Japanese is admittedly one of the most complicated written languages to learn in the world. (Speaking Japanese is fairly straight forward but we’ll get to that another time). With tens of thousands of logographic characters called 漢字, kanji, of which, you need to know at least 2,000 to read a newspaper, it’s a lot to learn. There are a lot of language learning programs for speaking, if you are like me and don’t like the idea of being completely illiterate on your travels in Japan, WaniKani is absolutely spectacular.

Bring on new in-depth experiences! And bring on WaniKani, a program based solely on memory science.

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in July of 2018 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.]

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

The Art of Memory Science

Around the time I was interviewing for my position in Japan, I stumbled upon Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer.  It chronicles his ascension to the 2006 US Memory Champion.  First, I didn’t even know that was a thing.  Second, I believe everyone could use better memory skills and I was intrigued.  

My main takeaway from the book was the use of mnemonics. Creating a story, and as ridiculous of one as you can, to help you remember anything. In Joshua Foer’s case, two decks of cards in under 5 minutes.  Insane! The other piece was the relation memory has with the sense of time.  Why does it seem like the work year flies by but you can go away for a weekend and it can last forever?  Your memory is capturing new ideas and distinguishing them from the repetitive nature of work.  It all makes sense!  

Wanikani adds these concepts to another cool memory trick – it is a spaced repetition system. More on that shortly.

Japanese Kanji 101: Where do I start?

Here’s my one plug to help you along (and show you some other areas of my website if you happened to stumble here by accident). You will need a basis of the syllabaries in order to use WaniKani. Japan technically has four methods of writing. Two of these are syllabaries, instead of like the English alphabet, the sounds are in syllables, hence syllabary. Over the years I’ve made myself decks of flashcards for the syllabaries: and you can learn more about katakana and hiragana.  

In searching for a mnemonic-based system to enhance my skills, I came across Tofugu, a language blog that bases much of its information on memory science! Perfect! Thinking of the symbols as a picture and a story will quickly improve reading abilities (though I still, to this day, hate katakana).  Tofugu’s holy grail? WaniKani.

7 Reasons Why Wanikani is Remarkable for Learning Kanji

If you are working on learning Kanji, this may be the best purchase of your life. And I wish they had an affiliate program because I can not praise this enough but low and behold, this is all just coming from me.

1. What is WaniKani?

A memory science-based system that uses mnemonics and spaced repetition system (SRS) to teach you kanji and vocabulary quickly and effectively.  Each piece builds off the next.  You start with radicals, the building blocks of kanji.  Each has its own quirky story that Tofugu has already come up with for you (you can also create your own and include it in the notes section if you want but it’s not necessary).  From there, you learn kanji by combining the mnemonics you learned from the radicals to make a story together that teaches you the meaning and reading. Once you get that, vocabulary words are built the same way.  You get the drift.  Build, build, build!

2. Why makes it efficient?

Many kanji have LOTS of readings.  Typically in schools, you would learn ALL of those readings when first learning the kanji when you might never learn a work that is pronounced that way.  Or it may take you a LONG time to get to that point.  WaniKani teaches you readings as you need them.

The SRS is what REALLY makes it effective.

3. How does it work?

WaniKani is broken into 60 different levels.  Encompassing what would be considered “literate”.  2000 kanji, 6000+ vocabulary words.  Each level has roughly 10 radicals, 30 kanji, and 200 vocabulary words.  First, you learn the mnemonics for that level items and then place them in your “review” queue and the SRS system.

There are 5 levels of progress: apprentice, guru, master, expert, and burn.  Once you’ve “guru’d” 90% of that level’s kanji, you can move on to the next level. Apprentice is when you first learn the item, guru you’re starting to get it, master you have a good feel for it, and expert you basically know it and burn, you never have to see it again because you OWN it.

You’re quizzed in progressively timed intervals and if you get it correct, you go up a notch, get it wrong, you fall back down.  The quiz intervals are 4 hours, 8 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 4 months.  No cheating, you know it or you don’t.

4. Why do I like Wanikani better than other systems?

Anki is an SRS that you can create your OWN flashcard decks for whatever information you care about.  You can also download other people’s “decks” to save yourself time.  This is convenient because, for many Japanese textbooks (Minna No Nihongo is my favorite), people have already created the files for you.  The problem I have with Anki is that you grade yourself on how well you remembered the word and I tend to lie to myself.  Oh! I knew that.  When really I didn’t. Later when I see it again, I have no recollection of the word at all.  WaniKani’s quiz system makes it more effective.

You have to be dedicated.  However, there is an option to go into “vacation mode” which will temporarily suspend the SRS. Don’t do this too long because the science doesn’t lie, you’ll start to forget if you’re gone too long. However, this is great if you just can’t get to studying. Get too far behind and the reviews can be daunting.

5. Kanji learning for adults

WaniKani teaches you easier “looking” kanji first.  口 is a lot easier to recognize than 鴻. Both of those can be pronounced “kou“, by the way. If you are an adult, this part is great. If you think this is a good system for your elementary school kid, it won’t work as well. The assumption is that you know the more difficult-to-grasp concepts, which might have the easiest-looking kanji.

It’s great because it doesn’t throw ridiculously complicated (by stroke number/order) kanji at you right off the bat. Fewer lines, more confidence, more learning.

6. Fast learning

I’ve had Wanikani since 2014. I’m coming clean. The first few years I was religious with it and once I got to a particular point, I started slacking off. Blame the weather and being outside more but probably more so from working on this blog more! If you keep up with your reviews mostly on schedule and answer them mostly correctly (beware of fat-fingering your keyboard or smartphone!!), you can level in about a week. 60 levels, 60 weeks. Just over a year isn’t bad at all!

At the original time of writing this post, I had been working with WaniKani for 2.5 years and very thoroughly could say that I know 800 kanji. Not including the mountains of vocabulary that Wanikani gives you as well. It takes Japanese children till 4th grade (ish) to do that.  That’s what makes this system so impressive.

To further convince you – consider this. Japanese children learn just over 1000 kanji during elementary school with the next 1100 learned through secondary (middle/high) school. That’s 12 years to learn the 2136 most used kanji, or jōyō kanji (常用漢字)! If you keep up with your reviews, you can learn most of that in 1.5-2 years. You will most certainly be in a better position than if you’d followed most traditional learning methods – schools in America don’t get you nearly as far!

7. Wanikani is a great tool to study for JLPT

If you are attempting to tackle the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), WaniKani is an amazing tool to help you get there. A quick rundown of the JLPT if you aren’t familiar with it. There are 5 levels of exams, N5 is the easiest and N1 is the hardest. Prior to 2010, there were only 4 levels, with the new system, N3 was added to “bridge the gap” between the easier and hard levels. Kanji isn’t the only thing you need to know obviously, but it definitely helps you!

N5 has about 80 kanji you must master, N4 adds an additional ~180, N3 and N2 each have another approximately 380 kanji with N1 topping out with 1230 more. Since WaniKani is teaching you “as an adult” you end up learning kanji from all 5 levels very quickly as opposed to more traditional methods teaching you in order of level.

Curious where you might stand JLPT-wise? You’ll know all of N5 kanji by level 16 (not fast enough for you? You’ll be 95% there at level 8); N4 is level 27 which seems far but you’ll be 90% there around level 13; N3 and N2 to have mastered all the kanji you will be at level 50. Levels 50 – 60 will just keep adding more to your N1 repertoire. That said, you will need additional resources for N1 as there are around 260 kanji that WaniKani does not teach you.

How much does Wanikani Cost?

To start with – and particularly why I recommend it (reminder, I am NOT an affiliate or anything, this is just coming from me loving the app so much), the first 3 levels are free! In as little as 3 weeks, you could be on the way to knowing almost 100 kanji and over 200 vocabulary words. And you can read them! Give it a try!! Even if you don’t have aspirations of learning Japanese, trying out the system is fun and an interesting way to learn.

Past that, the costs are quite reasonable. At the time of updating this post, you have a choice of monthly ($9/month), annual ($89/year), or springing for lifetime access ($299/once). If it’s around Christmas time, look out for deals as they generally have been giving them at all levels.

Keeping up with your reviews: A word of caution

The reviews may seem slow at first but don’t be fooled, it catches up quickly if you aren’t working on them every day. Expect several hundred at a time to get through as you progress up. Here again, lies the beauty of memory science and the spaced repetition system – you’ll find yourself getting very fast and “knowing” i.e. fluency for the terms.

If it gets out of hand though due to life, along with the pause function I mentioned earlier, there’s also a “reset” button. Which is not for the faint of heart – you can’t undo it! That said, I wanted a clean start to my learning – and figured it couldn’t hurt the refresh – so I restarted at ground zero.

And you know what? I love it, even more, this time around.  

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Money. It makes the world go round.  But, do you need to exchange money abroad? In Japan, it’s very much a cash society. So what’s the best way to exchange money in Japan? I’ve had a few, let’s say fun, experiences to exchange money around the world and I can say that Japan is much easier!

My first time abroad was in 2000 for World Youth Day.  It was also my first time really traveling without the parental units. 10 of my close friends from Youth Group, our youth leaders, and 2.5 million other Catholic youth (youth being subjective).  A few days in Assisi (an adorable Italian town) and then off to Rome (both of which I need to get back to). What’s that have to do with money abroad, you ask?  Back then, it was “thou shalt have traveler’s checks”. The world’s come along since then but there are definitely still nuances.

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August of 2018 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.]

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission from you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Should I exchange money in Japan? Or ahead of time?

While you are doing your due diligence researching your trip to Japan, you may be wondering when you should exchange money in Japan. From what I’ve experienced, you are going to get your best rate in the country you are visiting.  However, it’s important to have a bit of cash on hand in case you need it immediately upon arrival. It doesn’t hurt to exchange a little, to begin with as a reserve in case you are rushed on the far side.

That said, once you arrive in Japan, there is a currency exchange in the airports that usually have much better rates than what I’ve seen at the International airports in America. You will also find that your hotel may offer to exchange money in Japan, but the rates are generally not as good as you will find at the currency exchange or banks.

To get your trip started off right, I would suggest exchanging some money when you first get to Japan. Or you can go with my favorite method for getting cash, read on!

