Japan Railways (JR)
Photo copyright: © East Japan Railway Company
Japan Railways (JR)
Japan's leading railway company, Japan Railways (JR), has an elaborate and well-established network of trains throughout the country. From scenic local trains to the super express shinkansen, if you are traveling on rail in Japan, the chances are it will be with JR. A wide variety of unlimited ride passes are available to help reduce the cost of train travel and help you travel farther. Check out the Rail Passes section 
of this site. of this site.
For detailed information, click on the following links
JR Hokkaido ,JR East , JR Central , JR West , JR Shikoku , JR Kyushu
Purchasing tickets
Tickets for short distances are available from ticket machines installed at each train station, or you can use a prepaid IC card . Tickets for traveling long distances and reservations are dealt with at ticket offices at major stations. These long-distance tickets have a lot of important information printed on them, so for an explanation of your ticket, click here - JNTO: Bilingual Tickets by Japan Railways Group
To use the train, first purchase a ticket at a vending machine or ticket window. Pass your ticket through the automated ticket gate or show your ticket to the inspector. Please keep the ticket as you will need it once you arrive at your destination. Most, if not all trains stop operating late at night or around midnight.
Booking long-distance trains
To book tickets for long-distance trains, follow either one of two different procedures:
When you start using the JAPAN RAIL PASS , please go through an automatic ticket gate or a staffed entryway. To reserve a seat using a JAPAN RAIL PASS on a long-distance train, be sure to obtain a reserved seat ticket before boarding the train either at a reserved seat ticket vending machine, a Reservation Ticket Office (Midori-no-Madoguchi), or a travel center (no additional charge).
If you do not have a JAPAN RAIL PASS, please visit the JR Travel Service Center to purchase the necessary ticket.
Train Service Updates & Status
Check with each JR group for up-to-the-minute information about current operation status, service disruptions including cancellations and delays on Japan Railways Group.
Did this information help you?
