❓ FAQ — Japan train search

It is Japan's high-speed rail system, with speeds of 200-320 km/h. There are 7 lines covering 4 main islands. Differences from regular trains: dedicated tracks, separate Shinkansen platforms within each major station, and no stops at small stations.

Nozomi/Mizuho/Hayabusa: 285-320 km/h. Hikari/Sakura: 285 km/h. Kodama/Nasuno: 270 km/h. The fastest in operation worldwide: Hayabusa at 320 km/h on the Tohoku line.

Nozomi/Mizuho: RESERVATION IS MANDATORY. Hayabusa/Kagayaki/Komachi: RESERVATION IS MANDATORY. Hikari/Sakura/Kodama: have Unreserved seats, no reservation needed, but it's recommended during peak season.

Yes — "Shinkansen Free Wi-Fi" is completely free. Connect via SSID "Shinkansen_Free_Wi-Fi", open your browser and accept the T&C. Limited to 30 minutes per session, but you can reconnect. Speed is 10-20 Mbps — enough for email, not enough for HD video.

For suitcases with total dimensions of 160-250cm: reserve an "oversized luggage seat" when purchasing your ticket (free, mandatory). For under 160cm: you can bring it freely, place it on the overhead rack or in the luggage space behind the last row of seats. This applies to Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu lines.

0-5 years old: free if sitting on a parent's lap (not occupying a seat). 6-11 years old: child ticket = 50% of adult fare. 12+ years old: adult fare. Children still need to purchase a Reserved Seat if chosen — if they occupy a seat, payment is required.

All run on the Tokaido/Sanyo lines, on the same route but with different numbers of stops: Nozomi stops at ~6 stations (Tokyo-Osaka 2h30). Hikari stops at 8-10 stations (2h50-3h). Kodama stops at ALL stations (4h). JR Pass: Nozomi NO, Hikari/Kodama OK.

Yes — each car or every two cars have them. Western-style toilets (available) + Japanese-style toilets (a few). Handwashing facilities are available, some with washlets (bidet function). They are clean. Cars 3 and 7 are often "non-toilet" cars on the Tokaido line.

An unlimited pass for all JR trains (excluding Nozomi/Mizuho Shinkansen) for 7, 14, or 21 consecutive days. It is only sold to short-term visa tourists (not issued to residents). Convenient for long-distance multi-leg journeys.

7 days: ¥50,000. 14 days: ¥80,000. 21 days: ¥100,000 (prices from Oct 2023). Children aged 6-11: 50%. Buying outside Japan in advance is about 5% cheaper than buying in Japan.

Online: JRailPass.com, Agoda — receive an Exchange Order via postal mail or email. In Japan (from 2023): directly at JR counters in Narita, Haneda, Tokyo, Shin-Osaka, Kansai. Buying in Japan is 5-10% more expensive.

NO. JR Pass (nationwide and regional) does not cover Nozomi/Mizuho. If you board Nozomi: you must pay the base fare + express fare (almost equivalent to a regular ticket). Solution: take Hikari/Kodama (30-60 minutes slower).

Formula: total price of individual Shinkansen tickets > Pass price = worth it. Tokyo-Kyoto round trip is ¥26,640, still short ~¥23,000 to break even with a 7-day Pass. Worth it when: 3+ long Shinkansen legs (e.g., Tokyo-Kyoto-Hiroshima-Fukuoka). Not worth it: only staying in Tokyo or one city.

6-11 years old: 50% of adult price (¥25,000/7-day). 0-5 years old: free if sitting on a parent's lap. Age is calculated based on the PASS START DATE — if their 12th birthday is before that date, they are charged adult price.

Regional passes are only valid within one region (JR East, JR West, JR Kyushu…). They are 50-80% cheaper. Examples: JR East Tohoku Pass 5 days ¥20,000 (Tokyo+Tohoku), JR West Kansai 4 days ¥9,200. If your trip is only within one region — a regional pass is more economical.

Go to a Midori-no-madoguchi counter at a major JR station. Present your Exchange Order + passport (with short-term visit stamp). Choose your start date (can be up to one month in advance). The staff will print your personalized pass with your name. The pass counts continuously from the activation date — it cannot be paused.

