Author's Note

Drawing a Japanese train journey

01 What is the difference between JR and private railways?
02 Distinguishing between confusing Japanese trains
03 Essentials for Japanese Train Travel: Rail Passes
04 Travel around Japan with a rail pass
05 Eighteen at heart, Youth 18 Ticket
06 Budgeting Your Train Trip
07 Entering Japan
08 Exciting, boarding a Japanese train
09 How to make full use of convenient station facilities
10 Complete Guide to City Public Transportation
11 Enjoying Train Lunch Boxes and Ekiben
12 Train Travel Snacks
13 Japan Train Travel Bucket Lists

Japan Train Travel Guide by Region

1.
Hokkaido
A leisurely train journey in Hokkaido
Hokkaido train types
Must-see tourist trains in Hokkaido
Want to take a train trip to Hokkaido?
01 Sapporo Station
02 Otaru Station
03 Asahikawa Station
04 Kushiro Station
05 Abashiri Station
06 Hakodate Station/Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station

2.
Tohoku and Kanto
Big and beautiful Tokyo and its surroundings
JR East train types
Trains worth taking in the Tohoku and Kanto regions
Want to take a train trip on the Tohoku/Kanto train?
01 Aomori Station/Shin-Aomori Station
02 Tazawako Station
03 Morioka Station
04 Sendai Station
05 Yamagata Station
06 Tokyo Station
07 Karuizawa Station
08 Nagano Station
09 Echigo-Yuzawa Station

3.
housewife
Attractive railway stopover
Types of trains in the Chubu region
Must-ride tourist trains in the Chubu region
Housewife, would you like to take a train trip?
01 Nagoya Station
02 Takayama Station
03 Toyama Station
04 Kanazawa Station

4.
Kansai/Chugoku
JR's struggles in the four-season battle
Types of trains in the Kansai and Chugoku regions
Must-Ride Sightseeing Trains in Kansai and Chugoku
Want to take a train trip through Kansai and Chugoku?
01 Kyoto Station
02 Osaka Station
03 Sannomiya Station/Shin-Kobe Station
04 Okayama Station
05 Hiroshima Station
06 Tottori Station
07 Wakayama Station
08 Kiitanabe Station/Shirahama Station

5.
Shikoku
Time travel by train and tram
Shikoku train types
Must-see tourist trains in Shikoku
Want to take a train trip to Shikoku?
01 Takamatsu Station
02 Matsuyama Station
03 Kochi Station

6.
Kyushu
Kyushu, the ultimate tourist train destination
Kyushu area train types
Must-see tourist trains in Kyushu
Want to take a train trip to Kyushu?
01 Hakata Station
02 Shimonoseki Station
03 Yufuin Station
04 Beppu Station
05 Nagasaki Station
06 Kumamoto Station
07 Kagoshima Chuo Station

A romantic, classic Japanese journey by train from Hokkaido to Kyushu!
From themed trains that excite 'railroad enthusiasts' to one-car nostalgia trains that travel between stations,
The 2025-2026 fully revised edition is packed with information to help you realize your dream of train travel in Japan!

From Hokkaido to Kyushu, here are 38 cities perfect for train travel!

Japan is a country of railways.
Japan is a country with a network of railways that are densely connected like a spider web.
There are Shinkansen trains that can reach distant areas in half a day, and there are also nostalgic one-car trains that run once a day.
Additionally, if you are a train travel enthusiast, there are trains with various themes that you cannot miss, adding to the fun of your trip.
Train travel in Japan is popular among young travelers because it allows them to explore every corner of the country with just one inexpensive rail pass.


"Japan Train Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition" provides detailed information on how to travel to cities in Japan that are great for train travel.
Here are 38 regional hubs for train travel: Hokkaido, where you can leisurely indulge in a train journey while viewing the vast nature unfolding outside the train window; Kanto and Tohoku, centered around Tokyo, where the latest trends converge and you can enjoy the best in taste and style; Chubu, an attractive railway transit point where the Tokaido Shinkansen connecting Tokyo and Osaka runs; Kansai and Chugoku, where you can experience various railway systems in places where traditional Japanese heritage and local culture intertwine; Shikoku, where you can travel back in time as if riding an old diesel locomotive and a clattering tram; and Kyushu, where you can enjoy a variety of tourist trains, the thrill of train travel.
In each city, we've packed in essential information about the train station, surrounding tourist attractions, restaurants, and accommodations, so you can enjoy your trip for anywhere from a half-day to a full day.
In particular, this comprehensively revised edition has significantly upgraded information on Japan's train operation and travel destinations, which have recently changed rapidly.

