Travellers can book online trains in Japan and pick up the tickets at the station before travelling.
We support advance ticket booking for trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Sanyo Shinkansen lines connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka, as well as Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido and JR East connecting Sapporo, Aomori, Sendai, Nikko, Fuji, Nagano, Kanazawa and Niigata.
Contents
- Train companies in Japan
- Getting around Japan by train
- - Hokkaido island
- - Tohoku region
- - Kanto region
- - Chubu region
- - Train routes to Fuji
- - Train routes to Shizuoka
- - Train routes to Nagoya
- - Train routes to Matsumoto
- - Train routes to Nagano
- - Train routes to Kanazawa
- - Train routes to Niigata
- - Kansai region
- - Chugoku region
- - Kyushu island
- How to book your train tickets in Japan?
Train companies in Japan
Rail services in Japan are operated by Japan Railways (JR) as well as private railway companies.
Japan Railways (JR) consists of several independent companies that carry on the operations of the former national railway operator JNR. In the present, JR Group is divided in six companies dedicated to provide passenger train services in different regions of Japan: JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu.
To achieve a complete coverage of the railway transportation across the nation, Japan Railways (JR) operates several types of intercity trains, including:
- - Shinkansen high-speed rail
- - Limited Express conventional rail
Shinkansen high-speed rail
Shinkansen is the high-speed railway service operated by Japan Railways with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
The Tokaido line was launched in 1964 connecting Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Since then, the network has expanded to interconnect most of the major cities in the islands of Honshu, Hokkaido and Kyushu. The current Shinkansen network consists of 2,764 kilometers of dedicated high-speed tracks that use standard-gauge and are separated from the conventional lines that use different gauge.

The main Shinkansen lines are the following:
- - Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka, operated by JR Central
- - Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Fukuoka, operated by JR West
- - Kyushu Shinkansen between Fukuoka and Kagoshima, operated by JR Kyushu
- - Hokkaido Shinkansen between Aomori and Hokuto, operated by JR Hokkaido
- - Tohoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Aomori, operated by JR East
- - Akita Shinkansen between Tokyo and Akita, operated by JR East
- - Yamagata Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shinjo, operated by JR East
- - Joetsu Shinkansen between Tokyo and Niigata, operated by JR East
- - Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa, jointly operated by JR East and JR West
The Tokaido and Sanyo lines are interconnected forming a continuous east-west corridor that links Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, and is used by many through train services operated by JR Central and JR West.

The Tohoku line and the Tokaido line meet in Tokyo but the tracks are not physically interconnected, hence there are no through services between the East and Central regions and passengers are required to interchange trains at Tokyo Station.

The Hokuriku line operates over the Joetsu and Tohoku lines tracks between Tokyo and Takasaki, then it separates and continues on its own dedicated tracks to Nagano and Kanazawa.

Shinkansen trains are designated by a code name that identifies the class of service followed by one to three numerals. The fast services stop only at key stations, the semi-fast services stop at the major stations, and the local services stop at all stations:
- - In the Tokaido and Sanyo lines, NOZOMI is the fast service, HIKARI is the semi-fast service and KODAMA is the local service.
- - In the Sanyo and Kyushu lines, MIZUHO is the fast service, SAKURA is the semi-fast service and TSUBAME is the local service.
- - In the Hokkaido line, HAYABUSA is the fast service and HAYATE is the semi-fast service.
- - In the Tohoku line, HAYABUSA is the fast service, YAMABIKO is the semi-fast service and NASUNO is the local service.
- - In the Akita line, KOMACHI is the fast service between Tokyo and Morioka, as well as the local service between Morioka and Akita.
- - In the Yamagata line, TSUBASA is the semi-fast service between Tokyo and Fukushima, as well as the local service between Fukushima and Shinjo.
- - In the Joetsu line, TOKI is the semi-fast service and TANIGAWA is the local service.
- - In the Hokuriku line, KAGAYAKI is the fast service, HAKUTAKA and ASAMA are the two semi-fast services, and TSURUGI is the local service.

Shinkansen trains are powered by electric multiple units and can carry up to 16 cars per train, arranged in Green Car with business class seats that require advanced reservation and Ordinary Car with standard class seats distributed in Reserved and Non-reserved.
In total, the Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Reserved Seat (Green Car), Reserved Seat (Ordinary Car) and Non-reserved Seat.

