Traveling by train in Japan - Viaggiare in treno in Giappone

Traveling by train in Japan is perhaps the most efficient way to get around the country with an extensive network of over 27,000 kilometers of track covering all 4 main islands of the Japan, mainly served by Japanese railways (JR) as well as other private minors and municipal operators. As stations are usually located in the city center and trains run on time to the second, traveling by train can be much faster than taking a plane. No wonder over 7 billion passengers traveled by train in 2013 and 2014, signifying the paramount importance of train travel for the Japanese.

In general

Japan's railways are fast, highly efficient, and cover most of the country, making this the preferred mode of transportation for most visitors. The first and most confusing aspect of the Japanese rail system (especially in large cities like Tokyo) that you will encounter is the overlap of several private rail networks with the JR network. A given station can host several companies (JR and / or private) or the stations of distinct companies can be placed next to each other. Tokyo also has two separate subway systems to add confusion to confusion.

Visitors are usually amazed to find that Japanese trains, like other forms of mass transit, almost always depart and arrive punctually on time, following the schedule published to the second. If you are late, your train is sure to be missed! Delays are rare but can still happen especially if there is a suicide attempt on the tracks.

Note that most trains do not operate 24 hours a day, for example in Tokyo they do not run early in the morning from 01:00 to 05:00 and the Shinkansen system never runs during the night. If you are planning to be out late and are relying on the train to get home, make sure you know when the last train leaves. Many bars and clubs are open until the first train in the morning, so keep that in mind as another option or head to the 24-hour Internet cafes.

Find the routes

Route search engines are a fantastic tool, whether you are just starting to plan a trip or are already in the country. To understand the transport plans and tariffs, the site HyperDia is an invaluable companion; the site calculates directions per minute including connecting trains as well as buses and planes. Jorudan it's a similar service, but with fewer options for exploring alternative routes. The paper version of these is the Daijikokuhyō (大 時刻表), a pocket-sized tome available at every train station and most hotels, but it's a bit difficult to use as the content is entirely in microscopic Japanese. A lighter version that includes only limited express trains, night and bullet trains (shinkansen) is available at the foreign offices of the Japan National Tourist Organization. Timetables in English are available on the websites of JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central is JR Kyushu. Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen times can also be viewed in English on Tabi-o-ji. Both HyperDia and Tabi-o-ji offer scheduled searches that exclude Nozomi and Mizuho services, for the benefit of Japan Rail Pass holders.

Smart cards

One of the first things every visitor to Japan should do is take a public transport smart card (マ ー ト カ ド sumāto kādo), also called IC card (IC カ ー ド ai shī kādo) or jōsha kādo (乗車 カ ード, "boarding pass"). Using a smart card, fares are calculated automatically regardless of the complexity of the trip or how often you travel. In addition to public transport, smart cards are increasingly used for all types of electronic payments, so they can be used in vending machines, grocery stores, fast food outlets, etc.

The top ten listed below are completely interchangeable, meaning you can pick up a card in any major city and use it virtually anywhere in the country, the main exceptions being Shikoku is Okinawa. By region from north to south, they are:

These cards can be purchased and reloaded at any station ticket office, including those at airports, and many vending machines for a basic deposit of ¥ 500 plus the amount you wish to load. The deposit and any remaining value can be refunded when you leave Japan, or you can keep the card for the next visit as they remain valid for 10 years.

It is not possible use smart cards to travel between two different regions on regular train services. For example, if you were to start your trip in Tokyo and travel west to Atami using the JR Tokaido line, a smart card can be used as these stations are located within the boundaries of the East Japan Railway (JR East). However, if you continue west from Atami towards Shizuoka, you enter an area operated by a different company - in this case the Central Japan Railway (JR Central) - and the card will not be accepted. Traveling between two regions requires a paper ticket, but smart cards can also be accepted at ticket machines as payment (the paper ticket should have the letters IC printed on it).

Since September 2017, smart cards have been accepted for travel on the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen instead of paper tickets. Bullet train tickets can be purchased online with a credit card and linked to a smart card, which can be used to enter and exit ticket barriers. The service is available in both English and Japanese.

How to use

Like a smart card (click on the image to view the gif animation)
A card reader

To be used, the Suica and Pasmo cards must be approached to the card reader on the right with the blue stamp when passing the metro turnstiles or near the readers of a bus. If the figure remains blue you can pass, if it turns red it means that you do not have enough credit on the card. The card must be passed through the turnstiles both when entering and exiting public transport.

For buy a SUICA card just go to one of the machines at the stations or in some retailers, select the card on the screen then "new Purchaise" select a credit, for example of 2000 ¥ with which you will get a credit of 1500 ¥ 500 of the cost some paper. Insert the banknotes and you will get the card.

For reload a SUICA card insert the card into a SUICA machine, the screen will display the different amounts, select one and immediately insert the banknotes. You wait for the top-up and take the card back.

For those who own an Apple smartphone it is also possible to replace the Suica with the smartphone by passing it directly to the scanner. For configuration details read here

Purchase a short distance ticket

Short distance tickets are sold from machines like this in Nagoya

In some cases, you may still need to purchase paper train tickets, for example when traveling from one region to another or in remote areas that do not yet accept smart cards.

