Blog posts

Eki stamps are one of Japan's most endearing travel customs and you can find out all about them in our latest guide.

Japan's bullet trains are designed to withstand some of the world's harshest winter conditions. Find out more in our latest guide.

Planning a trip to Japan at the end of October and wondering whether there are any special Halloween-themed trains for transport that's efficient, fast, and spooky? Read on for more.

Japan often experiences heavy rain during the summer months as well as during typhoon season. Do trains run in these conditions? Find out what you need to know when travelling during typhoon season.

Shisa kanko is one visible piece of a much larger culture of precision on Japan's railways. Find out what it is in our latest guide.

Midori no Madoguchi is JR's staffed "green window" ticket office found in stations across the country and crucially it's where you activate your Japan Rail Pass. Read on for more.

Our latest JRPass guide covers why the nose of Japan's famous 'bullet train' is shaped this way, how the Shinkansen nose design has changed across series, and where that thinking is headed next.

Our latest guide covers what the Kintetsu Rail Pass includes and how it varies to the Japan Rail Pass, how versions compare, where it shines, and whether it is worth adding to your itinerary.

Nozomi and Mizuho are not free with the Japan Rail Pass, but since the 2023 rule change, you can ride them by paying a supplement, and the free Hikari, Sakura, and Kodama cover the same routes with only a small time difference.

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