Travellers with Reserved Seat tickets are required to take their numbered seat in the Green Cars or the Ordinary Cars. Travellers with Non-reserved Seat tickets are allowed to take any seat available only in the Ordinary cars designated as Non-reserved. On these cars, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. When all the seats are full, passengers must travel standing on the corridor or the coach entrance without blocking the access to other passengers.
Limited Express conventional rail
JR Group operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Given the limited coverage of the Shinkansen network, passengers may need to use conventional trains to reach certain regions of Japan or travel directly between two cities.

Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service
- - Express is a semi-fast service stopping at major stations
- - Rapid is a fast service stopping at most stations
- - Local is a slow service stopping at all stations

When travelling on conventional rail, the base fare ticket depends on the travel distance and it is the same for all the trains regardless of the number of stops or transfers. The base fare ticket allows the passenger to access the platform. Additionally, Limited Express trains require an extra ticket for Reserved Seat or Non-reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the base fare ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
In total, the Limited Express trains offer three passengers classes: Reserved Seat (Green Car), Reserved Seat (Ordinary Car) and Non-reserved Seat.

Travellers with Reserved Seat tickets are required to take their numbered seat in the Green Cars or the Ordinary Cars. Travellers with Non-reserved Seat tickets are allowed to take any seat available only in the Ordinary cars designated as Non-reserved. On these cars, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. When all the seats are full, passengers must travel standing on the corridor or the coach entrance without blocking the access to other passengers.
Getting around Japan by train
Japan has 27,268 kilometres of railway network, which includes 2,764 kilometres of Shinkansen lines.
We support advance ticket booking for trains on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen lines operated by JR Central and JR West, and the Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines operated by JR East.
Stations / Services | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA |
Tokyo | |||
Shinagawa | |||
Shin-Yokohama | |||
Odawara | — | ||
Atami | — | ||
Mishima | — | ||
Shin-Fuji | — | — | |
Shizuoka | — | ||
Kakegawa | — | — | |
Hamamatsu | — | ||
Toyohashi | — | ||
Mikawa-Anjo | — | — | |
Nagoya | |||
Gifu-Hashima | — | ||
Maibara | — | ||
Kyoto | |||
Shin-Osaka |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | NOZOMI | HIKARI | KODAMA | MIZUHO | SAKURA |
Shin-Osaka | |||||
Shin-Kobe | |||||
Nishi-Akashi | — | — | |||
Himeji | |||||
Aioi | — | — | — | ||
Okayama | |||||
Shin-Kurashiki | — | — | — | ||
Fukuyama | — | ||||
Shin-Onomichi | — | — | — | ||
Mihara | — | — | — | ||
Higashi-Hiroshima | — | — | — | ||
Hiroshima | |||||
Shin-Iwakuni | — | — | — | ||
Tokuyama | — | ||||
Shin-Yamaguchi | — | ||||
Asa | — | — | — | — | |
Shin-Shimonoseki | — | — | |||
Kokura | |||||
Hakata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | HAYABUSA | HAYATE |
Shin-Aomori | ||
Okutsugaru-Imabetsu | ||
Kikonai | ||
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | HAYABUSA | YAMABIKO | NASUNO | HAYATE |
Tokyo | ||||
Ueno | ||||
Omiya | ||||
Oyama | — | |||
Utsunomiya | — | |||
Nasushiobara | — | |||
Shin-Shirakawa | — | |||
Koriyama | — | |||
Fukushima | — | |||
Shiroishizao | — | |||
Sendai | ||||
Furukawa | ||||
Kurikoma-Kogen | ||||
Ichinoseki | ||||
Mizusawaesashi | ||||
Kitakami | ||||
Shin-Hanamaki | ||||
Morioka | ||||
Iwate-Numakunai | ||||
Ninohe | ||||
Hachinohe | ||||
Shichinohe-Towada | ||||
Shin-Aomori |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | KOMACHI |
Tokyo | |
Ueno | |
Omiya | |
Oyama | — |
Utsunomiya | — |
Nasushiobara | — |
Shin-Shirakawa | — |
Koriyama | — |
Fukushima | — |
Shiroishizao | — |
Sendai | |
Furukawa | |
Kurikoma-Kogen | |
Ichinoseki | |
Mizusawaesashi | |
Kitakami | |
Shin-Hanamaki | |
Morioka | |
Shizukuishi | |
Tazawako | |
Kakunodate | |
Omagari | |
Akita |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | TSUBASA |
