Module 2 : Railway of Japan

Module 2 : Railway of Japan

Yen-Cheng YU

OverviewOverview

• Type of railway company in Japan– JR– Private railway– 3rd sector railway

• Valuable tickets– JR pass– Seishu 18 ticket

• Tram

History of JRHistory of JR

• Full name is Japan Railway Group• It was national before, named JNR

(Japan National Railway). • Due to liability , in April 1. 1987 , it

privatization and breakup to 7 companies.

• They are JR Hokkaido , JR East , JR Central , JR West , JR Shikoku , JR Kyushu and JR Freight.

Railway lines of JRRailway lines of JR

• Due to JR group got railway lines from JNR, they have the largest lines in Japan.

• There are maybe 2 JR companies in the same area, because that Tokaido-Shinkansen is worked by JR Central. For example, there are JR West and JR Central in Kyoto Station.

• There are maybe 2 companies work in the same line, so driver should change before cross to other company’s area

• There is no JR line is Okinawa, and it’s the only one prefecture that JR don’t have line in.

Private railwayPrivate railway

• To distinction with national railway, so it’s called private railway

• To compete with JR lines, if there is same line with JR in the same area, it’s often cheaper than JR

• There are 16 major private railway companies is Japan now. For example: the largest company “Kintetsu” which own railway lines in Kinki and central area.

• Stockholder of Tokyo Metro is Japan and Tokyo government. They created a special company , so Tokyo Metro is a private railway too.

Type of train in JRType of train in JR

• Shinkansen Super Express– Example : Nozomi

• Limit express– Exaple : Hakura

• Express• Rapid service–Marine Liner

• Local train– Example: Yamanote line

ticketstickets

• When you take a express, limit express and Shinkansen super express, you not only need ticket but also need a express/ limited express ticket.

• If you want to sit on reserved seat you should also need a reserved seat

• If you want to take berth train you should also need a berth ticket.

• If you want to sit in Green Car(business class), you should also need a green ticket

Main Type of 3rd sector railwayMain Type of 3rd sector railway

• From liability line of JR or JNR. Example: Shigaraki highland railway and etc

• Due to Shinkansen line was opened. Example: IGR Iwate Galaxy Railway Company and etc

• From liability of private railway lines. Example: Echizen Railwat and etc

• From freight lines of JNR. Example: Kanagawa linkai railway and etc

• Other new lines in special area. Example: Hokuso Railway and etc

Problem of 3rd sector railway companies

Problem of 3rd sector railway companies

• One of main reason to create a 3rd sector railway is liability, and there are some companies are still in liability now, so there are many 3rd sector companies have some problem in there finance. In order to keep their working, 3rd sector railway companies often perform some events, sell some goods, rent their station or line for CM or drama and some other way.

• Unfortunately there are some companies can not keep their working, and they give up their railway lines, became bus lines even stop all working

About JR passAbout JR pass

• Ticket you can take all railway and bus line and parts of highway bus of all JR group.

• You can also take Shinkasen except Nozomi.

• Who can use ?– foreign who use a “temporary visit” visa to

come to Japan.– Japanese national who living in a foreign

country• Have the right of permanent residence• Married to foreign who living in foreign country

How to buy a JR pasHow to buy a JR pas

• JR pass is only sell in outside of Japan, so you should buy one in a travel agent in your country.

• You will get an exchange ticket in your country, after you come to Japan. You should go to “Midori no Madoguchi” (ticket center) and show your passport. Then you can get a JR pass ticket

• There are two classes in JR pass: Standard Car and Green Car (business class) . Of course you can take Standard Car by a Green Car JR pass

• There are for 7, 14, or 21 days tickets that you can choose

Seishun 18 TicketSeishun 18 Ticket

• Ticket that you can take all JR local and express cars.

• This ticket named Seishun 18, but there is non-limit how old are you.

• You can use this ticket to take train for any 5 days. For example 8/10to12 and 9/2to3.

• Or you can use this ticket for 5 times too. It means you can use only one ticket with your families or friends together.

How to buy Seishun 18 ticketHow to buy Seishun 18 ticket

• One for 11,500JPY• Only sell and can be used in limited-time– Spring vacation

• Sell: 2/20 to 3/31• Use: 3/1 to 4/10

– Summer vacation• Sell: 7/1 to 8/31• Use 7/20 to 9/10

–Winter vacation• Sell: 12/1 to 1/10• Use: 12/10 to 1/20

How to use Seishun 18 ticketHow to use Seishun 18 ticket

• Not for turnstile• There are 5 blocks on the ticket. 1 block is

for 1 day. When the first time you enter the station, you should give the staff and affix a stamp with date. And latter you should only show the ticket to station staff.

• 1 block is for the first stop station when the date change. But in special area (Tokyo and Osaka) , you can use it till last train in that day.

TramTram

• Tram system was activated in Japan everywhere before. Due to economy is grow up, it not a lot of now.

• But for ecotourism and easily to take for elderly (extra low floor tram). There are trams are activated in some cities in Japan.

• In Hiroshima, there is the most proportion and top users(about 57million people per year) in Japan. And they are creating new car now.