Japan by Train
Trains - Tickets - ToursA Travel Guide For Train Travel In Japan.
Here you will find information for Japan about trains, routes, tours, connections, where to buy train tickets, and more.
Useful Information
Population: 126.8 million
Currency: Yen
Language: Japanese
Capital: Tokyo
Country Code: +81
Time Zone: Japan Standard Time
Train Companies
Most of the country’s trains are operated by JR Group; however, there is an abundance of private train operators around Japan.
Copyright: RAILWAYHERO
Train Tickets
Buy your Japan Rail Pass online at JRAILPASS.
Buy your train tickets for Japan online at 12GO and compare trains, buses, flights, and ferries.
Rail Passes
Japan Rail Pass
Traveling with high speeds throughout Japan, with the Japan Rail Pass you can use almost all trains in the country. You can choose between a 7, 14, or 21-day pass. You are also able to ride the Shinkansen high-speed train.
TrAIN tYPES
National trains in Japan
Local Trains (futsū or kaku-eki-teisha) stop at every train station.
- No reservations required, no surcharge
- Busy at peak hours
Express/Rapid Trains (kyūkō or kaisoku)
- No reservations required, no surcharge
Limited Express Trains (tokkyū) stop at busy and major train stations.
- 1st Class (green car): Rows of three seats (2+1), spacious and quiet
- 2nd Class: Rows of four seats (2+2)
- Reservations required; surcharge applied
Bullet Trains (shinkansen): connects large cities together throughout the country.
- 1st Class (green car): Rows of four seats (2+2) or rows of three seats (2+1) spacious and quiet
- 2nd Class (reserved and non-reserved* supplement): Rows of five seats (2+3) or rows of four seats (2+2)
- Trains are equipped with a refreshment trolley, toilets, and air-conditioning
- * Non-reserved seats could be all full upon boarding, which means you must stand for the entirety of the journey or until a seat opens up.
There are no international trains in Japan. You can take a plane or a ferry to visit other countries.
Sunrise Seto/ Sunrise Izumo
Routes:
-
- Sunrise Seto: Tokyo – Osaka – Okayama – Takamatsu
- Sunrise Izumo: Tokyo – Osaka – Okayama – Matsue – Izumo
- Reservations necessary, surcharge applied (unless you have a Japan Rail Pass) book as soon as possible; without a pass, a basic fare, Limited Express train surcharge, and bed reservation (if applicable) are all charged
- Shared Sleeping Accommodation:
- Nobinobi berths are open plan bunk beds/ allocated pieces of carpet; no extra charge to Japan Rail Pass holders
- Private Sleeping Accommodation:
- “A-Type deluxe”: 1 person, single deluxe, inclusive of bedding, a desk, power outlets, and washbasin
- “B-Type single/solo”: 1 person, single, inclusive of bedding, and power outlets
- “B- Type single-twin”: 2 people, upper and lower berths, inclusive of bedding, and power outlets
- “B- Type sunrise twin”: 2 people, 2 lower berths, inclusive of bedding, and power outlets
- Trains are equipped with a lounge car
Shiki-Shima
Seven Stars
Royal Express Luxury Train
Coto Coto train
Tango Aomatsu
Tango Akamatsu
Den – en Synphony Happiness Train
Furano Bei Norokko
SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen Train
Toreiyu Tsubasa
Shimatetsu Café Train
SL Ginga
Koshino Shu*Kura
Fruitea Fukushima
Resort Minori
High Rail 1375
Tohoku Emotion
Genbi Shinkansen
Okyot
Resort Shirakami
Routes
Frequently Travelled Routes In Japan
National
| From > To |
Duration (h) |
Changes | Transport |
| Tokyo to Kyoto | 2:12 | Direct | Shinkansen |
| Tokyo to Osaka | 2:27 | Direct | Shinkansen |
| Tokyo to Nagoya | 1:37 | Direct | Shinkansen |
| Tokyo to Kanazawa | 2:30 | Direct | Shinkansen |
| Tokyo to Yokohama | 0:50 | Direct | Train |
| Tokyo to Chiba | 0:41 | Direct | Train |
| Kyoto to Osaka | 0:14 | Direct | Shinkansen |
| Osaka to Kobe | 0:19 | Direct | Train |
| Osaka to Hiroshima | 1:25 | Direct | Shinkansen |
International
| From > To |
Duration (h) | Changes | Transport |
| Osaka to Busan, South Korea | 18:30 | Direct | Ferry |
| Fukoka to Busan, South Korea | 3:05 | Direct | Ferry |
Japan travel routes
Japan’s Culinary Delights
Main Train Stations
- Tokyo
- Osaka
- Kyoto
- Horoshima
- Nagoya
- Yokohama
- Chiba
- Kanazawa
- Kawasaki
- Nagasaki
- Kobe
- Sapporo
- Fukuoka
Train Tours in Japan
Good to know
Best Time To Travel To Japan
It’s hard to say when the best time to travel to Japan is as each season had its perks. In the winter you will have your best chance of seeing Mount Fuji without cloud cover, New Years celebrations are in full swing, there is the perfect powder for snow activities and the Sapporo Snow Festival is worth a visit.
In spring you have the chance to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. In early summer is the rainy season, late summer is typhoon season; however, summer offers the best festivals, great opportunities to hike in the Japanese Alps, and many options for scuba diving.
In fall is when the foliage changes fiery colors all over the countryside. Depending on your interests, Japan has options for you year-round.
- High Season: late March-early April (cherry blossom season), late April – early May (Golden Week), August (summer school holidays), late December – early January (New Years)
- Low Season: November – March
- Wet Season: May – July (region dependent)
Accommodation In Japan
Booking
The best place to find cheap hotels for is to book by www.booking.com. There you will find a large selection of cheap hotels, hostels, and apartments. > BOOK HERE
Hostelworld
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, then go on www.hostelworld.com. They have the best choice of cheap hostels for backpackers and low budget travelers. > BOOK HERE
Guidebooks For Japan
Travel with a guidebook ease your journey to find best sights and things to do. Buy it on Amazon.
