How to Find Train Times for Japan Railways

Japan Railways (JR) connects all major cities across the nation and is an affordable, comfortable way to make long-distance trips in Japan, although shorter trips and commuter trains tend to be overly crowded. You can make advance ticket purchases (including JR Passes) and reservations for all JR trains from abroad or online. Follow these steps to find out how.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Internet access and printer

Instructions

Find Train Times by Phone or Online

1. Call JR's New York City office at 212-332-8686 to get train times, or visit their Web site (see Resources below).

2. Choose from the following areas: Hokkaido, Northeastern Honshu (Tohoku), Central Honshu (including Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka), Western Honshu (Chugoku) and Shikoku, Kyushu or Limited Express Sleeping Car Services. Click to go to an area map.

3. Notice the number in the circle to the left of the place name. This is your timetable number. Read the route information given with the number.

4. Click the directional boxes at the bottom where they appear (for example, eastbound or westbound) to find the train timetables you need.

5. Check that the timetable contains the information you need for your travel plans.

6. Print copies of all the timetables you need.

7. Return to the "Timetables and Fares" page to select and print any additional train routes you may need.

Tips & Warnings

• JR passes permit unlimited travel during the course of 7, 14 or 21 consecutive days for rates much cheaper than individual ticket purchases.

• Shaking hands is uncommon among the Japanese. Bowing is used instead as a form of greeting, to express thanks, to offer an apology or when making a request of another person.

• Wear nice socks when visiting temples, since you'll be expected to remove your shoes at the entrance.

• A JR Pass does not grant passage on Nozomi-type Shinkansen bullet trains connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Hakata and other cities.

• There are pink cars designated for women only on Japanese trains, instituted to prevent groping and sexual harassment. If you're female and traveling alone, you might want to use these during rush hour.

• Extensive train travel without a JR pass can be extremely expensive.

• Follow Japanese etiquette. When dining in Japan, never skewer your food with chopsticks, stick your chopsticks into your rice bowl to "hold" them or pass food from your chopsticks to someone else's chopsticks. Don't display bad manners.