Trains in Japan
Japan has some of the most punctual and frequent trains in the world. The Shinkansen bullet trains link Tokyo with Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka, and local lines reach almost every town. Most major lines are run by the JR Group.
OperatorJR Group companies (JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Kyushu and others)
CurrencyJapanese yen (JPY)
Main hubsTokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata (Fukuoka)
TicketsReserved and non-reserved seats on most Shinkansen
Main lines and journeys
- Tokaido Shinkansen
- Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka. Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes on the fastest trains.
- Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen
- Continues from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima and Hakata (Fukuoka).
- Tohoku, Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Northern lines from Tokyo to Sendai, Niigata, Nagano and Kanazawa.
Train types and classes
- Nozomi
- The fastest Tokaido and Sanyo trains. They stop at fewer stations.
- Hikari
- Fast trains with a few more stops.
- Kodama
- Stops at every station.
- Reserved seat
- A guaranteed seat for a slightly higher fare.
- Non-reserved seat
- Cheaper. You sit in the non-reserved cars on a first-come basis.
- Green Car
- First class, with wider seats and more space.
Travel tips
- Shin-Osaka is the Shinkansen station for Osaka. Hakata is the main station of Fukuoka.
- Very large suitcases (over 160 cm in total length) need a reserved oversize-baggage space when you book.
- The Japan Rail Pass does not cover every train, so check which services it includes before you buy.
- Trains run to the minute. Be on the platform a few minutes early.
Popular routes in Japan
Kyoto → Osaka525 trains · timetable & fares
Osaka → Kyoto512 trains · timetable & fares
Osaka → Nagoya316 trains · timetable & fares
Tokyo → Nagoya292 trains · timetable & fares
Kyoto → Nagoya279 trains · timetable & fares
Tokyo → Kyoto279 trains · timetable & fares
Written in October 2026. Services, timetables and fares change, so check the live timetable for your travel date before you book.