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.
The Shinkansen network of high-speed bullet trains in Japan has a great safety record, thanks in large part to Doctor Yellow, the Shinkansen test train.
The Doctor Yellow Shinkansen is so named because it literally diagnoses any problems with the track and overhead wires as it speeds along, and is painted yellow instead of the regular white to make the trains more visible at night.
Rail travel serves as a primary means of transportation in Japan. The Yokosuka Line, for example, spans 73 kilometers or 45 miles, originating in central Tokyo. International travelers can purchase a Japan Rail Pass, which provides quick and easy access to these efficient trains.
The Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa is considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. Once the outer garden around the castle of a ruling family, Kenrokuen has been open to and enjoyed by the public since 1871.
Thanks to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, an extension of the Nagano Shinkansen Line that began operating in 2015, it is possible to cover the journey from Tokyo to Kanazawa. Now you can reach this and other attractions in Kanazawa- such as the Ninjadera Temple, the 21st Century Museum, the Oyama Shrine, the Omicho Market, or the Nagamachi samurai district – in record time. Consider the following information when making your plans for using the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Kobe is a major port city in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe’s Sannomiya district is one of the city’s business and entertainment hubs. Together with the nearby Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae and Kobe-Sannomiya Stations, the JR Sannomiya Station represents Kobe’s transportation center.
Join some of your favorite animated characters as you board the new Pixar bullet train in Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island.
The Go! Waku Waku Adventure with Pixar project marks the 25th anniversary of Toy Story, the family classic that introduced us to Woody, Mr. Potato Head, and of course Buzz Lightyear.
The large city of Tokyo is divided into a number of special wards or municipalities. Tokyo’s Shibuya ward is home to the neighborhood of Ebisu, which contains a JR East railway station of the same name.