Getting Japanese Yen from ATMs

Generally speaking, I like to use local ATMs to retrieve currency.  My bank picks up the ATM fees and the exchange rate is usually on par, if not better than I can find at a money exchange.  Any 7-11 in Japan will take American debit cards for retrieving Japanese yen. You can also keep a lookout for Japanese post offices, their machines also take foreign cards. While it wasn’t always the case, other Japanese convenience stores are accepting foreign debit cards now as well. I still tend to stick to the tried and true 7-11 though.

That being said, make sure you have an idea of what the currency exchange rate is!  You don’t want to accidentally put a few too many zeros or a few too little depending on where you are. 

I completely made that rooky mistake trying to use an ATM in Korea.  Eventually, I found an exchange at the Palace entry of all places! I was so happy, you have no idea, I was on scraps till that point! 

You also want to check beforehand what the cost of things is.  In some places, you may need to figure on $20 USD for a meal, where others it might cost you $2.  Best to not have to pay a fee to switch that money back to your currency.

In Japan, while it shifts back and forth, you can usually use the rough estimate that 100 yen = 1 dollar. The prices for goods are also similar. You can find ramen for around 1000 yen, or $10 USD. There are many chain sushi-go-round or kaitenzushi that are 100 yen a plate! If you are looking for a nice kaiseki meal though or a nice wagyu dinner of Kobe beef, you’ll need around 10,000 yen if not more.

Exchanging American Money to Yen in Yokosuka

In my local town of Yokosuka, home of American’s largest Navy base outside of American, there is definitely a need to exchange money in Japan for Japanese yen. For instance, to initiate a lease, you often need to have 1-month rent, 1-month agent fee, 1-month “key fee”, and 1-month for your deposit. IN CASH. Just a little bit higher than limits on ATMs.

While one of the banks on base can take care to exchange money in Japan, there are better rates out in town. My top pics (for American dollars to Japanese yen) to exchange money in Japan are:

• Lucky Exchange
• JP (Japan Post) Bank

Fun fact about Yokosuka, there are actually many restaurants in town that accept American bills!

Not everyone is good at their job

I have never had this issue in Japan, but I still like to keep this anecdote in the back of my head when I’m traveling. Make it a game to keep on your toes.  I couldn’t find an ATM at first my last time I landed in France so I went to the currency exchange.

The problem was, I only had yen on me. The teller working apparently was very unfamiliar with yen (or was just surprised an American was using that to get Euros?).  What they should have exchange money for a few hundred euros, they tried to give me twenty.  Um, no. 

I took my money back (the look on her face!) and eventually found an ATM.  So be aware of not only your exchange rate but whatever money you are switching exchange rate, especially when you are jumping countries.  The “big name” currency exchange rates will be displayed for you.  Use your time in line to double-check what you should be getting back.

You don’t always need money abroad but you do in Japan

Japan is very much still a cash society.  Don’t risk thinking you can use a card and getting frantic at an amazing restaurant.  New Zealand on the other hand I pulled out the equivalent of a few hundred USD and didn’t need cash at all. Ask friends or check the internet so you know what to expect.

Japan is a very safe country and it’s not uncommon for people to carry a large amount of cash around on them. I usually get the full allotted amount from my bank when I use the ATM to exchange money in Japan. That being said, it’s always good to be cautious. Men – that means keeping your wallet in your front pocket (and in Japan, there are lots of coins so you definitely would benefit from a coin wallet). Ladies – I like a good cross-body purse (my new favorite is this one from Vera Bradley) or keeping my wallet tucked in an inside pocket of my Osprey day pack.

As ATMs are prevalent- there are over 20,000 Seven Bank (the 7-11 ATMs) and similarly, for Japan Post – this is really the best option to exchange money in Japan. So you don’t need to get traveler’s checks. There is a slightly better rate for them at hotels I’ve seen, but hotels are usually my last resort. You can find better rates elsewhere!

Special Bills in Japan

That being said, if you are interested in collecting different money, sometimes your best bet IS in your home country.  At least for the bill side of the house.  Coins, like my dad always brought us from his travels, you can get in-country. 

The 2000 yen note is like a $2 bill back in the States.  They are hard to find (unless you are in Okinawa I hear) and people collect them.  If you exchange money for yen in the States, at least from my friends that have done it, they are chockablock full of them.

Do you have other tips to exchange money in Japan?

As someone who never a day in her life in America rode a bus, they can be intimidating. Sure, I used the subway or metro in bigger cities, but let’s face it, America’s public transportation sucks. Generally speaking, if you are using buses in Japan, you aren’t going somewhere easy (otherwise you’d be on a train, but we’ll also touch on highway buses!).  If it’s a mile away, I’ll walk, but start getting farther out, you really do need a bus. Throw in a very complicated written language, like Japanese, it’s even scarier. So here are 5 tips for using the bus that I hope helps you on your way!

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October of 2018 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.]

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

5 tips for using buses in Japan

The key to remember is the more practice you have, the more comfortable you will become with using buses in Japan. While kanji can make it a bit more intimidating than other places, more and more buses in Japan are becoming more foreign-friendly with English (and normally Chinese) being used for the signs.

1) How to save money on buses in Japan

Remember when I talked about Pasmo and Suica pre-pay cards?  As long as you aren’t in the boonies, this is the easiest way to go.  You are receiving a small discount by using them, however, if you are somewhere that doesn’t do cards and you’re near the bus depot, pay for the roundtrip (if you are only going one place), you’ll save a few dollars depending on how far you’re going!  

When we took the 45–minute bus ride to Takayama Inari Shrine it was 900 yen one way.  Or 1500 yen round trip.  Something to check, because if you are going round trip anyway, you may as well save a bit!

In cities, often time there is flat rates or bus passes you can get.  Check at the bus station or tourist information center (my must when traveling in Japan) when you get there. A great way to get around Hirosaki and many other cities are the tourist “loop buses”.

2) How to navigate WHICH buses in Japan to use

This is the hard part.  Sometimes there is a whole army of buses at the depot heading off in different directions.  The best starting point is to look up where you are going.  If they have a website, they usually have an “access” page.  If they require a bus to get to them, you’ll be able to check which stop you are looking for, and hopefully, what bus line. 

As, like trains, there are multiple different options.  As far as knowing which stop it is, they are all actually named, and even farther out, they’ll have the name in English characters.  If you are worried about signaling to stop though (there are usually red buttons to press), it is helpful to know what the Kanji looks like as it will appear first.

Next, it’s just a matter to figure out what “platform” or bus name to look for.  Anywhere I’ve been that requires buses in Japan, I make sure to explain that in detail as I know I get stressed out by it so I want to make it as easy as possible for you! Getting to Ryusendo Caves coming to mind.

Lastly, where to get off the bus.  If there was a bus terminal, they should be able to provide you with a time schedule.  Though on roads, they are surprisingly close to the time expected. Yes, even the buses in Japan are punctual! If you have a phone with data (it would be nice if all transportation had WiFi!), you can also google map it to give you a better idea.

3) Reading bus schedules in Japan

There are apps for bus routes but best I’ve been able to find, they are all in Japanese.  Google-san (as it’s called in Japan) is your friend and is doing a better job with including bus routes as a direction option.

For routes, remember that they can differ between 休日 (kyuujitsu, “holidays”) and 平日 (heijitsu, weekdays). 休日 you will normally see listed as “休日 (土　日　祝日)” which means “Holiday (Saturday – Sunday – National Holiday)”. In this case, 土曜, Saturday, is shortened to 土, as 曜 (day) is understood.

If time tables between week days and week ends are different, you will see one of these characters at the top of the column. They normally change the color of the column as well to make it stand out.

This next graphic is a simplistic schedule. If weekday also included a 14:44 bus, for instance, there would be a “44” in the next column from the “24”. Note that not all areas will have English like this one, so it is helpful to learn the kanji or have screenshots of what you are looking for.

4) Getting on and off buses in Japan

Generally, you’ll get on from the back door of the bus but that’s not always the case. One hint, if both doors open, use the rear one.  Some queue lines are very exact and will give you an idea as well because the door will open right at the front of the line.  It’s Japan, we queue for everything.

If you are using a PASMO or other IC card (if that’s an option where you are), you’ll see a PASMO sensor to tap, just tap on and off the bus.  If you are somewhere that needs a ticket or to pay by cash, there will be a number dispenser.  This will be used to verify where you got on (though no one will actually check it). You will see a white piece of paper out of a machine, just grab one as you are getting onboard.

In this picture above, immediately next to the driver is where you pay.  Left of that is the dispenser for what stop you got on. They are in number order but don’t really refer to anything besides that. And in the overhead is the display board.

There will be a screen at the top of the buses in Japan, the price will change as you continue on the way.  Watch what it is for your number and you will drop your number and the exact amount of money in the machine when you step off the bus at your destination.  The machine in which you put your money also has the ability to change bills as necessary generally.  However, it’s a good idea to carry lots of change if you are somewhere that requires riding buses in Japan.

5) Getting back – not missing your bus

Assuming you are returning from where you departed the bus, it’s a good idea to double check the time table.  Even if you got one from the bus terminal.  I generally like to get back 5-10 minutes before the bus is expected in areas where they don’t run often.  They are punctual, but you never know if you might be the one running late!  If you’re getting on at a different location, definitely give yourself some time to locate the bus stop to save yourself some stress.

In this example, there are three bus routes that stop at this stand.  The hours are listed down the left-hand column and the minutes (in the corresponding hour) are listed in the columns per bus.

How to use Highway Buses in Japan

(At updating this article, the highway buses in Japan are currently suspended due to COVID-19 but hopefully, we can use them again soon!)

Highway buses (高速バス, kousoku bus) are often cheaper than taking the train (especially if you’d be taking the shinkansen) to your destination. They are good for medium and long distances. Many longer routes will run overnight, getting you to your destination first thing in the morning. Which works really well for getting to ski resorts, which is the instance I’ve used highway buses in Japan the most. They are also a good option if you tend to get train sick.

For long distance travel for the budget minded traveler in Japan, the overnight options can be great for you as you don’t have to worry about finding lodging – you just sleep on the bus.

You can use Kousoku Bus Net to search for highway bus routes in Japan. You can also save some money by getting one of the highway bus passes.

One of the nice things about highway buses in Japan is that there is room underneath for your luggage, but usually, you are limited to a few items. If there aren’t restrooms onboard, the bus driver will make stops along the way at the highway stations (more on those later).

