Unpacking Japan’s Fascinating Train Culture

Aspects of Japan’s train culture are known across the world, from the unrivaled efficiency to the complexity and overwhelm of Tokyo's metro lines and the sheer absurdity of some of the country’s novelty trains. Traveling within Japan provides an authentic insight into Japan’s culture and offers an experience that is as much a part of the vacation as the destination.

Traveling on the shinkansen (bullet train) is a rite of passage when in Japan. The country's best-known trains have huge cultural significance. Aside from being the backdrop to the 2022 movie, "Bullet Train" starring Brad Pitt, they're known globally for being some of the fastest and smoothest trains in the world, reaching speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour.

They're also known for their punctuality, so much so that in 2017, when one of them departed the platform 20 seconds earlier than scheduled, the company publicly apologized for the mistake and any inconvenience it may have caused. Needless to say, Japan's trains have a reputation for punctuality and efficiency.

Despite the shinkansen having started operations in 1964 (when the service was slower, at 210 kilometers per hour), it still feels cutting edge and luxurious compared with the rail systems in many other countries. For the most luxurious experience, opt for Gran Class, where spacious seating and excellent service, including a blanket, sleep mask, and meals are included in the price.

The experience is so seamless that train travel is often favored over domestic flights. In fact, you can reach Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, in just four hours from Tokyo by shinkansen, making it a time-efficient and environmentally friendly way to travel, emitting just an eighth of the carbon per passenger than a commercial jet and allowing travelers to take in some of the Japanese countryside as they travel.

Though always sleek, shinkansen designs vary according to the route, and there are even novelty designs, including the very cute Hello Kitty Shinkansen, which runs between Osaka and Fukuoka. It has a pink and white exterior and features motifs of the Sanrio character and friends throughout the train. You can also find a photo booth and a themed car covered top to bottom with Hello Kitty. Listen out for the Hello Kitty theme, which announces the train's imminent arrival at the next station.

Another equally well-known side of Japan's train culture is the seemingly hectic Tokyo metro. The extensive rail coverage of this vast metropolis can appear off-puttingly complex to tourists staring at a metro map for the first time. However, the system's excellent signage in multiple languages makes it easy to grasp quickly.

A tip; it's a good idea to avoid traveling on the major lines during rush hours. Videos of Japan's train pushers, whose job involves shoving people into already packed trains, have been seen across the world. It's certainly an eye-opening experience to travel during these peak times, but traveling at other times of the day is a markedly more civilized experience. Fellow passengers tend to be very mindful of others, refraining from talking, eating, or playing music loudly through headphones. At peak times, female-only carriages provide a little extra peace of mind.

But to only travel on the metro and shinkansen is missing out on some of Japan's weirdest and most wonderful aspects of train culture.

Move over, Orient Express; Japan is home to some seriously luxurious trains that take hospitality to new levels. The Twilight Express Mizukaze is a hybrid diesel train and a nostalgic 5-star hotel on rails that can accommodate up to 34 guests. Its two or three-day routes can include Kyoto, the Seto Inland Sea coastline, and Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi.

Seven Stars Kyushu is similarly exclusive. Stay in plush suites, enjoy cocktails next to a grand piano and stunning views of Kyushu, a large island in southern Japan.

Another ultra-luxurious train is Train Suite Shikishima. This luxurious train's most exclusive trip is a three-night trip that departs from Tokyo and travels through Tohoku right up to Hokkaido and back down to Tokyo via the Sea of Japan coastline.

But you don't need to blow your budget to have some magical train experiences in Japan. JR-EAST has a host of Joyful Trains, which guarantee to bring out the geek in just about anyone, even if you've never had much interest in rail travel before.

One such example is the High Rail 1375. The high altitudes of the route have inspired this train's starry theme. The train runs a mountainous route from Kobuchizawa Station in Yamanashi prefecture to Komoro Station in Nagano prefecture. Its exterior depicts the night sky over a mountain range, while its interior features an astrology library, mini planetarium, and pairs of seats positioned to look out at the scenery.

In honor of the prolific sake production in Niigata prefecture, the Koshino Shu*Kura has a standing bar with local sake and nibbles and regular musical performances.

A more family-friendly Joyful Train is the Pokémon With You train, a Pikachu yellow train with headrests, curtains, and seats depicting the character, and a Pikachu-themed playroom onboard. The Tohoku-based train runs from Ichinoseki to Kesennuma.

There are other character-themed trains running the length and breadth of the country. Some of the notable examples are a realistic Thomas the Tank Engine, which runs between May and October in Shizuoka prefecture, and Panda Kuroshio, between Kyoto and Shingu stations, which aims to educate children on the importance of sustainability through its animal-themed interiors.

Japan's train cuteness often spills over into the stations, where you can buy themed souvenirs related to the local lines. But no station has a gimmick cuter than Kishi Station in Wakayama, which has had a feline stationmaster since 2007. The current stationmaster, Nitama, wears a jaunty hat on the job. The train and station are cat-themed, and there are plenty of Nitama souvenirs to buy.

Those who are more inclined to the good old days of trains are well catered for with steam locomotives across the country, from the SL Paleo Express in Chichibu to the SL Fuyu-no-Shitsugen in Hokkaido and the SL Gunma in Minakami. Trainspotters position themselves at the most scenic point of these tracks to catch a shot of these beautiful locomotives rumbling past snow-capped mountains, sakura trees, flower fields, and mountains covered in fiery foliage in autumn.

Japan's trains offer more than transportation in a land where tradition and innovation intertwine. Experiences steeped in culture, meticulous engineering, and punctuality reflect Japan's dedication to excellence. And while these trains will whisk travelers to their destinations, the joy of train travel in Japan extends far beyond efficiency.