Train Travel Guide in Japan

10:11 PM


The extensive railway in Japan makes traveling around very accessible. It can be daunting at first look with number of train lines in cities like Osaka and Tokyo.

Here's some tips to help you get around Japan on trains. 

Trains usually operates from 5 AM – 12 Midnight

The Tokyo train system is composed of several companies: Metro, Toei, JR, etc. Train lines within the same brand usually doesn't require going in and out of the brand’s station. A mall or indoor walkways with stores usually connect the stations of JR, Toei, and Metro in large stations like Shinjuku or Tokyo Station. In this kind of stations, you won’t need to go out to the street to transfer to another company. You can just follow the signs around the stations directing you to the train company or station your looking after.

Different train companies will have their own ticketing machines and platforms.  JR Stations are arranged by area. Toei stations are labeled by a Letter (train Line) & a # (Station #). Stations are numerically arranged per line for the Metro and Toei Lines. So you can monitor if you’re going in the correct direction if the numbers of the stations the train is traveling is getting closer.

Finding the right platform can be a little tricky especially in large stations like Tokyo or Shinjuku Station. First know what line you want to take. Then figure out in which direction you’ll be heading. Then find the right platform your train will be departing from.

There are also several types of trains:


Local: Stops at all stations on the route. If you’re traveling far, this will of course take longer
Rapid:  It doesn't stop at all stations on the route but skips a few.  
Express: Stops at a few more stops than the Limited Express.
Limited Express: Only stops at big stations and the most often used stations. The fastest of the normal speed trains.
Shinkansen: Bullet trains. 

BUYING A TICKET:
You can choose English for the language when buying at the ticket machine. The button is usually on the left side.

One Way Ticket:Choose the amount of your route. Insert money and get ticket. You can also get a receipt. You can also buy multiple tickets of the same route. Choose multiple , Adult/Children, number of tickets. 

Day Pass: Choose Day Pass. 








TICKETS:
One Way Ticket in holder
1.ONE WAY TICKET : First you’ll have to find out how much your fare for the route will be. There are large route maps at the ticket kiosk. Find your station on the map (sometimes the map doesn't have English names) and the amount on the side of the name. 
Riding train: Get ticket per line you’ll be traveling, insert and collect ticket upon entering station. And insert ticket to get out of station. Ticket won’t be returned at exit. If what the route you paid for is less than what you travelled you’ll need to pay fare adjustment before exiting.

Size of ticket:  3 cm x 5.7 cm In some train stations, you can find a ticket envelope to keep it in.


Metro Day Pass Ticket
2.DAY PASS: If you’ll be going traveling a lot of stations in a day, you may opt to get a day pass. . This will be valid until the day’s closing on the train companies included in the pass.
You insert and collect pass every time you go in a station and out of station. You can easily transfer from one line to another of the same company and not pay fare adjustment. You can go in and out of the stations as much as you can within the day.

Tokyo Metro 1 Day Pass – only Metro Lines Y710 ;

Common One Day Open Ticket for Tokyo Metro & Toei Subway   – only Metro & Toei Lines Y1000

Tokyo Combination Ticket – Y1590 – valid Tokyo metro lines, Toei subway lines, Toden Arakawa lines, Nippori-Toneri liner lines and JR lines within the metropolitan district.

Size of ticket:   5.7 cm x 8.5 cm


3. SUICA/PASMO (for Tokyo) ICOCA (for Osaka)
Gates to the JR Kyoto Station
The SUICA & PASMO is a convenient way to pay for your train. Similar to the Octopus card of Hong Kong, it is a prepaid card you can use and reload. You can purchase a SUICA or PASMO card at the Train station ticket machine. You can use the card for paying for your train, at vending machines, and at convenience stores like Lawson. You can just reload the card at the fare adjustment machine near exit gate of the station or ticket machines before entering the platform.

SUICA: JR EAST compatible with Metro, usable also in Osaka; Refundable only in Tokyo.
Minimum: Y 2000 (500 card 1500 Load) Handling Fee: (when refunding/returning card) 220. Amount returned is (500 Card + Balance) – 220 (Handling Fee)
Website: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/suica.html

PASMO: compatible with JR, Subway & Monorail; Refundable only in Tokyo
Minimum: Y 1000 (500 card 500 Load) Handling Fee: (when refunding/returning card) 210. Amount returned is (500 Card + Balance) – 220  Handling Fee
Website: http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/

ICOCA: JR West compatible with JR, Metro, Subway; Refundable only in Osaka
Minimum: Y 2000 (500 card 1500 Load) Handling Fee: (when refunding/returning card) 220. Amount returned is (500 Card + Balance) – 220  Handling Fee
Website: http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/travel-information/pass/icoca-haruka/

USING THE SUICA/PASMO/ICOCA
1. Just tap the card at gate’s panel with an IC logo.
2. Go through when you hear a simple beep & see a blue light.
If you hear a Bing Bong & see a red light that means you don't have enough load. Just walk to the fare adjustment machine  (Ticket Machine – before entrance of gate) insert card, pay difference, then touch card to the gate’s panel & go through. The Fare of your trip is the number on bottom while your card’s balance is on top.