To purchase your tickets, head to the bus station (normally co-located with train stations, but can have separate hubs like in Iwakuni). You can also purchase them from kiosks in convenience stores.

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Personally, I still don’t like buses.  I much prefer trains and walking (got to rank up my steps with my Garmin Fenix 6S after all!).  However, it’s a necessary evil sometimes. Hopefully, this helps put your mind at ease a bit while traveling around Japan.  There’s also this thing called highway buses in Japan, which I would liken to greyhound buses in the states, that will be a different topic.

What’s your experience with buses around the world?

The Hayabusa Shinkansen (はやぶさ新幹線) is named after the peregrine falcon.  An appropriate name for what is currently the fastest bullet train in Japan. Connecting Tokyo to Shin-Aomori and just recently, Hokkaido, the Tohoku Shinkansen Line is your friend if you are traveling to Aomori. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a cheaper plane ticket. It’s also faster once you factor in getting to the airport, waiting, flying, getting back through baggage, etc. At 320 kph, the Hayabusa shinkansen or bullet train can book it.

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August of 2018 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness.]

Where does the Tohoku Shinkansen line go?

The Tohoku Shinkansen Line is the longest train line in JR East. Hayabusa is the fastest operating train on it and technically originates in Tokyo and ends at Shin-Aomori station. However, since 2016, the line continues on through the Seiken Tunnel to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido.

If you want something to add to your Japan bucket list, the Seiken Tunnel should be one of them. While that section of track is technically apart of JR Hokkaido, the Hayabusa which is owned by JR East still covers the route.

Just to make it confusing, JR Hokkaido also has a “Hayabusa” which is basically the same but more on that in a little bit.

If you are exploring the six prefectures of Tohoku (which I’ll be sharing a seven-day itinerary of soon!), between the Tohoku Shinkansen and it’s two branch lines, the Akita Shinkansen and Yamagata Shinkansen you can get to all of the major hubs.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Hayabusa Shinkansen vs. Nozomi Shinkansen: Which is faster?

I’ve seen many people mistakenly claim the Nozomi is the fastest train in Japan. It. Is. Not. Yes, it is the fastest train if you are heading out to Kyoto, Osaka, or western Honshu, but it’s not the fastest.

The Hayabusa Shinkansen (which technical name is the E5 Series Shinkansen) has been running since 2011 from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori. It debuted at a cool 300 kph speed. In 2013 however, after some analysis and adjustment to the train schedules, this was bumped to the current 320 kph.

While the new N700S (“S” stands for supreme) series debuted for the Nozomi train service in 2020 clocked in at 362 kph during testing, the route from Tokyo to Osaka is capped at 285 kph due to how the track is laid out. If you want to actually experience the fastest speeds in Japan, the Hayabusa Shinkansen E5 series train is the way to go.

Oh, and before you say that’s semantics and the N700S is faster, the E5 series tested up to 400 kph!

But! The purpose of improving on the old N700 was to export the technology, in which they are talking to my home country of America and I wholeheartedly approve of.

Is the Hayabusa covered by the JR Rail Pass?

First of all, if your trip in Japan is only going to be taking place in Tokyo and these Northern Prefectures of Honshu, you can save money by getting the JR East Railpass as opposed to the full country version.

Second, unlike the fastest route between Tokyo and Kyoto, the Nozomi, which isn’t covered by the JR Railpass (it’s a private run train and even if it was covered it crosses JR regions and would need the full rail pass), the Hayabusa is 100% covered by the JR Rail pass!

Tickets for the Hayabusa Shinkansen

Unlike most other Shinkansen trains, there are no open seating (first come, first serve) cars for the Hayabusa Shinkansen. All seats are reserved seats (指定席).

And while the Hayabusa can seat 731 passengers: 18 GranClass, 55 Green Car and 658 in the regular car, they fill up!

If there aren’t seats available, you might be able to get a standing ticket where you can only stand on the ends of the car you are assigned. I say might because they are also limited in quantity.

The standing tickets are only available if the trains completely packed.  Trust me, don’t try and hold out to save a little money.  One, they will sell out fast and two, standing for 3 hours while this train is barreling down the tracks isn’t the most enjoyable. 

As it were, I had my first train snafu because of this train (after over ten years!).  I didn’t think about the fact that it may sell out so I just went to Tokyo Station expecting to get a ticket to head up to Aomori. I ended up with a standing-only ticket the next morning.

Which is fine, sometimes you have to go with the flow when traveling, but more stress than necessary.  Ended up getting some great food in Ginza. 

Bottom line: Get your ticket early for the Hayabusa Shinkansen.  I haven’t had an issue since. The other option is that you see if one of the slower trains will get you to your destination.

Onboard Seat Options and Amenities

If you want to splurge, this is one of the few trains with a “Gran Class”, a step above normal “business” class Green-tickets,

If you didn’t get a chance to get your 駅弁 (eki-ben, train station bento) at the platform, they do have a service cart that will come around with snacks and beverages.  Have a train beer, sit back (the seats recline a bit) and relax.

There is one electric outlet per row. As a heads up, not all JR East trains have WiFi.

What is the difference between E5 Series and H5 Series Shinkansens?

For all intends and purposes, the H5 Series is the same as the E5 Series Shinkansen! Why the different names? H is for JR Hokkaido as best I can tell. The differences themselves are all cosmetic. A different color stripe on the outside, different logo, and slightly different interior design.

Oh, and they both are still referred to as “Hayabusa” and both the E5 and H5 are also used for the “Hayate” route. Slightly slower because it stops in more places. A similar idea to normal trains and especially my local line of Keikyu.

However, in the case of shinkansen, the “slower because it stops in more places” trains actually can be physically slower trains. Why pay for all the bells and whistles when you don’t have to?

So why am I bothering telling you about this? Because Japan has a big train culture and while the difference is small, it is still different.

Experiencing All the Trains of Japan

The longer I’m in Japan, the more I realize that Pokémon are not the only thing that you’ve “gotta catch them all”.  There are so many different trains.  You’re normal “run of the mill” stuff, sure.  What I’m talking about is the fancy liners like the side facing one to Izu peninsula to take advantage of the view, and the special limited liners, and the cat café (it’s a thing! I need to go!) one. 

Don’t forget the special painted shinkansen, Hello Kitty and Pikachu. Or the ninja train in Mie. I remember taking “trains to nowhere” when I was little because they aren’t a real mode of transport (very, very sadly) in America. Here you can take cool themed trains and actually go places.

Like there are the stamp books for castles, they also have stamp books for trains.

Or maybe my favorite of a train logbook to mark all the train lines you’ve been on, which of the thousands of stations you’ve been to.

What will be the next fastest train in Japan?

Currently in the middle of three years of testing along the tracks from Sendai to Aomori is the ALFA-X Shinkansen. It will be Japan’s next fastest bullet train with speeds up to 360 kph (about 224 mph if you convert that to English units).

However, you’ve probably heard about the Maglev (magnetic levitation) project JR Central is working on. Which will blow all trains around the world out of the water. It broke the speed record at a blazing 603 kph or just under 375 mph in 2015. The initial route from Tokyo to Nagoya is scheduled to be opened in 2027 and I can’t wait to ride it!

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If you are traveling in Japan (and definitely if you are living in Japan), you’ll want a pre-paid card, yes, even if you have a JR Rail Pass. I don’t leave my house without my PASMO card, one of the many IC cards you can have in Japan. IC stands for an “integrated circuit” so it has touch sense capability. They can be used for train and bus fares, coin lockers, some vending machines, and even at the convenience store! So first things first when you are traveling by train in Japan: get yourself a pre-paid card!

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June of 2018 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.]

Benefits of using an IC Card in Japan

Biggest plus? You aren’t constantly trying to identify how much your ride is going to cost.  You just ping in through the gate and you are on your way.  This is most helpful when you aren’t familiar with the system yet and you’re digging through the posted routes trying to find your destination (a lot of times, in kanji).

Another benefit is not having to deal with the confusion of having multiple paper tickets when you switch train companies. One of my earlier trips to Japan that equated to a very stressful transfer getting to Unzen Onsen in Kyushu. I wish the Sugoman Pass was in existence at the time, Kyushu’s version, but it didn’t arrive on the scene until 2010.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

History of IC Cards in Japan

If you picked up on the fact that Japan’s rail system is a little disjunctive when you were looking into your Japan Rail Pass, you are correct! In 1987, the Japanese Rail System split apart. Back then, you had to hand punch train tickets and slowly a system of magnetic tickets was introduced.

It wasn’t until 2001 that JR East introduced the Suica Card and it would take a decade more to introduce the rest of the IC cards around Japan.

• Suica
• ICOCA
• PiTaPa
• TOICA
• PASMO
• nimoca
• Kitaca
• SUGOCA
• Hayakaken
• manaca

Originally, their usage area was very specific as were the lines and services that each could be used on. Slowly over time, Mutual Use agreements between the different cards allowed you to be able to switch with ease. While I still noticed some hiccups as you traverse between different areas or zones of the country, from JR East to West, for instance, it’s getting better with time. It’s less common to be an issue as most travel large distances by shinkansen which need their own tickets but If that happens to you, don’t worry, just go and talk to the conductors at the exit.

As of 2013, over 80 million people have one of the 10 Japanese IC cards and they are usable at more and more stations throughout Japan. Even on some ワンマン (one man) trains (you can learn more about those on the complete guide to trains in Japan).

To top it off, they keep expanding where they are usable, such as stores, vending machines, everywhere! Keep an eye out for the “IC Card” logo at registers (or sometimes it lists all of the different brands).

Do I need an IC Card if I have the JR Rail Pass?

Short answer, most likely. The rail pass only works on the JR run lines, most likely you’ll be riding the subway or other private lines on your trip. They are also good for some buses (especially if you are in a bigger city).

The card is a 500 yen deposit which you can get back if you’d like to when you leave, but they also make good souvenirs. Especially if you luck out and find one of the special edition cards!

Instructions for how to purchase a Pasmo or IC card

You have two options. If you want to get the fancier versions, you can go to the Travel Service Centers to purchase, however, they have a limit on use, normally around 28 days. One plus is you don’t have to pay a deposit and they are cute so they make a good souvenir.

However, I think the “normal” option is just as good of a souvenir – because there’s an option to put your name on it! For that, you will need an automated vending machine.

