Train Travel in Japan

We had gotten the Japan Rail travel pass before leaving the U.S., since almost all travel destinations in Japan are accessible by a highly developed passenger rail system. I’m a long-time train buff, so to me this was just great.

We had reserved seats for most of our trips, obtained in advance from the JR ticket office. (These transactions were simple enough not to require any of my rudimentary Japanese.)

So, reserved seats, yes. But where on the station platform was our assigned car going to arrive? Another continuously vexing problem, since each train station seemed to have its own method of displaying this information. Sometimes, much running back and forth, suitcases in tow.

Once on board, I’d stare continuously out the window where fleeting compositions would appear, then vanish: a man walking down a country lane, an isolated graveyard in the midst of October fields.

Photos: Man Walking—Japan, 2008; Graveyard—Japan, 2008; Train Platform—Nagoya, 2008