Most train tickets in Japan are priced by distance, so there will be a map above the ticket machines. Near the center, the current station is usually marked red with 当 駅 (tōeki). Around it there will be all the other stations that can be reached with the price below. The closest stations have the smallest numbers (for example, the closest stations will likely be around ¥ 140, the furthest ones will go up to maybe ¥ 2,000). As long as you stay on the same track system, you can take any route and transfer between trains for free.

To purchase a ticket, insert coins or cash into the vending machine. As you do this, your options will light up for tickets that you can buy for that amount of money. Usually a normal ticket for the correct amount is enough, but for some trips you may need to purchase a transfer fare or some other special option.

The coin container is large so that you can insert multiple coins at the same time. They never accept ¥ 1 or ¥ 5 coins as payment, but pass them through without complaint.

Insert your ticket in the turnstiles and don't forget to collect it once you're done. Do not throw the ticket away as you will have to enter it again when you leave at the end of the journey.

If you can't figure out the price, buy a minimum fare ticket and pay when you arrive at your destination. You can present the ticket to the gate staff or pay the balance at the "Fare Adjustment" machine to regularize the fare. Look for a small ticket kiosk before the exit turnstile. Enter the minimum rate and pay the balance indicated on the screen.

Catch a train

Signs along the track that indicate the access position to the carriages according to the type of train

Although the way you take a train in Japan is basically the same as in Italy or in Europe, you need to show some differences. In fact, Japanese trains stop in already defined positions, and contrary to what happens in other stations, the search for the wagon should not be done when the train arrives but even before. In fact, on the floor there are numbers that indicate the position of the entrances based on the type of train that will be taken. Passengers will then arrange themselves at these lines from where they will then access the corresponding carriage. There signage is not intuitive and often there is no English translation.

It is a good idea to wait for the train passengers to exit completely and then enter looking for their seat. In the shinkanzen in general the carriages have reserved seats, however there are carriages with non-reserved seats.

JR trains have seats that rotate manually according to the direction of travel or your pleasure. To rotate them, simply press the lever down and release the catch.

The JR lines

The Shinkansen network, including routes planned or under construction.

The JR network is as extensive as one would expect from what used to be the national rail system. The JR group operates the Shinkansen lines and a multitude of regional and urban public transport lines. In the countryside, the group companies also operate bus services to connect places that do not have a train service. However, the JR network is not a monopoly and there are other private railway networks in particular in large conurbations.

Interestingly, people refer to JR in Japanese by its English initials, "Jay-Arru". Hopefully even those who don't speak English can help find a station if you ask.

Japan Rail Pass

By far the best option for visitors planning a lot of trips is the Japan Rail Pass, which allows unlimited travel on almost all JR trains, including the Shinkansen, and travel on certain segments on private railways (see exceptions below) for a fixed period of 7, 14 or 21 days (see the Japan Rail Pass coverage map). The 7-day rail pass in ordinary (standard) class is ¥ 29,110; by comparison, a round trip between Tokyo and Osaka on the bullet train costs ¥ 27,240. Ordinary 14-day and 21-day passes cost ¥ 46,990 and ¥ 59,350, respectively. Green Car Rail Passes cost ¥ 38,880, ¥ 62,950 and ¥ 81,870 for 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively, and include unlimited travel in green parking spaces. Keep in mind that arriving at one airport and departing from another (for example, arriving in Tokyo and departing from Osaka) can save you a round trip and make these passages less attractive.

The pass can be purchased only outside of Japan from specific suppliers listed on the official website which includes Japanese airlines JAL and ANA if you are traveling with them. Also there are many vendors who will purchase one for a markup or commission. Although the price is in Japanese Yen, it will typically be paid in the local currency with the local price usually altered monthly or weekly depending on the exchange rate and the seller. At the time of purchase, a paper exchange order is given, which can be exchanged at major JR stations in Japan, including all stations closest to airports, for the Rail Pass itself. At the time of the exchange, you need to have your passport with you and know the date you want to start the Rail Pass. Dedicated counters with English-speaking staff specifically for rail pass exchanges are available at the stations of Tokyo, Shinjuku, Ueno, Nagoya is Sapporo; waiting times are shortened and as soon as you receive your pass, you can start booking free seats immediately at the counter (recommended if you are traveling on popular routes that may fill up or if you are traveling with a large group).

There is a experiment sales of the Japan Rail Pass at major stations and airports across Japan for two years until March 31, 2019, priced approximately 10% higher.

The rail pass has some exceptions:

  • If you travel on the Tokaido, San'yo or Kyushu Shinkansennot you are allowed to travel on faster than Nozomi or Mizuho - the full fare must be paid.
  • Most trains on the Tohoku / Hokkaido Shinkansen (Tokyo-Sendai-Aomori-Hakodate) e Hokuriku Shinkansen (Tokyo-Nagano-Kanazawa) have a first class premium cabin known as "GranClass". You cannot use the GranClass cabin with any Japan Rail Pass unless you pay the limited express fare and GranClass fare (i.e. approximately ¥ 27,000 on Hayabusa if you go from Tokyo to Hakodate).

