Do i need to book trains in japan

Using the price in jpy makes it easy to compare it to the individual. The jr group does not allow to change to a reserved seat once you have boarded the train. Sep 09, 2016 these are all the questions you must be asking yourself before buying a japan rail pass and here are the answers. As for convenience, very easy to book your tickets when you arrive either at the jr ticket centre at nrt or kix. They can be charged over and over allowing for smooth travel on trains, buses and some boats. You can simply buy shinkansen tickets and railway tickets in person at any rail station in japan, either. To be honest, unless you are going at a peak japanese holiday period you can just walk up to the station and buy a ticket minutes before departure. How to book train tickets japan message board tripadvisor. So it is best that you find the designated train to your destination in advance, then you should know.

This book, combined with helpful rail staff and passengers, made train travel a pleasurable adventure for us. Riding the train in japan eriks guide to japan book 1. Our page about regular train tickets provides an introduction to the various fares and fees, such as the base fare and limited express fee, and the rules for using tickets. Tickets can be purchased one month in advance at 10am from jr midorinomadoguchi ticket counters. And rightly so as someone who has made a lot of shinkansen journeys over the years, the experience never gets old. The shinkansen is unlikely to be sold out so you should have no issues booking it when you land at narita, and even if it is sold out you can always buy a nonreserved ticket and try and grab a seat in the nonreserved carriages. Japan travel centre offers a huge selection of cheap flights to japan. Rail transport in japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and highspeed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in urban areas. Our page about regular train tickets provides an introduction to the various fares and fees, such as the base fare and limited express fee, and the. Remember that if you hold a first class japan rail pass, you always need to reserve your seat before riding a bullet train. Discount ticket shops can be found around major railway stations in large cities. The trains are a great way to travel and with a rail pass you. However, some trains have only reserved seats, which require prior reservation.

Compare and book your flight online in order to get our best deal. Is there no way to book direct from the train company. It is used relatively little for freight transport, accounting for just 0. Oct 08, 2017 the future of train travel has already arrived in japan. We have direct contracts with many major airlines such as klm royal dutch airline, air france, ana, japan airlines, alitalia, emirates and many more. When you pick up your tickets in japan, you will need three things. Its a service provided in japan so the base price is always in japanese yen jpy and the price is fixed, you wont see it go on sale. And on some routes trains are scheduled only a few days each week, further limiting your flexibility. The vast majority of japanese trains have socalled nonreserved or unreserved seats, literally free seats, which do not allow reservation and are available on a firstcome, firstserved basis. X the jr pass is not valid on any highway buses, which are an affordable alternative to trains for regional travel in japan. Here are nine tips to make your journey even easier. In general you cant easily pre book these from outside of japan. Japan has 23,670 kilometers of rail track across the country, making it easy to travel throughout the country. Japanese train drivers must point at all important signs and warnings.

Dec 07, 2018 10 things you need to know before you go to japan. A super express fee is required when boarding any of the bullet trains, in addition to the regular base fee. How to book train tickets in advance before traveling to japan. Comfortable the train is very quiet and comfortable, so you can relax while you take in the beautiful surroundings. Is there a train from narita airport down to osaka or do we need to travel from the airport west to tokyo to grab the train to osaka. Because trains are so reliable, you do not want to be late or you will definitely be left behind. I have traveled to japan twice and used various trains there. Experiencing the worldfamous bullet trains is one of the most popular items on bucket lists for firsttimers and trust me, they are just as wonderful and efficient as their reputation suggests. Shinkansen bullet trains are included in the japan rail pass, which means that jr holders will not have to make any extra payments when.

Here now with plans to book trains as i go and it hasnt worked well for me. This way they show that they have noticed it and are aware of it. These chargeable cards require a refundable deposit of 500 yen when you purchase one. Buy the japan rail pass at the best price on japan follow us on. Plan which trains using hyperdia and take the print out to the ticket office, making it easier for the staff to book them for you. With the many different types of trains in japan, tickets and reservations and whether you need them or not can get a little confusing. Under the age of 6, you do not need to purchase a childs ticket if they sit on.

