Japan’s railway system, frequently hailed as the perfect on this planet, connects the nation’s main cities, islands, landmarks, cities, and villages, and is undoubtedly essentially the most handy and reasonably priced approach to discover this unbelievable place.
Understanding the way to navigate Japan’s railways is, subsequently, completely important to benefiting from your time on this particular nation and having the perfect journey expertise. If you wish to see as a lot of Japan as you’ll be able to and make each second depend, then we are able to inform you how with our professional suggestions for navigating the nation’s quick, environment friendly, and clear railway system.
We’ll clarify the whole lot you might want to know, from practice varieties, seat lessons, and shopping for tickets, to why a Japan Rail Pass is such a sensible funding, in our complete practice journey information.
Right here’s an outline:
Get Your JR Move
We extremely suggest getting the JR Move for limitless practice journey in Japan. Right here’s why:
✔ Limitless Journey: Take pleasure in limitless entry to most JR railways, together with high-speed Shinkansen, native trains, and buses.
✔ Price Financial savings: Save considerably on journey prices, notably helpful for long-distance and a number of journeys.
✔ Simplicity: Keep away from the effort of buying particular person tickets through the use of your go to simply entry trains.
✔ Flexibility: Expertise the liberty to discover spontaneously with out worrying about additional ticket prices.
✔ Further Advantages: Profit from extras like free reserved seat bookings and reductions on different JR transport companies.
Japan’s Railway System: An Overview
Quick, secure, environment friendly, and clear, Japan’s trains are the whole lot you’ve heard and extra.
In addition they join the complete nation, from the northernmost island to the southernmost, enabling vacationers to achieve in every single place they may need to go to in Japan. After all, a practice system this massive and sophisticated can appear a bit of daunting for first-time guests and that’s the place we are available in.
Let’s begin by providing you with a fast overview of the rail system and some key details
- Japan’s Railways are operated by the JR (Japan Railways) Group. The JR Group consists of six unbiased practice operators (JR Hokkaido, JR Central, JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu). Collectively, these regional rail firms join Japan’s six major islands. There are additionally smaller personal firms who run further companies.
- Wish to see a map of the entire JR community? We’ve put collectively an interactive map of the community’s 4,800 practice stations and 23,000 km of rail traces, which provides an excellent useful resource for anybody planning to discover Japan by practice.
Practice Varieties
There are a selection of various practice varieties in Japan, from the well-known and futuristic Shinkansen bullet trains to quaint native companies.
- Shinkansen
The well-known ‘bullet trains’ (the nickname comes from the bullet-shaped nostril of their authentic design) join Japan’s major islands, from town of Sapporo within the north to Kagoshima within the south. In between these two stops, these unbelievable high-speed trains go to virtually all of Japan’s main cities – Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and lots of extra. The Shinkansen are solely operated by the JR Group and have separate ticket gates and platforms. Touring on a bullet practice is an attraction in itself for a lot of guests to Japan. Take a look at: The Complete Guide to Experiencing the Shinkansen High-Speed Trains in Japan - Restricted Categorical
The quickest non-Shinkansen trains in Japan. Restricted Categorical trains are nonetheless very quick and solely cease at main stations. There are greater than 100 differing kinds. - Categorical
One other quick service. Categorical trains cease at fewer stations than Fast or Native trains to achieve major locations quicker. - Fast
Primarily a quicker model of the native trains under. These trains skip some minor stations to attain a quicker service. No seat reservations are wanted on fast trains. - Native
Common trains that cease at each station. Native trains price the identical as fast trains above. These trains additionally don’t have seat reservations. - Particular trains
These are commonly known as ‘joyful’ trains in Japan and are particular trains and companies typically based mostly round characters, particular occasions, or themes, from Mickey Mouse to restaurant trains and resort excursions. These typically include broad view home windows, particular consolation seats, drinks and meals, and can also contain actions resembling a cellular artwork gallery, native dancing, and even sake tasting.
Seat Lessons
Whereas touring on Japan’s trains, there are usually two major forms of seat lessons, though a 3rd, gran class, is offered on some Shinkansen trains.
- Strange
These are commonplace seats. Japan’s unusual seats are comfy, spacious, and clear. - Inexperienced Automobile / Inexperienced Class
The equal of first-class with extra luxurious seating and additional house. Inexperienced automobiles could be recognized with a four-leaf inexperienced clover image on the carriage. Extras embrace drinks, oshibori, hand towels and sweet. - Gran Class
Enterprise-class model luxurious seating with perks like eye masks, sake, sashimi, blankets and therapeutic massage seats. Gran class is simply obtainable on sure Shinkansen trains.
Introducing: The Japan Rail Move
The Japan Rail Pass supplies limitless journey on the complete nationwide JR community, together with the high-speed bullet practice traces and transport to and from the nation’s airports.
Whether or not you’re planning to discover the entire nation or simply journey from Tokyo to Kyoto or Osaka and again once more (for instance), a JR Move can provide a lot better worth than buying particular person tickets – and it’s solely obtainable for worldwide guests.
