If you want to build your itinerary by yourself, Hyperdia will help you a lot. This site is transportation search engine. You can search the timetables and routes of all trains, flights and airport shuttle bus. I think this site is most convenient site. But this site may be too many functions and options for you. You may be overwhelmed to use this site.
In this post, I will show you all functions of Hyperdia to understand using this site. I hope you will be a good friend of this site after reading this post.
How to use Hyperdia by movie
You may learn how to use this by the movie below if you like.
Basic search
Please access Hyperdia.
You see several fields. If you look for the simple timetable and route, such as Tokyo to Shin-Osaka, just type station’s names at “From” and “To”. Then select your trip date and time. At the last dropdown menu, you can choose one of those, “Departure”, “Arrival” and “Average”. In most of cases, you will use “Departure”. But if you want to arrive somewhere by the certain time, you may select “Arrival”. “Average” gives you some results between Arrival and Departure. But I have not used this mode many times.
e.g.
If you fly from Narita Airport terminal 2 on December 15. You will leave Tokyo station and you want to be Narita by 15:00. You will type “Tokyo” and “Narita Airport terminal 2”. And then select “December 15”, “15:00” and “Arrival”.
Search with some conditions
When you use JR Pass, you can’t take Nozomi on the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. And most kinds of the pass that are issued by JR Group do not cover most of the private railway lines and the subways. On the other hand, some non JR railway’s deals, such as Kansai Thru Pass do not cover JR train. You can sorth the schedule and the route with these conditions.
Please see the bottom at the entry fields. You can find “Search Details”. Just click it and you will find many choices.
Via 1, Via 2 and Via 3
When you search the route and the schedule, sometimes the multiple routes are shown. If you want to fix the route, put the station name on the way to your destination at Via 1.
e.g.
If you want to get Takayama via Nagoya from Tokyo, input Tokyo at “From”, Takayama at “To” and “Nagoya” at Via 1. You will get the timetable of Tokyo-Nagoya-Takayama route.
You may input maximum three station names at Via 1, 2 and 3.
Order
You can choose the order of result. If you do not touch, the best departure time will be shown. If you choose “Transfer”, the fewest transfers route will be shown on the top. If you choose “Money”, the route of the lowest cost will be shown at the top.
Check box
You can check or uncheck to get the right schedule for your trip.
e.g.
If you use JR Pass and try to find the route from Shin-Osaka to Hakata, you should uncheck at “NOZOMI / MIZUHO / HAYABUSA (SHINKANSEN)” because Nozomi and Mizuho are not covered by JR Pass. But if you travel by the Shinkansen to the north, such as Shin-Aomori, Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, you will take Hayabusa. Hayabusa is categorized at same train type as Nozomi and Mizuho. But Hayabusa is covered by JR Pass and other JR deals.
Private Railways are not covered by JR Pass either. So you may uncheck at this field too. And also you should uncheck at “Airplane” and “Airport Shuttle Bus”. Hyperdia shows you the domestic flight schedule as well. As long as you use the rail pass, any result of the flight schedule is not required.
You can make some changes for these above conditions at the result page too.
Advanced function
When you get a result, you can see more detailed information.
Train timetable
If you click this link, new window is opened. It shows all station’s departure and arrival time of the train. If you travel with you friend. He/She will join you on the way to your destination, you can tell the time to join.
Interval timetable
Actually this function is very useful. Click this line open new window. You will see all other trains in same segment. If you want to compare earlier or later train, this function works very well.
Station timetable
If you click this link, new window is opened and show you all train’s departure time. There are links on all trains. You can click it to get detailed information of the train.
When you cannot find station’s name
This is tricky to use this site. Sometimes you cannot find the station name that you want to depart or arrive. There are several cases.
Hyphen in the name
Some station names have a hyphen in the name.
The station name which contains “Shin”
If you look for the name that starts from “Shin”, you may have to put hyphen (-) after “Shin”.
e.g.
Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Shin-Yokohama, Shin-Aomori
These names are seen on the Shinkansen lines very often. Because “Shin” means “New”. These stations are built for just the Shinkansen lines near the major cities.
e.g.
Osaka and Shin-Osaka, Kobe and Shin-Kobe
However some station’s names does not have hyphen between “Shin” and name.
e.g.
Shinsapporo (means New Sapporo)
Shinimamiya (means New Imamiya)
And also the names itself include “Shin” do not have any hyphens.
e.g.
