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

Timetable and reservation

You have to see the timetable to build your trip plan. In this post, I will show you the resources of the timetable of the train in Japan.

JPRail.com PDF timetable

I will tell you about the timetable by the major train companies later. However those are not enough. And some train companies offers only the search engine. You may want to see the hardcopy of the timetable.

I picked up the major trains, such as the limited express Wide View Hida, the limited express Thunderbird, most of the limited express trains in Hokkaido. And I made the timetable in PDF format. You can find it in the link below:

Due to COVID-19, it may be operated on a schedule different from the normal timetable. Check the train schedule on Hyperdia.
Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine

JR Group’s website

JR used to be Japan’s National Railway but it was privatized a long time ago. And technically there are five different companies, JR Hokkaido (Hokkaido area), JR East (Tohoku, Kanto, Tokyo and surrounding area, Nagano), JR Central (Shinkansen Tokyo-Osaka, Nagoya and surrounding area, Chubu region), JR West (Kansai and Chugoku regions), JR Shikoku (Shikoku area) and JR Kyushu (Kyushu area). Some of these JR companies offers timetable and fare search in each websites.

JR East timetable

This website shows you the timetables of most of limited express trains, Shinkansen and popular seasonal trains in JR East areas. It also shows you the timetable of JR Hokkaido trains.

JR East official site – the timetable

JR Central timetable

This website shows the timetable of the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Sanyo Shinkansen. This Shinkansen line runs between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata.

JR Central official site – The Tokaido and the Sanyo Shinkansen timetable

JR Kyushu timetable

You can find the updated PDF format timetable of most of express trains in Kyushu.

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:

Comments

  1. Elvina says:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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:

    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

Copied title and URL