making a reservation is surprisingly easy, and is strongly advised for popular journeys (such as travelling from Tokyo to Kyoto on a Friday evening, or taking a train from Nagoya to Takayama ). Many JR stations have ticket machines where seat reservation tickets can be purchased; the newer machines have multi-language options in English, Chinese and Korean. Alternatively, look out for the JR Office at the train station, which bears a little green logo of a figure relaxing in a chair - and ask to make a reservation when you buy your ticket. The reservation can be made anywhere from a month in advance to literally minutes before the train leaves. Note that the opening hours of the manned ticket offices (dedicated to long distance travels) are more limited than the ones for local trains: they may be closed early in the morning or late in the evening.

If you are a Japan Rail Pass holder, reservations are free: go to a ticket machine for reserved seating and push the "Japan Rail Pass" button at the bottom of the screen to get started, or go to a manned agent at the JR Office and present your Rail Pass when requesting a reservation.

Without a pass a small fee will be charged, so a non-reserved ticket may be preferable to a reserved ticket, particularly if you are boarding at Tokyo or another originating station where all the seats will be open anyway.

Online reservations

There are several online services that foreigners can use to make advanced reservations for many JR trains in English and several other languages. There are more of these reservation services available than in previous years, but each of them has their advantages and drawbacks.

The SmartEX App allows online reservations to be made for Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen bullet trains (i.e. services between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Kagoshima) from mobile devices. After registering and providing a valid credit card, bullet train tickets for these lines can be purchased. Travelers can pick up their reserved tickets at a vending machine prior to boarding, or use a QR code to tap in and out of the Shinkansen system. Most IC cards like Suica and PASMO can also be linked and be used to go through the bullet train turnstiles. When using an IC card or a QR code, a receipt will print for you to collect showing your train and seat information.

Reservations can be made from one month until four minutes prior to a train's scheduled departure time, and tickets can be picked up from any JR ticket machine with the EX logo (JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu stations, plus JR East stations in Tokyo and along the Tokaido Shinkansen route). However, there is no provision to make reservations if you have a Japan Rail Pass.

The SmartEx App entitles users to a discount of ¥200 off of regular tickets, but there are also discounted "Hayatoku" fares (subject to availability) which can reduce the price of trips by a few thousand yen if purchased at least 3 days in advance for trips longer than 600km, or when traveling together in groups. However, one disadvantage is that SmartEX fares only cover travel between Shinkansen stations; in major cities, paper Shinkansen fare tickets will usually also cover travel between other JR stations in that city and the Shinkansen station.

As the name suggests, the website is aimed more towards tourists looking to book package holidays (Shinkansen+hotel or Shinkansen+hotel+activity packages). However, two special types of discount tickets for the Tokaido Shinkansen can only be booked here, the Platt Kodama, and the same-day return ticket. The Platt Kodama is a special discount ticket for the Kodama service on the Tokaido line between major cities, and includes both a discount on the fare and a free drink (including beer) from convenience stores located in Shinkansen stations in exchange for a 1-day advance purchase restriction. The discount is fairly small for regular seats (for example, ¥11,210 vs ¥14,200 full fare on Tokyo to Shin Osaka) but quite significant for Green Car (¥12,470 vs ¥19,070 full fare). Same-day return fares are dynamically priced and have the same 1-day advance purchase restriction. At their lowest, same-day return fares come out slightly cheaper than the Platt Kodama but with no free drink and the ability to select Nozomi trains. During busy periods, they are priced somewhat higher but will still be at least ¥1000 less than full fare each way.

JR East Train Reservation service

The JR East Train Reservation website sells JR East and JR Hokkaido Rail Passes, and allows regular travelers and Rail Pass holders alike to reserve seats on the following services:

• All Shinkansen trains except Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen services
• Key JR East Limited Express trains to and from Tokyo, including the Narita Express
• All JR Hokkaido Limited Express trains
• Airport Rapid trains to and from New Chitose Airport in Sapporo

Seat reservations through JR East's site may be made anywhere from one month up to three days before the date of travel, and your ticket must be picked up at a JR East ticket counter any time up to 21:00 on the day prior to departure. Also, the basic fare is not included in the seat reservation cost, unless you have a valid rail pass.

If you are in Tokyo, you can also take advantage of the JR East Travel Service Center for foreigners at Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, and major train stations in Tokyo and the Tohoku regions. You can easily exchange rail pass vouchers, purchase tickets or make seat reservations with staff that speak multiple languages.

JR West Train Reservation service

The JR West Train Reservation website allows users to reserve seats on the following services:

• All Tokaido, San'yo, Kyushu, Nishi-Kyushu, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen services
• Tohoku Shinkansen services between Tokyo and Nasu-Shiobara ( does not include services further north to Fukushima, Sendai, Akita, Hokkaido, etc.)
• All limited express services in central and western Japan, including the islands of Shikoku and Kyushu (in areas operated by JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu)
• Limited express services around Tokyo and portions of the Kantō, Chubu and Tohoku regions (in areas operated by JR East)

Regional JR West rail passes and travel products can also be purchased through the JR West service.

Reservations can be made up until minutes before departure. Payment can be made in advance by credit card, or in yen (cash) when picking up the tickets in person. Tickets can be picked up at these locations:

• Any ticket office or ticket reservation machine in central or western Japan showing the e5489 ( ii go-yoyaku , a pun on "e-reservations") reservation system symbol
• JR East Travel Service Centers, except for trains that pass through JR Central territory, such as the Tokaido Shinkansen.

