Japan · Scenic
Akita Shinkansen: Tokyo to Akita
A mini-shinkansen over the mountains to the Sea of Japan
3h 37m · JR East
- Scenic
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Country hub
Japan by train
The deepest country in the Far by Rail catalogue: Shinkansen corridors, sightseeing trains built around a view, and regional lines that are the reason to make the trip.
Japan is unusual because the ordinary network is the attraction. A reserved seat on a scheduled service can mean a design-led sightseeing train, a coastal local line, or a 300 km/h corridor, all bookable the same week, all running to the timetable.
The groupings below come from the catalogue itself: every journey here has a published route, season and booking record.
45 published journeys · 6 groupings
Featured journeys
Start with these
Japan · Engineering
Hokkaido Shinkansen: Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
Honshu to Hokkaido through the Seikan Tunnel
1h 01m · JR Hokkaido
- Engineering
- High-speed
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Engineering
Joetsu Shinkansen: Tokyo to Niigata
Across the spine of Honshu to the snow country
1h 29m · JR East
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
10 journeys
Shinkansen and high-speed corridors
The fast spine of the country, and the fastest way between its regions.
Japan · Scenic
Akita Shinkansen: Tokyo to Akita
A mini-shinkansen over the mountains to the Sea of Japan
3h 37m · JR East
- Scenic
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: 掬茶 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Engineering
Hokkaido Shinkansen: Shin-Aomori to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto
Honshu to Hokkaido through the Seikan Tunnel
1h 01m · JR Hokkaido
- Engineering
- High-speed
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Engineering
Joetsu Shinkansen: Tokyo to Niigata
Across the spine of Honshu to the snow country
1h 29m · JR East
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Engineering
Kyushu Shinkansen: Hakata to Kagoshima-Chuo
The length of Kyushu in under ninety minutes
1h 19m · JR Kyushu
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Design
Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen: Takeo-Onsen to Nagasaki
Japan's shortest Shinkansen, opened in 2022
23m · JR Kyushu
- Design
- High-speed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Hokuriku Shinkansen: Tokyo to Tsuruga
Over the mountains to the Sea of Japan coast
3h 06m · JR East
- Scenic
- High-speed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Engineering
Sanyo Shinkansen: Shin-Osaka to Hakata
Osaka to Kyushu along the Inland Sea corridor
2h 21m · West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: JobanLineE531 at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY 3.0
Japan · Epic
Tohoku Shinkansen: Tokyo to Shin-Aomori
The length of northern Honshu at Shinkansen speed
2h 58m · JR East
- Epic
- High-speed
Photo: brian25_tw / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Japan · Engineering
Tokaido Shinkansen: Tokyo to Shin-Osaka
Japan's original high-speed line, still its busiest
2h 21m · Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central)
- Engineering
- High-speed
Photo: Takeshi Aida / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Japan · Scenic
Yamagata Shinkansen: Tokyo to Shinjo
Japan's first mini-shinkansen, into the Yamagata hills
3h 40m · JR East
- Scenic
- High-speed
Photo: Original uploader was Jet-0 at ja.wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
3 journeys
Luxury and special trains
Premium named services where the train itself is the reason to travel.
Japan · Luxury
Kintetsu Hinotori: Osaka Namba to Nagoya
The private-railway answer to the Shinkansen
2h 05m · Kintetsu Railway
- Luxury
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Luxury
Kintetsu Shimakaze: Osaka Namba to Kashikojima
Observation saloons and a cafe car to Ise-Shima
2h 30m · Kintetsu Railway
- Luxury
- Culinary
- Design
Photo: nobu3withfoxy · CC BY 2.0
Japan · Luxury
Aru Ressha
Kyushu cuisine served as the journey.
3h 10m · JR Kyushu
- Luxury
- Culinary
- Design
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
2 journeys
Overnight trains
Japan's remaining scheduled sleeper services.
Japan · Sleeper
Sunrise Izumo: Tokyo to Izumoshi
Overnight from Tokyo to the shrine coast
11h 50m · West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
- Sleeper
- Epic
Photo: Mitsuki-2368 (talk) · CC BY-SA 3.0
Japan · Sleeper
Sunrise Seto: Tokyo to Takamatsu
Japan's last regular overnight train, to Shikoku
9h 27m · West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
- Sleeper
- Epic
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
21 journeys
Sightseeing and design trains
Joyful trains: interiors, themes and windows designed around the route.
Japan · Scenic
Odakyu Romancecar: Shinjuku to Hakone-Yumoto
The observation-car run from Tokyo to Hakone
1h 25m · Odakyu Electric Railway
- Scenic
- Design
- Excursion
Photo: Kznrhsd · CC0
Japan · Design
Tobu Spacia X: Asakusa to Tobu-Nikko
Tobu's design flagship to the Nikko shrines
1h 50m · Tobu Railway
- Design
- Excursion
Photo: Rsa / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Japan · Culinary
36+3
Five routes, one rolling portrait of Kyushu.
