# Travel >> Transportation >> Trains

How to Book Train Tickets in Japan

Japan has some of the world's best rail service. Trains are frequent, fast and generally run on schedule. You can book tickets in advance for long-distance train service at most Japan Rail stations and at all travel agencies in Japan. You generally cannot buy these tickets outside of Japan, although you can buy regional rail passes. It's best to speak some Japanese, but ticket offices in some of the larger stations often have some English-speaking staff. If you don't speak the language, bring someone who is fluent in Japanese with you to the station or write out your itinerary in Japanese so you can present it to the ticket office.

Instructions

Booking a Ticket
- 1
  Go to a Japan Rail ticket office, which can be found at any large- or mid-size station. Small stations may not have ticket offices.
- 2
  Ask for someone who speaks English if you do not speak Japanese.
- 3
  Tell the ticket agent where you would like to go and when you would like to go. If you know the exact train, provide that information. Otherwise, the ticket agent will tell you which trains go to your destination on your departure day and time.
- 4
  Pay and collect your tickets. For express or Shinkansen (bullet-train) service between two cities, you will get multiple tickets for each leg of the trip. You will need all of these. One ticket represents the fare between the two points, and the other represents a separate fee for use of the express train. This second ticket also will have your seat assignment.