Blog posts

Japan has an interesting relationship to smoking in public spaces having not completely outlawed it as many countries have, but can you smoke on trains, including the famous Shinkansen? Find out here.

Priority seats, called yūsen-seki, are set aside by social courtesy rather than law for specific groups of passengers. Read on for everything you need to know.

Do Japanese trains have power outlets? What kind of sockets do they use? Find out everything you need to know including how to keep your devices fully charged while on the go in our new guide.

There's something almost improbable about a working steam train in a country that gave the world the Shinkansen. Yet Japan still runs several heritage steam locomotive services on scenic regional lines. Find out more here.

Japan is a dream destination for cycle tourers, with long coastal routes, mountain roads, and one of the most efficient rail networks on earth to stitch it all together. Want to combine riding with train travel? Find out how to do it for free.

Something that trips up many first-time visitors is that the JR Pass is not run by a single company. The nationwide Japan Rail Pass is jointly honored by six separate regional operators. Find out more in our special explainer.

Getting food on board the famous Shinkansen now works differently than it did before, but the solution is simple, and the station options are often better than what the old food trolley offered. Read our article to find out more.

In Tokyo, few train rides are as memorable as the Yurikamome. Departing from Shimbashi Station, this driverless line rises above the city, makes its way toward Tokyo Bay, and then crosses the iconic Rainbow Bridge.

Japan has three world-class railway museums, each with a different focus. Here's what each one offers, how to get there, and which is right for your trip.

Mobile Suica for iPhone is one of the top travel hacks in Japan. It converts your iPhone into a digital train card that works on trains, subways, buses, vending machines, convenience stores, and around 87% of your daily survival needs.