Shinsaibashi
The station name which contains the cardinal directions
When you look for the name that is started from “Higashi”, “Nishi”, “Minami” and “Kita”, you may have to put a hyphen after these words. These four words mean East, West, South and North. These types of stations are located near major cities too.
e.g.
Minami-Chitose (means south Chitose)
Nishi-Akashi (means west Akashi)
But in this case, some station names do not have any hyphens even though the name contains the cardinal direction.
e.g.
Nishiumeda (west Umeda)
The station name which contains the historical domain name
In Japan, these are still many names remaining the historical domain name from Edo era.
e.g.
Aizu (inland of Fukushima prefecture), Kaga (near Kanazawa)
We see this type of name at the station too. You may have to put a hyphen when you look for the name which consist of the domain name.
e.g. Aizu-Wakamatsu, Omimaiko
Again some names have a hyphen and others do not have.
Anyhow when you cannot find the name, try to put a hyphen.
Same location but different names
In major cities, especially in Tokyo and Osaka, there are so many railways. We sometimes find the lots of station names in same area. The most well known case is JR Osaka station area. There are JR lines, Hanshin railway, Hankyu railway and three Osaka metro lines.
- Osaka (most of JR line)
- Kitashinchi (JR Tozai line)
- Umeda (Hanshin railway)
- Umeda (Hankyu railway)
- Umeda (Osaka Metro Midosuji line)
- Higashiumeda (Osaka Metro Tanimachi line)
- Nishiumeda (Osaka Metro Yotsubashi line)
This area is usually called “Umeda by the local residents. Osaka is the city name and the prefecture name. It is not the name of this area. But JR station is “Osaka”. This is very complicated but these all stations are located within the walking distance. We can find this type of the case at many places.
e.g.
Hamamatsucho (JR and Tokyo monorail) and Daimon (Tokyo subway)
Namba (Nankai and subway), JR-Namba (JR) and Osaka-Namba (Kintetsu and Hanshin railways)
The station name which contains the company’s name and the location name
This is very tricky. In case that there are multiple railway stations in same area, the railway company put their name in the station name.
e.g. Kintetsunara (Nara), Kintetsunagoya (Nagoya), Seibu-Shinjuku (Shinjuku), JR-Namba
In this case, you can never find these names if you put the location name. Especially the major private railway companies, like Kintetsu, Seibu have this type of names. You may use Google map to find the exact name if you do not know an exact name.
I hope this post helps you to understand how to use this train search.
Comments
I am arriving at Narita on 21st at 0740 after a long international flight. (14 hours) and I don’t sleep on planes. I was going to overnight in Tokyo.
I have booked a night on the 22nd in Norbibetsu Hokkaido, but I don’t want to travel all day and all night. I would like to arrive mid afternoon.
Has anyone an idea of the duration and if it could be possible to travel immediately to say Aomori.
But how long does it take to go on the 22nd to Noribetsu?
I can not find out – all local trains.
Would it be too gruelling to attempt to travel some 3-4 hours on the bullet train heading north immediately following a long tiring flight where I have to check in at 5am?
Regards
Jan
Hi Jan,
There is no way to get Noboribetsu from Tokyo by train in 4 hours. If you take a train, the fastest travel time are the following:
Tokyo – Shinaomori 3 hours
Shinaomori – Hakodate 2 hrs 15 mins
Hakodate – Noboribetsu 2 hrs 20 mins
There is no other way by train.
I recommend you to take domestic flight from Haneda to New Chitose (Sapporo).
Haneda airport is closer to downtown Tokyo by Narita.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-to-access-from-haneda-airport-to-downtown-tokyo.html
It takes 1.5 hrs to get New Chitose. And it takes another 1 hour to get Noboribetsu by train. If you don’t like long transfer, this is the best way.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi
I am a first time visitor to Japan, traveling with family, visiting various places starting from Osaka then to Himeji and various other places.
We will be arriving at Kansai in December at 21:20 hrs. Am hoping to stay in a hotel near a train station either in Namba or Osakananba. If possible, a direct train would be handy considering the late evening of arrival. The train system is still confusing and an trying to find out the best way to get out of the airport i.e., train, JR, bus limousine.
I would like to know the:
– approximate time to clear custom
– which train to take to Namba, how long is the journey and how much
– which train to take to Osakananba, how long is the journey and how much
Then from either of this station to Himeji.
