So you want to learn about Japan’s incredible railway system?

Climb aboard!

This brief guide is for railfans looking to experience all of what Japan’s railways have to offer. We have combed through dozens of blogs, forums, and publications to seek out the most updated and relevant information you need to know when exploring Japan’s railways.

Happy Train Travels! 

About

In Japan, there is a vast network dedicated to making the railway system function at top speed and efficiency. The Japanese railway system is one of the most innovative, well-oiled, creative railways in the world. It’s sometimes confusing, sometimes overwhelming, and always incredibly busy. But millions of dedicated employees work together in synchrony to keep it all running smoothly.

On our website, you will find information about all the different types of trains Japan has to offer, a few of the country’s most unique train rides, and their (often confusing) ticketing system. And If you’re looking for even more info, check out our Resources page to further explore Japan’s incredible railways.

The Japanese people are known for being very efficient and punctual, while at the same time courteous, harmonious and hospitable. The Japanese even have a word for their own style of hospitality: omotenashi. So, it should come as no surprise that when you visit Japanese railways, while you will find an extremely efficient, innovative, and modern operation, you will still experience perhaps the most welcoming transit systems in the world.

How Japanese Trains Stand Out

• Punctuality: Japanese trains are known for being amongst the most punctual in the world. In 2017, a Japanese railway company made international headlines when one of its trains departed 25 seconds early. The company apologized for making a “truly inexcusable” mistake. Japanese train companies even provide passengers with formal late slip notes to give to their place of work in the case that one of their trains runs late.

• Cleanliness: The Japanese take great pride in keeping their trains and train stations incredibly tidy and sanitary. It is of so much importance to them that they’ve got it down to a science. The Shinkansen (bullet train) takes just seven minutes to clean! Click here to watch this oft-dubbed ‘7-Minute Miracle’ in action.

• Technology: Japan has revolutionized railway technology with its bullet trains, automatic train control, minimized vibration systems, and other advanced technologies. And, unlike other countries, Japan has chosen to continuously build to improve their technologies, instead of just waiting for it to become outdated.

Don’t miss out! In 2027, Japan hopes to open the world’s first superconducting magnetic levitation (SCMAGLEV) passenger train line: a train that will essentially levitate above the ground. Check out the exciting details here!

• Diverse Train Systems: Unlike other companies around the world, Japan’s railway system is not a monopoly. There are dozens of private railway companies and several publicly-owned railway companies. For example: in Shinjuku Station alone, 5 companies operate 12 lines.

• Food: One of the most-talked about features of the Japanese railway system are the stations’ bento lunchboxes, or, ekiben. Fans travel across Japan by rail just to taste all the different bento boxes. And the bento boxes aren’t your run-of-the-mill fast food. They are made with high quality, local ingredients, and packaged in elegantly simple and clean packaging.

• Train Melodies: Train melodies, or hassha tunes are short, ear-pleasing tunes that play on board trains as they depart to replace the typical departure buzzer. Most melodies are composed to an optimal length of 7 seconds, as research shows that shorter tunes are more effective in reducing stress and incidents. Each station has its own jingle, and fans travel across the country to hear all of the jingles. There are entire blogs and forums dedicated to cataloguing these melodies.

Interesting Fact: At Ebisu Station, the melody played is the same one used in commercials for the famous beer of the same name!