Passes are legitimate for 7, 14, or 21 days as soon as activated and offer you entry to all Japan Railways Group (JR) trains, buses, and ferry companies throughout Japan. This contains the well-known Shinkansen bullet trains. One of many many advantages of the JR Move – alongside limitless journey on JR trains and the Shinkansen – is free reservations and seat choice. Having a go means you’ll additionally be capable to hop on and off trains as wanted with out having to purchase a ticket, which provides you an enormous quantity of additional flexibility as a traveler. You possibly can even improve your JR Move to a Green Class JR Pass for limitless first-class journey.
Japan Rail Passes could be purchased as much as three months upfront and should be activated in your arrival in Japan. Regional JR passes are additionally obtainable when you’re positively solely visiting one space of Japan. Lastly, you may also buy particular person tickets for single and return journeys from self-service ticket machines or ticket counters at stations, though it’s price noting even when you’re solely planning on utilizing the practice a few times throughout your keep, it would nonetheless be higher worth to make use of a JR Move.
Associated learn: Traveling by Rail in Japan with JR Pass
High Ten Journey Ideas for Japan’s Railways
Alongside the detailed info we’ve already supplied, we’ve additionally put collectively a listing of professional suggestions for Japan’s railways that will help you have the absolute best journey expertise.
1. Planning makes good
The extra time you spend planning your practice journeys earlier than you arrive in Japan, the much less time you’ll waste on the bottom. When you do your analysis upfront to work out the perfect and best practice journeys to achieve the locations most essential to you then you definately’ll spend extra time having fun with the vacation spot and fewer time travelling.
2. Arrive early, by no means late
Japan’s trains are extremely punctual and virtually at all times depart on time so it’s quite a bit higher to be early than late. Arrive on the station in loads of time and also you’ll be high-quality. Actually, you’ll be amazed at how well timed Japan’s trains are in comparison with the remainder of the world!
3. Fashionable expertise is your pal
The likes of Google Maps, Navitime, and Jorudan, could be extraordinarily helpful for stay updates once you’re out and about. Be sure you put money into a PocketWifi gadget earlier than you journey nonetheless to remain linked to the web once you want it. PocketWifi leases provide limitless Wifi from any location, and on as much as 5 gadgets, permitting you to navigate and verify stay timetable updates on the go. Learn extra about typical apps in our information to Hyperdia alternatives.
4. Discover the correct departure platform
One fast tip that may be a lifesaver when in a rush is studying to seek out the correct departure platform. There could be a variety of info on each your ticket and the departure screens, like practice title, stops, kind of service and far more. A quick approach to discover the correct platform is to have a look at the departure instances first, then take a look at the whole lot else. An alternate is to ask what platform your practice will depart from when reserving the tickets and ask the workers to jot down this in your ticket.
5. Concentrate on Japanese practice etiquette
Japan is thought for valuing good manners and its etiquette guidelines positively prolong to coach journeys. Hold your telephone on silent, attempt to keep away from taking calls if attainable, hearken to music via headphones solely, hold your voice down whereas speaking, get rid of your litter, and retailer your baggage accurately, are all good primary suggestions if you wish to keep within the good graces of Japanese commuters.
Associated learn: Japanese Etiquette: How to Act Like You’re Japanese
6. Verify your baggage allowance
Baggage rules on most of Japan’s trains are pretty relaxed. Generally, you might deliver any measurement or variety of baggage inside cause, so long as it doesn’t inconvenience different passengers. The one exception is the Shinkansen bullet trains, which do have extra formal baggage rules.
When boarding the Shinkansen, the next rules apply: You could deliver as much as two items of bags on board freed from cost. For every bag the full of the size, width and peak should not exceed 250 centimetres, the size should not exceed two metres and the load have to be not more than 30 kilograms.
- Baggage items lower than 160 cm (sum of peak x size x width) could be introduced aboard with out prior reservation.
- For baggage items between 160 cm – 250 centimeters, a previous reservation is required, which could be made free of charge. In case no reservation is made, then a 1,000 yen high-quality will probably be charged, and your baggage could also be moved by the practice conductor.
- Baggage over 250 centimeters might not be introduced on the practice and can want different transportation. Reservations could be made free of charge via the Eki-Web App, at a ticket machine or in particular person at a ticket window.
- Utilizing the JR Move, we propose making your seat reservations and baggage reservations on the identical time. JR Move holders who improve to Inexperienced Class get an additional baggage allowance of two suitcases per particular person.
- Lastly, you probably have particularly massive baggage, you might need to think about using the lockers at stations or baggage forwarding companies.
7. Reserved vs non-reserved
Relying on the kind of practice you’re touring on, you’ll come throughout companies with reserved and non-reserved carriages.
The latter merely means you’ll be able to sit wherever inside these carriages you probably have a non-reserved ticket. In reserved carriages, you will want to pre-book your seat reservation upfront. Reservations are free for JR Move holders and could be made at ticket workplaces. We’ve got extra detailed info on reserving seats additional under, so hold studying.
It’s a good suggestion to order a seat when you can. Seat reservations with out a rail go can price wherever between 200 and 1,000 yen every, however they’re free with the JR Move, which is one other good cause to contemplate shopping for one on your journey.