If you are picking up a regional rail pass or tickets that are restricted to foreign tourists, these must be picked up at a JR West station in western Japan. You can go to an e5489 ticket office, or if you have a passport with an IC chip, you can go to an e5489 ticket reservation machine that is equipped with a passport reader.

If you reserve tickets on the Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo using the JR West Reservation Service, you will need to travel to a Tokaido Shinkansen train station (i.e. Tokyo Station, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama) and go to a JR Central ticket office or e5489 reservation machine to receive your tickets.

Kyushu Rail Pass Reservation service

The Kyushu Rail Pass Reservation website permits foreign travelers to purchase a Kyushu Rail Pass, and allows Kyushu Rail Pass holders to make seat reservations on trains in Kyushu.

On all bullet trains and limited express services, there is an overhead rack where personal items and small luggage can be stored. There is also a limited amount of space at the rear of each car for a few large suitcases (some of these spaces need special reservations, see below). Bringing large luggage is generally discouraged for personal space and comfort considerations, both for yourself and other passengers. As an alternative to bringing large luggage on the train, you may wish to look into a luggage delivery service , which in Japan is a highly efficient and economical way to transport your luggage. For example, a 20 kg (44 lb) suitcase measuring not more than 140 cm (55 in) total in length, width and height costs just under ¥2000 to transport between Tokyo and Kyoto on Yamato's Ta-Q-Bin (宅急便 takkyūbin ) service with next day delivery. Long distance deliveries (i.e. Tokyo-Fukuoka) can take two days, and one extra day must be added for deliveries to an airport. Most hotels and convenience stores will be able to make the necessary arrangements for you and accept payment.

A growing number of trains are installing large storage spaces for luggage. Many of the newer express services on JR and private railways have luggage compartments at the end of some cars, while a few trains such as the Hinotori between Nagoya and Osaka have free luggage lockers.

Luggage reservations

The Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen requires all passengers with large luggage between 161-250 cm (length plus width plus height) to make a special seat reservation (特大荷物スペースつき座席 tokudai nimotsu space tsuki zaseki ). This reservation, at no additional cost when purchasing a ticket, allows passengers with large luggage to reserve seats in the back row of a reserved car and store the luggage in the space behind their seats. This space is exclusive to those passengers who reserved these seats. It is frowned upon if you try to store your large luggage in this space without having a luggage reservation. Signs and announcements on the train will remind you to follow this rule.

Those who do not make this special reservation are supposed to store their luggage in a designated space between cars at a cost of ¥1000 for each piece, although in practice, enforcement of this is lax as long as the in-car luggage slots are not full.

You do not need to make reservations for carry-on size luggage, which fits into the racks above the seats.

Private railways

If the option is there, the private railways are often cheaper than JR for an equivalent journey. However this is not always the case as changing from one network to another generally increases the price. Most private railways are part of large conglomerates with many holdings in other business areas like real estate and shopping, and focus on commuter service into the major cities - the only private railway that could be considered intercity is the Kintetsu Railway linking Nagoya and Osaka. Private railways may interpret the service classes above differently, with some providing express services at no additional charge.

Kobe , Kyoto , Nagoya , Osaka , Sapporo , Sendai , Fukuoka , Tokyo and Yokohama also have subway (underground) services. For seeing the sights within a particular city, many offer a one day pass, often between ¥500 and ¥1000 for an adult. Tokyo has several types of day passes, which cover some subway lines but not others. The full Tokyo subway pass (which does not include the JR Yamanote Line) is ¥900.

In addition, third-sector rail companies are public-private partnerships established to operate lines formerly belonging to another company, usually unprofitable ones previously belonging to the JNR or JR Group. Among them, specified local lines (特定地方交通線) services are commuter railways that serve the most rural parts of Japan. As most of these companies are largely unprofitable, they often offer great deals for travelers in order to attract passengers, and are useful for off the beaten track travel .

Premium services

A few private railways operate premium trains for travel between major cities and tourist/leisure destinations. With distinctive exteriors, these trains usually feature comfortable, all-reserved seating and make limited stops. Some offer food and beverage service, either through vending machines, at-seat wagon sales or an on-board cafe. All of these premium services require a surcharge on top of the normal fare, like the tokkyu-ken for JR trains.

Such premium services include Odakyu Railway's Romancecar from Shinjuku to Hakone , Tobu Railway's SPACIA and Revaty from Asakusa to Nikko and Kinugawa , and Seibu's Red Arrow and Laview from Ikebukuro to Chichibu and from Shinjuku to Kawagoe . In central Japan, Kintetsu runs a plethora of limited express services between Nagoya and Osaka , and from Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka to such destinations as Ise , Toba , Shima , Nara and Kashihara , under names such as Shimakaze , Hinotori and Urban Liner . In Kansai, Keihan Railway operates a Premium Car on their fastest commuter trains operating between Kyoto and Osaka with reserved seating.

A growing number of operators such as Odakyu , Tobu and Kintetsu now offer online reservations for premium trains in English on their respective websites.

Additionally, a few private railway operators offer reserved seat services on regular commuter trains, comparable to Green Car seats on JR trains in Tokyo. These seats can be purchased before boarding at a reasonable cost. One example is the Keihan Railway in Kansai , where Premium Car seats cost only an additional ¥500 to travel between Kyoto and Osaka .

Women-only cars

To provide a sense of safety and security for female passengers, many of the JR and private commuter rail lines in Japan reserve a car for women only during the morning and evening rush hour. These cars are identified by special placards and stickers on the train and platform, which also designate the times that women-only cars are in effect. Also, some limited express trains operated by JR West to and from the Kansai region have reserved seats specifically for women and their children. You will find men sitting in "women-only" seats, but they will make way if requested to do so. Normally, the first and last carriages are designated "women-only" during the morning rush time.

