Blog posts

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Confused by the numbering on Japan's train stations? It's actually an ingenious and super helpful system for helping you get around and distinguish one station from another - and we can teach you how to use it.

Do Japanese Trains Have English signage and guidance? Yes, the majority of Shinkansen trains, major city train lines, and larger stations provide bilingual signs, English screens, and announcements. Read on for more information.

When planning your train travel across Japan, there is one essential question you may be shy about asking. However, you need not worry - Japan's famous shinkansen (and almost all of its trains) have some of the best train toilets in the world.