Japan by Rail

Japan’s railways are amongst the best in the world with cutting-edge technology, incredible punctuality and an excellent safety record. Providing access to all major tourist destinations, train travel is the ideal way to explore this fascinating country.

Ranging from leisurely futsu local stopping services to world-renowned speedy shinkansen bullet trains, all are immaculate, comfortable and modern. With signs and announcements in English as well as Japanese, most visitors find even the busiest stations surprisingly easy to navigate.

Point to Point Trains - We recommend point to point trains (with pre-booked seat reservations) rather than a JR Pass. Booking point to point trains represents a more cost effective option on your chosen route. Alternatively, it may be because you are travelling during peak seasons when seat availability is likely to be extremely limited and seat reservations may not be possible upon activation of a JR pass. Whilst this does mean a loss of flexibility in your plans, we find most of our clients prefer the reassurance of having a guaranteed reservation on the train services they require.

Green Car - Green Car is the equivalent of travelling First Class on the UK's train network. Green Car carriages are available on most long distance trains and seats are configured in a 2x2 formation (compared to 3x2 in Ordinary Class). The seats recline, are larger and offer plenty of leg room. The uncrowded carriages are usually more peaceful, and snacks are provided by the dedicated crew. Green Car JR passes are also available, and these are a good option if you are travelling during peak seasons as seat availability in these carriages is rarely an issue.