Introduction
JR Central is the regional railway operator in central Japan, connecting Tokyo, Yokohama, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Matsumoto, Nagano, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Shingu.
Trains operated by JR Central
JR Central operates the Shinkansen high-speed railway service with trains running at a maximum speed of 240–320 km/h.
- - Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka
Shinkansen trains carry Green Cars with business class seats and Ordinary Cars with standard class seats distributed in Reserved and Non-reserved seats. In total, Shinkansen trains offer three passengers classes: Green Car Seat, Reserved Seat and Non-reserved Seat.
JR Central also operates many intercity and regional lines with trains running on conventional rail at a maximum speed of 130-160 km/h.
Conventional rail services are classified depending on the stop pattern:
- - Limited Express is the fastest service stopping at major stations
- - 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 standard ticket or the rail pass allows the passenger to access the platform and board Limited Express trains as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains.
On Limited Express trains, passengers can travel on Non-reserved Seat or Reserved Seat. In case of travelling on Reserved Seat, passengers are required an extra ticket for the Reserved Seat, which is purchased separately from the standard ticket and is inspected by the train conductor on board.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Japan.
Routes
Travel with ticket
We facilitate advance ticket booking for Shinkansen and Limited Express trains operated by JR Central.
Tokaido Shinkansen serving Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka
| 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
Hida Limited Express serving Toyama, Takayama, Gifu and Nagoya| Stations | HIDA |
| Toyama | |
| Hayahoshi | |
| Etchu-Yatsuo | |
| Inotani | |
| Hida-Furukawa | |
| Takayama | |
| Kuguno | |
| Hida-Osaka | |
| Hida-Hagiwara | |
| Gero | |
| Hida-Kanayama | |
| Shirakawaguchi | |
| Mino-Ota | |
| Unuma | |
| Gifu | |
| Owari-Ichinomiya | |
| Nagoya |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | NANKI |
| Nagoya | |
| Kuwana | |
| Yokkaichi | |
| Suzuka | |
| Tsu | |
| Matsusaka | |
| Taki | |
| Misedani | |
| Kii-Nagashima | |
| Owase | |
| Kumanoshi | |
| Shingu | |
| Kii-Katsuura |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
| Stations | Mie Rapid |
| Nagoya | |
| Kuwana | |
| Yokkaichi | |
| Suzuka | |
| Nakaseko | |
| Tsu | |
| Matsusaka | |
| Taki | |
| Tokida | |
| Tamaru | |
| Miyagawa | |
| Yamada-Kamiguchi | |
| Iseshi | |
| Isuzugaoka | |
| Futaminoura | |
| Matsushita | |
| Toba |
All trains stop, Some trains stop, — Trains do not stop
Travel with rail pass
We facilitate the purchase of different rail pass with JR Central valid for unlimited travel between Tokyo, Yokohama, Shizuoka, Nagoya, Matsumoto, Nagano, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Shingu in central Japan.
Travellers with JR Central Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass (5-day) and JR Central Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Pass (5-day) can travel on Express, Rapid and Local trains with Non-reserved seats. Passengers can also travel on Limited Express trains with Non-reserved seat or travel on Reserved Seat by receiving a Reserved Seat ticket before boarding, as this is included in the rail pass.
Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Area Pass (5-day)
Passengers can travel on Limited Express trains, as well as Express, Rapid or Local trains in the available area for 5 consecutive days.
Destinations
JR Central serves the following destinations in Japan:
Kanto region
Kanto region comprises Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen trains operated by JR Central.
Train routes to Tokyo
Train routes to Yokohama
Chubu region
Chubu region comprises Yamanashi, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, Toyama, Nagano and Niigata prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR Central.
Train routes to Shizuoka
Train routes to Nagoya
Train routes to Matsumoto
Train routes to Nagano
Train routes to Takayama
Kansai region
Kansai region comprises Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Shiga prefectures. This region is served by the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Limited Express trains operated by JR Central.
Train routes to Kyoto
Train routes to Osaka
Train routes to Shingu
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| JR Central | Change time/date |
| Fare Green car seat (Tokaido) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tokaido) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Hida) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hida) | Permitted |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinano) | Permitted |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinano) | Permitted |
| Fare Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
| Fare Takayama-Hokuriku Pass (5-day) | Permitted |
In accordance with the policy of JR Central, once issued the mail exchange order (MCO) can be exchanged within 90 days.
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| JR Central | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Green car seat (Tokaido) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Tokaido) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Hida) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Hida) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Green car seat (Shinano) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ordinary car seat (Shinano) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Ise-Kumano-Wakayama Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Takayama-Hokuriku Pass (5-day) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your rail pass with JR Central, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. In case the refund is approved, you will need to return the mail exchange order (MCO) by post mail to our office up to 12 months from the date when the exchange order was printed.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees and delivery fees will apply.
- 200 JPY per ticket if the mail exchange order (MCO) has not been exchanged
- 10% of the ticket fare + 200 JPY per ticket if the mail exchange order (MCO) has been exchanged but the rail pass has not been used
- No refund if the rail pass has been used, expired, lost or stolen