Extra surcharges must be paid for JR trains traveling on non-JR-owned tracks. Some examples include:

  • The Rinkai Line (TWR) of the Tokyo Waterfront Railway between Osaki and Shin-Kiba, used to access Odaiba.
  • The Izukyu Railway from Ito to Shimoda on the peninsula of Izu.
  • The Kyoto Tango Railway from Fukuchiyama to Toyooka, which is used by JR trains running from Kyoto to Amanohashidate.
  • If staying in a private compartment - available on night trains and a small number of Shinkansen trains in between Osaka is Fukuoka - you must pay express and limited accommodation rates.
  • The JR Pass covers travel, including stopovers, on the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to Tokyo's Hamamatsucho.

The JR Pass covers journeys to and from isolated JR train lines on private railways as long as there are no stopovers in the following segments:

  • Between Hachinohe is Noheji, between Aomori and Noheji, and between Hachinohe and Aomori on the Aoimori railway for access to the JR Ominato Line.
  • Between Kanazawa is Tsubata on the IR Ishikawa railway for access to the JR Nanao Line.
  • Between Toyama is Takaoka on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway for access to JR Johana and the Himi Line.

Regional rail passes

JR regional companies also sell their own passes which only cover parts of the country. They are generally of lesser value and you will need to plan carefully to use them. From North to south:

  • Hokkaido: JR Hokkaido Rail Pass
  • Tohoku:
    • JR East Rail Pass - Tohoku Area (also covers Kanto and some private rail lines)
    • JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass (includes Tohoku Pass coverage area plus Hokkaido Shinkansen for Hakodate and JR trains for Sapporo)
  • Kantō: JR East Tokyo Wide Pass (also covers some private railway lines)
  • Chūbu:
    • JR East / JR West Hokuriku Arch Pass covers travel between Tokyo and Kansai through the Hokuriku region, and also covers some private rail lines)
    • JR East Rail Pass - Nagano / Niigata Area (also covers Kanto and some private rail lines)
  • KansaiJR West sells several, including:
    • Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
    • San'yo-San'in Area Pass
    • JR Kansai Wide Area Pass. Ecb copyright.svgbought from abroad: 9,000 ¥, children 4,500 ¥. Purchased in Japan: ¥ 10,000; children: ¥ 5000 (May 2019). Offers foreigners unlimited travel for 5 consecutive days on the JR and Kyoto Tango lines, in most of Kansai, west of Chugoku and one line to Takamatsu on the island of Shikoku. It only covers seats without reservations (show the pass upon access and the card directly in the carriage without reservation). Beware, some trains only have reserved seats and to take them you will need to buy a limited-express ticket (half the ticket price) to get a reservation. All Shinkansen trains (including the Nozomi) between Okayama and Shin-Osaka are covered. To go to Kyoto, just change to a conventional train. The purchase abroad will allow it to be exchanged in about fifteen main stations in these two regions. The pass can be booked online one month before it is valid and can be changed or canceled two days before it is valid. 
    • Kansai Area Pass for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days.
    • Kansai Hokuriku area pass
    • Hokuriku area pass
  • Chugoku: JR West sells several, including:
    • Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass
    • San'yo-San'in Area Pass
    • Kansai Wide Area Pass - Allows unlimited travel for 5 days at a cost of ¥ 9000
  • Shikoku: All Shikoku Rail Passes (also covers private rail and tram lines), Shikoku Saihakken Kippu
  • Kyushu: All Kyushu Area Passes, Northern Kyushu Area Pass (covers areas north of Kumamoto is Oita)

Many JR East and JR West Rail Passes can be purchased online in advance for a discount of between ¥ 500 and ¥ 1,000, while other passes must be purchased within the country.

When making a train journey (even if you have obtained a ticket using your Rail Pass), you will need to show the Rail Pass at the manned turnstiles. This is inconvenient if there is a queue, but it is usually acceptable to pass the pass to the controller while other customers transacting with JR.

The Seishun 18 ticket

The Seishun ticket 18 (青春 18 き っ ぷ Seishun jūhachi kippu) is the cheapest offer for travel to Japan, offering five days of unlimited train travel for only ¥ 11,850. Better still, unlike the Rail Pass, the days don't have to be consecutive. You can also split a ticket so that (for example) one person uses it for two days and another for three days. The main aspect is that tickets are valid only on local trains and that tickets they are only valid during school holidays (March-April, July-September, December-January), so you need good timing and plenty of time to use it.

Purchase of a long distance ticket

Ticket machines for JR at Iidabashi Station, Tokyo
A midori no madoguchi at Iwamizawa Station, Hokkaido

JR standard tickets are usually divided into two categories:

  • The Basic ticket or joshaken (乗車 券): These tickets cover the base fare for trains operating between two stations / areas. Stops are allowed on long journeys, although you must stay on the ticketed route and cannot go back. Tickets are valid for 2 days for journeys over 100 km, 3 days for journeys over 200 km and then one day for each additional 200 km.
  • The limited express ticket or tokkyuken (特急 券): with some variations on the name, they are bought for long-distance trains, including the Shinkansen. In general, non-reserved tickets (自由 席, jiyuuseki) are valid for seats without reservations on any service, while reserved tickets (指定 席, shiteiseki) are valid for a specific train.