Some rail companies do allow men with disabilities and their caregivers to board the women-only cars, as well as male elementary school students.

Overnight by train

Overnight trains in Japan, containing the prefix shindai (寝台) but more commonly known as Blue Trains because of the blue color of the sleeping cars, were once an icon of the entire country. Numerous services would run regularly, bringing travellers to different parts of the country in a timely, efficient manner. These days, however, with ageing train equipment and other modes of transportation becoming easier and sometimes cheaper (e.g. Shinkansen trains and overnight buses), overnight trains have slowly been discontinued.

Only one set of overnight trains remains in daily service today: the Sunrise Izumo (サンライズ出雲) and the Sunrise Seto (サンライズ瀬戸). These services run coupled together between Tokyo and Okayama . In Okayama the cars split/combine, with the Sunrise Izumo continuing to Kurashiki and Izumo , and the Sunrise Seto heading south to Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku. Bullet train transfers for service to and from destinations such as Hiroshima and Kyushu can be made at Okayama.

When using these services, separate fares will have to be paid. The basic fare and limited express surcharge are both based on distance, and the accommodation charge is fixed over the entire journey. Lodging ranges from carpet spaces — where you literally sleep on the floor — to bunk bed-type compartments and private rooms. Toilets are located throughout the train, and on-board showers can be accessed for a small fee by paying for a shower card at a special vending machine - but only a limited number of shower cards are available on each trip.

The Japan Rail Pass will cover only the basic fare. If you sleep in a bunk bed or a private room, then the limited express and accommodation charges will have to be paid. On the other hand, if you sleep in the carpet space, this is considered a "reserved seat" and there is no additional charge to use it.

Overnight trains can be reserved online in English through sites such as JR West and Japan Rail Pass Train Reservation, or you can book the train after arrival in Japan. Do note that trains could sell out, especially during peak travel times, and trains are also subject to cancellation on the day of departure if inclement weather is expected.

The alternative to travelling overnight by train is to travel by bus , though if you plan to stick to train transportation there are a few other options. You could travel to your next destination during the evening hours, arrive before midnight (when most trains stop operating), and hit the ground running early the next morning. You can also split up an overnight journey by stopping at an intermediate train station along the way and resting at a nearby hotel. This works especially if you have a Japan Rail Pass, since you would generally not have to pay anything extra to use the train. If you can find accommodations in a smaller city, the chances are good that you will pay less for it compared to lodging in bigger cities such as Tokyo... not to mention you will have your own bed, bathroom and toilet. Toyoko Inn business hotels operate all over Japan — most of them near train stations — and are just one example.

If you have some extra money, consider forwarding some of your luggage to your destination using a luggage delivery service.

Deluxe excursion trains

A number of excursion trains are marketed as Joyful Trains (ジョイフルトレイン joifuru torein ). As of 2020, you can find as many as 50 such trains by searching for "joyful train". Some are simply ordinary rides with scenic views, while others have interesting features on board such as tatami mat seating, an art gallery, sweet snacks made from local produce , or foot baths. There are also character trains that generally target kids, such as the Pokémon train with a playroom car, decorated with about a million Pikachus.

The various Japan Railway companies offer some sleeper trains with deluxe accommodations. The Seven Stars in Kyushu (ななつ星in九州 nanatsuboshi ) was unveiled in 2013 by JR Kyushu, who coined the phrase cruise train due to its long and various itineraries. The Seven Stars in Kyushu appropriately operates in Kyushu and contains 14 deluxe suites, a lounge car and a dining car.

Fares start from ¥210,000 for a one night journey and ¥480,000 for a three night journey that includes one night at a ryokan (per person, double occupancy). Despite the high cost, the excursion train has proven to be so popular that JR Kyushu holds a ticket lottery to determine who can order tickets. For example, there were over 6,800 applications for the 210 suites available for train runs between October 2015 and February 2016. Travel agencies have begun selling these itineraries at a mark-up for those who miss out on the lottery.

Due to the success of Seven Stars in Kyushu , other train companies are following suit with their own excursion trains. JR East has introduced the luxury Train Suite Shiki-shima (四季島) for journeys from Tokyo to Tohoku and Hakodate in southern Hokkaido. JR West's Twilight Express Mizukaze (瑞風) operates itineraries between the Kansai and Chugoku regions.

The Royal Express of Izu-Kyuko Railway operates excursions from Yokohama to the Izu Peninsula .

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Train Timetables and Route Finders

Japan has an extensive and efficient train network ; however, without an intimate knowledge of the system, its complexity can make it difficult to figure out an efficient route. On top of that, while most railway, bus and ferry companies publish their timetables online, few offer good English language resources. Luckily there are several good English online route finders available on the internet to help travelers navigate the railway system in Japan.

Route finders allow you to find transportation routes between any two train stations in Japan. Below are some of the better tools available:

Jorudan (aka Japan Transit Planner)

Jorudan has been around since the early days of the Internet. Today, Jorudan offers a website and an app , both of which come with free search functions and some additional paid functions. The free options available differ between the web and app, with the app version being greatly superior to the website.

The free app allows to exclude specific train categories (e.g. shinkansen or limited express trains), includes a Japan Rail Pass option, which allows results to be limited to trains covered by the pass, and also lists platform details and stations along the way. None of these features are provided by the free web version.

