Blog posts

Are you allowed to drink a cold beer with your ekiben on a Japanese train? Find out in our latest guide.

Japan's railway history began in 1872, with the country's first line connecting Shimbashi and Yokohama. More than 150 years later, the country is famous for is lightning fast, super safe, and exceptionally efficient 'bullet trains' and rail network.

The Shinkansen is built to handle earthquakes with an exceptional safety record. Find out more in our latest JRPass guide.

Anyone who drives a rental car in Japan or boards a train notices something familiar: both keep to the left. It's not a coincidence. Japan's trains have run on the left since the country built its first railways in the 1870s, but why? Find out here.

Why does the bullet train have different tracks? This JRPass guide takes you through the Shinkansen track gauge story plainly, from the Meiji era choice to the clever workaround that lets some bullet trains reach smaller cities.

The Story Behind Japan's Tactile Paving. Find out what the strip of yellow bumps are on a Japanese train platform and what amazing purpose they serve in our latest guide.

Although both can affect travel, Japan's rainy season and typhoon season are separate weather events that occur at different times of the year. Read on to find out everything you need to know,

Is it true that Japan's trains are so efficient and reliable that in the rare circumstances they are even a few seconds late, commuters are given a special certificate? It is - and you can find out more here.

When planning your dream trip to Japan, one immediate question might be whether you're eligible for a Japan Rail Pass for almost unlimited travel on the JR train network. Read on to find out the simple eligibility criteria.

Japan's love affair with sleeper trains might be about to resume. Read on for the latest news about a proposed sleeper train running from Tokyo to Aomori from 2027.