Exploring Japan by Train is a great and ecological way to explore this country. Everyone knows about the bullet train, but you can go much further into Japan. There are many scenic routes and the train is a good way to experience life in Japan.
The “Bullet Train” or as it is known in Japan the “Shinkansen” is quite rightly a symbol of Japan and was the first high speed railway in the world. As well as the Shinkansen, Japan also has a vast “conventional rail network” which serves the urban areas, but also goes deep into rural and provincial Japan.
In this article we will also explain about the concept of tourist trains, or as they are sometimes called “Joyful Trains”. Finally we will look briefly at ticket options.
Extensive rail network, giving you access to see more…
Japan has invested and continues to invest in its railway infrastructure. As well as having both an extensive Shinkansen network (over 3,000km), it also has a conventional network that covers more than 27,000km. On the conventional network as well as local services, there are many Limited Express services providing access to much to lots of interesting places.
Japan Rail Network : Shinkansen & Limited Express Network (click to enlarge)
Japan also has a reputation for very punctual and safe trains. In urban areas such as Greater Tokyo area, Kansai, Nagoya, and other regional centers, there are extensive local networks with frequent services that literally millions of people rely on each day.
Rail, a practical as well as ecological way to travel…
As already mentioned, Japan has an extensive rail network. In Japan, railways are generally used in preference to long distance car travel. Although travelling by rail may seem expensive, once you take into account car hire, gas (petrol), parking and expressway toll fees, rail travel is not so expensive.
Add into the equation the fact that travelling by train is faster and more relaxing, rail travel wins.
From an ecological stand point as well rail travel is more friendly. The railway companies have also done a lot make their trains and facilities more efficient and eco friendly.
JR East’s EV-E801 “Accum Train” recharging its batteries at Oga (Akita Pref) partially from wind and solar power.
For tourists this also makes Exploring Japan by Train a safe, eco and reliable option as well as a great experience!
Exploring Japan by Train…
The shinkansen is a good way to get from A to B where A & B are distant, but to be honest you will not see very much in between as they operate through a lot of tunnels and in many areas noise protection fences block the view.
Unfortunately many inbound tourists do not venture far from the shinkansen routes, so do not realize that taking a normal limited express or local train to areas not covered by the shinkansen is relatively easy. There are many towns and cities that are not directly served by the shinkansen, but are nevertheless rich in culture, scenery, food and more…
Travelling by train – see & experience more of Japan….
Getting around Japan by train can also be part of your travel experience as you cross beautiful parts of Japan or travel along its long coast line. (in fact some of the the above pictures were taken from the train.
This is particularly true if you take some of the conventional rail lines rather than the shinkansen.
Many day trips from Tokyo or Kansai possible…
The extensive rail networks around Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and many other big cities gives many opportunities for day trips for example:
From Tokyo
From Osaka / Kyoto
- Yokohama
- Kamakura
- Nikko
- Okutama
- Sendai
- Nara
- Hikone (Shiga Pref)
- Awaji
- Himeji
- Hiroshima
A good way to Experience Japan
Rail travel can be a good way to observe local life in Japan, both travelling on Limited Express Trains as they make their way across the country through rural areas as well as different towns and cities. On local trains, most passengers are going to be locals, school and college students, families and others making trips.
Travelling around and getting on or off the famous Yamanote Line in Tokyo for example will give you a true sense of the “City of Villages” as it is sometimes described. Similar can be experienced in other urban areas.
Tourists Trains (Joyful Trains)
Japan has over 70 dedicated tourist trains or what are sometimes called “Joyful Trains”. Japan has around 70 dedicated tourist trains or what are sometimes called “Joyful Trains”. These range from sightseeing trains running on scenic routes, themed trains, steam hauled trains and luxury restaurant / cafe trains. Exploring Japan by Train can be a lot of fun!
They are a good way to relax and see parts of Japan you may not otherwise see or sample local Japanese cuisine and culture.