Covers: train, plane and bus

Pros and cons:

• has Japan Rail Pass option (app only)
• shows stations along the way (app only)
• shows platform numbers (app only)
• allows to exclude certain train categories (except free website)
• the free website version is limited to the very basics

Website: https://world.jorudan.co.jp/mln/en/ Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.co.jorudan.japantransit iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/japan-transit-planner/id524328198

Navitime (aka Japan Travel by Navitime)

The English route search service by Navitime is close to perfect. Not only does it have a Japan Rail Pass option, but it can similarly handle several other rail passes . It also allows to exclude results by train category and other means of transport. Besides covering train and flight connections, Navitime is particularly strong with bus connections across Japan and also covers driving routes, taxi fares and expressway tolls .

The service is free and comes as website and app .

Covers: train, plane, bus, taxi, car, walk

• has Japan Rail Pass (and other rail passes) option
• can exclude certain train categories or transport types
• shows taxi fares
• shows expressway tolls
• has wheelchair-friendly option
• has eco-friendly option

Website: https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/route/ Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.navitime.inbound.walk iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/japan-travel-route-map-jr/id686373726

Google Maps

Last but not least there is Google . Google map search results are tremendously powerful and not limited to trains , buses and flights , but also cover car , bicycle , walk and wheelchair -friendly options, while being interlinked with other useful Google services.

However, the Google Map connection tool does not currently allow users to exclude certain train categories from their search results and does not feature a Japan Rail Pass option to exclude trains that are not covered by the popular rail pass.

Covers: train, plane, bus, car, bicycle, walk

• shows stations along the way
• shows platform numbers
• has no Japan Rail Pass option
• does not allow to exclude certain train categories

Website: https://www.google.com/maps

Printed timetables

Printed railway timetables in Japanese are sold in bookstores and kiosks across Japan. Both nationwide timetables as well as those covering a specific region or railway company are available. The largest timetable books contain kana readings for all station names, but they can still be rather difficult to use without Japanese reading skills. Unfortunately, comprehensive printed English timetables are not widely available, however some rail companies print booklets and pamphlets of timetables for selected routes.

Among the most complete nationwide timetables are the JR and JTB timetable books, which are published monthy in full and pocket versions. Besides the full schedules of all train lines operated by Japan Railways (JR), they contain the basic schedules of trains by other railway , bus , ferry and airline companies as well as a wide array of practical information covering topics such as discount tickets, fares and regulations.

Questions? Ask in our forum .

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• Scenic Railway Journeys

Let’s Go on a Scenic Railway Journey

Japan’s regional railways stand out in every sense: the color, appearance, interior and exterior of the trains and those that are themed with promotional characters.

Find your Perfect Train Journey to Any Corner of Japan

The many scenic railways throughout Japan are your ticket to the natural beauty and essence of each region. Hop on and journey into a haven of local highlights - take your pick from the wide choice of areas below!

Cruise Train

A ‘cruise train’ refers to a luxury sleeper train offering courses that allow passengers to enjoy multiple sightseeing spots, similar to a cruise liner, hence the term. 

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Japan Travel & Culture Guide

8 Incredible Scenic Train Journeys in Japan

Few train systems are as magnificent as those of Japan . They are famous for their efficiency and amazing use of advanced technology to create some of the fastest trains in the world. However, Japanese trains aren’t all about just getting from point A to point B. Some Japanese trains offer a great opportunity to see the beauty and wonder of the legendary Japanese scenery .

Because so many of the sights of Japan are rugged and far away from urban centers, this is a great opportunity to see them in comfort and without having to navigate the roads of another country on your own. Here are the best scenic train journeys in Japan:

1. Kurobe Gorge Railway

Kurobe Gorge is a treasure of the Northern Japanese Alps . It is one of the deepest gorges in Japan. Rather than just rigged rock cut by the Kurobe River, it is heavily forested.

It is nearly untouched, so any visit here feels like visiting another world. Driving or hiking can be difficult, but the Kurobe Gorge Railway is a great alternative. It is an 80-minute ride over more than 20 bridges and through more than 40 tunnels.

You can see some of the best panoramic views of the gorge while on the train. The train also makes a few stops that offer passengers the chance to explore.

The trains operate seasonally from the middle of April to November. Most cars are open with 4-person bench seats, but many also offer a few enclosed cars with more comfortable seating. 

Their most crowded time is in autumn when the gorge is ablaze with brilliant fall colors . Tickets are bought with assigned car numbers, but seats are not assigned.

The train departs from Unazuki Station , located in Unazuki Onsen , which is a small hot spring town near the entrance to Kurobe Gorge.

This is a good place to stay before and after your train ride. Tickets cost 1980 yen one way, though upgrades to more comfortable seats can be purchased for 350 to 530 yen. For timetable and fares, click here .

2. Sagano Scenic Railway

This charming railway runs along the Hozugawa River between Arashiyama and Kameoka. The trains are old-fashioned and romantic, while the forested mountain scenery rolls away at a fairly slow pace. It’s a very romantic journey, especially in fall, when the trees change color.

Every train consists of four enclosed cars with windows that can be opened. You should buy tickets early to be sure you get a seat.

According to many expert travelers, this scenic rail ride is at its best in spring and autumn season.  

The lien starts at Torokko Saga Station and terminates at Torokko Kameoka Station , where visitors can opt to ride back on the train or take another more modern train to their final destination.

Tickets cost 630 yen one way. Read these important FAQ before planning a trip to enjoy a ride.

3. Hakone Tozan Railway

This is Japan’s oldest mountain railway. The small trains go through many tunnels and over many bridges, making their way along switchbacks, with a few stops along the way.

There are two sections, the lower section from Odawara to Hakone-Yumoto, which is less scenic, and the incredible upper section from Hakone-Yumoto to Gora.

