Japanese Train Types

Japan has one of the most developed railway systems in the world. The extensive rail network covers almost every city and town in the country. Trains in Japan are safe, clean, comfortable and punctual.

Rail services in Japan are provided by more than 100 companies, including Japan Railway Group, private rail companies and third sector companies. For foreigners, it is a bit difficult to tell the differences. In general, Japanese trains can be divided into five types: local train, rapid train, express train, limited express train and shinkansen.

Types of Operators

Japanese rail transport services are provided by more than 100 private companies. Trains owned by different companies have different shapes and sizes.

Japan Railway Group (JR Group)

Japanese railway was government-owned by Japanese National Railways (JNR). IN 1987, the Japanese National Railways was privatized into seven companies: East Japan Railway Company (JR East), West Japan Railway Company (JR West), Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) and Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight).

Large proportion of Japanese rail service, including the well-known shinkansen, is operated by JR Group. JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR Kyushu and JR Shikoku provide passenger transport service. JR Freight provides freight service.

Private Railway Companies

Private railway companies in Japan operate private railway systems. These private rail lines mainly provide passenger service between major cities and commuter service in urban areas. Each railway company has its own separate routes and overlapping ones. There are 16 major private railway companies and other medium-sized and small railway companies.

Third Sector Companies

Third sector companies are funded jointly by regional governments and private companies.

Japanese Train Types

Trains in Japan can be classified as five types. They are shinkansen, limited express, express, rapid and local.

Shinkansen

• Japanese: 新幹線／しんかんせん
• Opened: 1964
• Operated by: JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR Kyushu, JR Shikoku
• Top speed: 240-320 km/h (149-198 m/h)
• Number of lines: 9 shinkansen lines

Shinkansen are high-speed lines operated by six JR Group companies. They are all built to standard gauge (1,435 mm/4’8.5’’) and use separate tracks and platforms from conventional rail lines.

The first shinkansen line, Tokaido Shinkansen, was opened in 1964, connecting Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. This rail line is also the world’s first commercial high-speed rail system, with the maximum speed of 320 km/h.

Currently, the nine shinkansen lines cover almost the entire Japan main islands from the northernmost island of Hokkaido to the southern island of Kyushu, connecting almost every major city in the country.

Nine Shinkansen Lines

There are nine shinkansen lines in Japan, including seven high-speed shinkansen lines and two mini shinkansen lines.

Mini shinkansen run on the existing narrow gauge lines which are widen to the standard gauge lines. Compared to high-speed shinkansen, mini shinkansen has a maximum running speed of 130 km/h (81 m/h).

High-Speed Shinkansen Lines

Mini-Shinkansen Lines

Shinkansen Train Levels

Shinkansen trains have different levels, which have different running speed and differnt numbers of stops along the way. Each level has its own name.

Six major shinkansen levels:

• Nozomi (のぞみ): The fastest shinkansen service stops at only the largest station. It is available on Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu shinkansen lines. Nozomi trains cannot be used with Japan Rail Pass.
• Hikari (ひかり): The second fastest shinkansen service on the Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen lines which can be used with the JR Pass.
• Mizuho (みずほ): A limited-stop shinkansen service on Sanyo and Kyushu shinkansen lines. It cannot be used with the JR Pass.
• Kodama (こだま): The third fastest shinkansen service on Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen lines which is covered by Japan Rail Pass. Kodama trains stop at more stations than Nozomi trains and Hikari trains.
• Hayabusa (はやぶさ): The fastest shinkansen service on Hokkaido Shinkansen and Tohoku Shinkansen which is covered by JR Pass.
• Sakura (さくら): A high-speed shinkansen service on Kyushu Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen. JR Pass can be used for Sakura trains.

Limited Express (特急 tokkyu)

Limited Express, also called Special Express, is a is an express train service with limited stops at only major or most often-used train stations. Limited express lines cover more cities than shinkansen.

Limited express trains are the fastest of train other than shinkansen, as well as the fastest type on narrow-gauge (3’6’’) lines.

JR Group and other private railway companies operate Limited express trains. The ticket fare is cheaper than that of shinkansen trains. But the seats are as equally as on shinkansen.

Like shinkansen trains, a surcharge will be added to the ticket fare when buying tickets on limited express.

Express (急行 kyuko)

Express trains stop at a few more stops than limited express trains, take a bit more time than limited express trains on the same route. Currently, express trains are all operated by JR Group.

Rapid (快速 kaisoku)

Rapid trains stop at more stations than express trains. No extra fees will be charged when booking rapid train tickets.

Local (普通列車 futsu)

Local trains are the slowest type of train and they stop at every station. Like Rapid trains, there is no surcharge be added to the ticket fare.

You Might Want to Know