How to fully enjoy your train trip, including facilities within the train station, nearby tourist attractions, restaurants, and accommodations!

Japan's major train stations are well-equipped with various shopping facilities and restaurants, so you won't be short on food and entertainment even if you just eat and drink inside the station.
〈Japan Train Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition〉 also provides detailed guidance on how to have fun at the station.
The 'Let's Play at the Station' corner allows visitors to plan their next travel destination while shopping for gifts or eating local specialties at a shopping mall directly connected to the station.
Additionally, a guide map showing the facilities of the 45 train stations introduced in the book is included to help you easily find your destination.


The introduction to travel destinations by city is also informative.
If you want to take a half-day city tour, take a look at the travel destinations introduced in 'Let's Play with the Best'.
Detailed transportation information is provided for each travel destination, so you won't get lost, and there are also thorough guides to good restaurants.
If you want to stay for a day and really enjoy the city tour, try the 'Let's Play All Day' corner.
If you feel like the city is too hectic, it's a good idea to take some time to get out of the city and take a breather.
As the travel time increases, we also take advantage of the introduction of economical transportation passes.


A complete guide to must-ride regional tourist trains and theme trains!

There are many tourist trains and theme trains in Japan.
A steam locomotive that runs through a snowy field while belching white smoke, a tourist train that shows off green hills and colorful flower fields through the window, a resort train that holds traditional performing arts performances or events on board, a restaurant train where you can taste dishes from famous chefs, a steam locomotive decorated with the image of a fairy tale world, a mountain train that lets you experience the thrill of zigzagging up a steep mountain slope, and a cute two-car toy-like train all add to the excitement of train travel.


"Japan Train Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition" introduces a selection of must-rides from among Japan's many tourist trains and theme trains, selected by region.
If you are having trouble deciding which train to ride first, you can start by choosing from the themed trains introduced by region.
Especially, if you are a train travel enthusiast, you absolutely must not miss it!

A detailed guide to purchasing and using a rail pass, an essential for Japanese train travel!

Train fares in Japan are more expensive than those in our country.
In particular, the Shinkansen fares are not much different from airfares.
So what you absolutely need is a rail pass.
The Japan Rail Pass, commonly known as the JR Pass, is a ticket for foreign travelers staying for a short period of time and offers exceptionally discounted prices.
So, if you plan to travel around Japan by train, the Japan Rail Pass is a must.
However, there are many different types of Japan Rail Passes, and the scope of application varies.
If I don't know this properly, I can't plan a trip that suits me.
"Japan Rail Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition" provides detailed information on the types of Japan Rail Passes suitable for your travel destination, as well as how to purchase and use them.


A look at Japan's train travel specialties: ekiben and must-eat snacks!
When you think of train travel in Japan, the first thing that comes to mind is ekiben, the lunch boxes you eat on the train.
Japan is a country with a developed lunchbox culture.
Ekiben is even more special among them.
Enjoying an ekiben while looking out the window of a moving train is a simple pleasure that cannot be missed when traveling by train in Japan.
Ekiben are limited edition lunch boxes made with local specialties, so you can enjoy local ingredients and presentations.
The price is cheap, so it's not a burden, but it's filling enough to be enough for one meal.
And there's nothing like a snack to soothe the boredom on the train.
"Japan Train Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition" also introduces delicious snacks that can be easily purchased at convenience stores, supermarkets, and train kiosks.


Smart map guides and train station information using QR codes are also included!

In the "Japan Train Travel 2025-2026 Completely Revised Edition," station maps are included at all stations, allowing travelers to see at a glance the facilities they need, such as JR Information Centers for Foreigners, Midori-no-Madoguchi (windows where tickets and reserved seats can be issued), and coin lockers for storing luggage.
Additionally, it provides a QR code that allows travelers to check a map showing tourist attractions, restaurants, and accommodations centered around the train station using their smartphones, helping them travel more conveniently.