frequently asked questions
Exploring Japan by Train / Rail Travel in Japan
Japan has an extensive railway system that goes far beyond the renowned high-speed shinkansen and the urban networks, extending to almost every corner of its main islands except for Okinawa.
Here at TS Japan Rail, we strongly believe that choosing rail travel enables visitors to explore and immerse themselves in the wonders of Japan.
Japan’s railways have an unbeatable reputation for reliability, so you can plan a trip with a high level of confidence.
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.
Public transport in Japan, especially the railways, has gained a solid reputation for being extremely reliable. In fact, if a train happens to be running even 1 or 2 minutes behind schedule, passengers will receive an apology.
When it comes to planning and booking a long rail trip in Japan, including transfers and other complexities, you can do so with absolute confidence. It is widely assumed by the Japanese residents that delays are unlikely to occur.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that delays or complications never happen. Factors such as weather conditions and earthquakes can still pose problems occasionally. However, if you encounter any unforeseen issues during your trip, TSJR’s “In Japan Support Service” is here to assist you with re-planning your itinerary.
Rest assured that if any unexpected events arise before you even reach Japan, we will promptly inform you and make every effort to reorganize your trip as part of our standard services.
This is a misconception often perpetuated by social media. In fact, the shinkansen network only accounts for 11% of Japan’s entire rail network. There are also Limited Express services that serve numerous destinations not connected to the shinkansen network. Additionally, there are many regional and rural lines that provide picturesque views of Japan’s mountainous landscapes, plains, and coastal areas.
Travelling by train can open up much of Japan!
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 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.
Certainly! It cannot be denied that traveling by shinkansen is both fast and comfortable, making it typically the most efficient way to go from point A to point B. However, as a visitor who wishes to explore as much of Japan as possible, there are often alternative rail routes that can provide better views of the real Japan.
We have various examples where conventional trains offer breathtaking landscapes and opportunities to visit intriguing destinations, making them an enticing alternative to exclusively relying on shinkansen for your entire journey.
Why use TSJR
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.
Our founder is a UK citizen although he has lived and worked in Japan for more than 30 years.
We believe that there is not a significant difference between what local tourists and overseas visitors would enjoy seeing and find interesting. We draw inspiration from the local tourist scene and have access to abundant local information.
It is our mission to assist visitors in exploring beyond the popular “Golden Route” of Tokyo, Hakone, Mt Fuji Kyoto & Osaka. In essence, we consider ourselves as locals helping overseas visitors to discover and experience more of Japan.
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.
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.
Rail Enthusiasts
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!
Japan is 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).
Explore Japan by Train…Explore Japan’s Railways…