At the main stations there will be a travel section where you can buy your ticket through an employee (look for the small green sign of a figure relaxing in a chair or ask for the midori no madoguchi ど り の 窓 口, literally "green window"). Since you probably need to know train times and may want to reserve a seat, this is a good thing. In general, you can make your wishes known with your hand and indicate destinations if the staff cannot speak English. Writing information helps because most Japanese find it easier to read English than to listen to it. For express trains that require a supplement and seat reservations, a staffed station can usually be found. However, some trains have their own specific machines. First, buy a regular train ticket to your destination. On touchscreen machines, there will usually be a button for express services. Choose the name of the service you wish to travel on, your destination, preferred departure time and seating preferences, then enter the surcharge amount. A reservation card will be issued showing the departure time and seat number. You have to also have a travel ticket, a pass or a smartcard to go through the control turnstiles: a surcharge alone is not valid for the journey.

Recently, automatic ticket machines are becoming more popular. These machines can be used to show content in English and are capable of issuing extended fare tickets and limited express tickets for reserved and non-reserved seats. They are usually found near the ticket offices. When purchasing tickets, take note of the route displayed, as you are required to travel on the ticketed route (stopovers are not permitted outside of that route).

For local trains without reservations, use the smart card. If the fare costs more than what is on the card, you can pay the difference at the ticket counter or at the fare adjustment machine at the destination station. However, if the journey crosses the boundaries of several operators, there is a possibility that the smart card will not be accepted. Also, some stations do not have smart card readers. The details of these restrictions are usually found near the borders of different railway companies or on the websites of the card companies. When traveling long distance, it is recommended that you always purchase a ticket at an automatic ticket office or ordinary ticket office. Also, by doing so you can buy a ticket to your final destination, making stopovers, which could save you a lot of money due to the cheaper fare per kilometer the longer the ticket distance.

The most likely limits for tourists are the following. While there are other limits where the average traveler is unlikely to cross them with an IC card.

  • The border between JR East and JR Central is between Atami is Kannami. This border is located on the Tokaido main line between Tokyo is Mishima.
  • The border between JR Central and JR West is between Sekigahara is Mihara. This is also on the Tokaido main line between Nagoya is Kyoto.

If you misuse a smart card, you will set the fare at your destination and the station staff or conductor will write some sort of proof that you will need to take to a nearby station or origin station to unlock the card.

Types of train

A notice board for Shinkansen trains, in Japanese and English
The N700 Shinkansen series

JR pioneered the famous bullet train, known in Japanese as Shinkansen (新 幹線), and with a speed of around 320km / h (360km / h in the near future), it remains the fastest way to travel across the country. Note that it Shinkansen doesn't work overnight. The Shinkansen it is also known for its enviable safety record, not having caused a single accident that has resulted in the deaths of passengers since it went into operation in 1964.

On the new and renewed bullet trains, smoking is not allowed, except in a designated smoking room located between the machines. Also, some bullet trains are not equipped with vending machines. Food and drink services for most trains are generally available through a trolley service in the wagons, although some slower services (such as Kodama below) have no food or drink at all, which means you will need to purchase the items before embarking. Ekiben (駅 弁) are cold meals packaged and sold in railway stations intended to be consumed on trains; each large station has several stalls selling them, and even medium-sized stations typically have one or two. If a train has on-site catering, a selection of ekiben will often be available, but they will usually be more expensive and the selection will be more limited than is available at stations.

Tokaido / San'yo / Kyushu Shinkansen

The most important and busiest shinkansen route in the country is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which connects Tokyo to Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. This line continues from Osaka to Okayama, Hiroshima is Fukuoka (Hakata station) like San'yo Shinkansen, then to Kumamoto is Kagoshima how Kyushu Shinkansen.

There are a total of six different types of services operating on the Tokaido, San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines. These can be grouped into three types, which reflect the number of stops made:

  • Nozomi (の ぞ み), Mizuho (み ず ほ)
These two services are the fastest, making stops only in major cities. The Nozomi is the main service that crosses both the Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen lines, although some other Nozomi trains only travel between Tokyo and Osaka. This type of train has a frequent service of up to 10 minutes on weekdays and operates with 16 carriages. A one-seat trip on the Nozomi from Tokyo to Osaka takes 2.5 hours, while trips from Tokyo to Fukuoka take 5 hours. Continuous transfers can be made in Fukuoka between Nozomi and Kyushu Shinkansen trains: Tokyo to Kumamoto is 6 hours, and the full ride from Tokyo to Kagoshima is about 7 hours.
The Mizuho, ​​on the other hand, is limited to services on the San'yo and Kyushu Shinkansen between Osaka and Kagoshima, with trips operating during the morning and evening rush hours. Mizuho trains run from Osaka to Kumamoto in 3 hours and to Kagoshima in 3 hours and 45 minutes. Mizuho trains only operate with 8 carriages and have a reserved and green shared seat on car 6.
There is a small surcharge on the Shinkansen fare and seat reservations are required for all but three cars on the train. Especially for tourists, the Japan Rail Pass is NOT valid on Nozomi or Mizuho trains.
  • Hikari (ひ か り), Sakura (さ く ら)
These are the fastest services valid with the Japan Rail Pass, making a few more stops than the Nozomi or Mizuho. On the Tokaido Shinkansen, there are usually two Hikari trains per hour departing from Tokyo: one train terminates in Osaka, and the other continues on the San'yo Shinkansen, which terminates in Okayama. West of Osaka there is generally one Sakura train per hour (two during business hours) that goes from Osaka to Fukuoka and then to Kagoshima. Sakura's other services only operate between Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima on the Kyushu Shinkansen.
If you are using Hikari or Sakura with a Japan Rail Pass, you will usually have to transfer at least once for long journeys. For trips on Tokaido and San'yo Shinkansen, Shin-Osaka it's the best station to switch services, with Shin-Kobe, Okayama and maybe Himeji as alternatives for some connections.
Starting from Tokyo with these services it is possible to reach Osaka in 3 hours, Fukuoka in 6 hours, Kumamoto in 7 hours and Kagoshima in 8 hours. From Osaka you can reach Fukuoka in less than 3 hours, Kumamoto in 3 hours and 30 minutes and Kagoshima in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
  • Kodama (こ だ ま), Tsubame (つ ば め)
Also valid with the Japan Rail Pass, these are the services that stop at every shinkansen station on the route. Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama services generally run from Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Nagoya. Separate Kodama services from all stations operate on the San'yo Shinkansen, and Tsubame trains only travel on the Kyushu Shinkansen between Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima. While Tokaido Kodama trains run 16 carriages, San'yo Kodama and Kyushu Tsubame services can operate with fewer carriages, so make sure you have the location of the signs on the platform for the correct boarding position.
Kanazawa Station combines traditional and futuristic Japanese architecture. The terminus of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line from Tokyo

