important things you should know
Questions And Answers
General Japan Travel Questions
In urban areas, like Tokyo, the urban areas of Kansai and other big cities public transport is generally the best way to travel. In fact car ownership is going down in places like Tokyo as public transport, particularly railways have expanded.
Outside of the big cities, the rail network is still extensive and it is a good way to see the country. In fact travelling by train around the country can be part of the experience of your visit to Japan.
Japan has a very extensive rail network. It is much more than the high speed shinkansen network.
Off the shinkansen, there are many scenic routes served by Limited Express trains, local trains and dedicated tourist trains.
Exploring Japan by train not only opens up Japan’s scenery and interesting places, it can also be part of the experience of your trip.
Absolutely, there is much more!
In fact for most local rail fans, the shinkansen is of least interest as there is so much more, from old (SL, older rolling stock) to very modern (Maglev, modern and intensive urban networks).
There is also lots of variety. As well as the shinkansen and the Yamanote Line there are extensive urban networks run by numerous companies, Steam Locomotives, trams, monorail and other “alternative systems, freight, rural lines and many interesting trains. Japan also has several big railway museums.
Japan is a rail enthusiasts paradise!
We can understand that the rail network may appear intricate and challenging for visitors to Japan. However, with our assistance, most of our clients quickly grasp its functionality.
In a short period, what initially seemed “complicated and confusing” will be replaced with feelings of convenience and comprehensiveness.
A lot of people tend to only focus on getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible. However, when we create a travel plan for our clients, we aim to enhance their experience by suggesting fascinating and picturesque routes, as well as recommending interesting places to visit along the way. We will also provide explanations on why choosing one route over another, whilst may be taking longer will be more enjoyable. This way, the journey itself becomes a part of your overall trip experience.
In major cities almost everywhere will accept:
- Cash
- Credit Cards
Many places will also accept transportation IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA etc) and domestic money wallet services (PayPay, Line Pay, Rakuten Pay etc).
Outside big cities although credit cards can generally be used, some smaller places may only take cash, so it is best to carry some cash.
Buying local train tickets and travelling on buses (and not using IC card) will generally only accept cash. Buying long distance tickets (Shinkansen / Limited Express trains, cash or credit cards can be used.
IC cards, unless linked to services like Apple Pay, Google Pay or a credit card, can only be topped up using cash.
Many taxis will take credit card or IC cards, but many will only take cash.
General advice; although the use of cash is not as high as you will read on social media, it is still widely used and there are still places that will only accept cash, so it is advisable to carry some cash.
In Japan consumption tax is charged at 10%, except for food stuffs which are charged at 8% unless consumed on the premises.
Short term visitors to Japan, spending more than Y5,000 at shops displaying the “Tax Free” sign can purchase goods less the 10% consumption tax or get a refund in the store, on condition that the good purchase will not be opened, used or consumed in Japan and will be taken intact out of Japan. [from November 2026 the system will be changed and any tax will need to be refunded at the departure airport]
Yes, 99% of the time trains run on time to the minute, even outside of the urban areas. Delays can occur but usually they are only a few minutes.
In places like Tokyo and the urban parts of the Kansai region it is usually much quicker and more reliable to use public transport and almost certainly cheaper. Parking can also be a big issue
For long distance travel, again rail travel is almost certainly quicker for most trips (e.g. tokyo to Kyoto 2 hours by fastest train, driving 5 or more hours).
Travelling by train is also more relaxing than driving, particularly for the driver and safer
We agree that you cannot get everywhere by train and in some cases you may want to use a hire car to explore your destination area.
In Japan, there is an unwritten rule that when the rail journey exceeds 4 hours, flying becomes the preferred option. We agree with this notion, especially when time is limited.
However, we would like to suggest an alternative approach for those who have more flexibility in their schedule. Breaking up a long rail journey can be a great opportunity to explore and visit interesting places along the way. Even if the train ride is shorter than 4 hours, there are still plenty of fascinating stops worth considering. This is something you would miss out on if you were to simply fly from point A to point B.
The popular times for inbound visitors to visit Japan are Spring for Sakura (cherry blossoms) and Autumn for the Autumn foliage.
- An important thing to remember is: that both of these are very much dependent on the weather, and can vary by 2 or 3 or more weeks year by year, and the forecasts are more guess work than scientific forecasts, so in reality can be difficult to exactly predict the peak of either.
- The dates vary by region. The Sakura normally moves from South West to North East, so the sakura peaks will be 6 to 8 weeks different between Okinawa and Hokkaido. The reverse is true for the Autumn foliage. Also Japan is a mountainous country so even within regions dates can vary considerably.
All that being said, Japan is colourful all year round.
Other points to think about are:
- June through to September, and particularly July & August, can be hot (temps high 30s Centigrade or higher) with little variation between night and day, and humidity is very high (Japan is an island nation)
- The Japan Sea Coast and Tohoku region can see heavy snow during the winter, which may impact all forms of travel
- Rainy Season – effects most areas of Japan during Late May & June (again moving South West to North East). It does not rain all the time, but there can be some very heavy rainfall that may effect travel or make outdoor activities difficult.
- Typhoon season; Typhoons can happen from early summer to Autumn, not just October as commonly written on social media. Climate Change is making most weather events more severe. Although typhoons are generally fast moving, slower more poerful ones are happening more frequently.