To purchase from one of the automated machines, you will want to look for a fare machine that has an “IC” symbol on it. There are some that are only for charging so be on the look out for that. Once at the fare machine, most have an option to switch the display to English with a button in the upper right hand corner of the screen or sometimes on a manual button to the left side.

Choose the option to purchase a PASMO (or whichever IC card zone you are in). Creating the card itself, you can choose to have your name added to it, which is helpful if it gets lost but also fun. It will cost you 500 yen for a card, which you can get back if you leave Japan without the intent to come back (though they make good souvenirs!).  Keikyu’s website gives you more details.

Charging your PASMO

When you go through the automated gates, it will tell you the remaining balance on your card. However, if there is a lot of people, honestly it gets a little hard to tell if “was that the person in front of me or was that my card?”. If you are curious to your balance, you can check it at the fare machines.

Insert your card and it will show your balance. You can then select the amount of money you would like to add to it. One plus of adding your name is that it helps “register” your card if you were to lose it and that way you can report it and get a new one.

If you run out of money, the gates will close on you. Don’t worry about being embarrassed if this happens — it happens to the best of them! There are machines located near the exit gates just for this purpose. The Japanese name for “fare adjustment machine” is “精算機 (seisanki)” but they are normally also marked in yellow. They have the option to add denominations like the normal machines or if you are looking to turn your card back in for the 500 yen deposit, you can make an exact adjustment.

Best way to carry your IC Card

Personally, I love using a cardholder, I change mine every once and a while. It also serves as my keychain. I’ve been running with this leather Pikachu beauty for a while now (this Pikachu IC Cardholder is also super cute). 

You can also get an attachment for your cell phone case, making it fewer things to carry.  If you want to go full technology, you can get an app for your phone and just tap your phone at the gate (!!), but I’m always worried in that off chance that my phone dies, what do I do?

How to use your PASMO or IC Card

Once you have money charged on your card, you will walk up to the automatic gate and scan it where it says “IC CARD” and usually has a blue light to it. You’ll sometimes see it say タッチ (tacchi, touch) or in the case below しっかりタッチ (which means “firmly touch”) but you don’t actually have to touch it directly to the sensor.

If you don’t get close enough and it misses reading your card? The gates will close on you, or you’ll have to explain to the conductor at your destination where you got on (because the gates will close on you there).

If you have a paper ticket, you place it in the yellow slot and don’t forget to pick it up on the other side, much simpler with an IC Card!

Which is better for Tokyo? Suica or Pasmo?

The type of station will dictate if you get a Suica or Pasmo when arriving into one of the Tokyo airports (other points of entry on your trip to Japan will have one of the other brands of IC cards ).

Personally, I like the Suica card better with their cute little penguin design. However, if you end up going on the Keikyu Line first, you’ll end up purchasing a PASMO.

If you need a commuter card, you’ll have to go with the version your line uses. (I know people with both because of how they commute to work!)

Commuter option for IC Card in Japan

If you are going to be making the same route over and over, you can save a substantial amount of money with the commuter option! 定期乗車券（ていきじょうしゃけん, commuter pass) can be purchased at the fare machines as well.

You have the option for one month, three months or 6 months passes. I like to go with the 6 months option as it saves me the most amount of money. You can go on the train line websites and do the math to see if it’s the right option for you.

Note that if the route you use on your commute is also the route you use to get elsewhere, it is like that section of track is free for you!

To purchase a commuter pass you will navigate to that section of the fare machine and pick which station you are coming and going to. It will print you out the information on your card as well as the expiration date.  When you go to renew it, the machine will erase that text and put the new information.

Are you a Pasmo or a Suica person? Let me know in the comments below!

While Japan has some of the best public transportation in the world (trains and buses are my go to form of transportation), some rural areas are easier to get around by car. You’ve done your due diligence and gotten your international drivers license, but now you’re worried. Is there anything you need to know about using gas stations in Japan?

[Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June of 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.]

Where are the gas stations in Japan?

If you are on regular roads, finding the nearest gas station is going to be best to check Google maps or your map system of choice. Another option is if you’re vehicle has a GPS system you can also search that way. However, there has been a decline of gas stations so it might be prudent of you to plan ahead.

If you are driving on a highway in Japan, there are going to be exorbitant tolls to deal with. As such, you don’t get off the highway or you’ll get dinged more than once. There are GREAT highway rest stops called Michi-no-eki. Total in Japan are nearly 1200 of these “roadside stations” on the highway system. You’ll be able to do nearly everything there, from filling up, to stretching your legs, having a nice meal and even some shopping!

Quick Japanese lesson for use at Gas Stations/ Petrol Stations in Japan

Yes, I’ve added petrol because I feel the rest of the world uses that more often than not! Here are some Japanese words that you might find helpful while using petrol stations or gas stations in Japan:

1. ガソリンスタンド – Gasoline Stand, the actual name they go by in Japan based on English
2. セルフ – Self for “self service”
3. フル – full for “full service”
4. 満タン, mantan, fill the tank
5. 現金で, genkin de, with cash
6. クレジットカードで, Kurejito Kaado de, with a credit card
7. レギュラー, regyura-, regular
8. ハイオク, hai-oku, high octane (this might be my favorite use of katakana)
9. 軽油, keiyu, diesel

Using gas stations in Japan

If you noticed from the above Japanese lesson, you’ll see both full and self service options.

Full Service

More times than not, you’ll probably see full service stations so there will be no need to do anything except pull up and roll your window down to talk to the attendant. Yes, I just said speak Japanese!! Don’t worry I’ve got you covered.

Once entering the station, an attendant will direct you to the proper spot (often, the pumps are hanging from the overhead). Roll down your window and turn off your car. You can then use a combination of the words above. “レギュラー, 満タン, クレジットカードでお願いします” or “re-gyu-ra, mantan, kurejito kaado de onegaishimasu”. “I’d like my tank filled with regular and I’ll pay with a credit card”.

They will normally clean off your windows while you wait (no tipping in Japan, even here) and after running your credit card (as in the above example) or cash, will bring you a receipt. The attendant will normally tell you the best way to get back out of the station as well.

Self Service

If you happen upon a self service center, check the above that you get the correct product for your vehicle. In the below picture, red is regular, yellow is high octane and green is diesel.

Also, there’s most likely a cash option right at the pump. Japan is a mostly cash society and saves some of the stress of wondering if your foreign credit card might not work with the machine.

The first time I used self service was a little nerve racking as I didn’t know what to expect or how it would work but I got through the couple pages of prompts on the pump and was on my way.  If you’ve filled up in your home country, it’s not much difference.

Gas Prices

If you are coming from the states, be ready for some sticker shock. Remember that units of issue are in liters, not gallons. 1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters.

That’s 120 yen A LITER (this picture is a few years old, at update the prices were even higher).  Quick math people! 1 L = 3.78 Gal, so with the going exchange rate that’s $4.32/gal.

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Whether it’s your first flight or you’re a well-seasoned flier, I get questions all the time on Instagram and Facebook about how to survive a long-distance flight. Sometimes that’s the hurdle that is stopping people from living their dream and planning their exploration distant lands like Japan. How do I sleep? What about deep vein thrombosis?! You can survive, I promise!

But what makes me someone to answer this question? I’ve made the round trip trek from the east coast of the United States to Japan over 20 times. Twice from the west coast.  East coast is nearly always a 28+ hour endeavor door-to-door.  West coast is much more bearable air and travel time but not as forgiving on the jet lag side.  

My longest flight was 17 hours from America to Singapore. I’ve had plenty of opportunities to learn a bunch of ways to combat the boredom and stiffness.  Hopefully some of them can help you out as well!

My worst trip ever

Let’s get this out of the way.  It could be worse! My very first time flying to Japan (and longest flight to date at that point) was nearly 15 years ago.  I remember it like yesterday because I got what was most likely food poisoning from the airport before I left.  Three hours into the plane ride I started getting feverish and felt my stomach shift.  

I was on a 747 and thankfully the flight attendant that was on break at that point let me sit on the staircase curled into a ball.  (Not something you should fall back on, it’s actually not allowed). Some other passengers felt bad for me and tried to get me to eat… let’s just say that didn’t go well and I’m glad the lavatory was right next to me.  

Soon, my nice flight attendant had to get back to work and from there on out, the rest of my flight was even more miserable.  However, there was a bunch of passengers stretching their legs in the same area and they looked out for me.  

Moral of the story: Don’t let a single instance ruin your opportunity to travel!

How to survive a long–distance flight and travel days

Top two things that you have to combat if you’re going to survive a long-distance flight: boredom and if you are in coach, the tiny seats. For those traveling in coach, the tight circumstance might top the boredom.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Tip 1: Be courteous

It’s you and a few hundred people stuck in a very tight space, for a very long time. Be nice to your fellow passengers and definitely follow all flight attendant instructions. We’ve all heard horror stories of people “being surrounded by screaming babies”, my suggestion? Bring earplugs. Also, remind yourself that babies don’t have as much control over popping their eardrums as you do.

Tip 2: Get up and move

I might piss some people off, but I’m sorry, if I have a window seat, I’m going to make you move if I want to get up. What did I just say about being courteous? Don’t get cranky at people on any flight. You want to sleep and not move?  Choose a window seat.  Most people with aisle seats choose them so they do have the option to get up and move when they want.  

No one likes to be cramped up and risking deep vein thrombosis (DVT).  You want to actually survive a long-distance flight after all.  No blood clots dislodging, people! Most airline magazines will give you some stretches to do as well.

I like to roll my ankles and alternate rising to my tippy-toes and flexing my feet to get some blood circulating through my lower legs.

Tip 3: Stay hydrated

One way to make sure you’re moving?  Hydrate! Cabin air is a lot less humid than what you are used to on land. What does that mean? You dry out like you’re in a desert. The Aerospace Medical Association recommends you drink 8 ounces of water for every hour you are in the air. If the flight attendants walk by with water, take some!

For those Americans that aren’t used to international travel, it is pretty standard to get free alcoholic drinks even in coach, something that is limited to business class stateside. While medical personnel will recommend limiting alcohol and caffeine (I’m not a doctor in any way so do not take that this statement as medical advice), as they are dehydrating in nature, if you want to imbibe, I like to alternate between water and my beverage of choice.

I find staying hydrated helps me combat jetlag, so consider that an added bonus!