Can you please advise.
Thank you very much.
Serena
Hi Serena,
I wrote the post that you need. Please see the following:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/kansai-kix/how-to-access-to-osaka-kyoto-and-kobe-from-late-arrival-flight-at-kansai-airport-kix.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello, I am interested to travel to Asahikawa (and neighbouring places), also Utoro, side visits to Furano and Biei, and then Tokyo. Basically to trek and climb mountains in Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko and surrounding places.
Could you let me know what is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel between Tokyo to these places (trains? air? buses?). And also how should I plan the travelling, thanks!
Jo
Hi Josephine,
The cheapest way is a train by JR pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
But it takes a long time to get Asahikawa from Tokyo. The following link shows you the trip to Sapporo from Tokyo. Asahikawa is another 1.5 hour away from Sapporo.
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
In these days, there are lots of low cost carrier from Narita/Haneda to Shin-Chitose (Sapporo).
http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/cheap-flights/sapporo
http://www.skymark.co.jp/en/
If you find a good deal for taking these flights, it may be cheaper than train. But I’m not sure because LCC fare is always changed.
It’s so hard to compare among these selections. Actually I don’t know which one is the cheapest so far.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you so much for the information 🙂
Jo
We are staying in Ikebukuro and need to go to Kyoto. When I check Hyperdia, it mentioned Yamanote line and there is inner loop and outer loop. What is the difference between those? and is it easier to go to Tokyo station or should we do the 2 transfers at Osaki and Shinagawa? There are 4 of us (2 teeanger) and 3 pieces of luggage total.
Thanks so much!
Rose
Hi Rose,
Yamanote line is a loop line. Inner loop runs clockwise and Outer loop runs counterclockwise.
I think outer loop Yamanote line train is the easiest. You need to transfer only once at Tokyo. Even if you take inner loop line, you don’t need to transfer at Osaki. Hyperdia shows we have to transfer at Osaki. But most of Yamanote line train keep running.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Takeshi san,
Thanks for your reply. Does train stops at all stations regardless of inner or outer loop of Yamanote line? Say if I go from Ikebukuro to Tokyo or Shinagawa station, can I hop on either direction? It looks shorter on the map if I go on the outer loop to Shinagawa but Hyperdia keep saying inner loop on Yamanote line? Does the train only stop at Shinagawa station on the inner loop?
We have JR pass, so from Hiroshima to Narita airport, how should we go about? Looks like most of the JR train is Nozomi or Mizuho which we can’t use. Our flight out from Narita to Hong Kong is on a Wed at 18:35. Would you help me get a train schedule from Hiroshima to Narita airport using JR pass? Arriving 2 hours prior to flight at the airport, is that enough time, or should I get there earlier than that?
Thanks so much! REALLY appreciate your help!
Rose
Hi Rose,
As long as you catch Yamanote line either inner or outer, you will get Tokyo or Shionagawa sooner or later. You don’t hop on/off. All trains stop at all stations.
Map > http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/YAMANOTE_LINE.png
From Hiroshima, it will be a long trip. You can find it at Hyperdia. When you check the timetable at Hyperdia, you will find “search details” just above “Search” button. Click it and you will find some check box. Check it off at “Airplane”, “NOZOMI / MIZUHO / HAYABUSA (SHINKANSEN)” and “Private Railway”. You will get the result that you want.
I usually go to the airport 3 hours before departure time. 2 hours may be okay. But if the line up is a long, 2 hours may not be enough. And if trains are late, you can’t catch up with the schedule with 2 hours margin.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you, Takeshi san!
No problem, Rose san.
Enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Matt, this is our first visit to North Japan. On 3rd wk May, my wife and I plan to catch noon train from Tokyo to Aomori on the Shin Express to see Cherry Blossom. After stay 2 nights, we catch next train to Hakodate and then to Sapporo. Please advise best way to proceed. Thanks
Hi Andrew,
Please see the following link:
https://jprail.com/destinations/hokkaido-area/how-to-get-sapporo.html
Now cherry blossom is almost over in Aomori and it’s almost peak in Hakoate.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi!
If I printed out my routes from Hyperdia, can I take them to the Narita JR desk and get all the tickets reserved there and then? It may annoy the person behind me, (sorry if it’s you), or is there a better way of doing it?
Thanks!
