Methods to Navigate Japan’s Railway System: Varieties, Tickets & Suggestions

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

Understanding find out how to navigate Japan’s railways is, due to this fact, completely important to profiting from your time on this particular nation and having the easiest journey expertise. If you wish to see as a lot of Japan as you may and make each second rely, then we will 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 that you must know, from practice sorts, seat lessons, and shopping for tickets, to why a Japan Rail Move is such a sensible funding, in our complete practice journey information.

Right here’s an summary:

Japan’s Railway System: An Overview

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

Additionally they join the complete nation, from the northernmost island to the southernmost, enabling vacationers to succeed in in every single place they could wish to go to in Japan. After all, a practice system this huge and complicated can appear a little bit daunting for first-time guests and that’s the place we are available in.

Let’s begin by supplying you with a fast overview of the rail system and some key info

• 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 corporations join Japan’s six most important islands. There are additionally smaller non-public corporations who run extra providers.
• 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 strains, which affords an excellent useful resource for anybody planning to discover Japan by practice.

Practice Varieties

There are a variety of various practice sorts 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 most important islands, from 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 practice is an attraction in itself for a lot of guests to Japan. Try: The Full Information to Experiencing the Shinkansen Excessive-Pace 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 types.
• Specific
  One other quick service. Specific trains cease at fewer stations than Fast or Native trains to succeed in most important locations quicker.
• Fast
  Basically 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 providers usually based mostly round characters, particular occasions, or themes, from Mickey Mouse to restaurant trains and resort excursions. These usually include extensive view home windows, particular consolation seats, drinks and meals, and may 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 most important varieties of seat lessons, though a 3rd, gran class, is obtainable on some Shinkansen trains.

• Peculiar
  These are customary seats. Japan’s abnormal seats are snug, spacious, and clear.
• Inexperienced Automobile / Inexperienced Class
  The equal of top notch with extra luxurious seating and additional area. Inexperienced automobiles might be recognized with a four-leaf inexperienced clover image on the carriage. Extras embody 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 Move gives limitless journey on the complete nationwide JR community, together with the high-speed bullet practice 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 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 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 cross means you’ll additionally be capable of hop on and off trains as wanted with out having to purchase a ticket, which supplies you an enormous quantity of additional flexibility as a traveler. You possibly can 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 upfront and must be activated in your arrival in Japan. Regional JR passes are additionally obtainable for those who’re undoubtedly solely visiting one space of Japan. Lastly, you too can buy particular person tickets for single and return journeys from self-service ticket machines or ticket counters at stations, though it’s value noting even for those who’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: Touring by Rail in Japan with JR Move

High Ten Journey Suggestions for Japan’s Railways

Alongside the detailed data we’ve already offered, we’ve additionally put collectively an inventory 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 most effective and most effective practice journeys to succeed in the locations most essential to you then you definitely’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 lots higher to be early than late. Arrive on the station in loads of time and also you’ll be superb. In actual fact, you’ll be amazed at how well timed Japan’s trains are in comparison with the remainder of the world!

3. Trendy expertise is your buddy

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

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 might be quite a lot of data on each your ticket and the departure screens, like practice title, stops, kind of service and rather more. A quick method to discover the correct platform is to have a look at the departure instances first, then take a look at the whole lot else. Another is to ask what platform your practice will depart from when reserving the tickets and ask the workers to put in writing this in your ticket.

5. Pay attention to Japanese practice etiquette

Japan is understood for valuing good manners and its etiquette guidelines undoubtedly lengthen to coach journeys. Maintain your telephone on silent, attempt to keep away from taking calls if doable, hearken to music by way of headphones solely, hold your voice down whereas speaking, eliminate 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: Methods to Act Like You’re Japanese

6. Verify your baggage allowance

Baggage rules on most of Japan’s trains are pretty relaxed. Basically, you might deliver any measurement or variety of luggage 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: Chances are you’ll deliver as much as two items of luggage on board freed from cost. For every bag the full of the size, width and top 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 top 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 might 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 might be made without spending a dime by way of the Eki-Web 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 similar time. JR Move holders who improve to Inexperienced Class get an additional baggage allowance of two suitcases per particular person.
• Lastly, when you’ve got particularly massive baggage, you might wish to think about using the lockers at stations or baggage forwarding providers. 

7. Reserved vs non-reserved

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

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

It’s a good suggestion to order a seat for those who can. Seat reservations and not using a rail cross can price anyplace between 200 and 1,000 yen every, however they’re free with the JR Move, which is one other good cause to think about shopping for one on 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. E book forward (or keep away from touring) throughout busy durations

Each day, you might wish to keep away from commuter rush-hour durations, 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 durations when trains could be absolutely booked. These embody New Yr, Obon, and Golden Week, that are in style 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 Yr), 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 Pageant from April 14-15 and Tokushima Pageant August 12-15.

Usually talking, reserving forward and making seat reservations is an effective 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 – just like London’s Oyster card system – are the simplest method to get round Japanese cities utilizing wonderful public transportation.

As such, you’ll undoubtedly wish to put money into a pay as you go journey card resembling 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 cross by way of the ticket gates.

As a bonus tip (and never only for practice journey), make sure to carry money the place you may 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 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.

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 filled with retailers, eating places, and services, 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 Information to Ekiben for extra.

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

Navigating Japan’s Railway System

In terms of getting round Japan’s practice stations, shopping for tickets, and boarding trains, you might be pleasantly shocked to find it’s a lot simpler and fewer daunting than you might assume. You could be shocked 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. 

Methods to Reserve Seats & Board the Practice

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

If you’re 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 Businesses.

For a number of years, JR East trains have been the one service that has provided an internet English language reservation system, which may very well be used to make bookings from exterior 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 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 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 practice goes, it’s comparatively easy – after arriving on the station, you have to to undergo the common ticket gates into the paid fare zone and head to the platform. Please observe for those who’re touring on a Shinkansen practice there might 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 can 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 may sit in any seat if it’s an unreserved carriage.

After that, merely sit again and chill out!