The upper section is a 35-minute ride. It is considered to be at its best from June to July (rainy season) when thousands of hydrangea flowers are in bloom, but it is lovely at any time of year as well. For example, you can see beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn colors in the fall . 

The train starts at Odawara. The fee from Odawara to Gora is 410 yen one way and the entire line is covered by the Hakone Free Pass. Many visitors take a cable car from Gora to Lake Ashi for another scenic experience.

4. Oigawa Railway

These classic steam locomotives run all through Shizuoka Prefecture . Some of the trains on the Ikawa Line are so small that you may risk hitting your head on their ceiling. This is a chance to see how people traveled in years gone by as well as some amazing scenery.

The trains travel along the Oi River , offering views of lovely gorges and forested mountainsides. The covered cars all have windows that can be opened.

If you’re traveling with small children, one of the locomotives on the line is a reproduction of Thomas and another is a reproduction of his friend James the Red Engine the Tank Engine, which is sure to be a hit.

This railway starts at JR Kanaya Station . Tickets are 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children. All seats are reserved in advance, so be sure to get your tickets early. Visit Oigawa Railway official website to get more info about the ride.

5. Tadami Line

For a look at rustic Japan, the JR Tadami Line is a great choice. It runs from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and through the mountains of Fukushima Prefecture to Koide Station in Niigata Prefecture, offering some of the most famous views in the area.

These include the No. 1 Tadami River Bridge . The alpine scenery is especially excellent in winter when the mountains are covered in snow and the houses of the charming local towns have snow on their roofs. 

Tadami River is one of the beautiful rivers in Japan, offering amazing views throughout the year in each season. When the train would pass through the bridge, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings from the train window. 

In February , many of the towns that the train stops at host amazing snow festivals. Please note The Tadami Line is operated by East Japan Railway Company . 

6. Tokaido Shinkansen

There are many ways to get excellent views of Mt. Fuji , but the Tokaido Shinkansen is one of the best. If you want to enjoy a shinkansen ride in Japan , then take this train line into your consideration. 

While many think you can only see the mountain from the right side of the train bound for Osaka, but the truth is that you can also get some views from the left side of the train.

You will be able to see Mt. Fuji at the part of the route between Shinagawa and Lake Hamana just beyond Hamamatsu. With good weather, you may be able to catch a glimpse near Kanagawa Prefecture’s Hiratsuka. 

Hiratsuka city has some very good Mt. Fuji viewing spots and travelers can get a majestic view of the mountain from the train window while the train passes through Hiratsuka’s Tokaido Shinkansen line.

When the train departs Mishima Station, you will see the highlight of the trip as Mt. Fuji appears shortly after.

7. Hisatsu Line

This steam engine line runs between Yatsushiro City and JR Hayato Station. It runs along the Yatake-koe and Kuma River , offering some excellent views.

Many of the stations and facilities are in the style of the Meiji era , giving you a window back in time. It’s an excellent, leisurely ride that offers you a great chance to see a lot of the Kumamoto Prefecture and Kagoshima Prefecture in comfort.

Experiencing a rail ride along this line is a must-do thing when you plan on visiting either Kumamoto or Kagoshima Prefecture.  

8. Sekihoku Main Line

Hokkaido is one of the most visited destinations in Japan, especially for foodies and nature fanatics who like to hike, hit the ski slopes, and enjoy the outdoors. 

Operated by Hokkaido Railway Company , Sekihoku Main Line runs between Shin-Asahikawa Station in Asahikawa, the second largest city in Hokkaido and Abashiri Station in Abashiri. The entire train route is blessed by nature and you can enjoy stunning landscapes until the last stop in Abashiri. 

The route from Kamikawa Station to Maruseppu Station is one of the top autumn leaves viewing spots by a train ride in northern Japan . This is possibly the best scenic rail ride that reveals Hokkaido’s unspoiled autumn nature. Mountains, rivers, deciduous trees and beautiful countryside will make your journey a great adventure.  

The best time to take a ride along this line is between early-October and mid-October. Watch this video and decide if you should try this fun ride or not.

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Hot spring bath with great views of Mt. Fuji!!!!

35+ Helpful Japan Travel Tips To Know BEFORE You Go

J apan is a remarkable country filled with so much history, natural beauty and modern touches. I’ve just returned from my second trip to Japan and was reminded of so many things I had forgotten about the country! Traveling in Japan is an amazing and enriching experience, however it is also a country filled with traditions and unique ways of operating that visitors may not be used to. Below I share the best Japan travel tips to help you make the most of your trip.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Top Japan Travel Tips to Know BEFORE You Go

Before you head off to Japan, there are a few things you will need to know in advance and to plan for. While most things on this list can be figured out while in country, a few MUST be done before you leave your home. Whether you opt for the classic tourist circuit Japan itinerary or get off the beaten path , these tips will go a long way to help you enjoy your trip to the fullest.

Get A Japan Rail Pass in ADVANCE

If you want a Japan Rail Pass , it is only available to purchase for overseas tourists BEFORE they enter the country. Once you are in country, you can no longer purchase a JR Pass, so if you plan to use the bullet train between destinations quite a bit, this is a must do before you leave. You must also give yourself plenty of advance notice as well as the pass is still mailed to a physical address. 

However, I will say that sometimes it’s not actually cheaper to get a JR Pass. Research the Shinkansen trains here and which trains you plan to take to budget accordingly. Often you can take a train that is just a bit slower, for a lot cheaper.

