I love trains. I’ve been on some ridiculous journeys from Vietnam to China and all the way to London, but riding the train in Japan is a different beast altogether. This is the sort of place where the obsession with railways has reached near-religious levels. Every timetable, every platform, every line is meticulously thought out, and yet somehow it all works. Trains arrive on time to the second, the stations are spotless, and even the chaos of rush hour in Tokyo feels choreographed.
But just because it’s perfect doesn’t mean it’s simple. Japan has layers of trains: shinkansen, local lines, private railways, express services, overnight sleepers, and even heritage steam trains in rural corners. Each type comes with its own quirks, rules, and ticketing nightmares.
There’s nothing quite like figuring out that you need a reservation for one leg of your journey, but not for another, or that one line is operated by JR and the other by a private company that won’t accept your rail pass. Actually it can be fecking annoying. This is the definitive guide to taking the train in Japan, whether you’re a hardcore rail nerd or just someone who likes moving fast.
A Quick History trains in Japan!
Japan’s rail obsession didn’t start yesterday. The first train line opened in 1872, connecting Shimbashi in Tokyo with Yokohama—a mere 29 kilometres powered by steam. It was clunky, slow, and probably smelled terrible, but it planted the seeds for the near-maniacal devotion to rails we see today. By the early 20th century, lines were expanding to Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagoya, connecting cities, towns, factories, and ports. Steam gave way to electric trains, local lines were stitched into the landscape, and stations became bustling hubs of commerce and gossip.
After World War Two, Japan rebuilt its rail network at a pace that would make most countries blush. Freight and commuter lines were essential for economic recovery. Then came 1964, and the shinkansen.
The bullet train. The very concept of high-speed rail. Tokyo to Osaka in record time, smooth as silk, punctual, and, frankly, a little terrifying the first time you hit 300 kilometres per hour. Over the decades, shinkansen lines sprawled to Hokkaido, Kyushu, and even remote mountain valleys. Private railways carved out their own niches, offering everything from slow scenic lines to cutthroat competition with JR’s main routes.
Today, Japan’s rail network is ridiculously efficient, expansive, and impossible to fully grasp in a single trip. Trains run like clockwork, stations are spotless, and almost every conceivable corner of the country is reachable. Yet the history hasn’t vanished with older trains, vintage stations, and even steam lines remain as a reminder that this is a country that obsesses over both precision and nostalgia.
Types of Trains You’ll Actually Take
When talking about the train in Japan, it helps to know what you’re actually stepping onto. There are basically five categories, and each one is an experience in itself:
1. Local Linestrave
These are slow, often older, and they stop everywhere. If you want to see countryside, rice fields, sleepy villages, and random tiny stations with no English signage, this is your jam. Some are diesel-powered. Some are electric. Some are straight-up heritage lines with steam engines running on weekends for tourists. Don’t underestimate them—they’re a window into the Japan you don’t see in guidebooks.
2. Express Lines
Skip the tiny stops. Faster than local trains but not quite shinkansen. Perfect for regional travel. Comfortable seats, fewer people, and a touch of speed without feeling like you’re being shot out of a cannon.
3. Shinkansen
The headline act. The bullet trains. Smooth, fast, and terrifyingly punctual. You’ll pay more, but it’s worth it. Seats are reserved, there are green cars (business class), and some routes even have Gran Class, which is basically first-class airline luxury on rails, complete with food service and near-reclining armchairs.
4. Sleeper Trains
For the truly obsessive or those who like traveling overnight in style. Private compartments, couchettes, and sometimes even showers. Booking ahead is essential unless you fancy spending the night standing in the hallway.
5. Private Railways
These operate outside JR, often around Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. They sometimes compete with JR for speed or scenic routes and have their own ticketing quirks. You’ll probably take a mix of private and JR lines if you’re exploring densely populated regions.
Class, Comfort, and Confusion
Not all seats are created equal. On shinkansen, you have:
- Ordinary Cars: Clean, comfortable, perfectly fine for most travelers.
- Green Cars: Quieter, wider seats, extra legroom, better lighting. A step above ordinary, often worth the extra 1000–2000 yen.
