Japanese Rail

Join the 9 billion Japanese that travel by rail each year

In Japan, railroads are the primary mode of passenger transportation, and they have been ever since the first passenger steam locomotives debuted in Japan during the Meiji Restoration in 1872.

There is 30,625 km of rail lines all over Japan and they carry more than 9 billion passengers per year. Due to the country’s extensive use of its rail system, 46 of the top 50 busiest stations in the world are located in Japan

The railway system in Japan is so well developed, punctual, extensive and diverse that you can simply assume that wherever you plan to go – there is a train that will take you there.

The very first thing to know is that railway lines in Japan are not operated by a single company. Japanese National Railways, a government-owned company, used to be in charge of the entire rail network in Japan as well as everything associated with it.

However, In 1987, the JNR underwent privatization and was split into six independent rail companies:

Shinkansen

Fast & Convenient

Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan. The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This allows you to get to wherever you need in little time.

The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.

With our Seven Day Japan Rail Pass we traveled in the Green Cars. Kanazawa to Kyoto, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka to Kyoto. Kyoto to Hiroshima return and Kyoto to Tokyo

The fastest trains with few stops are Nozomi and Mizuho. Hikari, Kodama, and Sakura bullet trains offer the same standard of travel but stop at more stations.

It is a great experience, standing on the platform of Kyoto Station waiting for train to arrive, meanwhile seven Shinkansen trains will arrive and depart in less than 20 minutes,

Thunderbird Train

Kanazawa to Kyoto 130km per hour

The Thunderbird train routes include from Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa and from Osaka and Kyoto to Wakura Onsen, providing access to a number of popular onsen, or hot spring

City Trains

It is so easy to make use of the underground and local trains using Google Maps

Get in Touch

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