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.
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/