Other Shinkansen routes

Japan's other rail routes are mainly operated by JR East and radiate north of Tokyo Station. These include:

The Japan Rail Pass is valid for all of these services, with the exception of the GranClass cabin which operates on certain routes (additional fare required).

Other JR train types

Express train to Shibuya

Other JR services, especially suburban ones, use the following generic labels:

  • Regular (普通 futsū, 各 停 kakutei or 各 駅 kakueki) - local service, stops at each station
  • Quick (快速 kaisoku) - skips about 2 of 3 stops, at no extra charge
  • Expressed (急 行 kyūkō) - skips about 2 out of 3 stops, requires a supplement
  • Linear (ラ イ ナ ー rainaa) - skip about 2 of the 3 stops of kyuko, requires a supplement
  • Limited Express (特急 tokkyū) - skip about 2 of 3 stops kyuko, requires a supplement and usually also a reserved seat

Green carriages

Seats in a Green Car on E6 Komachi Shinkansen services


Express services can offer first class seating. Dato che il sovrapprezzo di quasi il 50% concede un po' più di spazio per le gambe, la maggior parte dei passeggeri opta per posti regolari. Tuttavia, se avete davvero bisogno di prendere un treno particolare per il quale i posti normali sono pieni, la Carrozza verde è un'alternativa. Il pass JR è di due tipi: "Ordinario", che richiede il pagamento del sovrapprezzo per utilizzare la Carrozza verde, e "Verde", che include i posti verdi senza costi aggiuntivi.

A seconda di dove si viaggia in Giappone, le Carrozze verdi hanno alcuni piccoli vantaggi. Sul Nozomi is Mizuho (non valido con il pass ferroviario) sarete accolti da un assistente femminile che si inchinerà mentre entrate nel treno e controllate i biglietti al posto del capotreno. A seconda del giorno e dell'ora in cui viaggiate, le Carrozze verdi possono essere meno affollate e più silenziose rispetto alle normali, ma, naturalmente, durante la Settimana d'oro e altri periodi dell'anno molto richiesti, tutto diventa difficile da prenotare.

GranClass

L'esclusiva cabina GranClass

La maggior parte dei treni che operano su Tohoku, Hokkaido e Hokuriku Shinkansen offrono un'esperienza di classe conosciuta come GranClass (グ ラ ン ク ラ ス). Il servizio può essere equiparato alla business class internazionale su una compagnia aerea e dispone di 18 "sedili a conchiglia" ad ampia potenza reclinabili in configurazione 2 1.

GranClass sui servizi più veloci offre un assistente personale in cabina, una maggiore selezione di bevande analcoliche e bevande alcoliche e alimenti di alta qualità realizzati con ingredienti locali. GranClass può anche essere offerto su servizi più lenti, in fermata e durante i periodi di punta della mattina e della sera, ma i servizi di cibo non saranno disponibili.

Per questi servizi è disponibile una speciale struttura tariffaria di GranClass. I possessori del Japan Rail Pass e del JR East Rail Pass dovranno pagare la tariffa espressa limitata * e * la tariffa GranClass per viaggiare in GranClass. Anche se avete un pass per la Carrozza verde, coprirà comunque solo la tariffa base - tuttavia, i treni con GranClass offrono anche sedili verdi regolari che possono essere utilizzati senza alcun costo aggiuntivo con il pass Carrozza verde.

Fumo

Molte delle compagnie ferroviarie giapponesi si sono mosse verso restrizioni sul fumo e divieti soprattutto negli ultimi anni, sia su piattaforme che su treni. JR East, ad esempio, ha vietato il fumo sulle piattaforme di tutte le loro stazioni di Tokyo nel 2009.

