Rail Travel
I highly recommend both of these companies
Trainline — get the best available prices, times, and train/bus tickets for your journey.
Trainline is Europe’s leading train and coach app. They work with over 210 rail and coach companies to help their customers travel to thousands of destinations across 45 countries. Their aim is to bring together all rail, coach, and other travel services into one simple experience so customers can get the best prices and smart, real-time travel information on the go.
Their platform hosts more than 80 million visits per month and sells more than 210 tickets every minute.
Trainline helps customers make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every single day.
Why Trainline?
- Customers have the station’s departures board in their pocket
- The service helps customers streamline their journey
- Customers won’t forget their rail cards, which are always saved in the app
- Customers don’t need to print their tickets or stand in line to make a purchase
- Customers don’t need the Internet to use a mobile ticket
- Trainline makes trip planning simple
- With early booking, customers can save up to 51%
The Japan Rail Pass (also known as JR Pass) is a multi-use ticket that allows you to efficiently travel around Japan. It is valid for journeys on all major JR national trains including Shinkansen bullet trains and Narita Express trains. Passengers can select a pass which is valid for 7, 14 or 21 days and there is the option of Standard Pass or a Green Pass (first class).
Shinkansen bullet trains are the fastest and most convenient way of discovering Japan. The Japan Rail (JR) network is extensive and the trains reach a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph). This allows you to get to wherever you need in little time.
The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.
The other six lines either take you north or inland from Tokyo. These are the Akita, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tokoku, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines. The Hokkaido line takes you the furthest north, all the way to Hokkaido island.
and you will receive an Exchange Order which you can swap for a JR Pass when you arrive in Japan.