For the rail fan, there are about 10 operating steam hauled services. Some of these trains run for quite long distances.
Most tourist trains run on weekends and holidays, some also operate on Fridays and a few all through the week or on extra days.
We at TS Japan Rail highly recommend travelling on some of these trains as a way to see and experience Japan you might not otherwise.
Luxury Cruise Trains
We have not mentioned the high end very luxurious “Cruise trains” that are operated by JR Kyushu (Seven Stars in Kyushu) JR West (Twilight Express Mizukaze) and JR East (Train Suite Shikishima).
These trains do”cruise” tours around their regions, with luxurious accommodation, gourmet meals even on or off the train and off tour train tours at various places. Alas they are very expensive and book up to a year in advance as capacity is very limited.
Tickets, Passes and How to save money…
JR Rail Passes
JR Rail Passes can offer great value and make travelling around Japan very convenient. What a lot of people do not realize is that there are many regional passes, as well as the 2 all Japan tickets. The regional passes or combinations of regional passes etc may make more sense for those travellers who want to explore, or spend time in particular regions.
HOWEVER…before you rush out and buy your JR Rail Pass you should work out your travel plan first and check whether a JR Rail Pass makes sense! For most Golden Route Travellers it will not be worthwhile. Read More about Japan Rail Passes and download our JR Rail Pass Guide by clicking on this button:
TS Japan Rail, as part of our Itinerary Planning Service and Full Travel Planning Service will work out what are the best tickets and passes to use (both from cost and convenience point of views) ..and provide you with our explanation and calculations! for more info click here
Domestically available tickets and passes
There are many domestically available passes too numerous to list. Many private railways have 1 or 2 day passes (often referred to in Japanese as “Free Pass”, “ichinichi kippu” (one day ticket) etc covering all or part of their networks, some even include buses that they operate. In some areas there are tickets that can be used on several operators trains and buses.
The JR companies as well have numerous “free passes”. Again these are too numerous to list here and the list changes from time to time..
Even if you do not buy a special pass you can still save money…
Even if your trip does not justify buying a pass or there is not a suitable one available, there are still ways to save money by taking advantage where available of special tickets, discount tickets, ticketless travel and also how you route your ticket (as the ¥/km cost gets cheaper the further you travel and the number of days the ticket is valid also gets longer).
Transportation IC Cards
All the JR Companies (except JR Shikoku) and most of the major private railway companies issue rechargeable IC cards. These cards can be used on trains and buses
Popular cards with foreign tourists are “Suica” (JR East) and PASMO (non JR companies) and ICOCA issued by JR West in West Japan.
Most IC cards can be used throughout Japan (where you see the IC sign) and not just for Transportation. Look out for the brown & red “IC” card shown above, which means that IC cards that are issued by any of the National Transportation IC Card consortium, as per the map on the right, can be used.
There are also some special cards available exclusively to foreign tourists like the “Welcome SUICA” and “PASMO Passport”.
IC Cards will not save you money but will make travel more convenient….
Some foreign tourists think that IC cards provide discounted travel, unfortunately in most cases they do not. BUT, particularly for people not used to transportation systems in the big cities, which can be confusing to visitors, IC cards make travel a lot more easier and convenient. Therefore if you are staying in Tokyo or Osaka / Kansai you should probably get one. Many shops and restaurants also accept them for payment of goods, meals etc..
Sounds & Looks Complicated…
Yes, particularly if you are not used to using public transport it can seem complicated and intimidating. But, in Japan for millions of people everyday using public transport is the first choice, even to driving your own car. (0% of people who travel between Tokyo and Kyoto / Osaka go by train (shinkansen).
Of course TS Japan Rail is here to help you, whether you are a tourist or rail enthusiast. Check out how we can help you…
Whether you want to See Japan by Rail or Explore Japan’s Railways, TS Japan Rail can help you plan your trip with ideas, designing travel itineraries, assisting with bookings and more.
We take the stress out of planning your trip and help ensure it is successful!
For more information on our services
see our homepage!
