The shinkansen is probably the most famous train in Japan and when thinking about Japan, shinkansen will be one of the first things to come to mind.
It's also the fastest and most comfortable way to travel around Japan. It's probably also the most expensive one but the train is always on time.
Getting a ticket is a bit tricky which is mostly because train staff do not speak very good English, if they speak at all. I therefore recommend you come prepared and have the travel information with you so you only have to point.
Basically, the shinkansen covers all major lines throughout Japan from Fukuoka in the southwest to Sapporo in the north east. Along the main line between Osaka and Tokyo, shinkansen departs every other minute.
There are also different kinds of shinkansen and operation lines are split into different regions (i.e. JRWest, JREast) so googling the information is a bit tricky sometimes. Again, if you want to have information about departures, I recommend Hyperdia as it provides you with everything you need to know.
When you buy a ticket, you always buy that ticket for a specific train on a specific date. You buy a ticket for a train, you are bound to use that and only that. There are special ticket gates for the shinkansen and you use it just like any other ticket gate.
Usually when buying a ticket for the shinkansen or another limited express train (there are a few but apps like Hyperdia will tell you that) you also need a seat reservation. There are specific waggons without reservation but they are rare and it's much more comfortable that way.
If you travel long distances as a tourist, you might want to check the JR pass as you can use some types of shinkansen with it as well without having to reserve a seat. But the pass is really expensive so unless you plan on using the shinkansen all the way from Fukuoka to Sapporo, it hardly ever checks out.
But again, using apps like Hyperdia will help you plan your trips and your calculations.
When buying a ticket, you can do so either through a vending machine or the ticket office. As mentioned above, the staff in Japan is usually not very fluent in English, so better provide all your information written down so it's easier for them.
If you already know which trains to take, JREast also offers online reservation:
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/English/wb/common/Menu/Menu.aspx
Freitag, 10. Juli 2015
Japan, Tokyo: How to get around
Tokyo provides an extensive and well-build public transport system which is exceptionally easy to use even though it looks very complex.
All trains and subways are run by 3 major operators and some private ones:
JR: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e
Metro Subway: http://www.tokyometro.jp/
Toei: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/
To enter the platforms you need to pass the ticket gate and when exiting the platform at your destination, you pass the ticket gate again. You will then be charged for the distance it took from depature to destination. If you switch train companies throughout your travel, you usually have to pass another ticket gate.
Remember that you will need a ticket for your complete destination. If you have to switch companies, you usually have another ticket vendine machine next to the ticket gate.
More information on how to use the ticket gates are provided here:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/station.html
If you want to use the train and pass the ticket gate, you obviously need a ticket first. You can buy tickets at a ticket vending machine. Most companies provide machines where you can switch to English but smaller ones outside Tokyo might not have those (they might not even have a ticket gate or a ticket vending machine at all).
There are different kinds of tickets, like roundtrip tickets, day tickets or standard tickets.
To buy a standard ticket, you first have to look up how much the trip to your destination will cost you. Usually, there is a huge map above the vending machines providing you with the information.
The tickets work like a prepaid card. So when you buy a ticket you get something like a one time use prepaid card that you charge up with exactly the amount you need to reach your destination.
More information on Fares and how to use those ticket machines are provide here:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/purchase.html
There might be differences on how to use the vending machines between train operator companies but the principle stays the same.
If you stay in the city or in Japan for a while, you might find buying a ticket every time very tiring.
And you don't need to because every operator offers a prepaid card which you can charge with as much as you want. You then just swipe it over the ticket gate and you don't have to worry about how much the fare is.
But remember that you will need to have enough money on your card to travel at least one station or else you won't be able to pass the ticket gate.
You can also recharge your card once you are inside.
All operators provide these prepaid cards but if you plan on leaving Tokyo, I suggest you buy a suica card since that usually works for other operators as well.
Once you passed ticket gate, you need to find the right platform. This seems very complicated at first but once you got the system, all you need to do is follow the right colors:
Every train line usually has its own color. As for Tokyo, sometimes the color changes throughout as the line changes (For example the Hanzomon line) but all lines additionally either have a number or a letter to identify them on the map. They also always have names, like the Yamanote line from JR.
But thanks to the color codes, you only have to follow the right colors to find the right platform. In Tokyo, every line has their own platform so unless the train ends early you will never hop onto the wrong train.
