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!

Pin this for later

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!

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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One of the best parts about taking a shinkansen or liner train is having an ekiben (駅弁) or train bento. The name is actually an abbreviation for station bento. Train station is 駅, eki. Bento is 弁当, but in this case, you drop the ending (as a lot of things in Japanese does) and it’s a quick and cute, train bento, 駅弁, ekiben.  If you are on a long-distance shinkansen, like the Hayabusa, you’re going to want some food!

Bento Boxes

I think part of the reason I like them is from growing up watching anime. The characters always had really cute lunch boxes. Later on, when I was coming to Japan frequently, a souvenir I HAD to have was a bento box. They are adorable and cute and make you realize how much food American’s really do eat lol. Your stomach is the size of your fist people!

What’s for lunch?

Go figure, now that I live here, I don’t make my lunch. I just drool over the beautiful creations some of my coworkers bring with them. Convienence stores have great lunch items (yes, I know that’s a scary thought if you live in America and wouldn’t dream of eating at a 7-11, but the food is pretty good) but it’s not cute bentos. Shinkansen stations have that covered.

I think part of the allure is the small compartments and everything is for flavor and not just to fill you. You see this also with a traditional Japanese meal where everything is served on very small dishes and it more of a tasting than gorging yourself. Reminds me of french restaurants where you always have at least 7 courses but it’s not overwhelming. Don’t get me started on the equivalent at an Italian place — so much food!

You can find healthy options

The nice thing is you can keep it healthy, there are veggie centric versions as well as “monster” proportions of rice and meats. Though last time I looked, none were over 900 calories. Generally they are a reasonable 500-800 and are quite tasty.

Don’t forget a few beverages and if you’re on board and still need something, a beverage and おつまみ （otsumame…. literally snacks to have with beer, I love Japan) cart will come through.

This one, however, I couldn’t pass up in the “nice” train bento shop.  Full on omurice and Japanese curry.  This doesn’t count as a small healthy one!

Where to buy ekiben at shinkansen stations

If the name didn’t already give it away… at the station. Generally, after you go through the turnstile but I’ve seen them before as well. But don’t freak out if you don’t see one. Shinkansens are realllllly large trains, so the platforms are quite large. Sometimes it just takes going up and back down to another lobby area to find the good food.　

It’s a good idea to check the station map if all else fails. Ekibenya Matsuri in Tokyo Station is located in the main thoroughfare to get to the platforms.

How much does an ekiben cost?

Generally, somewhere around 700-1200 yen.  There’s always the cheaper onigiri option as well.  And if you forget a beer or other beverage, they’ll be around with a cart onboard!

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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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