Learn how to Navigate Japan’s Railway System: Sorts, Tickets & Suggestions

Japan’s railway system, frequently hailed as the perfect on the planet, connects the nation’s main cities, islands, landmarks, cities, and villages, and is undoubtedly essentially the most handy and reasonably priced method to discover this unimaginable place.

Understanding methods 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 possibly can and make each second depend, then we will let you know how with our professional ideas for navigating the nation’s quick, environment friendly, and clear railway system.

We’ll clarify the whole lot you might want to know, from prepare varieties, seat lessons, and shopping for tickets, to why a Japan Rail Move is such a wise funding, in our complete prepare journey information.

Right here’s an summary:

Japan’s Railway System: An Overview

Quick, protected, environment friendly, and clear, Japan’s trains are the whole lot you’ve heard and extra.

Additionally they join your entire nation, from the northernmost island to the southernmost, enabling vacationers to achieve all over the place they could need to go to in Japan. In fact, a prepare system this large and sophisticated can appear a bit daunting for first-time guests and that’s the place we are available.

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 prepare operators (JR Hokkaido, JR Central, JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu). Collectively, these regional rail firms join Japan’s six foremost islands. There are additionally smaller personal firms who run further providers.
• Wish to see a map of the entire JR community? We’ve put collectively an interactive map of the community’s 4,800 prepare stations and 23,000 km of rail strains, which gives a superb useful resource for anybody planning to discover Japan by prepare.

Practice Sorts

There are a variety of various prepare varieties in Japan, from the well-known and futuristic Shinkansen bullet trains to quaint native providers.

• Shinkansen
  The well-known ‘bullet trains’ (the nickname comes from the bullet-shaped nostril of their authentic design) join Japan’s foremost islands, from the town of Sapporo within the north to Kagoshima within the south. In between these two stops, these unimaginable high-speed trains go to virtually all of Japan’s main cities – Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and plenty of extra. The Shinkansen are solely operated by the JR Group and have separate ticket gates and platforms. Touring on a bullet prepare is an attraction in itself for a lot of guests to Japan. Try: The Full Information to Experiencing the Shinkansen Excessive-Velocity Trains in Japan
• Restricted Specific
  The quickest non-Shinkansen trains in Japan. Restricted Specific trains are nonetheless very quick and solely cease at main stations. There are greater than 100 differing kinds.
• Specific
  One other quick service. Specific trains cease at fewer stations than Speedy or Native trains to achieve foremost locations quicker.
• Speedy
  Primarily a quicker model of the native trains under. These trains skip some minor stations to realize a quicker service. No seat reservations are wanted on speedy trains.
• Native
  Common trains that cease at each station. Native trains value the identical as speedy trains above. These trains additionally don’t have seat reservations.
• Particular trains
  These are generally called ‘joyful’ trains in Japan and are particular trains and providers usually primarily based round characters, particular occasions, or themes, from Mickey Mouse to restaurant trains and resort excursions. These usually include huge view home windows, particular consolation seats, drinks and meals, and might also contain actions comparable to a cell artwork gallery, native dancing, and even sake tasting.

Seat Lessons

Whereas touring on Japan’s trains, there are usually two foremost sorts of seat lessons, though a 3rd, gran class, is offered on some Shinkansen trains.

• Peculiar
  These are normal seats. Japan’s odd seats are comfy, spacious, and clear.
• Inexperienced Automotive / Inexperienced Class
  The equal of first-class with extra luxurious seating and additional house. Inexperienced automobiles might be recognized with a four-leaf inexperienced clover image on the carriage. Extras embrace drinks, oshibori, hand towels and sweet.
• Gran Class
  Enterprise-class type 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 Move gives limitless journey on your entire nationwide JR community, together with the high-speed bullet prepare strains 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 significantly 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 provide you with entry to all Japan Railways Group (JR) trains, buses, and ferry providers throughout Japan. This consists of 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’ll be able to even improve your JR Move to a Inexperienced Class JR Move for limitless first-class journey. 