Regardless, the most important piece of advice for the JR Pass is once it is activated you CANNOT lose it. If you lose it, it is gone. You will not be able to print a new pass. You will not be given a refund. You cannot buy another pass until it is expired as it is connected to your passport. A fellow traveler on my recent trip had this experience, and it was not pleasant to lose a $600 pass on day 1 of his trip!

Keep Your Train Tickets With You

Along with the JR Pass information above, another thing to know when traveling on the trains in Japan is to keep your train ticket with you at all times. One, you will often be asked to show it on many longer distance train journeys and you will need it to exit the stations. Even better is to get a transportation card mentioned below for city travel as it is a little less easy to lose. Trust me, these tiny slips of paper are easy to misplace!

Get an IC Transport Card

There is nothing worse than arriving to Japan, transferring through the airports and needing a drink but unable to get one! Japan’s vending machines and many shops do not take US or foreign credit cards. What do you do when you only have a vending machine as an option in the airport? The best way to deal with this is to download and preload an IC card BEFORE your arrival.  Not only does a Suica card or Pasmo card provide easy access to public transportation, it can also be used at vending machines and for small purchases at convenience stores.

Insider Japan Travel Tips You MUST know: If you have an iPhone, you can go to your wallet, click the plus sign, then click Transit Card. Now you can search “Japan” to see the Suica option. Now you can select the amount to add to your card and go through the payment portal. BAM. You are ready to roll upon hitting the ground in Japan.

If you cannot load it on your phone, you can purchase Suica Cards at most train stations. You can also order Suica Cards online and have them mailed to your house abroad prior to your trip to be sure you will have access when in the country.

Learn Basic Japanese Words

While you might find some level of English in the big cities or top tourist spots, much of Japan still exists without much English. I always find this interesting, but again, how cool that they have managed to keep their language and Japanese culture so true to themselves! That said, if you plan to get off the beaten path at all, make sure you know a few phrases and have your Google Translate handy! 

The top phrases I found useful while in country include:

Hello – Konichiwa

Thank you – Arigato

Thank you very much – Arigato Gozai mas

Delicious – Oishi

Cute – Kawaii

Cheers – Kanpai

Sorry, Excuse me, Pardon me – Sumi masen

Download Google Translate 

One of the most important travel tips I can provide is to download the Google Translate app and Japanese packet as you will often need it. As mentioned above, there is often still quite a bit of a language barrier in Japan, especially in smaller towns or off the beaten path at all. Having Google translate will help you when you want to say something to someone but can’t communicate. The translate will provide it in text for the other person to read which is super helpful. Additionally, you can actually just turn on your microphone and let a person speak into your app and get the translation quickly. This is a great help throughout Japan!

Cash is King

Tipping is not customary.

Contrary to the West, tipping is not customary here and in some cases can be considered rude. To be honest as an American who is asked for a tip at every turn, this was a welcome change. I was so happy to not have to worry about tipping at restaurants, bus drivers or our guides. If you are unsure you can ask, but in general it is not done!

Don’t Expect a Western Breakfast

One of the things I most remembered from my first trip to Japan was the very different, for me, breakfast options. While I am all for trying things and diving into the local culture, sometimes you want a little something that is reminiscent of home. For me that is often breakfast. At most restaurants and hotels, you can expect to see very little western offerings for breakfast. If you want something you are used to (coffee even) you will need to seek out western establishments. I don’t often go to McDonalds at home or abroad, but I sure do like that sausage egg mcmuffin after a week in Japan!

Walk on the Left Side of the Street

Without even noticing it, I found myself crossing over a path of people in the underground to get on the “right” side of the walking path. You will see that people traffic flows very smoothing in Japan and most of that is because of how the Japanese walk on the correct side. Watch the flow of food traffic and you will quickly see where you need to be! When I was in Sapporo, there was an entire city of underground walkways. I quickly realized that everyone was sectioned off in the direction of their travel. It made it very easy to get through even with large end of day crowds. But beware of those very useful, but pesky bumps for sight impaired. They are everywhere and are not really an indicator of which side of the street you should be on!

Get Ready to Take Off Your Shoes

While it isn’t as common to remove your shoes in Japan as it is for say India, you will need to remove your shoes for more traditional establishments including restaurants. We had to remove our shoes at the front door to one of our hotels even and couldn’t put them back on until we were leaving! I love not wearing shoes indoors, but it was not always easy especially when I was wearing my Blundstones that are so difficult to get on/off!

Take Your Passport Shopping

If you would like to take advantage of tax-free shopping, make sure to take your passport with you when you go shopping. Some shops like UNIQLO will automatically give you the tax free savings right away once they see your passport,  helping you to avoid doing it at the airport. Other shops will require you get a refund at the airport. If you plan to do any shopping, just take it with you!

Respect the Japanese Traditions

One of the most amazing parts of traveling to Japan is how it is SO different than what many of us are used to. Historically, Japan has been a closed off society. Most of the country is Japanese origin with little Western influence. It is one of the many things that makes it so unique. That said, the most important thing is that you recognize and respect their traditions even if it’s very foreign to you. Take time to learn and ask about the traditions and practice them during your visit. It’s a great way to show respect and fully immerse yourself in the country. 

Prepare Yourself for A Japanese Onsen

One of the most beautiful parts of Japanese society is the public bathing system of the onsen. These hot springs are located throughout the country in stunning locations. It is definitely a big part of life here and something tourists should try at least once. I will warn you though, that unless you are having a private onsen, they are completely nude and can be mixed gender as well. I could write an entire article on how to visit an onsen as there are customs and rules to know, but in general you will need to fully shower and bathe with soap before entering the pools, they are totally nude and many do not allow people to enter with visible tattoos. If you are staying in a ryokan with no private shower facility in your room, make sure the staff are aware of any tattoos in advance so they can make arrangements for you. 

