Japan has a very advanced and extremely dense railway network. The world-famous shinkansen high-speed trains are complemented by conventional trains that take passengers to even the smallest villages.
On more distant routes, very frequent air travel often offers the best value for money. If bought well in advance, a ticket with luggage can be up to 30% cheaper than a shinkansen ticket.
An inexpensive alternative to rail and planes are long-distance coaches, which also run overnight compared to trains.
Japan Rail Pass
The Japan Rail Pass, abbreviated JR Pass, is a ticket for unlimited train travel on all 6 branches of Japan Railways. It is sold in weekly and 14-day options.
In addition to the national pass, a large variety of regional JR passes are also available.
JR Pass price
The nationwide Japan Rail Pass is sold in three different variants - 7 days, 14 days and 21 days.
Tickets are sold for regular carriages and the so-called Green Car, which is the equivalent of a 1st class carriage.
Children between the ages of 6 and 11 get a 50% discount.
| 7 days | 14 days | 21 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Car | 50 000 jpy | 80 000 jpy | 100 000 jpy |
| Green Car | 70 000 jpy | 110 000 jpy | 140 000 jpy |
Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it?
Before you buy a JR Pass, it's a good idea to roughly calculate how many times you will travel and how much you would pay for each trip. You can find links to the individual rail carriers, including ticket prices, below.
The Japan Rail Pass is quite expensive and is worthwhile if you will be travelling long distances frequently (at least 3-4 times in 7 days) and also making several shorter trips.
Also remember that the JR Pass is not valid on public transport, subway lines, trams or buses.
How to buy a JR Pass?
The Japan Rail Pass is only available to foreigners and cannot be purchased in Japan.
You can buy the JR Pass abroad at accredited retailers (see list), but it is much easier to buy online.
There are many websites and travel agencies that sell the JR Pass, but the only official Japanese Railways website where you can purchase the Japan Rail Pass at no additional charge is this one:
Upon arrival in Japan, you must pick up a physical paper JR Pass.
You can pick up a Japan Rail Pass at most international airports, all shinkansen stations and major rail hubs, as well as various other tourist agencies.
A list of all locations where you can pick up a JR Pass is available on this page: japanrailpass.net/exchange.
Reservation of seats - Mizuho and Nozomi train fee
When travelling on any type of shinkansen or conventional train like Limited Express, it's not enough just to have a JR Pass, you also need to reserve a seat in the carriage.
You can reserve seats in "Reserved" carriages, where you are always guaranteed a seat, but also in "Non-Reserved" carriages, where it can happen.
These reservations are free for JR Pass holders. Exceptions are high-speed trains marked as Nozomi or Mizuho, the fastest services running between Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Osaka - Hiroshima - Fukuoka - Kagoshima.
To travel on these trains, you must pay a special surcharge, see details at: japanrailpass.net/special-ticket. However, there are many slightly slower trains on the route (such as the Sakura or Kodama type), which you can travel on at no extra charge.
Except for some very busy days of the year (especially public holidays, Christmas, New Year, etc.), there is no problem with the availability of seats on the Reserved type.
How to book a seat?
You can book a seat online together with the purchase of a Japan Rail Pass at japanrailpass.net/en/purchase/online. All reservations will then be picked up upon arrival together with the JR Pass.
You can also make a reservation just before departure at any station at the ticket counter or even at a vending machine (for shinkansen, the machines are marked in green).
Detailed information and instructions with a video can be found here: japanrailpass.net/reserved-seat-reservation
Where is the JR Pass valid everywhere?
The Japan Rail Pass covers all railways of all branches of the state-owned JR Railway and some other lines, including some buses or ferries.
In contrast, the JR Pass is not valid on any private rail carriers.
You can use the JR Pass on the following services:
- All Shinkansen trains in Japan, except Nozomi and Mizuho trains, where a surcharge applies
- All conventional trains of JR Central, JR West, JR East, JR Kyushu, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku
- All JR local bus lines (not available for use with highway buses)
- JR WEST ferry to Miyajima Island
- Monorail to Haneda Airport
Regional Convenience Tickets
If you're not traveling throughout Japan, various regional JR Passes may come in handy.
Prices are significantly lower than the nationwide Japan Rail Pass and range from 12 000 jpy.
These passes can be found on the websites of the individual JR branch railways and can usually only be purchased online, just like the nationwide JR Pass. You can pick up your ticket upon arrival in Japan at the same locations as the JR Pass: japanrailpass.net/exchange.
