Railways in Japan are run by private companies. The length of the railway lines is 27,268 km. Previously, the railway sector was occupied by the state-owned JNR enterprise, which was divided in 1987 into seven private organizations: JR West, JR Central, JR Hokkaido, JR East, etc.
Most Japanese railways are 1067 mm gauge. The exception is the track system "Shinkasen" with a track of 1435 mm, which corresponds to the European standard. "Shinkasen" is a separate division of the railway, where its own rules apply, its own stations and tickets operate. Shinkasen trains are operated by such companies as JR West, JR Central, JR East.
Almost all Japanese railways are electrified and left-handed.
Trains for passengers
There are four categories of passenger trains on the railways of Japan: electric trains, express trains, long-distance trains, and Shinkasen bullet trains.
Long-distance trains are not popular with passengers. Shinkasen trains differ from each other. Among them there are trains running with all stops, trains that do not make all stops and the minimum number of stops. With the help of high-speed trains, there is a connection between all the settlements of Japan. In large cities (Kobe, Kyoto, Tokyo, Sapporo, etc.), subway networks operate. But most of the passengers prefer to use surface trains, which form a well-developed structure. Monorail transport and trams are available in many localities in the country.
The Shinkasen high-speed network connects large cities. Trains travel on rails at a speed of about 300 km / h. Trains running on regular lines are considered slow, as their speed does not exceed 130 km / h.
Advantages of Japanese trains
Japan's railways are among the most accurate in the world. The average late time is only 30 seconds. If the train is 5 minutes late, the passenger is issued a certificate of delay. The Japanese are accustomed to the fact that rail travel happens exactly on schedule.
The railway network is considered to be very convenient and well thought out. Any locality in the country can be reached by train as soon as possible. Therefore, rail transport is the most popular among tourists who visit Japan. In different prefectures, the railway sections are operated by different companies. Therefore, it is very difficult to find and book a place in advance. For fares, times, routes and connections, visit jorudan.co.jp and hyperdia.com.
