The train companies in Japan are entirely private, with Japan Railways (JR) owning nearly 70 percent of the network. Its system is split into six regions: JR East, Central and West Honshu; JR Hokkaido; JR Kyushu and JR Shikoku. Because of its vast territory, JR is able to offer a cost-effective travel option for passengers with a Japan Rail Pass. The pass is usable on all JR trains, allowing passengers to transfer from one JR line or train to another without the need for an extra ticket.
There are five major types of trains running on the transit system. The local train, or futsu-densha, stops at all stations down the line. The rapid trains, or kaisoku, are similar to the local train but stop at fewer stations. The express, known as kyuko, stops at fewer stations than the kaisoku, and costs more to ride than both the kaisoku and futu-densha. The "Limited Express," known as the tokkyu, only stops at major cities and usually costs more than slower trains. The last type is known as the "Super Express," more famously called the shinkansen. It is the fastest train in Japan and usually stops only at major city hubs.
Like trains in America, Japanese train cars are usually split into regular (economy) and first-class seating, called "green" seats on JR lines. Different options are available depending on the type of train you take: Local and other slow trains normally offer all regular seats, while the faster trains have a mix of both regular and green seats. Seats on local trains are normally non-reserved, while the shinkansen and limited express trains usually have both reserved and non-reserved seating available; green seats are reserved at most times.
JR offers a multiple ticket discount for trips that are 200 kilometers (124 miles) or less; other stations on shinkansen or limited express routes also occasionally offer a multiple ticket discount. JR also offers a discount on one-way trips 600 kilometers (373 miles) or longer. Discount ticket shops, which purchase discounted tickets in bulk and sell them at a lower rate than inside the stations, can be found near major train stations.
One major difference Japan trains and American trains is the prohibition against talking on your cell phone. While talking at the train station is allowed, once you board a train you're expected to put your phone on vibrate, and ignore it if it buzzes. You can, however, use your phone to send texts, browse the web and participate in silent activities.
