Advice

Itinerary advice

Wondering how to connect your journey from one place to another? You can take the worry out of planning your trip by using  Hyperdia.

Please note that those who wish to plan their travel and use a  Japan  Rail  Pass must leave the "Private Railway", and "NOZOMI/MIZUHO/HAYABUSA" boxes unchecked as these Shinkansen are not covered by a  Japan  Rail  Pass and the information will be less accurate.

Note: HAYABUSA is actually covered by a Japan Rail Pass for those planning a trip to  Sendai departing fromTokyo so for those trips, you need to make sure that the "NOZOMI/MIZUHO/HAYABUSA" box is checked.

The results of an example trip from Tokyo to Osaka are shown above. Please keep in mind that train services are regular and punctual so even if you miss a connecting train, the wait for the next train is usually not too long.

Where can I go?

Japan is a country that has many beautiful attractions no matter where you go. Whether you are going to see the glorious temples and shrines in Kyoto, the relaxing hot spring in Beppu (Kyuushu), or the technology precinct of Akihabara in   Tokyo  there is something for everyone in   Japan! It is said that the best way to discover   Japan is by train and the   Japan   Rail   Pass  is generally the most economical way to take the train.

Saizen Tours has an   interactive travel information map that provides information on a wide range of places in   Japan. Click on the different places shown on the map for detailed information on the attractions in each area. Please note that this map is a work in progress and will be regularly updated. If you require more travel ideas, you can consult the travel suggestions on the    Visit Hokkaido,  JR Hokkaido,  JR East,  JR Central,  JR West,  Tourism Shikoku and  Welcome Kyushu pages. For these pages, you are able to use your Japan Rail pass on the trains so please disregard any notes on using regional passes on sample itineraries.

Food for the hungry and time-poor traveller on a budget

This is not a complete list of the food available in   Japan, but merely a guide for those who wish to eat at a reasonable price and do not have much time. That being said, Japanese food is delicious and there are so many different dishes to try. The dilemma you will face is not what to try, but what not to try!  Japanese people do not just eat sushi and sashimi; there are various dishes that are popular amongst Japanese people which are delicious and reasonably priced. In most train stations, there are kiosks for you to buy local sweets, drinks, boxed meals sold at train stations or inside trains (these are called ekiben) and magazines. At the larger stations, there are soba (buckwheat noodle) stands that have no seats; customers stand at counters to eat as well as full-sized restaurants and cafes.

Cafes near or inside train stations usually offer coffee (hot and iced) and other drinks. Light and simple meals such as spaghetti with various sauces, Japanese curry and rice (usually mild), sandwiches and unique specialties such as Omuraisu (An omelette with chicken rice in a tomato based sauce inside) and gratin (usually a rice or pasta-based dish with cream sauce baked with a browned cheese topping).

For those who are lucky enough to be departing or arriving at a main station, you may find that there is a major department store attached to the train station where a wide variety of restaurants and places for a quick bite to eat are also options for you.

In the immediate area outside and around train stations, there are usually places to eat and drink which offer fast service and at a reasonable price. Ramen (Chinese noodle soup) shops offer noodles in different flavours of soup such as Shoyu (Soy sauce- this is the traditional flavour of ramen) and Miso (Bean Paste) with a variety of toppings. You can order Gyoza (dumplings) with your Ramen which makes for a delicious and filling meal.

For those who wish to buy their food and drink on the run, there is usually one of the many convenience stores in   Japan nearby. Rice Balls (called onigiri) with various fillings are available as well as sandwiches, various lunch boxes, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, magazines, newspapers, cigarettes (not sold at all convenience stores), snack foods, different  types of sweet and savoury bread and even domestic and international telephone cards for the nearby payphones.  Unlike in other countries, you are able to eat and drink on the train so it is certainly an option worth considering if you do not have enough time to eat at an establishment and need to board your train fast!

As a side note, there may be temporary stalls near or directly outside a train station selling things such as Takoyaki (Octopus dumplings), Taiyaki (Fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste or custard), or Yakisoba (fried noodles). These are either run by local residents at the time of a festival or by itinerant vendors whose main business is making and selling such food.

Have you lost something while on a train on the JR network?

You might be extremely worried that your item has been gone forever. Perhaps it was a valuable item or something of importance. Luckily, Japan Rail East has a lost and found department that holds any items left on trains. You can contact their  International support line on (050) 2016-1603 where you will be able to get support in English, Korean or Chinese.  JR Central and  JR West lost and found lines can only be accessed in Japanese (in this case you could ask your hotel to call on your behalf or ask a JR employee to contact them if you don't speak Japanese). These hotlines will be able to let you know where you may need to go to be reunited with your lost item.

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