Japan Rail Passes might be purchased as much as three months prematurely and should be activated in your arrival in Japan. Regional JR passes are additionally obtainable in the event you’re positively solely visiting one space of Japan. Lastly, you may as well 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 in the event you’re solely planning on utilizing the prepare a few times throughout your keep, it’d nonetheless be higher worth to make use of a JR Move. 

Associated learn: Touring by Rail in Japan with JR Move

High Ten Journey Suggestions for Japan’s Railways

Alongside the detailed data we’ve already supplied, we’ve additionally put collectively a listing of professional ideas for Japan’s railways that will help you have the very best journey expertise.

1. Planning makes excellent

The extra time you spend planning your prepare journeys earlier than you arrive in Japan, the much less time you’ll waste on the bottom. For those who do your analysis prematurely to work out the perfect and most effective prepare journeys to achieve the locations most vital 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 all the time depart on time so it’s lots higher to be early than late. Arrive on the station in loads of time and also you’ll be superb. In reality, you’ll be amazed at how well timed Japan’s trains are in comparison with the remainder of the world!

3. Fashionable know-how is your buddy

The likes of Google Maps, Navitime, and Jorudan, might be extraordinarily helpful for stay updates once you’re out and about. Be sure you spend money on a PocketWifi machine earlier than you journey nevertheless to remain related to the web once you want it. PocketWifi leases provide limitless Wifi from any location, and on as much as 5 units, permitting you to navigate and examine stay timetable updates on the go. Learn extra about normal apps in our information to Hyperdia options. 

4. Discover the precise departure platform 

One fast tip that may be a lifesaver when in a rush is studying to seek out the precise departure platform. There might be lots of data on each your ticket and the departure screens, like prepare identify, stops, kind of service and way more. A quick method to discover the precise platform is to take a look at the departure occasions first, then take a look at the whole lot else. An alternate is to ask what platform your prepare will depart from when reserving the tickets and ask the workers to jot down this in your ticket.

5. Pay attention to Japanese prepare etiquette

Japan is thought for valuing good manners and its etiquette guidelines positively lengthen to coach journeys. Maintain your telephone on silent, attempt to keep away from taking calls if attainable, take heed to music by headphones solely, hold your voice down whereas speaking, eliminate your litter, and retailer your baggage accurately, are all good fundamental ideas if you wish to keep within the good graces of Japanese commuters.

Associated learn: Japanese Etiquette: Learn how to Act Like You’re Japanese

6. Examine your baggage allowance

Baggage laws on most of Japan’s trains are pretty relaxed. Generally, you could convey any measurement or variety of baggage inside purpose, so long as it doesn’t inconvenience different passengers. The one exception is the Shinkansen bullet trains, which do have extra formal baggage laws.

When boarding the Shinkansen, the next laws apply: You might convey as much as two items of luggage 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 should be not more than 30 kilograms.

• Baggage items lower than 160 cm (sum of peak x size x width) might be introduced aboard with out prior reservation.
• For baggage items between 160 cm – 250 centimeters, a previous reservation is required, which might be made without spending a dime. In case no reservation is made, then a 1,000 yen superb can be charged, and your baggage could also be moved by the prepare conductor.
• Baggage over 250 centimeters is probably not introduced on the prepare and can want different transportation. Reservations might be made without spending a dime by the Eki-Internet App, at a ticket machine or in particular person at a ticket window.
• Utilizing the JR Move, we recommend 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 giant baggage, you could need to think about using the lockers at stations or baggage forwarding providers. 

7. Reserved vs non-reserved

Relying on the kind of prepare you’re touring on, you’ll come throughout providers with reserved and non-reserved carriages.

The latter merely means you possibly can sit anyplace inside these carriages you probably have a non-reserved ticket. In reserved carriages, you will want to pre-book your seat reservation prematurely. Reservations are free for JR Move holders and might be made at ticket workplaces. We’ve got extra detailed data on reserving seats additional under, so hold studying.