Some stations can be very big, though, so you might need a while to figure out where to go. Also remember once you pass through the ticket gate, you cannot exit it at the same station. Of course there are gates with staff that can help you but not all gates have them.
So before passing the ticket gate make sure it's the right one. Sometimes the stations are so big that not all lines are within the same area so always make sure to follow the colors and numbers.
Maps:
JR: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
Metro: http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/tips/guide/pdf/tokyo_metro_guide.pdf
Toei: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/services/pdf/sub_map_eng.pdf
Especially in huge cities like Tokyo, you will have to switch between lines and operators when getting somewhere, so depending on the map alone might not help you much. Some stations are also really big so you need to walk for 10 minutes to change lines.
In that case, you should use an app or a web site that helps you find the best way to travel around:
Hyperdia has helped me a lot in the past. It also provides information about the Shinkansen and has all routes throughout all of Japan. It also tells you how long it takes and how much the fare is.
It's available as an app for Android.
All trains and subways are run by 3 major operators and some private ones:
JR: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e
Metro Subway: http://www.tokyometro.jp/
Toei: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/
To enter the platforms you need to pass the ticket gate and when exiting the platform at your destination, you pass the ticket gate again. You will then be charged for the distance it took from depature to destination. If you switch train companies throughout your travel, you usually have to pass another ticket gate.
Remember that you will need a ticket for your complete destination. If you have to switch companies, you usually have another ticket vendine machine next to the ticket gate.
More information on how to use the ticket gates are provided here:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/station.html
If you want to use the train and pass the ticket gate, you obviously need a ticket first. You can buy tickets at a ticket vending machine. Most companies provide machines where you can switch to English but smaller ones outside Tokyo might not have those (they might not even have a ticket gate or a ticket vending machine at all).
There are different kinds of tickets, like roundtrip tickets, day tickets or standard tickets.
To buy a standard ticket, you first have to look up how much the trip to your destination will cost you. Usually, there is a huge map above the vending machines providing you with the information.
The tickets work like a prepaid card. So when you buy a ticket you get something like a one time use prepaid card that you charge up with exactly the amount you need to reach your destination.
More information on Fares and how to use those ticket machines are provide here:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/ticket/purchase.html
There might be differences on how to use the vending machines between train operator companies but the principle stays the same.
If you stay in the city or in Japan for a while, you might find buying a ticket every time very tiring.
And you don't need to because every operator offers a prepaid card which you can charge with as much as you want. You then just swipe it over the ticket gate and you don't have to worry about how much the fare is.
But remember that you will need to have enough money on your card to travel at least one station or else you won't be able to pass the ticket gate.
You can also recharge your card once you are inside.
All operators provide these prepaid cards but if you plan on leaving Tokyo, I suggest you buy a suica card since that usually works for other operators as well.
Once you passed ticket gate, you need to find the right platform. This seems very complicated at first but once you got the system, all you need to do is follow the right colors:
Every train line usually has its own color. As for Tokyo, sometimes the color changes throughout as the line changes (For example the Hanzomon line) but all lines additionally either have a number or a letter to identify them on the map. They also always have names, like the Yamanote line from JR.
But thanks to the color codes, you only have to follow the right colors to find the right platform. In Tokyo, every line has their own platform so unless the train ends early you will never hop onto the wrong train.
Some stations can be very big, though, so you might need a while to figure out where to go. Also remember once you pass through the ticket gate, you cannot exit it at the same station. Of course there are gates with staff that can help you but not all gates have them.
So before passing the ticket gate make sure it's the right one. Sometimes the stations are so big that not all lines are within the same area so always make sure to follow the colors and numbers.
Maps:
JR: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/map_a4ol.pdf
Metro: http://www.tokyometro.jp/en/tips/guide/pdf/tokyo_metro_guide.pdf
Toei: http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/eng/services/pdf/sub_map_eng.pdf
Especially in huge cities like Tokyo, you will have to switch between lines and operators when getting somewhere, so depending on the map alone might not help you much. Some stations are also really big so you need to walk for 10 minutes to change lines.
In that case, you should use an app or a web site that helps you find the best way to travel around:
Hyperdia has helped me a lot in the past. It also provides information about the Shinkansen and has all routes throughout all of Japan. It also tells you how long it takes and how much the fare is.
It's available as an app for Android.
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