Helpful Information for JR Travel

Indications of station names
All JR stations display station names in both Japanese and Roman letters in their platforms. A given station's name in the top center of the signboard, in large letters; the names of the previous station and next station are at the bottom of the signboard, in smaller letters.

Public telephone inside trains
Shinkansen and some limited express trains are equipped with public telephone, which allow use of a "Telephone Card" (magnetic prepaid card). Telephone cards can be purchased aboard trains or at a station kiosk.

Useful words
Reservation= Yoyaku; Travel Service Center=Ryoko Center;
Reservation office=Midori-no-madoguchi; Super express=Shinkansen;
Limited express=Tokkyu; Express=Kyuko; Rapid train=Kaisoku;
Local train=Kakuekiteisha; Ordinary car=Futsusha;
Green car=(superior accommodations)=Green-sha;
Reserved seat=Shiteiseki; Non-reserved seat=Jiyuseki

Coin-locker
Traditional checkrooms have almost disappeared throughout the country. Instead, coin-operated lockers (called "coin-locker" in Japanese) are popular in major stations. To travel light, prepare hundred-yen coins.

JR East Infoline
JR provides a convenient telephone information service in English, Korean and Chinese for quick and complete JR information about train time schedules, the faster JR route from place to place, locations of reservation offices, and so forth.
Call 03-3423-0111
10am - 6pm (except during the year-end/new year holiday period)
Seat reservations cannot be accepted by this telephone service.


Sales at stations and in trains
Mobile vendors on Shinkansen and other long-distance trains sell "Ekiben" box lunches (these contain local specialty Japanese-style foods), as well as snacks and drinks. These items are also readily available at station kiosks, and many stations also have a variety of restaurants as well as many vending machines.

Avoid rush hours in the morning and evening
In major cities, avoid traveling during the morning and evening rush hours(7:30-9:30 and 17:00 -19:00)