Transportation Etiquette

Don’t be afraid of shopping at convenience stores.

In Japan, convenience stores are everything. And EVERYWHERE! There are so many varieties from 7-11 to Lawson’s to Family Mart or more local shops like SeicoMart in Hokkaido that you can never be very far from one. Here you can literally get anything you want including breakfast or dinner! You can find ready made meals like fried chicken in Hokkaido to udon noodles, tempura, sandwiches and more. They also have chargers if you happen to have soaked your phone and need a cordless charger. They have candy and sweets, beer, iced coffee and so more more.

Get Ready to Carry Your Trash Around

One thing that is always a surprise to me when I’m in Japan is the lack of trash cans in public spaces. They are not on the roadsides or even that frequently found in shops. You will carry a lot of trash in your pockets all day long! Carry a small plastic bag for your trash to make life easier, but do remember to say no to plastic bags at most places as they are given very freely still or a minimal extra cost.

Separate Your Trash

Japan is not super up on the “use less plastic” concept, but they are very strict about separating their garbage. Hopefully this means they have a much better track record of recycling than we do in the US! If you are not used to separating your trash, educate yourself a bit on what is compostable, what is recyclable and what is landfill trash. At big festivals or events you will find very trash cans (as mentioned above), but when you do, they will expect you to seperate it all into the correct containers.

Eating, Drinking & Smoking in Public

While I am not 100% if there are rules on this, but in general you will notice that the Japanese people do NOT eat, drink or smoke while walking. There are of course designated areas for smoking, which is not allowed all over the place. But for drinking your morning coffee on the way to the train station? Nope, you won’t see Japanese people do this. Is it an unspoken rule or just a custom I am not certain, but I tried to follow suit as much as I could. 

Throughout history, Japan has been a closed off society. Would you believe that almost 99% of the country is Japanese? The result is a unique culture with little Western influence and little English. So don’t be surprised if you ask questions or try to converse with people, but don’t receive much of a response. It’s not because they are rude, they simply know they can’t speak your language, and you likely can’t speak Japanese

Japanese Toilets Will Spoil You

Ok, one of the BEST things about Japan has to be their toilets. From the airport to public restrooms, you will find some really great toilets to literally write home about! My absolute favorite that I didn’t realize until I got back home was the heated seats. It really does feel so nice to sit down on a toasty toilet in the middle of the night. There are also several bidet options, drying options and of course also “privacy” sounds/music for many public toilets. Make sure to have your phone handy though as you may need to translate some of the buttons if they aren’t obvious. I have found myself stuff with the water on, not knowing how to turn it off! All of that said, you will also still find squat toilet options in most public bathrooms. They typically have a sign on the door indicating what type of toilet you can expect. 

Get an e-SIM For Your Phone

If you haven’t tried an e-SIM yet, you need to get on the wagon. They are SO easy to use, super affordable and available all over the world. For my recently 2 week trip, I used a 10 GB e-SIM card which allowed me to have data access wherever I went. While there is often free Wi-Fi around major cities, often the log-in screen is only in Japanese which makes it challenging to login quickly. Get $3 off your first purchase at AIRLO using my code: KARILY0402

Stay at Ryokan At Least Once

One of the coolest Japanese cultural experiences I can recommend is to stay in a ryokan. A ryokan is basically traditional Japanese inns. While they come in many forms these days including a super traditional ryokan where you sleep on the tatami mats, you can also opt for ones that do have more “western” beds. I have stayed in all various forms and personally I love being able to plop down in an actual bed, but for a one night experience I would recommend trying the super traditional way as well. 

As part of the experience, you might find that you have a traditional kaiseki meal for dinner or breakfast, you might also have no private shower in your room or  have to take your shoes off at the hotel entrance. It is so fun and cool to see Japanese locals having their dinner or breakfast in the provided yukata (robe in the room) and wearing the slippers. I find this to be one of the most immersive cultural experiences you can have in Japan and well worth the price tag. (Shockingly they are usually quite a bit more expensive than western style hotels).

Japan is Not THAT Expensive

Japan has a reputation of being an excessively expensive country. While it is definitely more expensive than it’s other Asian counterparts, it is also not as pricey as some places in Europe! There are ways to reduce your expenses quite easily. One recommendation to mix up accomodation options – stay in a traditional ryokan, but also stay in chain hotels like Tokyu Stay. We had a great room at Tokyu Stay with a washer/dryer in our room for less than $80 a night. There are plenty of small shops for meals that will run you $5-10 a meal, while more traditional kaiseki meals will cost more. The biggest expense tends to be transport between cities, so that is why it is important to price it out in advance and check for internal flights and getting the JR Pass.

Do NOT Lose (or Keep) Your Hotel Key Card

Traditional hotels still use actual keys, so those are much easier to keep track of and not loose. If you are worried about losing one, you can drop it off with reception before you go out for the day. 

Japan Trains Run VERY Timely

While I can’t say that Japanese trains run on time always because I have experienced delays with them, overwhelmingly they do run on a very tight schedule with very little disturbances. This is great as long as you are early, but it’s tough when you are running late! Always plan for delays in the train station and arrive with plenty of time.

Check for Seasonal Festivals

Regardless of when you visit Japan, there is sure to be some type of festival happening. These are often the best places to fully immerse yourself into the culture. For example, the cherry blossoms in the spring often have many festivals that accompany it, which can be quite fun. In Sapporo, there is an Autumn Festival in September that brings in tons of amazing food options every day for visitors to sample. 

