Travellers can book online trains in Japan and receive the electronic tickets by email, ready for boarding.

We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR East, JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu connecting Aomori, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Himeji, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Kagoshima, as well as Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR Hokkaido, JR East and JR West connecting Sapporo, Hakodate, Nikko, Fuji, Matsumoto, Nagano, Kanazawa and Niigata.

We also facilitate the purchase of different types of rail pass with JR East and JR West to travel on Shinkansen trains, Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku and Kyushu regions.

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.

Book your train tickets in Japan

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 corridor that links Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, and is used by through services operated by JR Central and JR West. The Sanyo and Kyushu lines are interconnected forming a continuous corridor that links Osaka, Fukuoka and Kagoshima, and is used by through services operated by JR West and JR Kyushu.

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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.

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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.

Book your train tickets in Japan

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.
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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: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.

Book your train tickets in Japan

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.

Book your train tickets in Japan

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
Book your train tickets in Japan

When travelling on conventional rail, the standard ticket depends on the travel distance and it is the same for all the trains regardless of the number of stops or transfers. The standard ticket allows the passenger to access the platform and board Express, Rapid or Local trains. To board Limited Express trains, passengers are required an extra ticket for Reserved Seat or Non-reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.

In total, the Limited Express trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.

Book your train tickets in Japan

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.

Travel with ticket

We facilitate advance ticket booking for trains operated by JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu, as well as the private railway companies Keisei Electric Railway and Nankai Electric Railway.

Ticket reservation is available 1 month in advance.

JR Hokkaido

Stations HAYABUSA HAYATE
Shin-Aomori
Okutsugaru-Imabetsu
Kikonai
Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations 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 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 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 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

JR East

Stations 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 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 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

Stations NIKKO KINUGAWA
Shinjuku
Ikebukuro
Omiya
Tochigi
Shimo-Imaichi
Tobu-Nikko
Kinugawa-Onsen

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations AZUSA
Tokyo
Shinjuku
Tachikawa
Hachioji
Otsuki
Kofu
Nirasaki
Chino
Kami-Suwa
Okaya
Shiojiri
Matsumoto

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations SHINANO
Shiojiri
Matsumoto
Akashina
Hijiri-Kogen
Shinonoi
Nagano

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations FUJI EXCURSION
Shinjuku
Tachikawa
Hachioji
Otsuki
Mt. Fuji
Kawaguchiko

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations NARITA
Narita Airport
Narita
Yotsukaido
Chiba
Tokyo
Shinagawa
Shinjuku

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

JR Central

Stations 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

JR West

Stations 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 THUNDERBIRD
Osaka
Shin-Osaka
Takatsuki
Kyoto
Katata
Omi-Imazu
Tsuruga
Takefu
Sabae
Fukui
Awaraonsen
Kagaonsen
Komatsu
Matto
Kanazawa

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Stations HARUKA
Kansai Airport
Hineno
Izumi-Fuchu
Tennoji
Osaka
Shin-Osaka
Takatsuki
Kyoto

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

JR Kyushu

Stations MIZUHO SAKURA TSUBAME
Hakata
Shin-Tosu
Kurume
Chikugo-Funagoya
Shin-Omuta
Shin-Tamana
Kumamoto
Shin-Yatsushiro
Shin-Minamata
Izumi
Sendai
Kagoshima-Chuo

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Keisei Electric Railway

Stations SKYLINER
Narita Airport
Shin-Kamagaya
Aoto
Nippori
Keisei Ueno

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Nankai Electric Railway

Stations RAPI:T
Kansai Airport
Rinku Town
Izumisano
Kishiwada
Sakai
Tengachaya
Shin-Imamiya
Namba

All trains stop, Some trains stop, Trains do not stop

Travel with rail pass

We also facilitate the purchase of different types of rail pass with JR East and JR West valid for unlimited travel in Kanto, Chubu, Kansai and Chugoku regions and Fukuoka prefecture in Kyushu island.

Passengers can travel on Shinkansen trains, Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for a number of consecutive days.

Rail pass reservation is available 3 months in advance.

Destinations

Japan is divided into eight regions: Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu.

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.

Book your train tickets to Aomori

Train routes to Aomori

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.

Book your train tickets to Nikko

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.

Book your train tickets to Matsumoto

Train routes to Matsumoto

Book your train tickets to Niigata

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.

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.

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.

Getting to the airport by train

Narita Airport is connected to Tokyo Station, Shinagawa Station, Shinjuku Station and Ueno Station in Tokyo by the Limited Express trains operated by JR East and Keisei Electric Railway.

Book your train tickets to Tokyo Airport

Train routes to Tokyo Airport

Kansai Airport is connected to Shin-Osaka Station, Osaka Station, Tennoji Station and Namba Station in Osaka by the Limited Express trains operated by JR West and Nankai Electric Railway.

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 ticket reservations from 1 month in advance up to 24 hours before departure. For departures under 24 hours, tickets must be reserved directly at the station.

How to book train tickets in Japan

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:

  • Non-reserved Seat, does not require seat selection
  • Reserved Seat, arranged in 3+2 row configuration
  • Green Car Seat, arranged in 2+2 row configuration

Fill in the passenger and contact details

When you book train tickets, you can indicate your seat preference: window or aisle.

Passengers who intend to bring baggage with overall dimensions (length + width + height) of more than 160cm onto the Tokaido-Sanyo-Kyushu Shinkansen need to reserve a seat with Oversized Baggage Area.

How to book train tickets in Japan

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.

How to book train tickets in Japan

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.

How to book train tickets in Japan

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.

How to book train tickets in Japan

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

How to book your train tickets in Japan

How to use the train e-ticket?

The electronic ticket designated as QR-Ticket is a valid boarding pass and can be used to board the train at the station of departure.

The electronic ticket with QR Pickup code can be used to pick up the physical ticket at the station before departure.

Book your train tickets in Japan

Passengers travelling with Japan Railways (JR) can print the e-ticket in advance or carry a digital copy in the mobile phone to scan the QR code at the ticket gates or the ticket vending machines.


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

Scan the QR code included in your electronic ticket at the ticket gates or pick up the physical ticket at the ticket vending machines and cross through the gates using your boarding pass.


BOARD THE TRAIN

Access the platform, locate your car number corresponding to Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat and wait for the boarding call to board the train.