Trains & Transportation

This section of our blog is dedicated to the public transportation in Japan, available for free to all Japan Rail Pass holders.

If you want to learn more about how to locate and take your trains from Tokyo or Kyoto stations; how to arrive in central Tokyo from Narita Airport, by taking the Narita Express (N’EX); how to ride the JR buses in the major cities or take the Miyajima ferry from Hiroshima, this section is for you.

You will also enjoy a number of comprehensive routes on how to arrive from one city to another; where to look for accurate online timetables; where and how to transfer between stations and more.

Shinkansen series guide: All Shinkansen train models

Japan’s high-speed Shinkansen services are the fastest and most convenient way to get around the country, and there have been a variety of types of bullet train series used on the lines since the first was inaugurated in 1964.

While some of the many types of bullet trains have been retired from use or upgraded to newer models as updated technology was developed, there are still a large number of different trains in operation on each Shinkansen line. This complete guide can help you identify the different types of Shinkansen models before you being your journey with your JR Pass.

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Shinkansen Safety: Protocols and measures against Covid-19

As more than 400 high-speed trains run across Japan on a busy day, approximately 1 service every 3 minutes, it’s understandable that ensuring Shinkansen safety measures is a major priority for operators.

In addition to a number of safety protocols to guard against accidents and natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, Japan Rail has also implemented a number of measures to protect Shinkansen passengers from the spread of COVID-19 during the global pandemic.

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Harajuku Station Guide: Map, lines and attractions

Harajuku Station is located in the Shibuya area of Tokyo, Japan. It derives its name from Harajuku, a fashion and shopping district that lies to the east of the station. Harajuku district has been called “the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles.” It draws youths not only from across Japan but from around the world.

Harajuku Station first opened in 1906 and the original structure offers a unique alpine facade. However, it has recently undergone renovations to include a state-of-the art new building. Today, it is the sixth-busiest station operated by JR East.

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The Tohoku Shinkansen line: Travel guide

Japan is famous for its high-speed bullet trains. The fastest of these is the Hayabusa Shinkansen, which can be found on the Tohoku Shinkansen line in Honshu. An interesting feature of several Tohoku Shinkansen trains is that they offer only reserved seating.

This is rare among the shinkansen, so if you wish to travel on this line, be sure to make your reservations early! Green cars and Gran Class cars are available on most trains, as are standing tickets when all seats are booked. Continue reading “%s”

The Shonan-Shinjuku line: From Tokyo to Yokohama and Kamakura

The Shonan-Shinjuku line, inaugurated in December 2001, is a Japanese passenger train service operated by JR East that connects multiple destinations in the Kanto region of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, with the capital city of Tokyo.

Services on the Shonan-Shinjuku line run along sections shared by the Ryōmō Line, Takasaki Line, Utsunomiya Line, Yamanote Line, Yokosuka Line, and the Tōkaidō Main Line, and most can be freely used with the JR Pass. Although the line has no dedicated track of its own, it is treated as a separate service on railway maps and station information boards.

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