- JR West - for Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Okayama, Himeji, Tottori, Kanazawa, Toyama, Miyajima
- List of bargain tickets: westjr.co.jp/global
- JR East - for Tokyo, Aomori, Niigata, Sendai and all of northern Honshu
- Convenience Ticket List: jreast.co.jp/pass
- JR Central - for the area between Tokyo and Kyoto (Nagoya, Fuji, Hammamatsu)
- Convenience Ticket List: touristpass.jp
- JR Kyushu - for the Kyushu Island area
- List of Advantageous Tickets: jrkyushu.co.jp/railpass
- JR Hokkaido - for the Hokkaido island area
- List of Advantageous Tickets: jrhokkaido.co.jp/railpass
Shinkansen - train types and tickets
Shinkansen high-speed trains can travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h and were the first high-speed trains in the world to operate in regular service.
Today, the shinkansen network includes a total of 9 lines. In reality, there is one main backbone line from Hakodate in the south of Hokkaido to Kagoshima in the south of Kyushu, which is divided into 5 sections that each regional branch of the state-owned JR Railway names after itself.
From this line there are 4 shorter spurs to the other coast of Honshu.
The naming of the individual lines is rather symbolic and does not mean much to passengers, but occasionally these names appear on the websites of the carriers.
Trains often move between the lines without changing trains.
The exception is Tokyo, where all services always start or end. So no shinkansen runs without a change across Japan, and there is always at least 1 change in Tokyo.
- Tokaido Shinkansen - runs between Tokyo and Shin-Osakastations
- Operated by JR Central, tickets and timetables at global.jr-central.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 285 km/h
- Sany'o Shinkansen - runs between Shin-Osaka and Hakata (Fukuoka) stations
- Operated by JR WEST, tickets and timetables at westjr.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 300 km/h
- Tohoku Shinkansen - runs between Toyko and Shin-Aomoristations
- Operated by JR East, tickets and timetables at jreast.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 320 km/h
- Kyushu Shinkansen - runs between Kagoshima-Chuo and Hakata (Fukuoka) stations
- Operated by JR Kyushu, tickets and timetables at jrkyushu.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 260 km/h
- Hokkaido Shinkansen - runs between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto stations (a line is under construction to Sapporo with an opening date of approx. 2031)
- Operated by JR Hokkaido, tickets and timetables at jrhokkaido.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 260 km/h
- Hokuriku Shinkansen - runs between Tokyo and Tsurugastations
- Operated by JR East and JR WEST, tickets and timetables at jreast.co.jp or westjr.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 260 km/h
- Joetsu Shinkansen - runs between Tokyo and Niigatastations
- Operated by JR East, tickets and timetables at jreast.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 275 km/h
- Nishi-Kuyshu Shinkansen - a very short section between Nagasaki and Takeo-Onsenstations
- Operated by JR Kyushu, tickets and timetables at jrkyushu.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 260 km/h
- Akita Shinkansen - runs between Morioka and Akitastations
- Operated by JR East, tickets and timetables at jreast.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 130 km/h
- Yamagata Shinkansen - runs between Fukushima and Shinjostations
- Operated by JR East, tickets and timetables at jreast.co.jp
- Maximum speed is 130 km/h
Types of shinkansen
Various types of shinkansen run on the main lines. On the fastest services, the prices for compulsory seat reservations (even for "non-reserved" cars) are slightly higher than on slower trains, but the difference is usually within hundreds of yen.
The basic fare is the same for all trains.
Slightly more expensive seat reservations are available on these types of trains:
- Nozomi and Mizuho - Tokaido and Sany'o lines
- Hayabusa - Tohoku and Hokkaido lines
- Kagayaki - Hokuriku line
All other trains (such as Kodama, Sakura, Toki, Hikari, Hayate, Yamabiko, Hakutaka and others) have slightly lower prices.
Carriages Reserved / Non-reserved
All shinkansen sets are divided into two types of carriages.
For both types of carriage, you must always pay a reservation in addition to the basic fare. Therefore, you cannot travel by shinkans with just a ticket "Shinkansen Fare", but you must always have a second ticket with a reservation.
- Reserved - For these carriages you buy a reservation for a specific seat and you are guaranteed a seat, but you must always travel on a specific train.
- Non-Reserved - Booking on these carriages is always cheaper, but you are not guaranteed a seat and you may have to stand during the journey. You don't have to travel on a specific train, but you can use any connection on the day shown on your ticket.
How often does it happen that there is no seating in the Non-Reserved carriage? You are much more likely to get a seat if the train starts its journey at the station where you are boarding.
For example, when travelling from Tokyo Station, this is the case on most trains. However, if you were to board at "Shinagawa" station on your way to Osaka, for example, the chances of finding a vacant seat would be significantly lower.
How to book tickets
Ticket prices and seat reservations are fixed, and you can pay the same price if you buy just before departure or months before departure via online reservations.
