Tips on how to Navigate Japan’s Railway System: Sorts, Tickets & Ideas

Japan’s railway system, often 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 inexpensive solution to discover this unbelievable place.

Understanding easy methods to navigate Japan’s railways is, due to this fact, completely important to taking advantage of 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 inform you how with our professional suggestions for navigating the nation’s quick, environment friendly, and clear railway system.

We’ll clarify all the things it’s good to know, from prepare varieties, seat lessons, and shopping for tickets, to why a Japan Rail Move is such a sensible funding, in our complete prepare journey information.

Right here’s an outline:

Japan’s Railway System: An Overview

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

Additionally they join your entire nation, from the northernmost island to the southernmost, enabling vacationers to succeed in in all places they may wish to go to in Japan. After all, a prepare system this large and complicated can appear somewhat daunting for first-time guests and that’s the place we are available.

Let’s begin by supplying 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 impartial prepare operators (JR Hokkaido, JR Central, JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu). Collectively, these regional rail firms join Japan’s six most important islands. There are additionally smaller non-public firms who run further companies.
• Need 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 an excellent 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 companies.

• Shinkansen
  The well-known ‘bullet trains’ (the nickname comes from the bullet-shaped nostril of their unique design) join Japan’s most important islands, from the 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 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-Pace 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 succeed in most important locations quicker.
• Fast
  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 commonly known as ‘joyful’ trains in Japan and are particular trains and companies typically primarily based round characters, particular occasions, or themes, from Mickey Mouse to restaurant trains and resort excursions. These typically include extensive view home windows, particular consolation seats, drinks and meals, and can also contain actions resembling a cell artwork gallery, native dancing, and even sake tasting.

Seat Lessons

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

• Extraordinary
  These are normal seats. Japan’s extraordinary seats are snug, spacious, and clear.
• Inexperienced Automobile / Inexperienced Class
  The equal of top quality with extra luxurious seating and further house. Inexperienced automobiles may be recognized with a four-leaf inexperienced clover image on the carriage. Extras embody 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 offers 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 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 cross means you’ll additionally be capable of 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 Inexperienced Class JR Move for limitless first-class journey. 

Japan Rail Passes may 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 can even 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 prepare a couple of 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

Prime Ten Journey Ideas for Japan’s Railways

Alongside the detailed data we’ve already supplied, we’ve additionally put collectively an inventory of professional suggestions for Japan’s railways that can assist you have the very best journey expertise.

1. Planning makes good

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 upfront to work out the perfect and most effective prepare journeys to succeed in 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 lots higher to be early than late. Arrive on the station in loads of time and also you’ll be wonderful. The truth is, 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, may be extraordinarily helpful for dwell updates whenever you’re out and about. Make sure to put money into a PocketWifi system earlier than you journey nonetheless to remain related 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 test dwell timetable updates on the go. Learn extra about regular apps in our information to Hyperdia options. 

4. Discover the proper departure platform 

One fast tip that may be a lifesaver when in a rush is studying to search out the proper departure platform. There may be a whole lot of data on each your ticket and the departure screens, like prepare title, stops, kind of service and rather more. A quick solution to discover the proper platform is to have a look at the departure instances first, then take a look at all the things else. An alternate is to ask what platform your prepare will depart from when reserving the tickets and ask the employees to write down this in your ticket.

5. Concentrate on Japanese prepare etiquette

Japan is understood for valuing good manners and its etiquette guidelines positively prolong to coach journeys. Maintain your telephone on silent, attempt to keep away from taking calls if attainable, hearken to music via headphones solely, maintain 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: Tips on how to Act Like You’re Japanese

6. Test your baggage allowance

Baggage rules on most of Japan’s trains are pretty relaxed. On the whole, you could 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: It’s possible 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 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) may be introduced aboard with out prior reservation.
• For baggage items between 160 cm – 250 centimeters, a previous reservation is required, which may be made at no cost. In case no reservation is made, then a 1,000 yen wonderful shall be charged, and your baggage could also be moved by the prepare conductor.
• Baggage over 250 centimeters might not be introduced on the prepare and can want various transportation. Reservations may be made at no cost via the Eki-Web App, at a ticket machine or in individual at a ticket window.
• Utilizing the JR Move, we advise 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 individual.
• Lastly, when you’ve got particularly giant baggage, you could wish to take into account using the lockers at stations or baggage forwarding companies. 

7. Reserved vs non-reserved

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

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

It’s a good suggestion to order a seat when you can. Seat reservations with out a rail cross can value 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 which you could sit collectively along with your fellow vacationers. All reserved seats are assured.

8. E book forward (or keep away from touring) throughout busy intervals

Each day, you could wish to keep away from commuter rush-hour intervals, that are much like these in different international locations (8 am-9 am and 5 pm-7 pm). In any other case, you’ll additionally need to concentrate on vacation intervals when trains may 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 12 months in Japan for vacationers.

Key dates to be careful for are 28 December to six January (New Yr), 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 efficient approach to make sure you have a seat no matter time of 12 months 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 simplest solution to get round Japanese cities utilizing wonderful public transportation.

As such, you’ll positively wish to put money into a pay as you go journey card resembling an ICOCA, PASMO or Suica card. IC playing cards like these may be topped up and refunded as wanted they usually work by tapping or waving them over the cardboard reader as you cross via the ticket gates.

As a bonus tip (and never only for prepare journey), remember 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 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 full of outlets, eating places, and amenities, for instance, whereas others are picturesque, quaint, and nostalgic.

You’ll additionally discover the world’s finest 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 title 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, significantly the Shinkansen, include options resembling onboard drinks and snacks companies, energy shops for telephone charging and laptop computer use, seats that may rotate 180 levels, and extra.

Navigating Japan’s Railway System

In relation 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 suppose. You may be 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. 

Tips on how to Reserve Seats & Board the Practice

Japan’s trains have each non-reserved and reserved seats in separate automobiles. Sure companies 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 remember to test earlier than you journey.

In case you are touring with a Japan Rail Move then one of many many benefits of that is which you could make advance seat reservations at no cost. Seats may 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 an internet English language reservation system, which may very well 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.

Make sure to maintain maintain of your ticket as you could 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 have to undergo the common ticket gates into the paid fare zone and head to the platform. Please be aware when you’re touring on a Shinkansen prepare there shall 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 on 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 chill out!