Fino all'inizio/metà degli anni 2000 quasi tutti i servizi a lunga distanza e i treni proiettili avevano carrozze per i fumatori; attualmente ne rimane un numero molto piccolo, anche su alcuni dei vecchi treni proiettili che sono in servizio. La maggior parte degli altri - inclusi i treni proiettili nuovi e rinnovati - limita i fumatori a piccole stanze ventilate, note come "angoli fumatori", tra alcune carozze. Tutti i servizi di periferia e pendolari, così come molti treni a lunga percorrenza, non consentono affatto di fumare.

Solitamente i treni per non fumatori sono contrassegnati nelle tabelle degli orari con il simbolo universale di non fumare o con il kanji giapponese per non fumare (禁煙; kin'en).

Come fare una prenotazione

Un biglietto per la prenotazione del posto a partire dal 2008 per un servizio di treni bullet Hikari, stampato in inglese e giapponese

Sui treni Shinkansen e tokkyū, alcune delle carrozze richiedono ai passeggeri di aver prenotato i posti in anticipo (指定 席 shiteiseki). Ad esempio, nel servizio Hikari a 16 carrozze sul Tokaido Shinkansen, solo cinque delle carrozze permettono posti non riservati, tutti non fumatori (禁煙 車 kin'ensha). Su un treno trafficato, prenotare in anticipo può garantire un viaggio confortevole. Da considerare soprattutto se si viaggia in gruppo, poiché difficilmente si troveranno 2 posti insieme, figuriamoci di più.

Effettuare una prenotazione è sorprendentemente facile ed è fortemente consigliato per viaggi popolari (come viaggiare da Tokyo a Kyoto il venerdì sera o prendere un treno da Nagoya a Takayama). Cercate l'ufficio JR alla stazione ferroviaria, che porta un piccolo logo verde di una figura che si rilassa su una sedia - e chiedete di fare una prenotazione quando acquistate il biglietto. La prenotazione può essere effettuata da un mese in anticipo fino a pochi minuti prima della partenza del treno. Si noti che gli orari di apertura di questi uffici (dedicati ai viaggi a lunga distanza) sono più corti di quelli per i treni locali: possono essere chiusi al mattino presto o in tarda serata.

Se si è titolari del Japan Rail Pass, le prenotazioni sono gratuite: basta recarsi all'ufficio JR e presentare il pass ferroviario quando si richiede una prenotazione per il viaggio. Il biglietto che viene dato non permetterà di passare attraverso le barriere automatizzate e dovrete comunque presentare il Japan Rail Pass alla barriera presidiata per raggiungere il treno.

Senza un pass sarà addebitato un piccolo costo, quindi un biglietto non riservato potrebbe essere preferibile a un biglietto prenotato, in particolare se si sta imbarcando a Tokyo o in un'altra stazione di origine dove tutti i posti saranno comunque aperti.

Prenotazione online

Esistono due servizi online che gli stranieri possono utilizzare per effettuare prenotazioni avanzate per molti treni JR in inglese.

L'App SmartEX consente di effettuare prenotazioni online per i treni proiettili Tokaido e San'yo Shinkansen (servizi tra Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima e Fukuoka) da dispositivi mobili. Dopo la registrazione e la fornitura di una carta di credito valida, è possibile acquistare i biglietti del treno per queste linee. I viaggiatori hanno la possibilità di ritirare i biglietti prenotati presso un distributore automatico prima dell'imbarco o di utilizzare una carta IC valida per entrare e uscire dal sistema Shinkansen. L'App SmartEx dà agli utenti uno sconto di 200 yen sui biglietti normali, con tariffe "Hayatoku" aggiuntive soggette a disponibilità. Le prenotazioni possono essere effettuate da un mese fino a quattro minuti prima dell'orario di partenza previsto del treno. Tuttavia, non è possibile effettuare prenotazioni se si dispone di un Japan Rail Pass. Non è inoltre possibile acquistare i biglietti per i treni Kyushu Shinkansen, che vanno da Fukuoka sud a Kumamoto e Kagoshima.

L'altro servizio online è il sito web JR East Train Reservation. Questo sito Web consente ai viaggiatori regolari e ai titolari di Rail Pass di prenotare i posti sui seguenti servizi:

  • Tutti i treni Shinkansen TRANNE i servizi Tokaido, San'yo e Kyushu Shinkansen
  • Principali treni JR East Limited Express da e per Tokyo, incluso il Narita Express
  • Tutti i treni JR Hokkaido Limited Express
  • Treni rapidi aeroportuali da e per l'aeroporto New Chitose a Sapporo

Le prenotazioni dei posti tramite il sito JR East possono essere effettuate da un mese fino a tre giorni prima della data di viaggio e il biglietto deve essere ritirato presso uno sportello del biglietto JR East in qualsiasi momento entro le 21:00 del giorno precedente la partenza. Inoltre, la tariffa base è noninclusa nel costo di prenotazione del posto, a meno che non si disponga di un pass ferroviario valido.

Se vi trovate a Tokyo, potete anche usufruire del Centro servizi di viaggio JR East per gli stranieri nelle stazioni di Tokyo, Shibuya, Shinjuku is Ikebukuro. Potete scambiare facilmente i pass ferroviari, acquistare biglietti o prenotare i posti con personale che parla più lingue.

