Japan is a rustic greatest seen by practice. The size and attain of the rail community, the price of journey, and the unbelievable number of choices make it probably the greatest locations on the earth to experience the rails. From the mighty pace of bullet trains, to the quaint allure of rural routes, you don’t must be a Francis Bourgeois-level practice fanatic (iykyk) to understand its attract. So, whether or not you’re on the lookout for a full itinerary of train-based journey or simply the best, most eco-friendly option to get from metropolis to metropolis, right here’s the whole lot that you must find out about travelling Japan by practice.
Navigating the Japan practice system
The Japanese love their trains. It’s their most important mode of transport, with 46 of the 50 busiest practice stations on the earth positioned in Japan. And so it’s no shock that the rail community extends to just about each nook of the nation.
There are three most important kinds of practice system in Japan. First, there’s the nationwide community connecting main cities and areas throughout the complete nation. The vast majority of this community is operated by six unbiased practice firms, identified collectively because the Japanese Railways Group (JR Group).
Second, you could have internal metropolis practice techniques and subways to get you throughout, over, and beneath Japan’s sprawling city jungles. And at last, there are privately owned regional practice techniques providing the whole lot from categorical providers to sightseeing excursions, luxurious journey to completely decked-out theme carriages. An absolute should for any practice lover.
Discover Japan by practice on: Journeys: Iconic Japan
Shinkansen: the quickest practice in Japan
No journey throughout Japan by practice can be full with out a experience on Shinkansen – the well-known bullet trains. Initially constructed to gasoline financial progress by connecting Tokyo with distant areas, the Shinkansen community is now the spine of practice journey in Japan. And with the newest fashions reaching speeds of as much as 360km (223 mi) per hour, you’ll be at your subsequent vacation spot very quickly.
Nevertheless it’s not simply pace this stuff are constructed for. Onboard you’ll discover a luxurious house that’s quiet, calm, and comfy. Even in commonplace class there are cozy seats, loads of room, and wonderful cleanliness requirements, whereas Inexperienced Class provides an additional degree of luxurious with extra legroom and bigger, reclining seats.
However for an actual experience in fashion? Look no additional than Gran Class. Not obtainable on each practice, Gran Class has simply six rows of seats in the complete carriage, with three seats in every row. And with lavish decor, the newest built-in tech, and an attendant bringing you recent food and drinks on the contact of a button, it’s an expertise you received’t wish to finish.
Trip the bullet practice on: Uncover Japan
How a lot does a practice experience price in Japan?
In fact, a Gran Class ticket on the bullet isn’t going to be low-cost — a three-hour journey from Tokyo to Aomori Metropolis will set you again round ¥29,000, or US$195. However that’s for the perfect of the perfect. On different routes and in different courses, practice journey is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced methods to get round Japan.
The price of a practice experience depends upon the place you’re going, how far you’re travelling, and what kind of practice you’re taking. For a brief journey of some stops on a single line, for instance, you may solely pay ¥100 (lower than a greenback), and costs go up from there. Bullet trains are definitely the costliest, however these can nonetheless be cheaper than flying or driving. And for a fair cheaper possibility, Restricted Specific trains take a little bit longer however vary between ¥500 (US$3.30) and ¥4000 (US$27).
Relating to shopping for tickets, you could have a couple of choices. For shorter journeys you need to use machines and ticket places of work within the stations, however seize a pay as you go journey card in the event you’re making a number of quick journeys. Referred to as an IC, this rechargeable card permits you to journey on subways and native trains throughout the nation. However in the event you’ve obtained a full itinerary of practice journey deliberate, the Japan Rail Go is an absolute should.
The Japan Rail Go
Should you’re planning to completely embrace the railroad expertise, the Japan Rail Go is your golden ticket. This useful little cross will get you limitless journey on round 80% of Japan’s practice community, together with bullet trains, plus plenty of buses and even ferries. It’s a no brainer for travellers who’ve obtained a bit extra time to completely discover the nation, because the financial savings can actually add up.
Helpfully, there are three completely different Japan Rail Go choices to select from: the seven-day, 14-day, and 21-day cross. The preliminary price could appear so much (round US$335 for the 7-day, US$540 for the 14-day, and US$675 for the 21-day) however when you think about a one-way bullet practice ticket from Tokyo to Kyoto prices round USD$90, the financial savings are apparent.
The secret is selecting the best cross in your journey, and shopping for it on the proper time. You don’t wish to purchase a 14-day cross in your two-week journey in the event you’re solely going to be travelling each few days. A greater possibility can be to purchase a seven-day cross for the center of your keep, and maximize its worth with plenty of journeys in that point. So check out your itinerary first and decide the best time to take pleasure in all of the freedoms that this useful little ticket brings you.
Go the planning to us on: Epic Japan: Pace Trains & Avenue Meals
Which Japan practice routes are greatest for you?
