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. Sandy says:
    January 30, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    Dear Sirs,
    Can you please provide further guide on our itinerary as follow?

    May 23 – Arrival in Haneda Airport – wish to take train (JR pass) to Osaka – can you share the name of the station to stop?
    May 26 – travel from osaka to kyoto (can you share the specific station to take the train and which station to stop?
    May 28 – travel from kyoto to tokyo (same JR train?) can you please guide?
    June 2 – tokyo – back to our country
    Which pass shall we buy?

  2. Deda says:
    December 29, 2017 at 4:33 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    We are visiting Japan next year and will go to Nagoya first. What is the earliest train and or bus ride from Nagoya to Osaka? We plan to leave Nagoya earliest possible to check-in at our hotel in Osaka and hoping to reach USJ before it opens.

    Thank You!

  3. Nurul says:
    November 13, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I bought the JR pass. I will be from USJ and heading back to Tokyo. How do I check for the last train back to Tokyo? I’ve tried to use Hyperdia, but it states that the last Shinkansen (Hikari) is at 8:20+pm. I assumed that the Shinkansen would end later than that. where can I double check this?

    Cheers,
    Nurul

  4. hazel says:
    September 19, 2017 at 7:14 am

    Hi Sanjay
    We will be in Japan this October,, is it possible to visit Hakone -to 5th station on 1 day.
    My plan is start from Tokyo at 6 am ( we already bought JR pass) to Odawara – buy Hakone Pass . At lunch take direct bus from Gotemba to Kawaguchiko station to 5th station.
    From 5th station to Tokyo ( hoping for a direct bus).
    Is this posssible in one day?
    Thanks

  5. Sanjay Ranade says:
    September 14, 2017 at 8:27 am

    Takeshi san,
    Kon ban ha. Can you please inform me how to travel in Hiroshima from Gembaku Dome Mae station to Miyajimaguchi station, by using JR PASS to best possible way.

  6. Sanjay Ranade says:
    September 9, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    Hi!
    We are travelling to Japan and want to plan a visit to Tateyama Kurobe Alpen route on Oct 28 from Kanazawa. We want to buy Tateyama Kurobe Option ticket along with JR pass. I am planning to take a return journey to Kanazawa via Nagano. Please suggest best route I should follow.

  7. sheila says:
    June 6, 2017 at 11:51 pm

    Hi!. My family is visiting our friends in Misawa. We are arriving early morning of June 27, 2017 at about 7:00 am. i am looking at the timetable of the JR Tohoku line but the train schedule is rather confusing for me. Since we are coming in through Narita Terminal 1 airport i believe we will be taking the Narita express going to Tokyo and then get on a shinkasen train to Hachinohe where our friends are picking us up.

    We will be purchasing our JR East Pass for 5 days online but i need to know, if the trains (Tohoku Line and Nex) operate 24 hours and if not, what is the earliest trip from Hachinohe to tokyo to Narita so we can catch our 9:15 am flight back to the Philippines. Or should we just stay around narita airport the day before to make sure we get on our flight on time.

  8. Joe Pan says:
    January 20, 2017 at 1:41 pm

    Hi Takeshi-San,
    It’s joyful shinkansen between echigo-yuzaw and niigata operating in august?
    Also can I reserve shikoku ‘s 麵包超人(bread superman)train before I head to shikoku? I’m afraid it’s quite popular and need to be reserved in advance.
    Cheese

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      January 20, 2017 at 7:41 pm

      Hi Joe san,

      Those trains will run in August but not sure which date these will run now. The operation dates will be released in late May.
      I think you mean Anpanman train. You can book a seat in advance at any major JR station.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Meity says:
    May 18, 2016 at 7:16 pm

    Hi Takesi,

    I have a draft itinerary for my Japan trip in Oct, but i am not very confident with my plans. If you could advise me on the routes, transportation or maybe change of city it would be really great.

    Day 1Arrive in Narita and head to Kyoto
    Day 2 Kyoto
    Day 3 Kyoto
    Day 4 Takayama
    Day 5 Shirawakago
    Day 6 Kanazawa
    Day 7 Alpine Route
    Day 8 Matsumoto
    Day 9 Hakone
    Day 10 Toyko
    Day 11 Northern Tohoku
    Day 12 Northern Tohoku
    Day 13 Tokyo
    Day 14 Tokyo and fly back to Australia

    I have a feeling this trip will be very hectic and messy, but i would love to go to the alpine regions. A bit of dilemma and uncertainty.

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