Bagagli

Su tutti i treni rapidi e i servizi espressi limitati, è presente una rastrelliera dove possono essere riposti oggetti personali e piccoli bagagli. C'è anche una quantità limitata di spazio sul retro di ogni carrozza per alcune valigie di grandi dimensioni, anche se il trasporto di bagagli di grandi dimensioni è generalmente scoraggiato per lo spazio personale e le considerazioni sul comfort, sia per te che per gli altri passeggeri. In alternativa al trasporto di bagagli di grandi dimensioni sul treno, potreste voler consultare un servizio consegna bagagli, che in Giappone è un modo molto efficiente ed economico per trasportarli. Ad esempio, una valigia da 20 kg che misura non più di 140 cm in totale, tra larghezza e altezza costa circa ¥ 1700 da trasportare tra Tokyo e Kyoto sul Ta-Q-Bin di Yamato (宅急便 takkyūbin ) servizio con consegna il giorno successivo. Le consegne a lunga distanza (ad esempio Tokyo-Fukuoka) possono richiedere due giorni e un giorno in più deve essere aggiunto per le consegne ad un aeroporto. La maggior parte degli hotel e dei negozi di alimentari sarà in grado di prendere accordi e accettare il pagamento.

Un numero esiguo di treni di proiettili sta installando i portabagagli in risposta ai viaggi dei visitatori stranieri: la maggior parte dei treni Hokuriku Shinkansen che operano tra Tokyo e Toyama/Kanazawa hanno rastrelliere per bagagli installati in carrozze di classe pari standard e nelle carrozze verdi.

Le ferrovie private

I treni espressi limitati sulla ferrovia privata Keikyu competono con la JR nei viaggi tra Tokyo e Yokohama


Se l'opzione è presente, le ferrovie private sono spesso più economiche della JR per un viaggio equivalente. Tuttavia questo non è sempre il caso in quanto il passaggio da una rete all'altra generalmente aumenta il prezzo. La maggior parte delle ferrovie private sono collegate a catene di grandi magazzini con lo stesso nome (ad esempio Tokyu a Tokyo) e svolgono un lavoro eccellente nel colmare le lacune nei sobborghi delle principali città. Le ferrovie private possono interpretare le classi di servizio descritte sopra in modo diverso, con alcune che forniscono servizi espressi senza costi aggiuntivi.

Kobe, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, Sapporo, Sendai, Fukuoka, Tokyo is Yokohama hanno anche servizi di metropolitana (sotterranei). Per vedere le attrazioni di una città particolare molte offrono un pass giornaliero, spesso tra ¥ 500 e ¥ 1000 per un adulto. Tokyo ha diversi tipi di biglietti giornalieri che coprono alcune linee della metropolitana ma non altre. L'intero pass per la metropolitana di Tokyo (che non include la linea JR Yamanote) è ¥ 1000.

I servizi premium

Il treno ammiraglio Romancecar di Odakyu opera tra Tokyo e Hakone

Alcune ferrovie private gestiscono dei treni premium per i viaggi tra le grandi città e le destinazioni turistiche o per il tempo libero. Con gli esterni distintivi, questi treni di solito offrono posti a sedere comodi e riservati e fanno fermate limitate. Alcuni offrono servizi di cibo e bevande, tramite distributori automatici, vendita di posti nei vagoni a sedere o un caffè a bordo. Tutti questi servizi premium richiedono un sovrapprezzo sulla tariffa normale, come il tokkyu-ken per i treni JR.

Tali servizi premium includono Romancecar di Odakyu Railway da Shinjuku to Hakone, SPACIA di Tobu Railway e Revaty from Asakusa to Nikko is Kinugawa, is Red Arrow di Seibu da Ikebukuro to Chichibu e da Shinjuku to Kawagoe. Nel Giappone centrale, Kintetsu gestisce una miriade di servizi espressi limitati come Shimakaze, Urban Liner, Vista Car e altri servizi da Nagoya, Kyoto is Osaka verso destinazioni come Ise, Toba, Shima, Nara is Kashihara. In Kansai, la ferrovia Keihan opera con una Carrozza Premium sui loro treni pendolari più veloci che operano tra Kyoto e Osaka con posti riservati.

Un numero crescente di operatori come Odakyu, Tobu is Kintetsu ora offrono prenotazioni online per treni premium in inglese sui rispettivi siti web.

Le carrozze solo per donne

Adesivo in carrozze per sole donne sulla JR Chuo Line di Tokyo

Per fornire un senso di sicurezza e protezione per le passeggere, molte delle linee ferroviarie JR e private pendolari in Giappone riservano una carrozza per donne solo durante l'ora di punta del mattino e della sera. Queste carrozze sono identificate da speciali cartelli e adesivi sul treno e sulla piattaforma, che designano anche i tempi in cui le carrozze per sole donne sono in vigore. Inoltre, alcuni treni espressi limitati gestiti da JR West per e dalla regione del Kansai hanno riservati dei posti appositamente per donne e bambini. Troverete uomini seduti in posti "solo per donne", se lo richiesto di andare via dovranno farlo. Normalmente, il primo e l'ultimo vagone sono designati "solo donne" durante l'ora di punta del mattino.