It’s a good suggestion to order a seat in the event you can. Seat reservations with no rail go can value anyplace between 200 and 1,000 yen every, however they’re free with the JR Move, which is one other good purpose to contemplate shopping for one to your journey.

Making a reservation not solely saves cash, it additionally saves time, as there’s no must queue for a seat on the station platform. Additionally, you will have the peace of mind that you could sit collectively together with your fellow vacationers. All reserved seats are assured.

8. Ebook forward (or keep away from touring) throughout busy durations

Each day, you could need to keep away from commuter rush-hour durations, that are much 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 durations when trains is perhaps totally booked. These embrace New 12 months, Obon, and Golden Week, that are fashionable 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 Might (Golden Week), and 11-20 August (Obon season). The identical goes for festivals, just like the Gion Matsuri in July, the Takayama Competition from April 14-15 and Tokushima Competition August 12-15.

Typically talking, reserving forward and making seat reservations is an efficient means 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 – much like London’s Oyster card system – are the best method to get round Japanese cities utilizing wonderful public transportation.

As such, you’ll positively need to spend money on a pay as you go journey card comparable to an ICOCA, PASMO or Suica card. IC playing cards like these might be topped up and refunded as wanted they usually work by tapping or waving them over the cardboard reader as you go by the ticket gates.

As a bonus tip (and never only for prepare journey), you’ll want to carry money the place you possibly can in Japan as bodily money continues to be used lots throughout the nation.

10. Take a second to take pleasure in Japan’s trains and prepare stations

Each Japan’s trains and stations are distinctive, state-of-the-art, and stuffed 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.

Ensure you take a while to cease, go searching, and luxuriate in each the stations and trains themselves as a part of your journey. Some stations are main complexes full of outlets, eating places, and amenities, for instance, whereas others are picturesque, quaint, and nostalgic.

You’ll additionally discover the world’s greatest prepare meals at stations – Ekiben. Pronounced ‘air key ben’, the Japanese phrase ‘Ekiben’ is a portmanteau of the kanji symbols for ‘prepare station’ and ‘boxed meal’ i.e. ‘station-bento’. Its identify completely describes what it’s – a lunch field bought at prepare stations for consuming throughout your rail journey. Learn our Information to Ekiben for extra.

Equally, Japanese trains, notably the Shinkansen, include options comparable to onboard drinks and snacks providers, energy retailers for telephone charging and laptop computer use, seats that may rotate 180 levels, and extra.

Navigating Japan’s Railway System

With regards to getting round Japan’s prepare stations, shopping for tickets, and boarding trains, you could be pleasantly shocked to find it’s a lot simpler and fewer daunting than you could assume. You is perhaps shocked to know that Japanese prepare 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. 

Learn how to Reserve Seats & Board the Practice

Japan’s trains have each non-reserved and reserved seats in separate automobiles. Sure providers are totally reserved, and others could also be switched to completely reserved throughout nationwide holidays just like the New 12 months, Obon, or Golden Week, so you’ll want to examine earlier than you journey.

In case you are touring with a Japan Rail Move then one of many many benefits of that is that you could make advance seat reservations without spending a dime. Seats might 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 supplied a web-based English language reservation system, which might be used to make bookings from outdoors of Japan, with all different strains 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 prepare you want to reserve a seat on, stating smoking or non-smoking. You’ll then obtain your reserved seat ticket and easily want to indicate your JR Move on the ticket gate and go to your platform.

Be sure you hold maintain of your ticket as you’ll have to current each your JR Move and seat reservation to the ticket inspector. 

So far as boarding a prepare 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 in the event you’re touring on a Shinkansen prepare there can 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 may 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 to your prepare. As soon as the prepare arrives, enter your carriage and discover your seat (seat numbers are indicated above the window). In any other case, you possibly can sit in any seat if it’s an unreserved carriage.

After that, merely sit again and loosen up!