Tip 4: Use your time wisely

If you are going on a long haul flight, most likely you are going someplace where you don’t speak the language.  Buy a phrasebook before you go (I’m a huge fan of Lonely Planet), get some flashcards, even a textbook if you want to go overboard.  

Heading to Japan? Minna no Nihongo is my favorite Japanese textbook series.

The important thing is you go over some key language phrases before you get there. Don’t assume people will speak English. As I’ve mentioned before, it will make your experience much richer.

Tip 5: Take advantage of technology

Download some new books to your Kindle, catch up on your video games, or cross your fingers that you are on a plane with a good entertainment system.

If you read my review of the Sakura Lounge, you know I fly One World airlines. Thankfully it’s getting much rarer to be on planes with older systems but it’s helpful to be prepared. There’s that 5% chance that I get stuck with the revolving films where you are waiting 5-20 minutes to catch the next viewing. One, who thought that was a good idea? Two, what’s even the logic of the system? If you end up with that, don’t worry, it’s bearable if you plan ahead!

Tip 6: Dress comfy

To me, sitting in pants for a long time is unbearable, so you guys, make sure they are comfy. I’m all about wearing long dresses whilst flying and though I list this as my number 6, it might be my top tip to survive a long-distance flight.  

It’s tipping my hat to the golden age of flying (when you dressed up to fly!) but also it’s so much better than the alternative.  In the summertime, I’ll wear a short dress with some cute leggings under so I can still curl up in a ball in my seat if I want to.  

Also, I suggest wearing comfy shoes (I live in my Tevas). Easier to roll my ankles around (see tip 2).

Pro tip: Do NOT take your shoes off and walk around in socks, or worst, barefoot. The floors aren’t your home, you don’t know what’s on them.

Tip 7: Make some friends

I realize some people don’t want to have anything to do with their seatmates but if they are friendly, be friendly back! This tip does have some limitations on international flights because there is a good chance you are next to someone that doesn’t speak your language.

Don’t let that deter you! You’re not supposed to loiter near the galleys but there’s plenty of opportunities to chat people up while you are grabbing another drink (see tip 3!) or stretching your legs.  Talking to people makes the time pass faster if you are by yourself (I travel solo a lot).

Tip 8: Slow is fast, less is more

This more so applies to getting through customs and immigration.  If at all possible, don’t make your connections too close to each other. You’ll just stress out and it’s not worth it. Yes, you’ll be adding to that ever ticking time clock and I know you are excited to get to your destination but having to run for a gate in a massive airport is never fun.  

Smile, be nice, remember that everyone else is trying to get someplace too.

Don’t be one of those people that has more carry on items than they are allowed.  It just pisses people off and the less you have, the easier it is to get around and get settled.

Tip 9: Use perks when they are offered

This goes back to having access to clubs, many credit cards now offer a complimentary Priority Pass membership.  There is also the option to get a day pass. I’ve on more than one occasion paid for a daily pass if I had a long layover.  There are showers in there! Getting that plane smell off will make you feel a lot better.

Tip 10: Treat the airport like a gym

Don’t just sit and wait for your next plane.  Use this time as a chance to get a little exercise.  This works best if you don’t have a lot of carry-on (see tip #8) luggage. Do some laps of the airport or just start pacing the concourse.

Tip 11: Don’t succumb to sleep

I’m all for sleeping on the plane!  Short naps, especially on schedule with the time zone you are going to, will help you switch over.  Once you get to where you are going, for the love of everything, do NOT sleep until it’s a reasonable hour for bed.  

You’ll have a better chance of sleeping through the night and if not, keep dealing with it the next day.  Bottom line: Do not nap.  Just don’t. You’ll thank me in the morning.

What are your tips?

Have a tried and true way you survive a long-distance flights? Let me know in the comments!

Psst… don’t forget to pin this for later

You’ve decided you want to go to Japan, AWESOME! If you’ve missed it, I’m kind of a big proponent of this beautiful country. Researching and planning your trip to Japan can be a daunting experience though. Where do you start? Whom do you trust? With six years of experience and nearly all of the prefectures under my belt, let me put you on your course.

Understand the Geography: The Four Main Islands of Japan

While the Japanese archipelago (日本列島, Nihon Rettō) consists of well over 6,000 (!) islands, we tend to think of it as four main islands, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, plus Okinawa. The former being “main land” Japan and the latter being part of Ryukyu Islands, a long chain south of Kyushu. Fun fact, Okinawa was its own nation for a very long time and explains their language differences.

Japan, though slightly smaller than California land mass wise, the land of the rising sun stretches in an arc about 2,900km (1,800 miles).  With over 70% mountainous terrain, it’s a very dense 127 Million people (American has about 200 million more than that, for reference).  Honshu, home of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka (what I love to call the “circuit” of mainstream Japan itineraries), being most dense of all.

You don’t need to worry about flying between the mainland islands – they are all connected by tunnels or bridges! Adding to the convenience factor for the train system.

Know your Geography: The 47 Prefectures

Fun fact: There are 43 prefecture proper (県, ken), two “urban” prefectures (府, fu, Osaka and Kyoto fall under this), and then one “metropolis” prefecture…bet you can’t guess which.  I kid, I kid. Tokyo is 都, pronounced “tow”, not “to”.  Oh, and Hokkaido is it’s own animal with the 道 (dou) ending which usually means “road” or “way” but in this case its “district” prefecture.

The prefectures are further broken into regions, though they aren’t governmental, more so historic. A good way to start your plan for your trip to Japan is to narrow down which region you would like to see.

Hokkaido (北海道)

Hokkaido

Literally, the “North Sea District” though “District” could also be taken as “journey” (and that makes it sound more whimsical!), this island is the second largest in the Japanese archipelago and was originally inhabited by the Ainu.

Hokkaido features only one prefecture of the same name, making it the largest prefecture in Japan. It is also the least population-dense, with the capital of Sapporo the most happening place.  Big cities not your thing? The port town of Otaru is a quick train ride away.

Well known for its natural beauty, Hokkaido is where you want to be if you are an outdoor enthusiast.  World-renowned skiing in winter and plenty of hiking and white-water rafting once the snow melts. In winter it boasts many annual snow festivals to dazzle you.

Tohoku Region (東北地方)

Tohoku

Because we are very original with names in Japanese, Tohoku merely means “northeast”. Which is where it is located on the largest island of Japan, Honshu. It makes up six of the 47 prefectures, each with a bit of their own character partially due to the harsher climates of the region.

Sadly, probably most recognized as the location of the 2011 Earthquake, it is full of lakes, mountains (with some great skiing spots). Famous for several hot spring or onsen (温泉) areas, it also has some great castles (including Hirosaki, one of the 12 originals) and samurai residences. 

Don’t forget some very memorable summer festivals as well! Each of the six prefectures is known for their own.

Prefectures of Tohoku

• Aomori
• Iwate
• Miyagi
• Akita
• Yamagata
• Fukushima

Kanto Region (関東地方)

Kanto

Kanto (関東) can be translated to the “east of the gateway” and is the most extensive lowland of Japan which makes it also one of the most productive. Fun aside – the katakana-ized version is a region in Pokémon.

With Tokyo dead smack in the middle, the Kanto plain is the most populated and developed region of Japan with seven of the 47 prefectures. Nearly a third of the population lives here. There are plenty of cities besides Tokyo to keep any city lover occupied on a trip to Japan as well as having some more remote areas to get away from it all including UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nikko.

Prefectures of Kanto

• Ibaraki
• Tochigi
• Gunma
• Saitama
• Chiba
• Tokyo
• Kanagawa

Chubu Region (中部地方)

Chubu

Again, we’re naming things very directly. Chubu (中部) means “central part” and its nine prefectures are smack in the middle of the Kanto and Kansai regions on the island of Honshu. Due to its diversity, it’s sometimes further broken into three:

• Hokuriku region (北陸地方, “The north land”), the northwestern side which includes Kanazawa
• Koshin’etsu region (甲信越地方) which is a blended name of the three old provinces that it consisted of: Kai (modern day Yamanashi), Shinano (modern day Nagano) and Echigo (modern day Niigata).
• Tokai region (東海地方) which means “east sea region” and consist of those touching the sea

Probably most famous for Japan’s tallest mountain, Mount Fuji, and the Japanese Alps but it also includes many major cities, including Japan’s fourth-largest, Nagoya.  Don’t forget one of Japan’s National Treasures, Matsumoto Castle.

Prefectures of Chubu

• Niigata
• Toyama
• Ishikawa
• Fukui
• Yamanashi
• Nagano
• Gifu
• Shizuoka
• Aichi

Kansai (関西地方) or Kinki Region (近畿地方)

Kansai

I honestly didn’t realize it had two names until I was researching this post. Kinki (yes, pronounced like “kinky” and therefore part of the reason for the change) is directly linked to the areas around Kyoto whereas Kansai refers to the area “west of the gateway”. Gateway sounds better than “toll gate”, which is what it was. It’s still known governmentally as Kinki but tourism wise for those planning their first trip to Japan, it’s Kansai!

Located in the southern-central region of the island of Honshu, it is second-most populous after Kanto and includes seven prefectures. Home to not one, but two of Japan’s ancient capitals, Kyoto and Nara, the region is the best- known overseas (in my humble opinion) and is not lost in the number of tourists you will encounter.

You want culture and history? Come here.

Prefectures of Kansai

• Mie
• Shiga
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hyogo
• Nara
• Wakayama

Chugoku Region (中国地方)

Chugoku

Chugoku (中国) in this case translates as “central country” but it also, by itself, means “China” which as much as I tried, no one knows where the regions name comes from.  The westernmost region of Honshu island, it includes five prefectures.

Probably most recognized from the atomic bomb dropping in 1945 of Hiroshima, there are many things in the area to keep busy with including Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and several of the original 12 castles of Japan.

Prefectures of Chugoku

• Tottori
• Shimane
• Okayama
• Hiroshima
• Yamaguchi

Shikoku Region (四国地方)

Shikoku

The smallest of the main land islands, Shikoku has gone by many names over the year.  Literally translated as “four countries”, it refers to the four former regions: Awa, Tosa, Sanuki, and Iyo. It, to this day, still has four prefectures.

If volcanos aren’t your thing, this is the only of the main islands that doesn’t have one! There are still many famous onsen though from deep underground sources, including Dogo which is supposedly one of the country’s oldest.

