The train system in Japan is truly fantastic. If you are visiting Japan you will be sure to make use of it. A wonderful way to explore the country and it is incredibly reliable. Here are a few tips we wished we knew before our first family train journey.
3 Train Tips
The biggest mistake travelers make is having too much luggage.
The most stressful thing imaginable is standing on the platform as the bullet train (shinkansen) comes into the station. Getting yourself, your family and your luggage on the train should not of itself sound stressful. The exception to this is when you have all of 2 minutes to get on board along with everyone else!
Tip 1 – The less luggage you have, the less stressful it will be.
Apart from getting your luggage onboard in quick time, the other major issue is finding space on the train. There is very little storage space and often you will need to store your suitcase at your seat. There is usually space above your seat but this is only for smaller bags.
Tip 2 – Buy your tickets in advance online.
It is also worth collecting your tickets for the return journey at the same time. If you have booked Green or Gran Class you will get two tickets each way. So make sure you have four tickets (per person) in total. So long as you do not misplace your return tickets it saves queuing up later, especially after a ski trip. If you are collecting JR tickets make sure you show the email with your Member number in full.
Tip 3 – Be super quick.
Be ready to get on the train as soon as it arrives at the station. Give everyone in the family a task – whether it be holding a bag or just finding their seat. I am always shocked and impressed when the train leaves the station at the exact time it is scheduled. Usually this is within minutes of arrival.
You will have a brilliant holiday in Japan and will make great use of the incredible train system. If you follow my tips I guarantee you will have a much less stressful experience.
Happy commuting!
Shareen
© 2025. All content and photographs copyright (c) 2025 travelwith3bubs. All rights reserved.