There's a lot to love about visiting Japan, but one of the greatest pleasures is train travel in Japan. The unbelievably fast (we're talking up-to-185-miles-per-hour-fast) and efficient (we're talking delays-are-measured-in-seconds-efficient) Shinkansen - or Bullet Trains - connect Japan's major cities in the blink of an eye, while equally well-organised local and regional trains connect the major hubs to some of the lesser-known, untouched towns and islands where time has stood still. This makes getting around this long, linear country a complete breeze. In fact, there should be little or no need to ever sit in a car on the entire trip, so your time in Japan will also be extremely sustainable.

Japan train travel holiday ideas

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Japan Train Travel Guide

Practical advice and inspiration to help you prepare for your holiday

This efficient and extensive network of trains means that train travel in Japan is a great option for an eco getaway. Whether you want to take day trips out of bustling Tokyo; have a multi-stop holiday that takes in the highlights of Japan's main island Honshu; embrace undertourism and head to the smaller islands on Hokkaido in the north-east and Kyushu in the south-west, or go totally off the beaten track into rural towns and villages on the southern island of Shikoku, train is the way to go, and our team of experts can help you create a tailor-made Japan itinerary to suit you.

Although the Japan train systems are reasonably easy to navigate, it always helps to have someone on the ground to help you out, which is where our unbeatable Concierge service comes into its own. Our local Concierges know their destinations inside and out, are always on hand to help with last minute changes and recommendations, and speak the local language (infinitely useful in Japan, in particular) so if you're um-ing and ah-ing about exactly where to go for a last-minute excursion or are having issues with figuring out the timetable and which tickets to buy, they have the insider tips to get you on track.

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