Our first bit of advice for this question is ignore what you read on social media.
The second piece of advice, which is more important; It 100% depends on your itinerary.
As a general rule most inbound visitors who are doing the for example the Golden Route and may be Hiroshima in addition, it probably does not make sense as buying ordinary tickets will be cheaper and the choice of trains you can travel on will also be greater.
If you are planning to Explore Japan by Train or Explore Japan’s Railways, then depending on your itinerary it may make sense.
This TSJR article, which includes our JR Rail Pass Guide will help you:
JR Japan Rail Pass – TS Japan Rail’s Guide and all you need to know
Our website has many ideas for those wanting to Explore Japan by Train or Explore Japan’s Railways.
We also have some articles providing travel advice and a travel resources page (Click Here)
We also have a second website which is for rail enthusiasts (click here for Rail Fan site)
Yes!
- JR Regional Rail Passes (for inbound visitors). The are many regional passes issued by the individual JR Railway Companies that as well as being cheaper than the Japan Rail Pass, may be more convenient. Many also include travel on specified non JR company routes.
- Passes issued by non JR Rail Companies for inbound tourists. These passes include the Tokyo Subway Pass and the Kansai Railway Pass, Osaka Amazing Pass.
- One day, weekend, and other passes issued by various (in fact many) railway companies across Japan that are available for anyone (not restricted to inbound tourists)
TSJR as part of its Itinerary and travel planning services for clients will check out which tickets are best for our clients itineraries, taking into account both cost and convenience.
Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms. The exact timing is 100% down to the weather and although there are forecasts published they are often wrong.
The actual dates which generally run from mid March to late April also differ with location and generally start in the South West of the country, spreading East and North.
However, if you miss seeing the peak of the Sakura, you will still be able to see much colourful spring time foliage.
Theer are also some early varieties of cherry that bloomas early as February. Plum blossom also blooms earlier (February / March).
Like the sakura the dates can be very variable, but generally start in the North East during October spreading through the country in a South West direction through to December.
Questions about TS Japan Rail and our Services
TSJR offers a wealth of local knowledge and insights, derived from extensive experience and access to all the necessary local information.
Instead of relying on pre-set or generic itineraries, we prioritize listening to our clients’ interests and desires in order to provide personalized ideas, information, and travel plans.
Moreover, we strive to alleviate the stress associated with travel in a foreign country by furnishing clients with a comprehensive online document that serves as their Japan travel plan. This document contains detailed information that can be accessed conveniently during their time in Japan.
Unfortunately, much of the information found on social media pages catering to overseas visitors in Japan can often be misleading and sometimes inaccurate. At TSJR, we not only possess our own knowledge and experience, but as a local firm, we have access to up-to-date information and connections with experts who can provide accurate answers.
We also understand that our clients trust us with their travel plans. That’s why we take the time to truly understand their preferences and conduct thorough research to create customized travel ideas and itineraries specifically tailored to their trip.
Instead of relying on strangers who may have limited knowledge about Japan, it’s better to choose a reputable local professional service like ours that prioritizes delivering high-quality service to its clients.
There are three options available. Firstly, we can offer assistance to guide you in making your own bookings. This is often the most cost-effective method since booking rail tickets and hotels directly online with the respective companies eliminates the need to pay commissions and might even lead to better deals.
Secondly, we collaborate with local travel agents so that they can offer you a comprehensive package.
Lastly, if you are already working with a travel agent in your own country, we are more than willing to cooperate with them as well.
Japan is a very rail enthusiast friendly country with lots of information available, although much of this is in Japanese. TSJR can help the rail enthusiast visitor with information on what trains are operating when and where, including special trains (where details are published), best places for taking pictures and more.
We can also help link you up with local rail fans.
We can also help with itinerary planning so as to maximize your your experience
Yes we can. We have helped organize a big tour for one of the UK’s largest rail enthusiast societies and we have been involved in organizing tours for another rail enthusiast organization. We will usually work with a local travel agent so that we can provide a complete package.
Being local we can make organizing group tours much easier as we would look after the local arrangements, as well as providing our local knowledge and experience to ensure that your tour meets its objectives (even helping to determine those objectives).
Yes, we can definitely help you! Our “Itinerary Planning Service” is the perfect solution for your needs. When using this service we will additionally, include alternative routes and side trips to further enrich your Japan experience.
Absolutely! Since our expertise lies in rail travel, we excel at recommending and arranging trips to destinations that are accessible by train. The Japan Rail network is expansive, covering numerous locations throughout the country, so there are many places and routes that we can suggest and make plans for.
In fact, one of our primary goals is to assist visitors in discovering and exploring these unique places. While we are more than happy to help those who want to follow the popular “Golden Route,” we take great pleasure in assisting travelers who wish to venture off the tourist path and immerse themselves in different experiences across Japan.
We believe we differentiate ourselves in two ways:
- We are local (in Japan) and so have access to lots of local information (much of which is in Japanese). In fact a lot of inspiration for our travel ideas, whether for tourists or rail enthusiasts comes from local sources as well as our own information and experience.
- We are very proud and protective of our independent status. We do not recieve commissions for any services that we recommend (except in a few cases which we will declare up front). This means you can have confidence that our advice is independent.
- Our founder, Stephen Turner, is a UK citizen, although he has spend most of his adult life in Japan. This means that he has both local knowledge but also an understanding of what inbound visitors want.