Japan is a cashbased society and many places that you might expect to take credit card normallylike mcdonaldsdo not. Japan rail pass holders do not need to pay a seat reservation fee. Trains in japan are almost always on time, minute to minute. I chose to divide japans public transportation system into three categories. The reserve seat on most trains can be reserved at midori no madoguchi only. Similar to the eurail pass, the jr rail pass gives you close to unlimited travel for a set period on japans jr trains.

Do i need to buy any train or bus tickets in advance to reserve seats, or can i buy when i arrive in japan. Trains have private compartments and nobi nobi berths partitioned personsized patches of carpet. In japan, there are several types of special cars and priority seating. In general you cant easily prebook these from outside of japan. X for jr pass holders who wish to book an overnight train or a seat in the special compartment of the shinkansen, an additional supplement fee is required. Must do in shinkansen bullet train japan wonder travel. Arriving in japan for the first time means a lot of culture shock, a scramble to get your wifi sorted and quick trip to the airport 711 for the first of many onigiri.

Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 320kms per hour, the bullet train offers riders an exceptionally unique and efficient travel experience. If you are in a large party and want to sit together, i recommend reserving seats for your journeys at the beginning of your stay. How to reserve a seat of japan railway trains at the station and. The japan rail pass may lead to a reduction but it depends on the route you will travel, in fact, the japan rail pass is a package you only pay once for unlimited use of the train that allows you to take all trains owned by japan railway company unlimited for 7, 14 or 21 days. Everything you need to know about taking a bullet train. You foreign visitors can only book the seats of the trains run by the jr east online from exactly 10am one month before, but you cannot book the seats of the trains run y the other 5 jr companies including jr tokai jr central in english which run the tokaido shinkansen between tokyo and kyoto shinosaka. In this beginners guide to using japans rail system well cover how to buy correct train tickets, finding your platform, riding the train, proper train etiquette, and much more. How to buy shinkansen bullet train tickets inside kyoto.

Your japan rail pass entitles you to free seat reservations on all trains that are valid with your rail pass. My 8 year old struggles with selfhealing this one, but loves turning through the pages or being read to from this book. The luxury of shinkansen bullet train hopping is exhilarating. All seats should be booked before boarding the train. Elsewhere on the site are more specific pages on shinkansen bullet trains, train tickets, and train timetables, luggage and night trains. One thing you need to know is that not all trains can be booked online as rail companies have different reservation policies. You may find that having a specific seat is more comfortable than looking for empty seats on the unreserved cars, especially if you are traveling with your family and would like to sit together.

Heres what you need to know before you invest in a jr rail pass. The main prepaid cards used around japan are the pasmo and suicathere are other local cards too. You need a japan rail pass, even if you think you dont, and heres why. Thanks but these just seem to be travel agents or similar. How to buy japan rail tickets and shinkansen tickets online. The first thing you need to know is the price of the japan rail pass. How to reserve a seat of japan railway trains at the. The following is a guide on how to use trains and subways in japan. W hen you think of transportation in japan, obviously the japan rail pass comes to mind.

These japan travel tips will help you make the most of your stay in this crazy and wonderful country. How to take your bicycle on trains, buses, and more in japan tour japan like royalty on luxury. In order to do this, you need to go to a jr office in the jr stations. No need to book seats in advance, just choose a train, wave your pass and hop on. Must do in shinkansen bullet train japan wonder travel blog. Do i need to book bullet train ticket in advance or can. The book also contains links to various websites, which are easily reached on my kindle fire. You may want to do this in tokyo and then get an icoca in kyoto as far as trains are concerned, with two young children i would do seat reservations just to make sure you get seats together. For many people traveling to japan, booking train tickets is a major problem. And of course, you dont have to buy tickets in advance. Everything you need to know about the japan rail pass.

But if you book a seat on overnight booking, please check the departure date at the original departure station. Below is a list of the various railway tickets available in japan. Do i need to prebook any train tickets before arriving. Japan railways west jr west has a new rail ticket service where you can book.