At the ticket office
Each station has ticket offices dedicated to selling shinkansen tickets (marked in green) and usually has special counters for tourists, where the staff always speaks English.
Tickets can be paid here with a normal credit card or cash.
You will always get two paper tickets. One is the fare as such and the other indicates a seat reservation.
Only the ticket with the fare is inserted into the turnstile. Always keep the ticket as it is also inserted into the turnstile when you exit.
In the machine
There may be shorter queues at ticket machines than at conventional ticket offices. Vending machines are located at all stations and those that sell tickets for shinknsen are again marked in green.
- First you have to pay the basic fare (a small button on the touch screen says "Shinkansen Fare").
- You get a paper ticket
- Next, you have to pay for a seat reservation, even for the "non-reserved" cars, where you won't be guaranteed a seat, but there is an extra charge for them as well
- You will receive an additional paper ticket with a seat reservation
You then go through a turnstile, into which you insert only the ticket, not the seat reservation. Always keep the ticket as it is also inserted into the turnstile when you exit.
Online
Online booking is available through the websites of all JR branches in Japan (see links below), however when purchasing from official websites you must always pick up a physical paper ticket at the station from a ticket machine or ticket office.
The exceptions to this are the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu lines, i.e. the Tokyo - Nagoya - Osaka - Hiroshima - Kitakyushu - Fukuoka - Kagoshima section, where you can purchase tickets via the Smart-Ex mobile app.
- Smart-Ex on Google Play / App Store
After purchasing a ticket, you just need to attach the QR code at the turnstile and you don't need to pick up a paper ticket.
Timetables
Shinkansen are very busy on the main routes. For example, on the Osaka-Kyoto-Nagoya-Tokyo section, the shinkansen runs on average once every 3 to 10 minutes.
Even on less frequent routes, there are usually at least 2 shinkansen per hour.
You can find timetables and connections on the websites of the various branches of Japan Railways.
If trains cross between areas (e.g. Tokyo - Hiroshima), timetables will be displayed on the websites of both neighbouring areas.
- JR Central - global.jr-central.co.jp
- JR West - westjr.co.jp
- JR East - jreast.co.jp
- JR Kyushu - jrkyushu.co.jp
- JR Hokkaido - jrhokkaido.co.jp
Conventional trains
Conventional trains run in all areas of Japan and, in addition to major cities, often serve tourist destinations in national parks, interesting natural attractions and small villages.
Unlike the shinkansen, which are operated by a single company, JR (or its offshoots), conventional trains are operated by dozens of different carriers in Japan.
JR is one of the largest carriers, but there are various small carriers, especially on shorter routes around major cities and in the countryside.
Information on timetables and prices can usually be found directly on the websites of the individual carriers.
Tickets and fares
Tickets cannot usually be bought online. You can easily pay for your tickets before departure.
There are ticket machines at every station and large stations are always equipped with a ticket office with staff.
You can always find the fare from the large map above the machines, where you can find your destination station and select the appropriate price on the machine screen according to the amount written next to the station. When buying a ticket at the ticket office, you just need to tell the destination.
Vending machines are usually cash only, while credit cards are also accepted at ticket offices in large stations.
The vast majority of carriers also accept Japanese transport cards for fare payment:
- Suica
- Pasmo
- Icoca
- Pitapa
- Toica
- Manaca
- Kitaca
- Sugoca
- Nimoca
- Hayakaken
Fares between carriers are usually not compatible and you will need to pay a new ticket when changing carriers.
Surcharges for Limited Express
Many rail carriers operate different types of trains. They usually differ in the number of stops and better trainsets.
The fastest trains are usually what most carriers call Limited Express and you must always buy a seat reservation with your ticket for these trains.
Similar to the shinkansen, there may also be so-called Non-Reserved carriages available, where although you are not guaranteed a seat, you still have to buy a reservation for this carriage.
On routes where trains of the type Limited Express, however, you always have the option of taking slower trains of other types without having to pay extra for a reservation.
