JR train timetables guide. How to find the timetable of the train in Japan.

Timetable and reservation
2010.08.24

You need to check the train timetable to plan your trip.
In this post, I will introduce several resources where you can find train timetables in Japan.

I will cover the timetables provided by the major train companies later.
However, those alone are not always enough. Some train companies only offer a search engine, so you may prefer to see a hard copy of the timetable.

JR Group’s website

JR used to be Japan’s national railway, but it was privatized many years ago.
Today, there are six separate companies:

  • JR Hokkaido (Hokkaido area)
  • JR East (Tohoku, Kanto, Tokyo and surrounding areas, Nagano)
  • JR Central (Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya and surrounding areas, Chubu region)
  • JR West (Kansai and Chugoku regions)
  • JR Shikoku (Shikoku area)
  • JR Kyushu (Kyushu area)

Some of these JR companies provide timetable and fare search functions on their official websites.

JR East timetable

This website provides timetables for most limited express trains, Shinkansen services, and popular seasonal trains in the JR East area.
It also includes timetables for JR Hokkaido trains.

JR East official site– the timetable

JR Central timetable

This website offers the timetable for the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen.
These Shinkansen lines connect Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Hakata.

JR Central official site – Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen timetables

JR Kyushu timetable

This website provides timetables for most limited express trains, Shinkansen services, and popular seasonal trains in the JR Kyushu area.

JR Kyushu official site – The route map and the timetable of JR Kyushu trains

Hyperdia

hyperdia1

If you cannot find the timetable in the links above, please use Hyperdia to find it. Hyperdia covers all train’s schedules, most of domestic flights schedules, airport shuttle bus schedules and fare tables. This is the best website for a traveler who takes a train, and helps you to build your itinerary. It is simple but a bit tricky to use. Please refer the guide of Hyperdia in the link below:

Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine
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. But this site is a bit tricky and too many functions and options to you. This guide will help you to find the way to use this site.
jprail.com
2013.11.26

Comments

  1. Elvina says:
    April 26, 2016 at 4:08 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    We are planning to go to Japan in July during the summer holiday, we all together 2 adults and 2 children (2 years old and 6 years old), which pass should we buy if we have the following itinerary

    Day 1 kasai int’l airport to Kobe by bus
    Day 2 Kobe to Anpanman children’s museum, Mt Maya
    Day 3 from Kobe to Nippombashi station, Kyoto, Kyoto railway museum, Nippombashi station
    Day 4 Nippombashi station, Nara, namba
    Day 5 Nippombashi station, Banpaku memorial park, expo city, Nippombashi station,
    Day 6 Nippombashi station, universal studio, Nippombashi station
    Day 7 Nippombashi station, tennoji,Nippombashi station
    Day 8 Nippombashi station to shinjuku, Tokyo tower, shinjuku
    Day 9 shinjuku, Ghibli Museum, Jiyugaoka, shinjuku
    Day 10 shinjuku, yamanashishi
    Day 11 yamanashishi, shinjuku
    Day 12 shinjuku, Disney shinjuku
    Day 13 shinjuku, Sky tree,shinjuku
    Day 14 shinjuku to Narita airport

    Thanks,
    Elvina

  2. Anthony says:
    October 13, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    hi Takeshi
    4 day -flex Hokkaido pass yen22,000 but I use only 4 time
    need to compare is it worth buy or just single -trip ticket will do.
    day 1 .from chitose airport to hakodate station ( price JR rail)
    day 2.from Hakodate station to Sapporo station (price JR rail)
    day 3.from Sapporo to otaru (price JR rail)
    day4 .from Sapporo to chitose airport (price JR rail)
    or can you advise where to find out price.thanks

  3. mardie says:
    September 21, 2015 at 7:23 pm

    We are a family of 4 flying into Narita Airport, staying at a hotel in Asakusa for 4 days, and travelling throughout Central Tokyo (Ueno, Harajuku, Shibuya, Ginza, Shinjuku…) . We also have a day trip to Odaiba and Tokyo Disney Sea. Would purchasing a PASMO card be advisable? Also what time is the last train leaving Odaiba ( we plan to stay at Disney until closing and not sure of best way to get back to Asakusa.
    Thank you so much for your help!

  4. Dlimsh says:
    August 23, 2015 at 7:19 pm

    Takeshi/JP Rail.

    I am planning to buy the Takayama-Hokuriku Area pass for my trip in Dec.

    Can I confirm that all the stops for this JR rail is at the main JR station, namely, Nagoya JR station, Takayama JR station, Kanazawa JR station (any other name for this station as I want to book hotel nearer to the station) and Kyoto JR station ?

    For the Nohi Bus from Takayama to Shirakawago and the other bus from Takayama to Shin Hokata, can I check whether there are facilities in the bus to store my luggages ? Am I allowed only to have a backpack or can I carry luggages of any size. Is there any restriction on these buses ?

    Is it possible for me to consult you on Kintetsu Rail pass for use in Osaka in this forum ?

    Thanks.

  5. Mari says:
    July 26, 2015 at 1:21 am

    Hi,

    I have plan to visit Japan in December and January.
    I interesting to travel to Atami via Tokaido Main line not the Shinkansen one.
    Can I take this train from Ueno station?
    And also I couldn’t find any timetable. Please help.

  6. May says:
    July 18, 2015 at 5:02 am

    I am going from Nagoya to Matsumoto using limited express wide view shinamo train. However I cannot find the schedule for this train. And do I need to reserve a seat? I will have a JR Pass for two weeks.

    Please can you advise.

  7. Nora says:
    June 21, 2015 at 2:09 am

    Hi, need some advice. I have a short trip to Japan on September which is 2nite in Tokyo and 2nite in Osaka. Is the 7days JR pass releven or just one day pass. We was thinking to travel from Tokyo to Osaka by JR. Can you advise the cheapest way. Thanks

  8. annie says:
    May 26, 2015 at 11:15 am

    Hi!

    This is my travel plan and I’m not sure what passes to go for. Can anyone help me?

    plan:
    8 days
    1- Osaka
    2- osaka station to kinosaki onsen
    3- still in kinosaki onsen
    4-kinosaki onsen to kyoto station and then to higashiyama district and then maybe arashiyama if I have time
    5- fushimi inari shrine
    6- kyoto station to osaka station and then to Dobutsuenae station to go to spa world
    7- dotonburi
    8- osaka station to osaka international airport (morning so only need to use the train for this journey)

  9. Carolyn says:
    May 13, 2015 at 12:18 am

    Hi,

    This is my first time in Osaka. I am not sure where I can find the time table for the trains leaving from KIX to Kyobashi Station.

    I am arriving at KIX at 930pm on Sunday. Can you please advise? Thanks

  10. Rena says:
    May 11, 2015 at 12:05 am

    Hello Takeshi,

    This is my first trip to Osaka. I will be arriving at KIX at 2235 hr on a Saturday night. I will need to get to Tennoji Station. I found that JR travels direct to Tennoji and the last train is at 2332hr. I am worried of flight delays and will not be able to make it to the last train. Any other train travel suggestion at this hour of the night to Tennoji ??

    Thank you in advance !

    Cheers
    Rena

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