Hi Matt,
I think they can understand it. But if you have many trains to book, it will be lots of papers. You may make the list. You can put the following info on the list:
May 22 Hikari222 Tokyo 12:00 – Kyoto 15:00 reserved non smoking widow side
If you give them these info, they can reserve it right away.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thank you!!
Will do that as well.
Matt
No problem, Matt. 🙂
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
hello, i would like to ask about tokyo one day pass, there are several options and i don’t know which one to choose. i do not buy JR pass anyway. my senpai who lives there suggest buying IC card which can be recharged, but when i use hyperdia to calculate teh fare based on the itinerary, it passes 1000 yen, like going from shinjuku to disneysea and back exceeded 1200 yen, do you think i should buy day pass for that?
also, i would like to go to kawasaki area to fujio museum, it uses JR, do you think it will be alright to pay the ticket or use pass?
thank you
Hi Elvila,
Actually if you take only JR trains, Shinjuku – Tokyo – Maihama, one way fare is 390 yen. You don’ t need pass.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRAIL
Hi takeshi ,
Like to check , when using hyperdia , does it give the best options ? cos i am trying to plan from nagoya to hakodate , and even though i choose 7 am , they give me 10.27 am earlier train , but when i click on the station timetable , there are actually earlier Hikari trains ( cos am on JR pass )
10:27
begin NAGOYA [ Departure track No.14 ]
SHINKANSEN HIKARI 514
12:10
12:20
transfer TOKYO
[ Arrival track No.14 / Departure track No.20 ]
[189 Min]
through
SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 19
15:29
15:39
transfer SHIN-AOMORI [ Arrival track No.12 ]
[136 Min]
through
LTD. EXP SUPER HAKUCHO 19
17:55 end HAKODATE
I check the station timetable
SHINKANSEN HIKARI 504 SHIN-OSAKA – TOKYO it will stop at nagoya at 7.18 am and will reach tokyo at 9.10 am
Then i check on tokyo station time table
SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 11 TOKYO 9.36 am – SHIN-AOMORI 12.36
OR
SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 13 TOKYO 10.20 am – SHIN-AOMORI 13.29 reach shin-amori
and at shin-amori
LTD. EXP SUPER HAKUCHO 5 SHIN-AOMORI 11.30 – HAKODATE 13.42
So my question is , any idea how the plan the route ? and should I just built my trip/transfer like what did ( is it safe to do this way ) , part by part or follow the first one by hyperedia ? I realised of cos the one plan by hypermedia there is very min transfer time
Hi kolaxiong,
When I checked, Nagoya to Hakodate, depart at 7:00 am, I got the following result:
07:42
begin NAGOYA
[ Departure track No.15 ]
[101 Min]
through
SHINKANSEN NOZOMI 104
09:23
09:36
transfer TOKYO
[ Arrival track No.14 / Departure track No.21 ]
[179 Min]
through
SHINKANSEN HAYABUSA 11
12:35
12:45
SHIN-AOMORI
[ Arrival track No.14 ]
[133 Min]
through
LTD. EXP SUPER HAKUCHO 11
14:58
HAKODATE
But JR Pass does not cover Nozomi. So we have to find Hikari.
Sometimes Hyperdia works funny. As you tried, we sometimes have to check section by section. It’s better way to find better route and connection.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I am arriving at Narita at 3.30 pm on April 12th and need to get to Kyoto.
For return I am departing narita for USA at 5.00 pm on April 17th.
Could you please advise me the best train connections from Narita to ? to Kyoto. I will have one large suitcase. Also please advise return train connections for April 17th.
Thanks very much.
Ali
Hi Ali,
You can take Narita Express from Narita to Shinagawa and take Shinkansen from Shinagawa to Kyoto. You can transfer at Tokyo station instead of Shinagawa. But Shinagawa is much easier to transfer because both trains departs/arrives at ground level platform. (In Tokyo, Narita Express arrives at deep underground platform.
You can find these trains timetable at Hyperdia as I explained above.
If you don’t understand, try to find at the following links:
http://www.eki-net.com/pc/jreast-shinkansen-reservation/english/wb/common/timetable/index.html (Narita Express)
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/timetable/index.html (Tokaido/Sanyo Shinansen Shinagawa-Kyoto)
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
[…] Visit link: Japan Rail Pass and rail travel in Japan complete guide – JPRail … […]