With the island famous for the 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage, you can spend a long time in this little place.  It is also home to four of the 12 original castles: Kochi Castle, Matsuyama (my absolute favorite), Marugame and Uwajima.  If military works are your thing, I’d definitely consider Shikoku for the main highlight of your trip to Japan.

Prefectures of Shikoku

• Tokushima
• Kagawa
• Ehime
• Kochi

Kyushu Region (九州地方) including Okinawa (沖縄)

Kyushu & Okinawa

Kyushu translates to “Nine Provinces” and is named such due to the Saikaido (西海道, “western sea circuit”) which means both division of country and the road running through it. An ancient term from the Asuka period nearly 1500 years ago.

Kyushu today consists of seven prefectures (and we tack on Okinawa for the 8^th in the region) and is the third largest island in Japan.  Being super close to Korea, you can actually hop a high-speed ferry over!

There are plenty of volcanoes, onsen, forests and green mountains to keep you busy, much of the island isn’t developed.

Prefectures of Kyushu

• Fukuoka
• Saga
• Nagasaki
• Kumamoto
• Ōita
• Miyazaki
• Kagoshima
• Okinawa

Know what the Weather is like for your trip to Japan

Growing up in DC, I’ve always likened Japan’s climate to the East Coast of the United States, explaining the diversity across the different regions.

Drop the “main land” down on top of the east coast and it stretches from about Portland, ME (near similar to Asahikawa’s latitude – the furthest North I’ve been in Japan) to south of Savanna, GA (Kagoshima being the largest city at the bottom of Kyushu). Tokyo would be somewhere in North Carolina.

With four distinct seasons across the mainland, the only thing you’ll have to consider is where you are going in your final decision.

Japan in spring

Spring months see moderate temperatures. Coming in spring? Most importantly, you’ll want to time your location with Japan’s famous cherry blossoms.  The Japan Meteorological Corporation (JMC) puts out a cherry blossom forecast every year around February but you can expect southern regions to begin in March and Northern in May.

Summer in Japan

Summer, thanks to the lovely humidity can be HOT in Japan in July and August. June brings the rainy season, but you can definitely make due even in the rain! Typhoon season, though on paper from June to November, normally gets going in July.  Summer is a great time to see some traditional festivals like Yosakoi and Obon.

Japan in autumn

Bring on the fall leaves! Typhoons tend to show up till October (don’t let that scare you, its more like tons of rain and some wind, we have windier days in winter half the time!). For leaf viewing, which is called 紅葉狩り (momijigari, autumn-leaf viewing) in Japanese, up north will start around mid-September with further south beginning in October and lasting sometimes all the way through December.

Winter in Japan

If you are a winter sports fanatic like me, this is the time to come to Japan! Thanks to the geography of how Japan sits on the world, she sees heavy snowfalls in the mountainous regions and gets amazing powder, especially up north in Hokkaido.  The rest of the country doesn’t see as much snow but nice cool weather will abound.

Utilize Tourist Information Centers 観光案内所 during your trip to Japan

There are more than 1,000 certified Tourist Information Centers 観光案内所  (kanko-annai-jo) throughout Japan. “Certified”, you ask? The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Japan Tourism Agency began a Tourist Information Center (TIC) Certification Program in 2012 to ensure the quality of the information being presented. A quick stop in will serve you wonders.

Most often located in or directly near train stations, Japan’s tourist info centers are great resources on local attractions. They usually have maps available and at times, there won’t be info in English, but the staff can help you find your way. Usually, there are different language material broken into sections.

This is my go-to. Something I’ve found over the years in Japan, the Japan tourism information centers are amazing.  They have all sorts of local travel guides for you to sort through.  This isn’t the silly brochures you see at a Denny’s or your hotel back in the states or elsewhere, they are full-fledged pamphlets and books dedicated to help you plan your trip around Japan. 

I tend to play pin the tail on the map and just go with the flow when I’m traveling.  You don’t have to wait until you arrive. No “ok, I’m here, where to go?!”. Most of the information you will find is online.

Best though? Stop by and talk with the locals. Researching ahead of time can be tedious and you a lot of times only get the “popular stuff”.

Things I wouldn’t have found without Japan tourism information centers:

• the Apple Farm in Hirosaki
• the nebuta museum in Goshogawara
• how to get to Japan’s “#3” waterfall from Nikko
• bus routes in general
• Local cuisines to look out for (this is a BIG one, have you checked out my food account on Instagram?)
• the list goes on and on

Wondering if your city of choice will have information available upon arrival? JNTO has all of the TIC locations in a database. There are three levels of categories, dependent on how much area the center covers, what languages are spoken, days of operation and if Internet PC/Wi-Fi is available.

Each entry will link you to their official website which sometimes will have information packets you can print out beforehand!

Drop the “所” or “jyo” (literally, “place”) off the end and you get “Tourist Information”. The pieces of which can be roughly looked at, literally, as “outlook to a light of a plan inside”. I kind of like that, it’s like a “glimmer of hope” to find all the cool things!

Read Japan Travel Blogs!

I hope you find my site useful, as of writing this, I have over 100 articles JUST on Japan, and I’m barely scratching the surface! However, let’s face it, there are a million travel websites out there.

This is exactly why your search terms should include “JAPAN” in them. Lot’s of people have travelled to Japan, but getting your information from those that have lived here or travelled extensively has a lot more clout to me. A few of my favorites (besides my own, of course!):

Zooming Japan

Literally what I aspire my page to be. (And my travels to consist of). Jasmine has been living in Japan for over 7 years, been to all 47 prefectures and over 100 castles (completely up my alley).

Tokyo Desu

Fun fact about this, Cal and Mike are my friends IRL and I didn’t know they had this site until I found it on my own. They’ve got some great quips and a few guides to check out.

Donny Kimball

I found Donny’s website thanks to Instagram and he’s reason for more than a few of my Japan travel destinations. More off the beaten path, which is exactly what I love.

Buy a few Japan Guide Books

Sometimes you can’t beat a physical book. Highlight it, put tabs, be able to flip real fast without having to think, “what site was that on again?”. If it’s got a map, even better. Just in case you lose your internet connection. Most are tailored to overarching broad strokes of Japan or your popular destinations such as Tokyo or Kyoto. HOWEVER, if you can read Japanese (start with my guide to hiragana and katakana), there are literally travel books on every single thing you could possibly think of. Amazon.co.jp is your friend.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

For those English readers, a few of my favorites are here. I like having the personal touch but also you can’t go wrong with Lonely Planet.

Narrowing down your trip to Japan

With areas like Kyoto being overcrowded with tourists, I hope this article helps you realize that there are many other impressive places to see for you first ( or next!) Japan trip! Why not get off the beaten path and head to the lesser–known?

Budget traveler? The best part with the Japan rail pass, you can get regional passes for much cheaper than the “all-access” pass that seems to be everyone’s go-to. Train travel truly is the best way to get around Japan.

Don’t forget, there are airports all over Japan so you have many options for your entry point! If it ends up making your long haul flight a little longer, consider it might save you time in the long run and I’ve got you covered with survival tips.

Where will you research take you?

Pin this for later

The four main islands of Japan, Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, are connected by an extensive rail network. One of the best rail systems in the world, famously punctual. However, to a first-timer, with the nearly 30,000 km of track (18,600 miles, need help converting from metric?) riding trains in Japan can be a bit daunting. And with that, there are a lot of pros and cons to be had.  

Once you get a few rides under your belt, you’re sure to love to riding trains in Japan!

This post was update in August 2019.

What are the different train operators?

Around 70 % of which is Japan’s National rail system, “The JR Lines” (JR stands for Japan Railway), of which is further split into JR Hokkaido, East (Tohoku and Kanto areas), Central, West (Kansai and Chugoku Area), Shikoku and Kyushu regional networks. The rest is made up of 16 major regional private rail companies, many smaller local trains and additionally subway systems in the larger metropolitan areas.

How much is riding trains in Japan?

While super convenient, trains are not always the cheapest means of travel especially with the addition of budget airlines. However, if seeing this beautiful country is your goal, there’s really no greater way than to take the train.

Fare (運賃, unchin) for the trains is determined by the route and any train app will give you the rate required when you are researching your trip.  A quick few stops could be just over 100 yen whereas a long–distance trip on the shinkansen could be 10,000 and up.

A plus for foreigners on a tourist visa is the use of the JR rail passes, whether all access or the less expensive regional options where you will have a set rate for the amount of days you’ve purchased.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Child Tickets

There are discounts depending on the age of the child. Children fare (小児運賃, shouni-unchin) for 6 to 12 year-olds is half of adult fare and children under 6 are free with an adult.

The Difference in Seat Classes

In addition to your fare cost, you will also potentially have a cost associated with your seat depending on what you choose. You will see seat fees on Limited Express “liner” trains as well as the shinkansen.

自由席 (jiyuu seki) Unreserved Seat

Pretty self-explanatory, these are free for all seats. Literally in Japanese it means “freedom seat”. For me, a little too stressful during peak travel times. With trains coming every 10 minutes on some routes, they also allow you to hop on any train.

指定席 (shitei seki) Reserved Seat

With reserved seats, you will have to choose the exact train you want to be on. If for some reason you miss your train, you can use this ticket in the unreserved car.  Some trains like the Hayabusa only have reserved seats.

グリーン車 (guri-n sha) Green Car Seat

Ah, the green car. The “first–class” of trains as it were. Wider, nicer seats and more frequent train carts!

Gran Class Seat

These are newer and basically equate to “International First Class” seats and are even fancier than the green car. Gran Class cars have their own attendant and come with bento lunch boxes and unlimited drinks (including beer, sparkling wine, sake, Japanese whiskey, and more).

Japanese Lesson for Different Fare Types

• Fare ticket (乗車券, joushaken)
• Express fee (急行料金, kyuukou ryoukin) 
• Limited express fee (特急料金, tokkyuu ryoukin) 
• Non-reserved limited express fee (自由席特急料金 ,jiyuuseki tokkyuu ryoukin) 
• Reserved seat fee (指定席料金, shiteiseki ryoukin) 
• Green fee (グリーン料金, gurin ryoukin) 
• Shinkansen Special Express Ticket(新幹線特急券, shinkansen tokkyuuken)

Train Ride Categories

While many JR lines, such as the Yamanote Line in Tokyo operate strictly as a “local” train, meaning they stop at every station, there are many train lines that have different designations. Most notably for my colleagues and I, the Keikyu Line in Kanazawa has four different categories.