Treni notturni

Il treno Sunrise Seto / Sunrise Izumo
Tappeti sui treni Sunrise, noti anche come "Nobinobi"

I treni notturni in Giappone, contenenti il prefisso shindai (寝 台) ma più comunemente noti come treni blu a causa del colore blu delle carrozze cuccetta, erano una volta un'icona di tutto il paese. Numerosi servizi si effettuavano regolarmente, portando i giapponesi in diverse parti del paese in modo tempestivo ed efficiente. In questi giorni, tuttavia, con l'invecchiamento delle attrezzature del treno e di altri modi di trasporto che diventano più semplici e a volte meno costosi (ad esempio treni Shinkansen e gli autobus notturni), i treni notturni sono stati gradualmente soppressi.

Oggi un solo tipo di treni notturni rimane in servizio quotidiano: il Sunrise Izumo and the Sunrise Seto. Questi servizi funzionano insieme tra Tokyo e Okayama. A Okayama le carrozze si dividono, con Sunrise Izumo che continua verso Kurashiki e Izumo, e Sunrise Seto in direzione sud verso Takamatsu sull'isola di Shikoku. Lo stesso vale al contrario, con i treni che si uniscono a Okayama prima di proseguire verso est fino a Tokyo.

Quando si utilizzano questi servizi, verranno pagate tariffe separate. There tariffa base and the supplemento express limitato sono entrambi basati sulla distanza, e la tariffa della cuccetta è fissata per l'intero viaggio. La tipologia va da spazi di moquette - dove letteralmente si dorme sul pavimento - a scompartimenti di letti a castello, a stanze private con doccia e toilette.

Il Japan Rail Pass coprirà solo la tariffa base. Se dormite in un letto a castello o in una stanza privata, dovrete pagare l'espresso limitato e le spese di sistemazione. D'altra parte, se si dorme nello spazio con tappeto, questo è considerato un "posto riservato" e non vi è alcun costo aggiuntivo per utilizzarlo.

Alcuni servizi aggiuntivi durante la notte vengono aggiunti durante i periodi di forte domanda, come la settimana d'oro, il capodanno e i mesi estivi. Tra questi c'è il popolare servizio Moonlight Nagara tra Tokyo e Ogaki (situato tra Nagoya e Kyoto). The Moonlight Nagara e alcuni altri servizi extra sono classificati come treni rapidi con posti a sedere regolari. In quanto tali, questi treni possono essere utilizzati con il biglietto Seishun 18 e tendono ad essere affollati quando presenti.

Ci sono alcuni inconvenienti nel viaggiare in treno durante la notte. Nella maggior parte dei casi non è possibile prenotare il treno fino all'arrivo in Giappone, a quel punto il treno potrebbe essere esaurito (a meno che un residente giapponese non acquisti i biglietti prima del proprio arrivo). Alcuni treni notturni sono inoltre soggetti a cancellazione il giorno della partenza se è previsto un tempo inclemente lungo il percorso.

L'alternativa al viaggio notturno in treno è viaggiare in autobus, ma se avete un Japan Rail Pass c'è un altro modo in cui potete viaggiare di notte, e può essere relativamente facile. La chiave è dividere il viaggio, fermarsi a una stazione intermedia verso la destinazione e riposare in un hotel vicino (e preferibilmente economico). Al mattino, prendere un altro treno verso la destinazione per completare il viaggio. Il Rail Pass coprirà il viaggio in treno: l'unica aggiunta è il pagamento della camera d'albergo. Se riuscite a trovare una sistemazione in una città più piccola, è molto probabile che pagherete di meno rispetto all'alloggio in città più grandi come Tokyo... per non parlare del letto, bagno e toilette. Gli hotel business del Toyoko Inn stanno spuntando in tutto il Giappone - molti dei quali vicino alle stazioni ferroviarie - e sono solo un esempio.

Se disponete di un po' di soldi in più, considerate l'invio di alcuni dei bagagli a destinazione utilizzando un servizio di consegna bagagli.

Treni deluxe

Negli ultimi anni, le varie compagnie ferroviarie giapponesi hanno annunciato nuovi treni notturni con alloggi deluxe. Il primo treno di questo tipo, il Seven Stars di Kyushu, è stato inaugurato nel 2013 da JR Kyushu, che ha coniato la frase Treno crociera per i suoi lunghi e vari itinerari. The Seven Stars di Kyushu opera in modo appropriato a Kyushu e contiene 14 suite deluxe, un salone e una carrozza ristorante.

Le tariffe partono da ¥ 210.000 per un viaggio di una notte e ¥ 480.000 per un viaggio di tre notti che include una notte in un ryokan (a persona, in camera doppia). Nonostante l'alto costo, il treno ha dimostrato di essere così popolare che il JR Kyushu è in possesso di una lotteria per determinare chi può ordinare i biglietti. Ad esempio, ci sono state oltre 6.800 richieste per le 210 suite disponibili per le corse dei treni tra ottobre 2015 e febbraio 2016. Le agenzie di viaggio hanno iniziato a vendere questi itinerari con un margine di profitto per coloro che perdono la lotteria.

A causa del successo del Seven Stars di Kyushu, altre compagnie ferroviarie stanno seguendo il loro percorso con i propri treni. JR East ha introdotto la Train Suite Shiki-shima per i viaggi da Tokyo a Tohoku is Hakodate nell'Hokkaido southern. The Twilight Express Mizukaze di JR West gestisce itinerari tra le regioni del Kansai he was born in Chugoku.

The Royal Express della ferrovia Izu-Kyuko effettua escursioni da Yokohama alla penisola di Izu.

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