4. JR PASS:


The JR PASS is valid for temporary visitors to Japan. It must be purchased outside of Japan. You will then change the voucher at the JR ticketing office at the airport or at main train stations. You’ll need to present your passport.  It allows you unlimited rides on JR Trains including the Narita Express (except the Nozomi & Mizuho Shinkansen) & Buses for the JR pass validity. Day 1 starts on the day you convert voucher to ticket.  You can choose from 7, 14, 21 Days and between the ordinary or green cars. In the Philippines, you can purchase the JR Pass at accredited travel agencies of the Japan Embassy.

If you plan on taking the Shinkansen for 2 trips, for instance round trip from Tokyo to Osaka, the JR Pass is a cheaper alternative. 

http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/about_jrp.html
Back of the JR Pass
Size of ticket:   10 cm x 15.1 cm
Seat ticket (Reserved Seats):  8.6 cm x 5.7

Using: Show JR Pass at the manned gates when entering and exiting the train station. You can ride the Shinkansen without reserved seats but ensure to ride the non-reserved cars (it’s usually at the end of the train). I suggest however to get reserved seats for the bullet train & other long trips. The ticketing office will issue you another ticket for the reservation, which you will show together with your JR Pass to the train conductors.




5. SPECIAL PASSES : Kansai Pass, Hakone Pass, etc.
There are also special passes for certain areas like the Hakone Free Pass that allows unlimited rides on the specified brand of trains, buses, and other transportation for a certain amount of days. The Hakone  Free Pass of Odakyu allows you a roundtrip ride from Tokyo and unlimited rides on Odakyu trains and buses. You can check the websites of the JR Rail, Odakyu, and other brands for more details. 

RIDING THE TRAINS:
1.     LOCATING YOUR TRAIN PLATFORM:
At the JR Shinjuku Station
Once you’ve entered the train station, start by locating your train’s platform. There are many signs to help you find your way. There are also signs that direct you on the floor of the train station.  The train lines usually have a designated color, which can help you locate the platforms it uses. The Yamanote Line of the Japan Rail is green, so when looking at the signs the color can help you spot the signage directing you to the platform. There is a minimum of 2 platforms per train line. Figure out which direction you’re heading. If riding the metro or subway, you can use the number of the current train station and your destination station to guide you if the stations go up or go down in number. However if using the JR trains, you’ll need to figure out the direction of your route.  If you’re on the wrong platform, it can be as easy as going to the other side of the platform to get the right direction. But other times, you might need to go up or down stairs or get to the other side of the train tracks to get to the right platform. There are train route maps you can refer to usually on the side of the stairs going to the platform or on the platform itself.

Travel Tip: Maps of train stations like the JR Stations in Tokyo are available on their website. You can find which platform # your train line departs from. For example: the JR Yamanote Line in Shinjuku heading to Shibuya leaves from Platform 14. 
Direction Signs to your train line on the floor

2.     AT THE PLATFORM:
Toei Oedo Line Plat

       a.     There are screens that display what the next trains arriving and how long before it’s arrival. See photo for description.  There are train routes also on display on the platform.















       b.      For trains with reserved seats like the Narita Express, Shinkansen, or Express trains, you’ll find the guide for the Car # on the floor.
       c.     There are stations also with arrows where the train cars stop where you can line up.
       d.     Line up on the side of the doors, Allow passengers to disembark first before getting on the train









Shinkansen Train
Bullet Train Seats



3.     ON THE TRAIN: There are seats for the elderly, people with disability, and pregnant on most train cars. The seats are usually a different color from the rest of the seats and are labeled for your reference.





























Useful App: Navitime for Japan Travel. It has some helpful information and you can use to plan train travel routes in Japan.

Useful Links:
ROUTE PLANNING: http://www.hyperdia.com/en/ or http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/norikae/e-norikeyin.html

TOKYO & JR East Area: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/
TOKYO METRO (TOEI): http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/index.html
TOKYO: KEIO: http://www.keio.co.jp/english/index.html
ODAKYU: http://www.odakyu.jp/english/   
OSAKA & JR West Area: http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/
SHINKANSEN: http://english.jr-central.co.jp


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