Trains of Japan - A Review Thread

[rbjhan]

Inspired by a conversation with @VPS in my previous TR, I decided to try write about all the different trains...
Hopefully can convince a non fish eating train lover to visit the land of the rising sun!

This is going to be long and probably entirely depending on how my memory is nowadays (and where the heck are the old pictures?! )...so be patient!

 

[rbjhan]

Part A - Shinkansen 新幹線

Well everyone knows about them...but there are some differences....
First of all there are six different JR companies!
Better explaination here:

Japan Railways Group - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

And the Shinkansen network.



This map is a bit old but still mostly accurate.
Now let's dive in.

 

[Cossie]

Can others add their experiences?

 

[rbjhan]

Tokaido Shinkansen (JR Tokai)
This one is what most foreigners think about when they mention Shinkansen.

Runs between Tokyo - Nagoya - Kyoto - Shin Osaka, connecting all the major cities!
Note this whole line is run by JR Tokai, so none of the JR West passes can take the Shinkansen between Shin Osaka and Kyoto. Once you understand how the different JR companies work, it all makes perfect sense.



Ordinary car
2-3 seating,


Green car, yet not a green thing insight! I wish they would name it something like economy, business, first etc!
Green car is very comfortable and more importantly not crowded. Tokaido Shinkansen being so popular I think is the main reason with the JR Pass price hike.



There is no Gran Class in Tokaido Shinkansen.
I guess we'll see if they upgrade the new Chuo Shinkansen (that's the blue dotted line between Tokyo and Nagoya, it's a maglev line) with fancy seating...

Edit, if you are lucky you can see Mt Fuji on Tokaido Shinkansen.

 

[rbjhan]

Can others add their experiences?

Sure why not!
I'd love to hear

 

[rbjhan]

Hokuriku Shinkansen (JR East & JR West)
Tokyo - Karuizawa - Nagano - Toyama - Kanazawa - Tsuruga
The Kanazawa - Tsuruga leg is set to open early 2024. Eventually they want to expand to Kyoto and Osaka ofc, but who knows when will that be!

My personal favourite!



Ordinary car


Gran class, now this is something!




These are super comfy.


Light meals are provided on some Gran Class trains, unfortunately the two times I've taken it were on Hakutaka and Asama, neither has it! Quite annoyed tbh, we'll see if it's third time lucky!

 

[rbjhan]

Tohoku/Hokkaido Shinkansen (JR East)

Tokyo - Sendai - Morioka - Shin Aomori - Shin Hakodate Hokuto



Ordinary car, the colour is a bit dull...


Starting from Tokyo the Akita Shinkansen and Tohoku Shinkansen is connected.
In Morioka they split.


Akika Shinkansen is a mini Shinkasen (meaning they upgraded the existing narrow tracks instead of building a new wide one) between Morioka and Akita, it runs with a max speed of 130kmh.


I have not taken Yamagata & Joetsu Shinkansen.

 

[rbjhan]

Sanyo Shinkansen (JR West) 山陽新幹線

It is the continuation of Tokaido Shinkansen beyond Shin Osaka, however belongs to JR West.
This one actually runs all the way to Hakata Station in Kyushu. That's why the JR Kyushu passes cannot cover the Shinkansen between Hakata & Kokura.

Ordinary car, colour is a darker blue compared to Tokaido Shinkansen.

 

[rbjhan]

Kyushu Shinkansen (JR Kyushu)
Hakata to Kumamoto to Kagoshima. Well now they also have this new Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen runs between Takeo onsen and Nagasaki, yeah I know, it's not connected to the Shinkansen network at all.

The Kyushu only Tsubame (800 series)


Ordinary car, 2-2 seating

 

[rbjhan]

Enough of the Shinkansens, I'm taking a break

 

[VPS]

Thanks - I just love the 36 6 I think it was

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks - I just love the 36 6 I think it was

Don't worry, I have been thinking about doing something like this for a while.
Just needed the extra push which you gave me!