Some train routes have even more nuances than that! For a quick overview, the ones you will see the most are the following, ranging from slowest to fastest.

• Local (普通, ふつう, futsuu)
• Rapid (快速, かいそく, kaisoku)
• Express (急行, きゅうこう, kyuukou)
• Limited Express (特急, とっきゅう, tokkyuu)
• Shinkansen (新幹線, しんかんせん, shinkansen) or Bullet Train as it’s known sometimes in English 

The one that can be confusing is Limited Express as some lines use that to designate their fastest service, where others that translates as a “Liner”, i.e. you need a separate ticket to board! Not a fun fact when you are attempting to make a quick transfer.

Where and How to Buy Train Tickets in Japan

The train stations! You have a choice between an automated ticket machine or going to a teller. The automated machines generally have an option in English. Look for the language button in the upper right-hand corner.

From there, you have the option of IC Card or Paper Tickets (Liners/Shinkansen will always have paper tickets as you will need the seat and car number!).

IC Cards (ＩＣカード)

Integrated Chip cards (IC Card) or Smart Cards are the best way to “buy” train tickets. Along with my house key and phone, I never leave home without my Pasmo.  With a 500 yen deposit (that is refundable if you turn the card back in), you never have to worry about figuring out the fare costs.

In 2013 all of the ten major IC Card Brands were made compatible with each other so you no longer have to worry about having different cards for different regions. What are the ten?

• Suica
• Pasmo
• Icoca
• Pitapa
• Toica
• Manaca
• Kitaca
• Sugoca
• Nimoca
• Haykaken

I will not, however, guarantee that you won’t WANT more than one because some of the designs are super cute!

Warning: There are areas outside of IC Card use in rural areas of Japan so beware of this. If you happen to come across this, you will need to explain the situation once you get back into “IC Card Land” as I like to call it and have your card reset at that point. Normally just stating the station start and end names will suffice to the station attendants.

There are areas outside of IC Card use in rural areas of Japan so beware of this. If you happen to come across this, you will need to explain the situation once you get back into “IC Card Land” as I like to call it and have your card reset at that point. Normally just stating the station start and end names will suffice to the station attendants.

In some areas, you end up saving a few yennies (our joking name for one yen coins) by using your IC card but in the grand scheme of things, the price is the same.

You can also use them at vending machines and can also be linked to a green car ticket on the JR Lines!

Paper Tickets at the Automated Machines

There are definitely some areas of Japan that you will need paper tickets to be able to ride the train.  Additionally, there is a thing called ワンマン運転 (wan man un ten, one man driver) that we’ll address in a little bit.

First, there will be a map usually directly above the machines where you will need to find your destination and the corresponding fare. The two different prices are the difference between adult and child fares.

1. Check if there is an English in upper right-hand corner of the machine if you can’t read Japanese.  Sometimes the screens will automatically be at the “fare” screen and you can just press the corresponding fee but sometimes if the machine is also for IC card refilling, you will need to get to the paper ticket section.
2. On the side, there is generally buttons for the number of people you want to buy tickets for. The default is one, so if you are traveling alone, you can skip this step.
3. Press the button that shows the amount for your ticket.
4. Insert the money into the vending machine. They generally accept 10, 50, 100 and 500 yen and bills of 1000, 5000 and 10000 yen.
5. Collect the ticket(s) and change.

Station names only in Japanese? Don’t fret, just get the cheapest ticket and pay the difference at a fare adjustment machine at the destination station. Fare adjustment machines are near all exit gates.

Purchasing Limited Express or Shinkansen Tickets

The Limited Express and Shinkansen ticket machines are separate from the normal fare tickets. There will be an option to switch to English in the upper corner. From there you will follow the prompts on the screen to pick what train you will travel on, the date of travel, time of day, how many people and choose seats (if you are getting reserved seats or that’s the only option).  If you have a foreign credit card, most likely it will NOT work in the machine. If you would like to use a credit card, you can do so at the teller window.

Purchase a ticket at a ticket counter

It depends on where you are if the ticket counter attendees will speak English or not so it is helpful to have your train of choice pulled up on Hyperdia to show them the information you want if you are uncomfortable with your Japanese abilities.

Purchasing Green Car Tickets

If you are on the JR Line, sometimes it is fun to ride the green car of the “local” trains. It is much cheaper to buy them on the platform than onboard (though that is an option). It will depend on how far you are going what the cost will be. Less than or greater than 50 km. Look for signs saying green car tickets and this machine. You will need to be using your IC card.

Useful Japanese Phrases for Buying Tickets

• 片道 (かたみち, kata michi), One way (trip)
• 往復 (おうふく, ou fuku), Round Trip 
• 窓側の席 (まどがわのせき, mado gawa no seki), Window Seat
• 通路側の席 (つうろがわのせき, tsuro gawa no seki), Aisle Seat
• _____ まで一枚お願いします ( _____ までいちまいおねがいします, made ichimai onegaishimasu), One ticket to _____, please.
• 次の電車お願いします (つぎのでんしゃおねがいします, Tsugi no densha onegaishimasu), Next train please.

Reserved vs. Unreserved, Which is better?

Looking to save money, an unreserved picture is the way to go. Reserved tickets can add up cost-wise.  Most shinkansen have 3 or so cars of unreserved seats (unless you are taking the Hayabusa north) but it may be hard to get seats together if you are traveling in a group. 

One reason I personally don’t like them is it can be stressful and if you are on a long-distance trip, you probably don’t want to be standing for hours at a time.

Reserved gives you a little less stress on the seat department but it adds some additional in that you are locked into a given time.  It is definitely my preferred method as I’d rather not be worried about not getting a seat at all as I tend to travel longer distances.

How To Use Train Tickets in Japan

If you have gone the IC Card Route, you will need to “ping” through the gate at the station – make sure you are going to the correct service provider though! You will be charged money if you accidentally go through the gates without continuing on to a different station.

Pro Tip: One caveat to this is something not many of my Japanese friends knew until I told them. Exploring and need to use a public toilet and can’t seem to find one in town (seriously, I get surprised how many of them I see!) you can talk to the gate attendees and they will let you in and out of the station to use the toilet without having to be charged a fee.

If you have a paper ticket (whether singular or multiple because it’s an express train) use the ticket machine gateways and make sure you grab your ticket on the opposite side.

Limited express ticket? You may have to show the conductor onboard the train (sometimes they have machines telling them which tickets are already purchased and they won’t ask you). You need to insert BOTH tickets into the machine.  There will be signs showing two pieces of paper to remind you.

Regardless, you will need your ticket at your destination to get out of the station (you will do the reverse on arrival).

ワンマン運転（ワンマンうんてん）One Man Drivers

The best way to think of these is that it is a bus on rail tracks. Not a bad comparison when some of them are single car trains, though you can see them with upwards of three in some areas. The driver is the conductor is the platform safety checks.

Why do they have this? Well, to cut down on costs. Rural areas don’t get a lot of traffic and there really isn’t a reason to have someone just sitting at the station waiting for a train to come every few hours.

There are times (like going to Hitachino Brewery from Mito station in Ibaraki Prefecture) when it is possible to get into the station with your IC Card but then have to get on a one man train. How do you know it’s a one man? There will be an announcement, in Japanese, on board which doesn’t really help you if you don’t understand the language.

The other option is there will be a white or green sign on the train stating, “ワンマン”. Also Japanese but now you know what to look for! Another tip-off is if it is a very small train.

If it’s the first stop, you generally will just board.  If it’s not, it’s like a bus in which you will need to pull a paper tab when getting onboard that will list your boarding station number. Look at the board at the front for how much you will owe.  You will either pay the conductor directly or put it into a machine. It is very rare when they take IC Cards but some do.

Accidentally miss all that? The doors generally won’t open in the cars so you will know to walk to the front.

Speaking of doors

In colder climates (and some warmer ones), you will need to press the botton near the door to open the door to exit or enter the train.

Best Train Apps for Japan

Hyperdia

Hands down, Hyperdia is my go-to app for train routes in Japan. If you have an android, you can download it.  If you have an iPhone (at least last I checked, I’m a droid person) you will need to go to their website on your browser. 

Having issue inputting one of the station names? Sometimes in English it doesn’t always follow the same convention with “-“ or simple a space between names (or the Romanization might be different than you expect).  If that’s the case, type the first part of the word and it will give you all the options that contain that beginning.

Jorudan

Jorudan is another option that I learned about later, slightly different interface so check out which you like better.  

Google Maps

Google Maps has gotten 100 times better in the nearly 6 years I’ve been living in Japan and wasn’t even an option when I first started to come to Japan in 2006 but it still has a long way to go. It will take you on some ridiculous out of the way routes and have you transfer 4 times just to save 2 minutes travel time (when you could have taken one transfer).

That being said, one thing is does come in handy for is finding your destination station (or closest if you’ve been wandering around) name. You can then use that information into one of the aforementioned superior options.

Printable Maps

If you want to go old school, there are print outs of routes you can get (definitely how I rolled for the first 6 months living here), plus, they are handy if your phone runs out of juice. A couple for those living around Tokyo area:

• Tokyo Metro map
• Yokohama Metro map 
• Keikyu Line (my local line)
• JR East (Japan Railways)

Planning Your Journey

Need help coming up with an itinerary and don’t see something specific on my site? Feel free to use the “Contact” option above.

Non-Train Travel in Japan

While Japan does have an extensive train network, other forms of public transportation aren’t too shabby either. You’ll find buses in most major cities, and some more remote areas in rural Japan are accessible only by bus.

Don’t want to deal with the rain getting from the train to your hotel for instance? There are taxi stands at nearly all train stations, even in some remote areas. They are on the expensive side though.

Train etiquette

There are a lot of nuances of etiquette to consider while in Japan. Generally speaking, if you are aware of your surroundings, most will come naturally to you. To give you a quick overview so you know what to expect, here are some things to consider.

Queuing for the Train

The country of Japan loves queuing! I joke that I want to just get a group of friends to line up somewhere and see who joins us. Queuing for the train is no different. Most busier stations will have the exact spot noted for you with signs either on the tracks, the bulkheads or on the floor.

Make sure you are always standing behind the yellow safety line!

