Train Travel in Japan – General Information and Tips
Train travel in Japan🚊🇯🇵 is perhaps the best way to explore this beautiful country. Japan is well connected by rail and traveling by train in Japan is relatively stress free. The Shinkansen or “Bullet Train” is regarded as one of the world’s fastest trains and is a remarkable experience. There are many other modes of train transportation throughout Japan that can get you from one city to the next.
For visitors traveling to Japan for a week or longer, it’s worth looking into the Japan Rail Pass, or for those like me that live here, getting a prepaid IC card 💳 is a must.
Whether you are a first time visitor to Japan or have been here for a while, this post details all there is to know about train travel in Japan. Train travel in a different country can seem intimidating, so I wrote this post to prepare you for your trip to Japan and am including information on what trains are like here in Japan, information on the Japan Rail Pass, proper train etiquette, tips and much more!
Train Travel in Japan is an experience in itself. Japan is known for their shinkansen (bullet train), punctual arrivals and departures, and for having a wonderful train network connecting the country. When visiting Japan chances are you will be using a train at some point during your travels.
To simply put it, traveling in Japan by train is one of the most convenient ways to explore the country. You can travel by train from Tokyo to Kyoto or from Fukuoka to Hiroshima and everything in between. Train travel in Japan is relatively inexpensive with the exception of the shinkansen.
Train stations are well thought out and planned in Japan. They aren’t as chaotic as the media makes it out to believe. In fact, they are well organized and getting on and off the trains are a breeze. Train travel in Japan is stress free and should be your primary mode of transportation in the country especially if visiting multiple cities.
What are Japan's Trains Like?
Trains in Japan are exactly what you think they are like. The trains here are clean, convenient, and punctual. During rush hour in high populated cities like Kawasaki or Sapporo, sure the trains can be overcrowded. The trains can be jam packed, and once the train arrives and opens the doors, hundreds of people depart and head up stairs to their destinations. Although it seems chaotic, it really isn’t. Even with the massive crowds at a subway or train station, everything runs smoothly and quickly.
Japanese, tend to not drink or eat on trains, so the train cars stay relatively clean and the seats are stain free. You won’t see graffiti anywhere or shady looking individuals.
Train travel in Japan is convenient. Cities are well connected. Most big cities will have trains and subways.
Japanese trains are known to be punctual. In fact, 99% of the time, when a train is set to depart at a certain time, it does. Usually, it is on the dot! I always thought German trains were punctual until my most recent trip in 2022, and every train I got on arrived and departed late.
JR lines have comfortable seating and will usually have standing room as well. Many of these trains have heaters under the seats which is fabulous come winter time.
The shinkansen is like riding in luxury. Travelers get comfortable and wide seats with a lot of legroom. On the shinkansen, there are also reserved sections and non-reserved. Reserved basically guarantees you a seat while the non-reserved section is a first come first served basis. I’ve ridden the shinkansen many times and have never had an issue finding a seat.
Japan Railways Group
Japan Railways Group or simply abbreviated as JR are railway companies in Japan. JR controls the majority of the railways and trains in Japan to include the shinkansen and commuter trains. There are six regional companies that fall under JR, these include JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, and JR Kyushu.
I’ve taken many JR trains throughout Japan and am familiar with both JR East, JR West, and the shinkansen.
JR East and JR West
JR East is the largest of the railway groups and mainly serves the Kanto and Tohoku regions of Japan. If you plan on staying in Tokyo the majority of your trip, chances are you will be served by JR East.
JR West serves much of southern Japan to include Osaka and Hiroshima and everything in between. If you have an ICOCA card, this is compatible with all JR West lines.
Shinkansen (Japan's Bullet Trains)
When it comes to train travel in Japan from an outsiders perspective, the shinkansen is the most popular form of transportation. Everyone knows of Japan’s bullet trains and wants to experience a trip on the shinkansen. Yes, the shinkansen is included with the JR Pass with the exception of the Nozomi and Mizuho lines.
There are several types of the shinkansen. There are ones that are more direct going from Point A to Point B while other shinkansen trains stop at several stations while en-route.
Here are some facts about the shinkansen.
- The Shinkansen does not get abbreviated to “Shin.” For example, when I lived on mainland, many foreigners would mention taking the “Shin” to a destination. “Shin” has several meaning in Japanese and not one of them mean the high speed bullet train.
- The shinkansen can reach a maximum speed limit of 320km.
- The shinkansen has been a part of JR since 1987.
- There is a reserved and non-reserved section.
- Taking the shinkansen is not cheap but it is convenient.
Paying for Japan Train Tickets and Passes
I’ll be honest, traveling in Japan by train is not cheap, especially the Shinkansen. But train travel here is convenient, relaxing, and a unique experience, so the prices shouldn’t deter you from traveling by train. To make the process easier for tourists, the Japan Rail Groups came up with the Japan Rail Pass. For citizens of Japan and others that live here, the Rail Pass is not an option, but there are IC Cards or prepaid cards that make life easier. For those that aren’t interested in either the Rail Pass or IC Cards, then each station has ticket machines and it’s relatively easy to purchase tickets the old fashion way!
Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass)
For tourists, one of the best ways to get around Japan is by using the Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass). The JR Pass is only eligible for tourists. Meaning citizens of Japan, military, and all others that live and work in Japan are NOT eligible for the JR Pass.
The JR Pass has three different ticket options, a 7 day, 14 day, and 21 day. This means for that amount of time, you are free to take buses, trains, and ferries all throughout Japan. Visitors can even experience taking the shinkansen which is included with the rail pass. There are a few exceptions though. Both the Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen’s for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines. For more details on which modes of transportation and which lines are included with the JR Pass, I recommended visiting the Japan Rail Pass website.
There are two types of tickets, Green Cars and Ordinary Cars. The Green Cars are basically the first class section of the shinkansen and limited express trains. These are reserved seats and generally they will be less crowded. But I recommend saving the money and going with the Ordinary Cars. The Ordinary Cars have plenty of space, are quite comfortable, and it is Japan, so it is always quite on the trains.
There are different prices for the JR Pass depending on where you purchase the ticket.
If purchasing the JR ticket online or at a train station in Japan, the prices are as follows.
7 Days
Green Car
Adult ¥44,810 Child ¥22,400
Ordinary Car
Adult ¥33,610 Child ¥16,800
14 Days
Green Car
Adult ¥72,310 Child ¥36,150
Ordinary Car
Adult ¥52,960 Child ¥26,480
21 Days
Green Car
Adult ¥91,670 Child ¥45,830
Ordinary Car
Adult ¥66,200 Child ¥33,100
Tickets can be purchased online either through the JR Pass or Japan Rail Pass websites. There are several other websites where tickets can be purchased from but I recommend the two listed.
The way the purchasing works for these passes, is that if the ticket is bought online, once in Japan you can pick it up at a train station. Remember, this is for tourists only. Tourists will have to show a passport with a short term stamp that is provided upon entering Japan through customs.
Prepaid IC Cards
For citizens of Japan and others like me that do live here, I highly recommend getting a prepaid IC Card. These are regional cards, there are many of them including ICOCA, Suica, and Pitapa, to name a few, but there are several more IC Cards.
I have an ICOCA card and have had great success with using this card throughout Japan. There have only been a few instances where I’ve had to buy an actual train ticket because the destination did not have compatible machines for the card. You can read more about the ICOCA card in my Japan Travel Recommendations post.
The prepaid cards can be purchased at train stations. There is an up front cost of ¥500. Money can be loaded onto these cards at train stations or selected convenient stores. These work on the automated gates at the train station, simply make contact with the card and reader and the gate will open. The gates at the station will even show you the current amount on your card and total deduction once exiting the station.
Train Stations in Japan
Many train stations in Japan should be their own attraction or place to visit. Train stations like the one in Kyoto or Fukuoka are almost as impressive as the city itself. These train stations are more of a mall then station but have countless dining and shopping options. There are also unique stations like the Kishi Station in Wakayama Prefecture that has taken the shape of a cat, I mean even the trains are cat themed, there is even a cute train conductor on site, that would rather sleep and eat then drive a train, but it’s become such an attraction! Here are a few of the memorable train stations and trains that are worthy of sharing.
Interesting and Unique Train Stations
Kishi Station (Wakayama Prefecture)
The Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa line is a train line between the cities of Wakayama and Kinokawa City. The route is 14.3 km and stops at 14 stations. The best part of this train station is that it is cat themed, from the station itself to the trains. There are even real cats that act as the conductors and station masters.
Japan Travel App
The Japan Travel App has saved us so much time and headache. This app is perfect for traveling around Japan and probably my #1 recommended app. We primarily use the Japan Travel App for looking up train stations and departures, but it also includes taxi and bus routes.
The Japan Travel App is easy to navigate. you can find any train station within Japan and check departure times, stops, estimate arrival times, and even the cost for the particular route.
A brief overview of how the app looks and works below.
Select the Route tab, bottom center of the page. Here you can enter in either the current position which locates the closest train station, you can also use this to search for any train station. For this example, I types in Hakata Station in Fukuoka. For the destination I entered in Tenjin Station, Fukuoka.
You can then select the time you want to leave and the app will show a list of available options.
Proper Etiquette and Tips for Traveling Japan by Train
- Eating and Drinking on the Trains are not advised.
- Making loud noises and having loud conversations should be kept to a minimum.
- Talking on the cell phone while on a train is considered rude and not advised. It is ok, to look at your phone, play games, and browse the web as long as it is not interfering with anyone else.
- Obviously, give up your seat for others that clearly need to sit down. There are special seats on every car that are for the elderly, disabled, pregnant, and injured people.
- At the trains stations, most signs will have English translations.
- Many stations, especially busy ones will have markers on the floors for people to stand to help with the flow of pedestrian traffic.
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Plan Your Trip: 🗺 ✈️ 🇯🇵
Booking Accommodations ⛺️ 🛖
For booking recommendations on the best deals and locations, check out Agoda or Booking.com
Activities and Tours 🏖 🚁
Find fun activities and things to do through Tripadvisor. If you are looking for tours and day trips, Viator and Get Your Guide have a lot of great options.
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I recommend checking with Rental Cars.
Train Travel 🚂 🚊
For the JR Pass, tickets can be purchased on the JR Pass site.
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