Tokyo | |
Ueno | |
Omiya | |
Oyama | |
Utsunomiya | |
Nasushiobara | |
Shin-Shirakawa | |
Koriyama | |
Fukushima | |
Yonezawa | |
Takahata | |
Akayu | |
Kaminoyama-Onsen | |
Yamagata | |
Tendo | |
Sakurambohigashine | |
Murayama | |
Oishida | |
Shinjo |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | TOKI | TANIGAWA |
Tokyo | ||
Ueno | ||
Omiya | ||
Kumagaya | ||
Honjo-Waseda | ||
Takasaki | ||
Jomo-Kogen | ||
Echigo-Yuzawa | ||
Urasa | ||
Nagaoka | ||
Tsubamesanjo | ||
Niigata |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | KAGAYAKI | HAKUTAKA | ASAMA | TSURUGI |
Tokyo | ||||
Ueno | ||||
Omiya | ||||
Kumagaya | — | — | ||
Honjo-Waseda | — | — | ||
Takasaki | — | |||
Annaka-Haruna | — | |||
Karuizawa | — | |||
Sakudaira | — | |||
Ueda | — | |||
Nagano | ||||
Iiyama | — | |||
Joetsumyoko | — | |||
Itoigawa | — | |||
Kurobe-Unazukionsen | — | |||
Toyama | ||||
Shin-Takaoka | — | |||
Kanazawa |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
We also support advance ticket booking for Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido and JR East.
The Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido run through Hokkaido region.
Stations / Services | HOKUTO | SUZURAN |
Sapporo | ||
Shin-Sapporo | ||
Chitose | — | |
Minami-Chitose | ||
Numanohata | — | |
Tomakomai | ||
Shiraoi | — | |
Noboribetsu | ||
Horobetsu | — | |
Washibetsu | — | |
Higashi-Muroran | ||
Datemombetsu | ||
Toya | ||
Oshamambe | ||
Yakumo | ||
Mori | ||
Onumakoen | ||
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto | ||
Goryokaku | ||
Hakodate |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | KAMUI | LILAC | SOYA | SAROBETSU |
Sapporo | ||||
Iwamizawa | ||||
Bibai | ||||
Sunagawa | ||||
Takikawa | ||||
Fukagawa | ||||
Asahikawa | ||||
Wassamu | ||||
Shibetsu | ||||
Nayoro | ||||
Bifuka | ||||
Otoineppu | ||||
Teshio-Nakagawa | ||||
Horonobe | ||||
Toyotomi | ||||
Minami-Wakkanai | ||||
Wakkanai |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | KAMUI | LILAC | OKHOTSK | TAISETSU |
Sapporo | ||||
Iwamizawa | ||||
Bibai | ||||
Sunagawa | ||||
Takikawa | ||||
Fukagawa | ||||
Asahikawa | ||||
Kamikawa | ||||
Shirataki | ||||
Maruseppu | ||||
Engaru | ||||
Ikutahara | ||||
Rubeshibe | ||||
Kitami | ||||
Bihoro | ||||
Memambetsu | ||||
Abashiri |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | TOKACHI | OZORA |
Sapporo | ||
Shin-Sapporo | ||
Minami-Chitose | ||
Oiwake | ||
Shin-Yubari | ||
Shimukappu | ||
Tomamu | ||
Shintoku | ||
Tokachi-Shimizu | ||
Memuro | ||
Obihiro | ||
Ikeda | ||
Urahoro | ||
Shiranuka | ||
Kushiro |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
The Limited Express trains operated by JR East run through Tohoku, Kanto and Chubu regions.
Stations / Services | TSUGARU | INAHO | SHIRAYUKI |
Aomori | |||
Akita | |||
Niigata | |||
Joetsu |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | HITACHI | TOKIWA |
Shinagawa | ||
Tokyo | ||
Ueno | ||
Nippori | — | |
Kashiwa | ||
Sanuki | — | |
Ushiku | — | |
Tsuchiura | ||
Ishioka | — | |
Tomobe | — | |
Mito | ||
Katsuta | ||
Tokai | ||
Omika | ||
Hitachi-Taga | ||
Hitachi | ||
Takahagi | ||
Izumi | ||
Yumoto | ||
Iwaki | ||
Sendai |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | NIKKO | KINUGAWA |
Shinjuku | ||
Ikebukuro | ||
Omiya | ||
Tochigi | ||
Shimo-Imaichi | ||
Tobu-Nikko | ||
Kinugawa-Onsen |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | AZUSA | KAIJI |
Tokyo | ||
Shinjuku | ||
Tachikawa | ||
Hachioji | ||
Otsuki | ||
Kofu | ||
Nirasaki | ||
Chino | ||
Kami-Suwa | ||
Okaya | ||
Shiojiri | ||
Matsumoto |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | FUJI EXCURSION |
Shinjuku | |
Tachikawa | |
Hachioji | |
Otsuki | |
Mt. Fuji | |
Kawaguchiko |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Stations / Services | ODORIKO | SHONAN |
Shinjuku | ||
Tokyo | ||
Shinagawa | ||
Kawasaki | ||
Yokohama | ||
Ofuna | ||
Odawara | ||
Yugawara | ||
Atami | ||
Ajiro | ||
Ito | ||
Izu-Kogen | ||
Izu-Atagawa | ||
Izu-Inatori | ||
Kawazu | ||
Izukyu Shimoda |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Ticket sale is available from 1 month in advance.
Hokkaido island
Hokkaido is the second largest island of Japan and comprises only one prefecture, Hokkaido, whose capital is Sapporo. This region is served by the Hokkaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido.