YES — but only JR Buses (some local routes, not highway buses). Specifically: JR Bus Tohoku in the Sendai area, JR Bus Kanto around Tokyo, JR Bus Chugoku, and Kyushu. Private highway buses (Willer, Kosoku) CANNOT be used. Check for signs with 'JR' before boarding.

YES — JR-West Miyajima Ferry (from Hiroshima to Miyajima Island to see the floating Itsukushima Shrine). This is the only ferry covered by JR Pass. Other ferries (Sado, Oki, Aomori-Hakodate) belong to private companies — they cannot be used.

It WILL NOT be reissued — you must purchase a new one at full price. The pass is a paper document with your name on it, and it does not include insurance or protection. Tip: Take photos of your pass from day one (front + back with serial number), keep it separate from your wallet and passport. When going to the beach/onsen: leave it at the hotel.

YES — Narita Express (N'EX) is a JR East train, and JR Pass covers 100% (including Reserved Seat). Make reservations for free at the Midori-no-Madoguchi (Green Window) counter. From Narita Airport to Tokyo Station takes 53 minutes (normally ¥3,070). This is one of the biggest values of the JR Pass.

Yes — Exchange Orders purchased online must be exchanged within 3 MONTHS from the date of issue. If not exchanged after 3 months = money lost (no refund). After exchanging for the pass: you can choose a start date within the next 30 days. After purchasing online, travel to Japan within 3 months, don't hoard them.

NO. JR Pass is only sold to 'Temporary Visitor' visa holders (短期滞在, tourist ≤90 days). International students with a 'Student' or 'Working Holiday' visa — are not eligible. Solutions: use Seishun 18 Kippu (¥12,050 for 5 days of local train travel, sold in summer/winter/spring), or an IC card + individual tickets.

NO — JR Pass does not have group discounts. Each person must purchase separately at the listed price. The only way for a group to save money: each person buys it abroad (5% cheaper) or consider a regional pass if only traveling in one area (50-80% cheaper).

Suica: issued by JR East, green color, popular in Tokyo + Tohoku. Pasmo: private company in Tokyo, pink color. Functionally they are 100% identical — usable on all trains, buses, and convenience stores throughout Japan. It doesn't matter which one you choose.

Ticket vending machines at JR stations with an IC logo (most major stations in Tokyo/Osaka). Select "Suica/ICOCA" → enter a value of ¥1,000-¥10,000 (¥500 deposit + the rest loaded onto the card). Welcome Suica: tourist counters at Narita/Haneda, no deposit but expires in 28 days.

Ticket vending machines (charge function): place the card, insert cash or use a credit card. Combini (7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson): hand the card + cash to the staff. Maximum balance of ¥20,000 per card. Apple Pay Suica: top up from a credit card anytime.

Yes. Suica/Pasmo (Tokyo) and ICOCA (Osaka/Kyoto) have been 100% compatible since 2013. One card can be used for: JR trains + private railways + metro + bus + combini + vending machines across Japan (98% coverage).

Yes, if you have an iPhone 7+ (Japan model) or iPhone 8+ (international model). Open Wallet → +Card → Transit Card → Suica → top up with a credit card. Tap your iPhone at the gate reader — faster than a physical card. No need to buy a physical card.

Regular Suica/Pasmo/ICOCA: do not expire if used within 10 years. Welcome Suica/Pasmo Passport: EXPIRES 28 days after the first use — cannot be extended. You can transfer the Welcome Suica balance to a regular Suica at a Midori counter (¥220 fee).

Tokyo Metro: 9 lines (Ginza, Marunouchi, Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku, Fukutoshin). Toei Subway: 4 lines (Asakusa, Mita, Shinjuku, Oedo). Total 13 Tokyo subway lines. Plus JR Yamanote + private railways (Tokyu, Keio, Odakyu) make Tokyo have 40+ train lines.

Tokyo Metro 24-hour Ticket: ¥600 (¥300 for children) — covers only 9 Tokyo Metro lines. Tokyo Subway Ticket (for tourists, sold at airports/hotels): ¥800/24h, ¥1,200/48h, ¥1,500/72h — covers both Metro + Toei Subway (13 lines).

