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First of all, I will list the main modes of transportation in Japan and what kind of transportation they correspond to, so that you can have a preliminary idea
JR (excluding Shinkansen) = > bullet trains/trains/intercity railways/subways
Shinkansen = > high-speed rail
Bus = > bus
Tram = > Bus Rapid Transit
Subway (non-JR) = > subway
Taxi = > Taxi
JR (excluding Shinkansen)
JR, or Japan Railways, is a large Japanese railway company that was once state-owned and later privately owned. JR has a long history and many routes, connecting major cities and villages at all levels under the city, and is the most common mode of transportation in Japan, and it is a must-know for independent travel to Japan. JR cannot simply be compared to one domestic mode of transportation, there are many types of JR. For example, the JR line in Tokyo is much like a subway, while the JR line from Sapporo in Hokkaido to surrounding cities is more like a train. Here's a guide to the entire JR journey
🤗 1.1 [How to check JR lines & timetables]
(1) I see it at JR Station site
If you are on site at a JR station, the most direct way is to look at the electronic screen, or go to the self-service machine to see the schedule, or look for the schedule announcement in the station, which is usually posted on the wall or reflected on the pamphlet.
This method is suitable for short distances with a lot of shifts, just like taking the subway, in most cases, you don't need to check the time in advance, and you can take it in a few minutes. For example, from the airport to the city, JR in Tokyo, etc.
(2) Inquire through a third-party APP
Recommended APP: Google Maps or in the transfer case. Search for the name of the station where you depart and arrive, change the boarding time, and you can see the information of different trains.
This method is suitable for medium and long-distance travel, and there are fewer shifts, such as half an hour, 1 hour or even 2 or 3 hours, similar to buying a train ticket, you need to check the time of the train in advance to avoid missing it. For example: Sapporo to Noboribetsu etc.
In addition, you can also check the time of the last train in advance in this way so as not to miss the return trip.
(3) Check JR's official website or official app
This method has a bit of a threshold and is more time-consuming. First of all, the website requires a Visa or JCB credit card to register an account, and after entering, although there is an English version of the website, it is not fully functional, and there is no discount information, and the information on the Japanese version of the website is the most comprehensive.
The good thing is that the information here is the most straightforward and comprehensive, and you can buy tickets 30 days in advance, as well as discounted tickets, discounted tickets, and so on.
This method is suitable for buying long-distance tickets or buying tickets in advance for more busy trains. If you know Japanese or are willing to spend time researching, you can try it.
Most JR lines in Japan do not have a situation where you can't buy a ticket, so this method is not necessary.
JR Official Website: https://www.eki-net.com/ (JR East), https://smart-ex.jp (Tokai, West Japan, Kyushu)
🤗 1.2 [How to buy tickets]
(1) The IC card is directly swiped in and out
Japan's transportation IC card is very widely used, Apple mobile phone users can directly add electronic suica to the wallet, you can use the card, non-Apple mobile phone users can buy a transportation card in advance (suica, icoca card, etc.), it is more convenient.
In a considerable number of JR stations, it is possible to support IC cards to enter and exit directly, especially in large cities, such as Tokyo, almost all of them support IC cards, just like we use cards to enter and exit subway stations.
However, it should be noted that there are many places that do not support IC cards and require the purchase of paper tickets, such as in Hokkaido, which is not supported in most areas.
(2) On-site self-service machines
The quickest way to buy a paper ticket is to buy it on the self-service machine on site, the machine can switch languages, and the overall operation interface is relatively friendly.
You can buy a relatively simple express ticket on the spot, only information about the departure station and price.
(3) On-site artificial window
In addition to self-service machines, there are also manual counters at JR Station that can be purchased, and some of the staff can speak English.
(4) JR official website
The official website ticket purchase has already been mentioned above, so I will not repeat it. After the purchase is successful, the website will send an email with a QR code for ticket collection, and you can swipe the code on the self-service machine to collect the ticket.
(5) JR-pass exchange
JR also has a service called the JR-pass, which allows you to travel on all JR trains within a specified area for a certain period of time. If you have a JR-pass, you can enter and exit the station by inserting your pass directly into the turnstile.
However, it is important to note that the JR-pass does not allow you to sit directly on a reserved seat, so you need to make a reservation in advance and take out your reserved seat ticket.
(6) Third-party software such as klook
In fact, it is not recommended, there are more advertisements on the interface, and some fees may be added.
- Author:japan guides
- URL:https://japan-guides.com/article/traffic-1
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