Tohoku region
Tohoku region comprises Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures. This region is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Akita Shinkansen, the Yamagata Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East.

Train routes to Sendai
Kanto region
Kanto region comprises Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. This region is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East.


Train routes to Nikko
Chubu region
Chubu region comprises Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama, Nagano and Niigata prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the Joetsu Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR East, JR Central and JR West.

Train routes to Fuji

Train routes to Shizuoka

Train routes to Nagoya

Train routes to Matsumoto

Train routes to Nagano

Train routes to Kanazawa

Train routes to Niigata
Kansai region
Kansai region comprises Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR Central and JR West.

Train routes to Kyoto

Train routes to Osaka

Train routes to Kobe

Train routes to Himeji
Chugoku region
Chugoku region comprises Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Shimane and Tottori prefectures. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR West.

Train routes to Okayama

Train routes to Hiroshima

Train routes to Yamaguchi
Kyushu island
Kyushu is the third largest of Japan's five main islands. This region is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen and the Kyushu Shinkansen.

Train routes to Fukuoka
How to book your train tickets in Japan?
Booking your train tickets in Japan is very quick and simple. Search for train routes between any two cities for your travel dates.
Select your route
After search, we will display the results for your itinerary.
Find the Shinkansen and Limited Express services operated by Japan Railways (JR) available for your itinerary. Select the most convenient option.
We accept reservations from 1 month in advance up to 4 hours before departure. For departures under 4 hours, tickets must be reserved directly at the station.

Click to expand the details of the route, you will find the available fares. Japan Railways (JR) offers various types of fares for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains:
- Reserved Seat (Green Car), arranged in 2+2 row configuration
- Reserved Seat (Ordinary Car), arranged in 3+2 or 2+2 row configuration
- Non-reserved Seat (Ordinary Car), does not require seat selection
Fill in the passenger and contact details
Next, select your seats.
You can indicate your seat preference in the train: window or aisle.

Please provide the passenger information and the contact details of the person responsible for booking. We will send by email the booking confirmation and the electronic ticket with the QR code to pick up the physical tickets at the station.

Complete your payment
Select your payment method. We accept international credit or debit cards.
Check your itinerary and price breakdown. Confirm that the booking information is correct. Before you proceed to payment, you must read and accept the terms and conditions of booking.

Receive your electronic ticket by email
Once your payment is complete, your reservation will be processed.
In the following 24 hours you will receive the itinerary and booking confirmation by email with the electronic ticket attached in PDF format.

You can also access to Manage your booking via web and download the electronic ticket to your device.

How to use the train e-ticket?
The electronic ticket received by email is not a valid boarding pass and it cannot be used to board the train.
Passengers travelling with Japan Railways (JR) are required to use the electronic ticket to pick up the physical tickets at the station before departure.

RECEIVE YOUR E-TICKET BY EMAIL
Receive your electronic ticket by email in PDF format. Print a copy of the e-ticket in advance or carry it in your mobile phone.

PICK UP YOUR BOARDING PASS
Arrive at the station 30-60 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Scan the QR code included in your electronic ticket at the ticket vending machines and print your boarding pass.

BOARD THE TRAIN
Cross through the gates using your boarding pass, locate the platform and wait for the boarding call to board the train.
Pick up the tickets at JR Central and JR West stations

Instructions to pick up the tickets
Available for the following trains:
Tokaido Shinkansen
Sanyo Shinkansen.
Pick up the tickets at JR East and JR Hokkaido stations

Instructions to pick up the tickets
Available for the following trains:
Hokkaido Shinkansen
Tohoku Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen
Limited Express by JR Hokkaido
Limited Express by JR East