Does the station have safety gates? Line up on either side of the opening.

One thing to note is that some lines have different numbers of doors depending on the type of train. You may be in the three door line when there is only two doors, so when in doubt (they normally announce on the PA), line up at the 2 door spot.

Let passengers disembark

Speaking of queuing, let everyone off the train before you barrel on!

Same goes if you are onboard

If you are by the door and it is super crowded on the train, it is polite to go ahead and step off the train. Get either in the front or go to the back of the existing queue. This allows for a quicker transition at the stations.

Sitting etiquette

There will be areas on most train cars for “priority” seting. Whereas it seems like in some areas of the world, you flat out don’t sit there if you don’t fit one of the criteria, that’s not how Japan works.

You are more than welcome to utilize a seat but if someone needing it comes (elderly, disabled, pregnant, people with small children), please relenquish it.

Also don’t take up more than one seat, there are generally indications on where people will seat. If you have bags, either put them in the overhead, on your lap, or on the floor immediately in front of you so others can utilize them as well.

What to do with bags while standing

Don’t be that foreigner with the giant backpacking pack that leaves it on their back. Either wear bags on your front, put them between your feet, or in the overhead if available.

Turn your phone to silent and refrain from talking on the phone

Direct quote of the announcement you will hear constantly onboard! It’s rude, don’t do it. If you absolutely must take a call, be as quiet as possible or if you are on a shinkansen or liner, move to the ends of the cars.

With that, you will also notice that people either don’t talk at all or just talk softly to their seatmates. Being noisy is generally frowned on.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Essential Things for Travelling by Train

On long haul train rides, one of the benefits is that you can use your time wisely. Some things I always have with me and you might want to consider are these:

Kindle

I am a huge fan of a paper book, I love the smell! But the more I travel around the world and become more minimalist, my Kindle is definitely something that never leaves my bag. It’s just so convenient to have thousands of books with me.

Wanikani

Yes, this is an app, but more and more trains are getting WiFi and if you’ve gotten a SIM or have Google Fi, of course you are open to data! Wanikani is the best kanji learning program and I tend to use it most while traveling on a train. In a constant quest for being fluent in Japanese, it’s a must.

2-in-1 or Tablet Computer

My 12″ Samsung Galaxy 2-in-1 computer was literally the best purchase I’ve ever made. I always have it on me so that I can be working on blog posts whenever the moment presents itself. It’s compact, light (they also have a 10″ version) and has a great touch screen interface.

A few cons of riding trains in Japan

While I generally can’t stop singing the praises about Japanese train system, there are a few downsides to riding trains in Japan.

Overcrowding

Especially with the upcoming Olympics, there is a huge problem in major cities with overcrowding on the trains. The mere fact that they have to employee 押し屋 (oshiya, the official word for “train pushers”) can be a bit overwhelming for some people. (Or some consider it a part of the Japan experience).

One way to combat this is to get out and see the lesser-known areas of Japan!  And look to travel at off-peak hours.

Delays

While Japan is one of the most punctual systems in the world, there can be delays. Where else do you get apologies for leaving early? Train delayed? Make sure you get your train delay certificate to give to the boss.

What causes delays? From high winds or rains causing issues, to bears (yes, bears, and other animals getting in the way of the trains), to the “personal accidents” (人身事故, jinshin jiko).

Sadly, that generally means that someone has thrown themselves in front of the train but can also mean that someone has slipped or even that they didn’t “mind the gap” that is sometimes between the train and the platform.

If there are major delays, it is possible that they will set up alternative routes.

Chikan

One sad fact about riding trains in Japan, either in the stations on the escalators or on the trains themselves is the problem of chikan, or perverts. Things like groping and secret cameras (or blatantly obvious cameras). While it’s gotten better, it does help to be vigilant.

Ladies, if you are feeling uncomfortable, in peak hours there are generally women only cars near the front of the car!

Need Help?

If you are ever lost or in doubt while riding trains in Japan, simply find the nearest station attendant and ask for help — unlike in many countries, they’ll actually be happy to assist!

Japanese You May Hear While Riding Trains in Japan

• 上り電車 (のぼりでんしゃ, nobori–densha) uptown train
• 下り電車 (くだりでんしゃ, kudari–densha) downtown train　
• 行き (ゆき, yuki) headed to　
• 方面 (ほうめん, houmen) direction　
• 始発 (しはつ, shihatsu) first train of the day
• 終電 (しゅうでん, shuuden) last train of the day
• 終点(しゅうてん, shuuten) last stop　
• 各駅停車 (かくえきていしゃ, kakueki teisha), Train that stops at every station
• まもなく、一番線に東京方面行きがまいります。 危ないですから黄色い線までお下がりください (Mamonaku ichiban sen ni, Tokyo yuki ga mairimasu. Abunai desu kara kiiroi sen made osagari kudasai)
• 出口は 左/右 側です (Deguchi wa hidari/migi gawa desu) Exit on the left/right side
• ドアが閉まります (Doa ga shimarimasu ) Doors closing
• ドアが開きます（Doa ga hirakimasu) Doors opening
• 電車がまいります(Densha ga mairimasu) or 電車がきます (Densha ga kimasu)

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Shinkansen travel is fun. It’s expensive (unless you have a JR rail pass) but a great way to see the country and to get to your destination in a hurry. However, there are a few tips I’ve learned over the years that I would like to share with you.

Disclosure: Kristenabroad.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. For some links to products or services in this article, I may earn a small commission by you using my link.  The price for you is not affected.

Pro Tip: Buy your shinkansen tickets early

If you are bouncing around locations a lot like I do, I highly recommend that you make an estimation of what time you are going to take at each location and get your liner or shinkansen tickets as soon as possible.

This is most important with travelling on weekends, but especially holiday weekends. It can also be a concern with weekdays due to people travelling long distances to get to work. I always thought this was weird but then I also know of people commuting EVERY DAY from West Virginia to DC to give you American’s reading perspective.

Or here in Japan, my coworkers that live in Saitama but work with me. Two+ hours on the train, each way, everyday. Granted, train travel is brilliant. Once you are onboard (assuming you are on a traveller, not a commuter).

Kristen Speak: Trains

You know how I always give mini Japanese lessons? Well, I also have my own language, which I tend to refer to as “Kristen Speak”.

What’s a traveler?

Has tray tables. Generally has a beverage cart. Sometimes I’ll joke that “I love traveller locals”, which means they are arranged for long distance, but don’t have the added benefits of a bathroom and beers on demand.

Commuter Train

Seats lining the bulkheads. Room for lots of people. I feel like a lot of countries get this wrong. For instance, the metro in DC is very inefficient layout. So are the city trains I saw in Europe, especially Munich.

Seat Classes

There are generally three classes of seats on the shinkansen.  Unless you are on a few of the “fancier” ones and there are UBER first-class seats but I digress. First, there are ordinary cars that have non-reserve and reserve seat options.  Everything is exactly the same in these cars except for one, you have an assigned seat and one, you don’t.  Note, there are some shinkansen (looking at you, Hayabusa), that ONLY have reserved seats so watch out for that.

The other option is the “Green” car. I’ve been coming to Japan for over 12 years and I still don’t know why it’s called Green but this is your “first–class” car where the seats are a little nicer and wider and there are fewer people.

Pro Tip: Splurge for the reserved seats

You may have added stress from “having” to get back to the train on time. However, that’s much better than not having an idea of how long the line is going to take to get your ticket and missing the only train with seats.

For added carefree-ness, I suggest splurging for the reserved seats. We’re not talking green car here, just normal but with guarantee of sitting. The rail passes don’t give you this luxury, unfortunately.

Different classes of shinkansen

The different shinkansen routes have different levels of shinkansen.  For instance, on the Tokaido Shinkansen line you have the following:

• The Kodami is what I would consider the “local” shinkansen. It stops at every stop.
• The Nozomi is truly a super express and doesn’t stop much of anywhere. (It’s also not included on the JR Rail Pass.  Fun fact I just learned: it’s privately owned!).
• The Hikari is something in-between.

Each of the different lines have different names (convenient, actually, as you know what general direction you’re going by the name of the train).

Don’t forget about the special trains

If you are here for a short time and love trains, you should definitely seek out some of the special shinkansen.  Things like the Hello Kitty shinkansen.  And don’t forget bucket list items, like the Hayabusa going north. Japan’s fastest shinkansen!

Finding Your Route

By in far, your most useful app to download to your phone will be Hyperdia.  Google maps is getting there but still doesn’t always give you the most direct train.  I generally, if I’m not sure of the station, first will look on Google maps to figure out the station name.  Then I will hop over to Hyperdia to find which route I want to take.  The app is free on Android but has a small fee on iPhone (or at least it did, I’m a droid person).  If you have an iPhone and don’t want to pay, just navigate to the site from your browser.

Where to buy tickets

While there is technically three options, online is a bit of mystery even to me still. Unless we’re talking JR Rail Pass : If you are here on a tourist visa, make sure to get your rail pass! For everyone that doesn’t have that luxury:

Counter

If I’m not in too much of a rush, I generally like to enjoy the high service that is Japan culture and go to the counter.  It’s also a good excuse to practice your Japanese.

ここから＿＿＿＿＿までお願いします, Koko kara (destination) made onegaishimasu, “From this station to (destination), please”.

One plug for counter purchase: you can use your credit card.  If you have an American Credit Card, generally speaking they won’t work in machines. Got to get those points, right?! 

Machine

I’ve been pretty impressed by the upgrades to the ticket machines lately.  I don’t remember them being so intuitive, nor did most of them have English as an option not that long ago.  Look for the language button, normally in the top right hand corner, and continue through the screens.  Very straight forward! 

Pro tip: Get your basic fare and shinkansen ticket combined. 

How to use the shinkansen

Some stations will have a separate shinkansen entry, but sometimes you must pass through the regular gate first. Having a combined shinkansen and basic fair ticket makes this transition easier

Access your correct platform 

Shinkansen terminals are usually fairly large so check the displays for your train number and platform.

Get to your correct car

The car numbers are labelled along the platform so that you alight at the correct location and won’t have to walk through half the train to your seat.

Finding your seat

Just like an airplane, look for your row and seat.

Don’t forget your bento!

One of my favorite parts of riding the shinkansen is all the yummy train bento you can try. Best bet is to get them on the station platform.

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