Making a reservation not solely saves cash, it additionally saves time, as there’s no have to queue for a seat on the station platform. Additionally, you will have the peace of mind which you could sit collectively together with your fellow vacationers. All reserved seats are assured.
8. Guide forward (or keep away from touring) throughout busy intervals
Each day, you might need to keep away from commuter rush-hour intervals, that are just like these in different nations (8 am-9 am and 5 pm-7 pm). In any other case, you’ll additionally need to concentrate on vacation intervals when trains is likely to be totally booked. These embrace New 12 months, Obon, and Golden Week, that are well-liked holidays in Japan. The well-known Cherry Blossom season is one other busy time of yr in Japan for vacationers.
Key dates to be careful for are 28 December to six January (New 12 months), 27 April to six Could (Golden Week), and 11-20 August (Obon season). The identical goes for festivals, just like the Gion Matsuri in July, the Takayama Pageant from April 14-15 and Tokushima Pageant August 12-15.
Typically talking, reserving forward and making seat reservations is an effective manner to make sure you have a seat no matter time of yr it’s.
9. You’ll want a pay as you go journey card for Japan’s subways
Alongside a JR Move for countrywide journey, a pay as you go journey card for inner-city journeys is a should! These IC playing cards – just like London’s Oyster card system – are the simplest approach to get round Japanese cities utilizing glorious public transportation.
As such, you’ll positively need to put money into a pay as you go journey card resembling an ICOCA, PASMO or Suica card. IC playing cards like these could be topped up and refunded as wanted they usually work by tapping or waving them over the cardboard reader as you go via the ticket gates.
As a bonus tip (and never only for practice journey), make sure to carry money the place you’ll be able to in Japan as bodily money continues to be used quite a bit throughout the nation.
10. Take a second to get pleasure from Japan’s trains and practice stations
Each Japan’s trains and stations are distinctive, state-of-the-art, and filled with issues to see and do. They aren’t simply transport hubs or technique of transport to get from A to B, they’re an expertise in themselves.
Be sure you take some time to cease, go searching, and revel in each the stations and trains themselves as a part of your journey. Some stations are main complexes filled with retailers, eating places, and amenities, for instance, whereas others are picturesque, quaint, and nostalgic.
You’ll additionally discover the world’s finest practice meals at stations – Ekiben. Pronounced ‘air key ben’, the Japanese phrase ‘Ekiben’ is a portmanteau of the kanji symbols for ‘practice station’ and ‘boxed meal’ i.e. ‘station-bento’. Its title completely describes what it’s – a lunch field offered at practice stations for consuming throughout your rail journey. Learn our Guide to Ekiben for extra.
Equally, Japanese trains, notably the Shinkansen, include options resembling onboard drinks and snacks companies, energy retailers for telephone charging and laptop computer use, seats that may rotate 180 levels, and extra.
Navigating Japan’s Railway System
On the subject of getting round Japan’s practice stations, shopping for tickets, and boarding trains, you might be pleasantly stunned to find it’s a lot simpler and fewer daunting than you might assume. You is likely to be stunned to know that Japanese practice stations have indicators and departure boards in English in addition to Japanese. You might also see indicators in Chinese language and Korean, reflecting the nation’s standing as a world journey vacation spot.
The right way to Reserve Seats & Board the Practice
Japan’s trains have each non-reserved and reserved seats in separate automobiles. Sure companies are totally reserved, and others could also be switched to totally reserved throughout nationwide holidays just like the New 12 months, Obon, or Golden Week, so make sure to verify earlier than you journey.
In case you are touring with a Japan Rail Pass then one of many many benefits of that is which you could make advance seat reservations free of charge. Seats could be reserved freed from cost at Midori no Mado Guchi ticket workplaces, recognizable by their inexperienced signal, or at Journey Service Centres and JR-associated Journey Companies.
For a number of years, JR East trains have been the one service that has provided a web based English language reservation system, which might be used to make bookings from exterior of Japan, with all different traces requiring in-person reservations as soon as in Japan. To order a seat, merely take your JR Move to the Midori no Mado Guchi, specify which practice you want to reserve a seat on, stating smoking or non-smoking. You’ll then obtain your reserved seat ticket and easily want to point out your JR Move on the ticket gate and go to your platform.
Be sure you hold maintain of your ticket as you might have to current each your JR Move and seat reservation to the ticket inspector.
So far as boarding a practice goes, it’s comparatively easy – after arriving on the station, you will want to undergo the common ticket gates into the paid fare zone and head to the platform. Please observe when you’re touring on a Shinkansen practice there will probably be a second set of ticket gates. Shinkansen additionally has its personal devoted platforms.
You’ll discover your carriage quantity in your ticket. Carriage numbers will also be discovered printed on the bottom and hanging from indicators (non-reserved carriages are normally numbered 1-5). Line up behind the white line and wait on your practice. As soon as the practice arrives, enter your carriage and discover your seat (seat numbers are indicated above the window). In any other case, you’ll be able to sit in any seat if it’s an unreserved carriage.
After that, merely sit again and loosen up!