While its easy to buy tickets at train stations in japan, you might want to buy tickets in advance. What are the most prominent ones, and how to find out whether a given train has nonreserved. As to why well partly because i want to travel on specific trains, and to be sure that i can, and partly for convenience i d prefer not to have to worry about booking the tickets when i get to tokyo. I would like to travel to shanghai on the bullet ride as i am flying from pudong airport to new zealand 24th of may at 14. You do not need to make reservations for express trains, although you may find that these are very crowded during peak rush hours. Using the price in jpy makes it easy to compare it to the individual ticket prices and decide whether you want to buy one. The future of train travel has already arrived in japan. It does cover shinkansen tickets that originate in west japan and end elsewhere like. You can use the suica card in kyoto, although you wont be able to get a refund on it when you leave. Even if youre not traveling on a reservationonly train, you can still reserve and guarantee. Attempting to book a few days or even a week or more in advance i find 1st and 2nd classes unavailable. Though some limited express trains have some nonreserved cars, you should book a reserved. How to reserve a seat of japan railway trains at the station.

However, most local trains dont have reserved seats, whereas other trains like the narita express only have reserved seats. How to buy shinkansen tickets, book a seat or consult japanese train schedules. Our page about regular train tickets provides an introduction to the various fares and fees, such as the base fare and. Hello, below is my itinerary for a midnovember trip next month. The shinkansen highspeed trains are the fastest way to discover all of japan, reaching a speed of 320 kmh 199 mph. The pass can save you a lot of money, but you have to order it before you set off for japan. The bullet train, or shinkansen, is a type of passenger train which operates on japans highspeed railway network. Tips to book your seat in even during the busy period. Do i need to book bullet train ticket in advance or can buy it at the station before departure i am arriving to beijing central station on the 23rd of may at 11. Guide to japanese train tickets and rail passes japan guide. While its easy to buy tickets at train stations in japan, you might want to buy. Please take your japan rail pass to any jr ticket office midorinomadoguchi.

Often, trains have some wagons dedicated to reserved seats shiteiseki, whilst others are dedicated to unreserved seats jiyuseki. Missing the last train its easy to assume that tokyo is a 24 hour city but its not. Just show your japan rail pass and passport and ask for a reservation in the class you want on the train you want. Few things are certain in travel, even in a country where things are as cutanddry as they tend to be in japan, but make no mistake. The train moves like a bullet hence the nickname, so fast.

Japan rail pass holders are entitled to book a seat on all japan railways trains free of charge. The price is usually between 800 and 8,000 yen, depending on your final destination. Do i need to book bullet train ticket in advance or can buy. How to reserve a seat of japan railway trains at the station and online. Jan, 2016 w hen you think of transportation in japan, obviously the japan rail pass comes to mind. Train travel is, in japan, particularly easy and fluid but it does not happen by accident. If youre traveling using a japan rail pass, heres some travel advice for you to decide if you should make a reservation or not. Be warned, though, decide now whether to get one or not.

Certain trains require reservations these restrictions are indicated on the overhead platform boards and youll need to visit the ticket office at the station to get on them. The japan rail pass is resereved for travellers, on a touristic stay in japan, who wish to use the train to travel around the country. You can travel to kyoto from tokyo in about 2,5 hrs. If you wish to reserve a seat, you need to provide the following additional information. The jr pass is for tourists, it is only available to nonjapanese people staying in japan for a short time for tourism purposes. A comprehensive travel guide to bring you up to speed on japanese etiquette, language, food, hotels, and more. Riding the train in japan erik s guide to japan book 1.

Japans public transportation system can be a little overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, its actually incredibly convenient and easy to use. Whilst planning your trip, you will need to know how to reserve a seat, check train schedules and more, which is why japan experience offers a practical guide on japan by train. I didnt need to decide in advance exactly what days i would use it, as long as i exchanged the. All types of japanese trains, from local to shinkansen, are typically classified into the following categories. As to why well partly because i want to travel on specific trains, and to be sure that i can, and partly for convenience id prefer not to have to worry about booking the tickets when i get to tokyo. The first thing you need to do is trying to book a seat right after you arrive in japan. You can always head to a japan rail jr counter once you arrive or seek help from an agent and pay some extra bucks, however, did you know that you can also book in advance online.