- Gran Class: Utter luxury. Reclining seats, food service, dedicated attendants. You feel a bit like James Bond traveling to Kyoto.
Sleeper trains come with private rooms or couchettes. If you’re considering overnight travel, book early. Some trains allow standing passengers in crowded sections, but these are rare on high-speed routes. Your ticket type defines comfort, cost, and your overall experience.
Etiquette You Need to Actually Follow
Japanese train etiquette isn’t a suggestion. It’s religion.
- Wait for people to get off before boarding.
- Line up neatly. No shoving.
- Phones on silent. Talking subdued. Yes, people can actually hear the train glide along the tracks.
- Luggage stowed cleanly. Never block aisles.
- Eating restricted to certain areas. Trash taken with you or disposed properly.
Ignore these, and you’ll stand out immediately. Follow them, and traveling the train in Japan is a calm, Zen-like pleasure. Compared to other countries, it’s a dream.
Click to read about taking the train in Vietnam.
The Routes You’ll Brag About
While nothing in Japan quite rivals the Trans-Siberian in length, the country has a ridiculous number of epic journeys worth bragging about.
Tōkaidō Shinkansen (Tokyo to Osaka)
The classic. 2.5 hours, roughly 120 USD. Fast, efficient, smooth, and perfect for combining cities and sightseeing.
Sanyō Shinkansen (Osaka to Fukuoka)
Three hours, about 130 USD. Western Honshu speed with urban scenery. Link it with Kyushu if you’re feeling adventurous.
Hokkaidō Shinkansen (Tokyo to Hakodate)
Four hours, around 150 USD. Mountains, coastline, and epic northern vistas.
Kyushu Seven Stars (Luxury train, Fukuoka to Kagoshima)
Two-day extravaganza, roughly 1,200 USD. Private cabins, meals, and curated stops. Basically Japan’s Orient Express.
Hakone Tozan Railway (Odawara to Hakone)
90 minutes, about 10 USD. Tiny, twisting, scenic, particularly epic in autumn. Think old-school funicular meets theme park.
Oigawa Steam Line (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Aged steam engine, rural vistas, and no one speaking English. Pure, unfiltered nostalgia.
These routes show the breadth of Japan’s train obsession, from cutting-edge speed demons to retro, slow-motion mountain journeys.
Click to read about taking the train in Thailand.
Tickets, Passes, and The JR Rail Pass
If you’re foreign, the JR Rail Pass is life. Buy it before you get here from authorized resellers. Prices roughly 250 USD for seven days, 400 USD for fourteen. Activate at any major JR station. Covers most JR lines, shinkansen (some require seat reservations), regional trains, and local lines. Not valid on private railways, so plan accordingly.
Without the pass, tickets are region-based, with differences between express and local. Reservations recommended for shinkansen, some local trains, and overnight routes. Standing tickets exist, but only when really crowded.
Weird Little Things You Notice on Japanese Trains
- Trains can be nearly empty in the middle of the day. Then 7:30 a.m. rush hour in Tokyo and it’s like being in a sardine tin.
- Platform attendants will literally wave you into the correct carriage. Yes, actual waving.
- Some stations have stores and bakeries inside them. It’s not just a platform; it’s a tiny city.
- Trains sometimes have women-only cars during peak hours. Don’t mess with it.
Little things like this make every journey memorable, and also very Japanese. You can spend a lifetime riding the train in Japan and never see everything, which is kind of the point.
Click to read about taking the train in Cambodia
Final Thoughts: Why Trains in Japan Are Actually Fun
I’ve been on trains in a LOT of countries, but Japan takes it to another level. You get speed, efficiency, variety, history, and yes, a little obsession. From bullet trains to nostalgic steam lines, from luxury compartments to local dives, taking the train in Japan is endlessly entertaining.
Do it yourself or do it with a tour ideally with me and Young Pioneer Tours. And despite the faux pas grab a bottle of sake, plug in your gadgets and watch the extremes of Japan from the comforty of your high-speed window.
Click to check my Japan Tours with Young Pioneer Tours.