Bring Snacks With You

Whether it is a bus or train journey, do not plan on food being available. There are no dining cars on trains regardless how many hours they are. We found out the hard way that we needed to always have water and snacks with us because options were not always available. Shockingly though, you can eat and drink on the long distance trains, just make sure to take all of your trash with you.

Tap Water is Safe to Drink

One of the best things about travelling in Japan is that the tap water is safe to drink. I loved not having to purchase water bottles all the time or worry about water being bad quality. I even drank from a mountain spring in Rishiri Island that was crisp and cold and so delicious. Bring you recyclable water bottle and fill up in the hotels every day instead of buying more plastic. 

Public Space & Japanese Etiquette

Japan has a concept called “ma” or personal space. Respect it, especially in crowded places with lots of people. Many of these etiquette rules are unspoken, but if you take time to look around you, you will notice that the Japanese people strictly adhere to them. Again, one of the best Japan travel tips I can provide is to look around you and follow what the locals are doing! 

Wear Your Bag In Front on Crowded Trains

In places like Paris or New York, you might see people wearing their backpacks on their front on busy trains, but in Japan this is not for safety as much as it is a respect for fellow passengers. When you wear your bag on the front you are making sure that you are not accidentally hitting other people. This culture is one that is very fond of respect for others and I just love this example!

Safety in Japan

Overall I feel VERY safe in Japan at all hours of the day and night. Trains can get super crowded and you will see people wearing their bags in front like I mentioned above, however that is not necessarily for safety as it might be in other cities. All of that said, I would still be aware of your belongings when in crowded public places and wear your mobile on a strap like this one to make sure it isn’t snatched!

Use Google Maps for Train Travel

If you don’t already use Google Maps, one of my top Japan travel tips is to download it now! One of the coolest features of Google maps is that it will tell you how to walk to a train station, which train to get on and even which exit to look for when you arrive to the destination train stations! However it is important to note that oftentimes your internet may not work in the subway stations, so it is a good idea to have it all loaded before you get underground. 

Expect Lines at Restaurants

Dietary restrictions are challenging.

In Tokyo you can often manage with dietary restrictions more easily, but once you leave the big city, it can often be quite challenging to deal with dietary restrictions. I personally am allergic to MSG, which meant asking everywhere if I could eat the food prepared. For the most part, most chef’s knew instantly whether they used it or not. In the more rural parts of Japan in the far north of Hokkaido, I ran into a few more challenges. If you are a strict vegetarian, it is also a bit cumbersome to find food that does not include any fish sauce as it seems to be included in a ton. Just take your time and ask around as there are often places that can cater to your needs. 

An International Drivers License is Required in Japan

If you plan to hire a car and self drive during your visit to Japan, make sure you acquire an International Driver’s license before you leave home. If you are in the US, this is easily obtained at AAA for around $20 in one day. This is just an additional piece of paper that says that yes, your license is for driving and you are able to drive outside of your home country. 

Japanese Wait for the Walking Sign

Just like in Germany, for the most part Japanese people do not jaywalk or cross until the walking sign is illuminated. I have seen a few people here and there cut across the road or go before the walk sign is lit up, but by far the general rule is that you wait patiently on the sidewalk!

Try All the Drinks, But Don’t Expect Much More than Coke

In Japan you will quickly notice that the only western drink you can purchase by and large is Coca Cola and not even diet, just regular coke. I was so surprised when our Japanese exchange student had never had a Sprite, but after my recent visit I was reminded why – it’s tough to come by! Only occasionally did I see a Sprite in a convenience store and almost never in a vending machine. Overall, you will be presented with a ton of drinks that are only Japanese!

Also, I found out after much sampling and discussion with our Japanese hosts – you will never find sweetened tea in the vending machines unless it is Chinese or American. They do not put sugar in their green tea at all. I purchased MANY tea varieties looking for a sweet option, with absolutely no luck!

Buy From ALL the Vending Machines

One of my top Japan travel tips includes buying stuff from the vending machines. I just love the vending machines in Japan. And I love that you can purchase almost anything in the world from them. At one of my onsen visits, they had a vending machine with underwear (new!), razors, earbuds and more. We saw a vending machine selling frozen ramen which would be the perfect take out food if you lived there. You will of course find drinks machines everywhere you go as well. My favorite one of the entire country has to be the “cake in a can” vending machine in Sapporo. The cake was amazing as is the concept. It was pricey, but worth it at least once. 

Another great one to look out for and try is a coffee vending machine. You can usually adjust how strong you want the coffee, how much sugar and how much milk. It is so fun to just pay 100 yen and have a hot coffee. Additionally, on most regular machines you can look for the signs that say hot/cold as some machines dispense BOTH hot and cold drinks. You want a hot tea, but your friend wants a cold drink. You got it. Seriously, these machines are the best and one of my favorite things to check out while wandering around towns!

Japan is a country with a rich culture and history, so embracing its traditions and customs can really enhance your travel experience.

There really is no “best time” to visit. There are distinct seasons, each offering unique experiences, so you do not have to only go during the high season of summer (or during the cherry blossom season in spring!). The colorful foliage in fall is worth a trip as is seeing the country blanketed in snow! Wherever you go, have fun and enjoy all the differences that you are sure to find!

MORE TRAVEL AROUND JAPAN

We hope you enjoyed these Japan travel tips! For more travel around Japan, see the links below:

• 3 week Classic Japan Itinerary in Photos: Tokyo, Kyoto, Snow Monkeys & More
• Get off the Beaten Path in Hokkaido: Rishiri & Rebun Islands
• The Best Food in Japan That You MUST Try!

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