Major rail carriers
The largest rail carriers are:
- JR Central (shinkansen and regular trains in the Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Fuji, Hammatsu area) - global.jr-central.co.jp
- JR West (shinkansen and regular trains in Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Okayama, Toyama, Matsue, Tottori, Hagi, Shirahama) - westjr.co.jp
- JR East (shinkansen and regular trains in Tokyo, Nagano, Niigata, Sendai, Aomori, Akita area) - jreast.co.jp
- JR Kyushu (shinkansen and regular trains on Kyushu Island) - jrkyushu.co.jp
- JR Hokkaido (shinkansen and regular trains on Hokkaido) - jrhokkaido.co.jp
- Kintetsu Railway (trains in Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Yoshino National Park, Ise-Shima National Park, Tsu, Suzuka, Nagoya) - kintetsu.co.jp
- Meitetsu Nagoya Railroad (trains in a wide area around Nagoya) - meitetsu.co.jp
- Keikyu (suburban area south of Tokyo, Yokohama, Yokosuka, Haneda Airport) - haneda-tokyo-access.com
- Keio (suburban area west of Tokyo) - keio.co.jp
- Keisei (suburban area east of Tokyo, Narita Airport) - keisei.co.jp
- Odakyu Railway (suburban area southwest of Tokyo, Odawara) - odakyu.jp
- Sotetsu Railway (suburban area west of Yokohama) - sotetsu.co.jp
- Seibu Railway (suburban area northwest of Tokyo) - seiburailway.jp
- Tobu Railway (suburban area north of Tokyo) - tobu.co.jp
- Tokyu Railways (suburban area west of Tokyo) - tokyu.co.jp
- Hankyu (suburban area north of Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto) - hankyu.co.jp
- Hanshin Railway (area between Osaka and Kobe) - hanshin.co.jp
- Keihan Railway (alternative railway between Osaka and Kyoto) - keihan.co.jp
- Nankai Railway (suburban area south of Osaka, Wakayama) - howto-osaka.com
- Nishitetsu (suburban area around Fukuoka) - nishitetsu.co.jp
Japanese transport cards
If you're going to be travelling around Japan a lot by public transport, which you probably will, as trains or buses can get you literally everywhere, you may find it useful to buy a transport recharge card.
These cards are very convenient if you don't want to constantly pay for tickets in cash.
For long-distance lines and ticket offices at major stations, you can pay for tickets with a regular card, but for buses or various private rail carriers, you can often only pay in cash or with Japanese cards.
These cards can be topped up freely at vending machines or ticket offices at all train stations and major bus stations. These cards are then used to pay fares by contactlessly attaching them to a reader.
These are the main transport cards in Japan:
- Suica
- Pasmo
- Icoca
- Pitapa
- Toica
- Manaca
- Kitaca
- Sugoca
- Nimoca
- Hayakaken
Price of cards
All 10 Japanese transport cards have the same price 500 jpy. This is the price for purchasing the card and the amount cannot be used to pay fares.
You can load any amount of money on the card.
Areas of use of the cards
Each card is issued in a specific area of Japan. For example, in Tokyo you can buy Suica or Pasmo cards, in Osaka you can buy Icoca cards, etc.
However, all systems are compatible with each other.
No matter which card you buy and where you buy it, you can reload and pay with it anywhere in Japan.
Apart from transport, these cards can also be used for everyday payments, for example in mini-markets or even drink vending machines.
How much money can I load on my card?
Cards can only be topped up with cash and there are a huge number of top-up points in Japan.
Generally a single ride on public transport around town or for a short distance costs around 230 jpy and for longer distances (for example, an hour to an hour and a half ride) you will pay between 500 jpy and 700 jpy.
By air in Japan
Air travel in Japan is of a very high standard and for longer distances is cheaper than shinkansen if booked early (usually at least 3 months in advance).
Services between major cities and to outlying islands are extremely frequent and often fly several times an hour.
Compare ticket prices at skyscanner.com
There are several airlines operating in Japan:
- All Nippon Airways - The second largest airline, offering checked baggage up to 20 kg at the basic fare.
- Japan Airlines - the largest airline, offers checked baggage up to 20 kg at the basic fare
- Jetstar - low-cost carrier with very cheap tickets but no checked baggage
- Peach - low-cost carrier with very cheap tickets but no checked baggage
- Skymark Airlines - low-cost carrier, offering checked baggage up to 20 kg in the basic fare
In Japan, the following airports are the largest hubs from which most domestic routes operate:
- Tokyo Haneda HND
- Osaka Itami ITM
- Sapporo CTS
- Okinawa OKA
- Nagoya Chubu Centrair NGO
- Tokyo Narita NRT
- Fukuoka FUK
Buses
An alternative to the relatively expensive shinkansen are the significantly cheaper but also significantly more expensive long-distance buses.
These are referred to in Japan as "Highway Buses".
The largest company is Willer Travel, whose ticket search engine can also find connections to other carriers.
Ticket prices are lowest when booked about 1-2 months before departure.
You can search for connections and purchase tickets at willer-travel.com.
Car rental
There are many local and large multinational car rental companies operating in Japan.
Car rental is advisable if you want to travel to the most remote areas of Japan, to the mountains and small villages. In general, however, Japan is well covered by public transport and the vast majority of places of interest are accessible by train or bus.
Foreign tourists can easily rent a car in Japan. All they need is an international driving license and a national driving permit.
The problem on Japanese roads is the lack of signage in English (except for directional signs).
In Japan you drive on the left.