3h 50m · JR Kyushu
- Culinary
- Design
- Epic
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Culinary
A-Train
Jazz-era design on the short run to the Amakusa gateway.
1h 09m · JR Kyushu
- Culinary
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Design
Aso Boy!
A playful reserved-seat train into the Aso caldera.
1h 35m · JR Kyushu
- Design
- Themed
- Excursion
Photo: Rsa / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Japan · Design
B.B.BASE
Bring the bike aboard and start riding straight from the train.
1h 50m · JR East
- Design
- Themed
- Excursion
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
HIGH RAIL 1375
A highland train built around mountain light and starry skies.
2h 40m · JR East
- Scenic
- Design
- Themed
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Hinabi
Big windows and local food through northern Tohoku.
2h 10m · JR East
- Scenic
- Design
Photo: 舌平目 · CC0
Japan · Scenic
Ibusuki no Tamatebako
A folklore-themed coastal ride from Kagoshima.
51m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Design
- Themed
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Scenic
KAIRI
Sea of Japan views paired with Niigata and Shonai food.
2h 25m · JR East
- Scenic
- Culinary
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Kanpachi Ichiroku
Taste the Kyudai Main Line through food and local hospitality.
3h 20m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Culinary
- Design
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Scenic
Kawasemi Yamasemi
A special-date Aso train with strong design character.
1h 40m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Design
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Scenic
Koshino Shu*Kura
A sake-themed train through Niigata.
1h 45m · JR East
- Scenic
- Culinary
- Design
Photo: 羽吹舞 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Oykot
A deliberately nostalgic local-line journey through rural Japan.
2h 20m · JR East
- Scenic
- Heritage
- Design
Photo: さちどん / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.5
Japan · Design
Pokémon with YOU Train
A Pikachu-filled Tohoku train made for families.
1h 40m · JR East
- Design
- Themed
- Excursion
Photo: 中央特快201 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Resort Shirakami
Shirakami Mountains on one side, the Sea of Japan on the other.
5h 15m · JR East
- Scenic
- Design
- Epic
Photo: 掬茶 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Resort View Furusato
Northern Alps scenery from an observation-room train.
3h 36m · JR East
- Scenic
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
SATONO
A warm, food-led Joyful Train across southern Tohoku.
1h 56m · JR East
- Scenic
- Design
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Scenic
Two Stars 4047
Two coasts and two different routes across West Kyushu.
2h 53m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Culinary
- Design
Photo: Hana1213 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Umisachi Yamasachi
Miyazaki’s coast and mountains through cedar-lined carriages.
1h 49m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0
Japan · Scenic
Yufuin no Mori
A resort train that starts the Yufuin experience before arrival.
3h 20m · JR Kyushu
- Scenic
- Design
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0
8 journeys
Scenic regional lines
Coast, mountain and valley lines travelled for the view.
Japan · Scenic
Limited Express Azusa: Shinjuku to Matsumoto
Out of Tokyo and into the Japanese Alps
2h 30m · JR East
- Scenic
- Excursion
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Limited Express Hida: Nagoya to Takayama
Up the Hida river gorge to the old town
2h 20m · Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central)
- Scenic
- Excursion
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Limited Express Kuroshio: Shin-Osaka to Shirahama
Down the Kii peninsula beside the Pacific
2h 30m · West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
- Scenic
- Excursion
AI-generated editorial illustration by Rail Atlas
Japan · Scenic
Limited Express Thunderbird: Osaka to Tsuruga
The Kansai connection to the Hokuriku Shinkansen
1h 20m · West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
- Scenic
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Furano Biei Norokko Train
Open-window sightseeing through Hokkaido’s lavender country.
1h 40m · JR Hokkaido
- Scenic
- Excursion
Photo: MaedaAkihiko · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Furano Lavender Express
A direct seasonal limited express from Sapporo to Furano.
2h · JR Hokkaido
- Scenic
- Excursion
Photo: MaedaAkihiko / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko Train
Slow through Japan’s largest wetland.
45m · JR Hokkaido
- Scenic
- Excursion
Photo: ゆずかわしゅうと · CC BY-SA 4.0
Japan · Scenic
SL Banetsu Monogatari
Steam through forests and river country on the Banetsu West Line.
3h 33m · JR East
- Scenic
- Heritage
- Steam
Photo: Olegushka / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
1 journey
Steam and heritage
Japan · Heritage
SL Gunma
Historic steam day trips from Takasaki.
55m · JR East
- Heritage
- Steam
- Excursion
Photo: Nanashinodensyaku / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Countries represented
Keep exploring
- High-speed train journeys →Shinkansen in a worldwide context
- JR East journeys →
- JR Kyushu journeys →
- Night and sleeper trains →