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.
JR East has announced that it will introduce driverless Shinkansen in Japan by the mid-2030s. JR Tokai could launch self-driving bullet trains even earlier, by 2028.
As part of its Change 2027 program, JR East previously conducted a series of driverless Shinkansen test runs in late 2021, using a 12-car E7-series bullet train. JR East allocated an estimated budget of 200 million yen for the trials.
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 Hokuriku Shinkansen line is an extension of the Nagano Shinkansen line. Since 2015, it has offered a quick and easy way to travel from Tokyo to Kanazawa.
You can use your JR Pass on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to visit Kanazawa’s top attractions, including the Kenrokuen Garden, Ninjadera Temple, Oyama Shrine, Omicho Market, and the Nagamachi samurai district.
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.
If you were in Kyushu, Japan’s southernmost island, in 2020, you had the chance to see a special commorative Pixar bullet train!
The Go! Waku Waku Adventure with Pixar project marked the 25th anniversary of Toy Story, the family classic that introduced us to Woody, Mr. Potato Head, and of course Buzz Lightyear.