 

[love_the_life]

Thanks so much rbjhan - we love the trains in Japan. Just sad Hyperdia seems to have been decommissioned - it was a great site.

 

[rbjhan]

Thanks so much rbjhan - we love the trains in Japan. Just sad Hyperdia seems to have been decommissioned - it was a great site.

Yes, very sad indeed! I loved it...

Now I use Google Maps and this:

ジョルダン　乗換案内・路線情報・時刻表・運行情報サービス

経路検索の大定番　全国の電車、飛行機、バス、フェリーの時刻表・運賃・乗換案内・路線情報・路線図・定期代・18きっぷなどが調べられます。チケット予約、お得なクーポン、季節情報など、お出かけをもっと便利で面白くするサービスをご紹介します。

www.jorudan.co.jp

 

[rbjhan]

Part B - Sleeper Train

Well, there are only two regular sleeper trains since about 2015.
Sunrise Seto (Tokyo - Takamatsu) and Sunrise Izumo (Tokyo - Izumo).



Route map



Starting from Tokyo, the two trains are connected - to be separated in Okayama.
Then go their own ways to Izumo in Chugoku and Takamatsu in Shikoku. Total journey time are 12h and 9.5h respectively.

Bed types:
I booked Single both times.
These are all in bi-level cars so height is not great...if you are tall.


There's the bed, and some extra space for luggage.


SOLO
Solos are in single level car. But have upper and lower berths, very tight space IMHO.
Lower solo.


Upper Solo.


All the rooms have password control locks.

 

[rbjhan]

Single Twin
Strange name but I think what they mean is this room can be used by either 1 or 2 people.


The lower bed can be converted to seats, which would be quite good space for one person.

Single Deluxe and Sunrise Twin, sorry, no pictures! These are in the fancy car and sold out very quickly. I would love to try Single Deluxe but there are only six of them in one train so....

Nobi nobi seats.
The equivalent of hostel
I've seen some Japanese vloggers call it 雑魚寝 which is not a flattering word at all ..



There's a small lounge


A vending machine (yes only one! hit konbini before you board!)


Shower room. Six minutes of hot water is not my kind of fun
So I always try to visit a sento beforehand, never tried it.

 

[rbjhan]

OMG just saw the news！
Earthquake and tsunami in Ishikawa
I really hope everything and everyone is fine....

 

[rbjhan]

Part C Airport Express Trains

This needs to be a separate thing. Yeah you can tell I'm from Melbourne!

NRT
Technically, Narita is not even in Tokyo! It's in Chiba. Some 70 km outside of Tokyo. So there are two express trains connected to the city.

JR East Narita Express
Seats are comfy. Goes to Tokyo Station and sometimes beyond.
Expensive though.




Keisei Skyliner.
This is the quickest and cheaper than NEX. But only goes to Nippori and Ueno.
Good if you are staying in the northern part of Tokyo, or transfer to Tohoku Shinkansen, etc.



There aren't express trains to Haneda coz it's too close to the city, ha.

 

[rbjhan]

KIX
To be honest I don't like flying to/from KIX...way overcrowded, facilities are not so good...
But it's obviously convenient for Kansai region.

JR West Haruka
Only taken once iirc...and only managed to find this one picture
Not surprised since it's bascially good for Kyoto and that's it.
If you are in Osaka there are other options.



This is the other option in Umeda aka JR Osaka. A lot cheaper since it's not a limited express. You only pay the basic fare.


Nankai Rapi:t
If you are near Namba/Shinsaibashi area, this the best.

The Rapi:t has these oval shape windows...

 

[rbjhan]

NGO - Nagoya Chubu, just in case.

Meitetsu μSKY
Interesting name!
As far as I know JR Tokai doesn't serve the airport. Meitstsu is the only choice.
μSKY takes 28 mins, all reserve seats. There are also slower and cheaper trains.



Now that I look at this picture again, lots of salarymen on it....