Nevertheless you snag practice tickets, there are not any scarcity of routes to check out all around the nation. Selecting the greatest time to go to Japan depends upon what you’re after, however these are some in style routes to swimsuit each kind of traveller.
Get off the overwhelmed monitor on the Tadami Line
Stretching for 135km (84 miles) by the Aizu area, the Tadami Line is without doubt one of the most beautiful in the complete nation. Just about each journey on this line provides unbelievable views for passengers, whether or not it’s crossing bridges excessive above rivers, traversing cliff edges, or reducing by rolling hills and huge inexperienced fields.
The whole line takes about 4 hours from begin to finish, so that you won’t have time to see the entire thing. However strive hopping on and off the common trains at completely different cities and villages, and also you’ll uncover a distinctive facet of Japan that many vacationers don’t get to see.
Trip to extra hidden gems on: Again Roads of Japan
Take the Nara Specific to bowing deer
Round a 45-minute journey from Kyoto to the historic metropolis of Nara, the Nara Specific provides the right day journey to see a few of the oldest temples within the nation. As soon as the capital of Japan, Nara is steeped in historical past and boasts a shocking assortment of Japanese gardens, Buddhist temples, and fairly parks.
Most of the most important sights are within the metropolis centre, in and round Nara Park, which can be residence to the world-famous Cherry Blossom Timber and free-roaming deer. For a few of the bigger temples you’ll must journey out of the town a little bit — however there are many low-cost buses and trains to get you there.
Day journey to Nara deer on: Journeys: Iconic Japan
Metropolis hop on the Tokaido Shinkansen
Should you’re hoping to go to a couple of metropolis in Japan, the probabilities are you’ll use the Tokaido Shinkansen. This bullet practice route connects Tokyo and Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kyoto, and is the most-used bullet practice in the entire nation.
It’s arduous to imagine this railway first opened again in 1964, when it turned the world’s first high-speed rail line. Greater than 60 years later it’s nonetheless some of the cutting-edge railways on the earth, delivering speeds of as much as 285km (177 miles) per hour with departures each couple of minutes.
Make tracks from Tokyo to Kyoto on: Journeys: Iconic Japan
Foster solo journey vibes to Fukui
For individuals who wish to go it considerably alone, you possibly can journey at breakneck speeds on an ultramodern bullet practice to land within the quiet solitude of rural Fukui. Go to the Eiheiji Temple tucked deep within the mountains for some strong ‘me time’ and in a single day at a ryokan keep.
At this conventional Japanese inn, you possibly can mattress down on tatami mats, sit quietly with different solo travellers, and take an extended sizzling soak in a rejuvenating onsen. Did we point out you can even watch steel-smiths wield historical knives at Takefu Knife Village? It’s peaceable, we swear!
Befriend fellow solo travellers on: Solo-ish Japan
Go metropolis to sea on the Tosa Kuroshio railway
If you end up within the metropolis of Kochi, on Shikoku Island in southern Japan, a experience on the Tosa Kuroshio line is an absolute should. Boasting modern new trains and low-cost travelcards on weekends, it’s an effective way to get out of the town and again to nature.
And what nature it’s. From the crystal-clear waters of the Shimanto River, to the serenity of Irino Seashore in Kuroshio City, you’re spoilt for alternative on this little-known railway. And keep in mind to maintain a watch out for a daruma sundown — an optical phantasm the place the solar seems to set above the horizon. This lovely phenomenon solely occurs in particular climate situations, and the Kochi area is without doubt one of the few locations to see it.
Bullet to extra coastal bliss on: Kyoto, Tokyo & the Michinoku Coastal Path
Journey again in time on the Himi Line
Trundling by countryside within the Chubu area you’ll discover the Himi Line, a cute little 16.5km (10.3 mi) railway with simply eight stations, and numerous unbelievable views. After winding by the countryside on the one- or two-carriage trains, the Sea of Japan instantly comes into view to point out you what makes this route so distinctive.
Each practice on this line is sort of a step again in time, however for a very distinctive journey go to on a Sunday for a experience on the Belles Montagnes et Mer – a fantastically completed one-car practice with inexperienced velvet seats dealing with out to the panorama, providing you with a front-row seat to spectacular views.
Uncover the outdated and new on: Japan Household Journey: From Historic to Fashionable Occasions
Mountain climb on the Hakone Tozan Railway
One of many few mountain railways in Japan, the Hakone Tozan Railway within the Kanagawa area takes passengers on a shocking journey by the ever-changing panorama of Fuji-Hakone-Izu Nationwide Park. It may well typically really feel such as you journey by all 4 seasons in a single journey, because the practice zigzags up the steep mountain.
And for one thing really particular, attempt to go to in June when hydrangeas are in full bloom alongside the monitor – giving the Hakone Tozan Railway the affectionate ‘hydrangea practice’ nickname.