Shinjuku — the busiest in the world with ~3.5 million passengers/day. 200+ exits, 35+ platforms, combining JR + Odakyu + Keio + Metro + Toei + Tokyu lines. If it's your first time: be prepared for crowds, walk slowly, and follow the color-coded signs for each line.

Most lines: 00:00-00:30. Yamanote Line: Shinjuku-Ikebukuro runs until 01:00 on weekends. After the last train: take a taxi or walk. There are no night trains in Tokyo (except for long-distance Sunrise Seto/Izumo).

05:00-05:30 for most lines. Narita Express's earliest departure is 05:46 (from Tokyo Station). For early flights: take a taxi or stay overnight near the airport (Haneda has hotels within the terminal).

Transferring between JR↔JR: no new ticket needed (unless you exit through a gate). JR↔Metro/Toei/private lines: you MUST buy a new ticket. Most convenient: use an IC card — it automatically deducts the correct fare for each segment, no calculations needed.

4 sources: 1) Automatic ticket vending machines (with English option) — common. 2) Midori-no-madoguchi (JR green ticket office) — for Shinkansen, reservations. 3) SmartEX app/JR East app — online. 4) Combini (7-Eleven) — for some special tickets.

Yes. SmartEX: Tokaido/Sanyo/Kyushu Shinkansen — pay with international credit cards, pick up tickets at machines. JR East app: JR East lines. JR West online: Sanyo + Kansai. JRailPass.com/Agoda: sells JR Pass, some specific routes.

Ticket vending machines: cash (¥1,000-¥10,000 notes), ICOCA/Suica, credit card (Visa/Master/JCB on some machines). Midori-no-madoguchi counters: all of the above + foreign currency USD/EUR at some counters. Online apps: international credit cards.

1) **Google Maps**: Most popular, in English. 2) **Jorudan**: Most detailed — departure times, platforms, prices. 3) **HyperDia**: Old but accurate. 4) **Japan Transit Planner** (Navitime): Beautiful UI, multilingual. We recommend Jorudan for complex trips.

0-5 years old: Free if not occupying a seat. 6-11 years old: 50% of adult fare (rounded up to ¥10). Reserved Seat: Still full child price if occupying a seat. JR Pass: ¥25,000 for a 7-day child pass.

Not automatically — you need to know the specific package name. Examples: Tokaido Shinkansen "Hikari Early Bird" (purchase 21 days in advance, -30%) — requires SmartEX. Platt Kodama (Kodama only, -20%) — JTB only for Tokaido. JR East Off-peak ticket: 20% discount during off-peak hours. Normally: one-way ticket x2 = round-trip ticket, no discount.

Shinkansen + Limited Express: YES (eat bento, drink beer, coffee). Large stations sell "ekiben" specialties — it's a tradition to buy ekiben and eat it on the Shinkansen. Metro + local trains: NO — an unwritten rule. Night trains: OK.

NO on all Japanese trains. Silent mode (manner mode) is mandatory. If you need to talk: step out of the car into the vestibule between cars. Shinkansen has dedicated "phone booths" — use those.

Overhead rack: small carry-on bags. Behind the last row of seats (luggage space): large suitcases. Between your feet: if you can't fit it anywhere else. Shinkansen has "oversized luggage seats" at the back row — must be reserved in advance, free of charge.

New Shinkansen (N700S, E7, H5): ALL seats have Type A outlets. Older Shinkansen: only Green Car and some window seats. New Limited Express trains: usually have them. Metro/local trains: rare — bring a portable charger.

Shinkansen: every 2 cars. Limited Express: every car or every 2 cars. Metro/Subway: NO — make sure to go before boarding. JR long-distance trains: yes. Before boarding, you need to know which cars have toilets — check the platform signs.

It's a car exclusively for women, operating during peak hours (usually 07:30-09:30). It's labeled "Women Only" (女性専用車, josei senyō-sha) and is pink. Its purpose is to protect women from harassment in crowded conditions. Boys under 12 years old are allowed. Men who enter must apologize and exit.