In a country where a sacred temple is carefully rebuilt every twenty years in a ritual that passes ancient craftsmanship from one generation to the next, it feels fitting that Japan’s modern trains still follow pathways first imagined centuries ago. Travelling by rail here isn’t simply about getting from A to B; it’s an immersion into history and culture. And with stations that feel like miniature cities, the journey itself becomes part of the adventure. 

Japan’s romance with rail began long before the first shinkansen flashed between Tokyo and Osaka in 1964. The nation’s earliest rail line opened in 1872, connecting Shimbashi with Yokohama, and forming part of today’s Tōkaidō Main Line. By the 1880s, private rail companies began crisscrossing Japan’s emerging urban centres like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. These companies didn’t just lay tracks — they developed entire communities around their stations, building department stores and entertainment districts. 

By the early 20th century, Japan’s railways expanded through mountain ranges and along remote coastlines using bridges, tunnels and cogwheel railways designed to climb steep mountain grades — engineering feats for their time. Train travel became essential to modern life, connecting the country through what would soon become one of the most comprehensive train networks in the world. 

Then came the debut of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, or bullet train, just days before Tokyo hosted the 1964 Olympics. Hurtling along at 210 km/h, the world’s first high-speed rail line reshaped what rail travel could be, setting new global benchmarks. Today, the Shinkansen network spans nearly 3,000 kilometres, linking Hokkaidō in the north to Kyushu in the south, with trains reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h. 

On the Japan Land of Wonders tour, glide between destinations aboard a combination of Shinkansen and regional express services, with alternative transport connecting those locations beyond the rail network. The journey from Tokyo to Karuizawa becomes effortless: what would be a two-to-three-hour car journey is cut down into sixty minutes on the bullet train, complete with generous legroom, spotless toilets and panoramic views.  

Beyond high-speed rail, Japan’s JR (Japan Railways Group) lines, urban commuter trains, and subway networks make navigating cities simple. Tokyo’s Yamanote Line, a circular JR route connecting Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ueno, and Tokyo Station, threads through the metropolis, while subway and local rapid services link districts and neighbourhoods with ease. 

Travellers can also choose between Nozomi trains, the fastest on the Tōkaidō line; Hikari services, slightly slower but still rapid; or Kodama trains, which stop at every station and provide access to smaller towns. Limited Express services run along pre-Shinkansen lines, often threading through scenic landscapes that high-speed routes bypass. Urban commuter and subway lines integrate smoothly with the broader JR network, making connections between city hubs effortless. Stations are clearly signposted in English, different train lines are colour-coded so they’re easy to follow, and prepaid IC cards allow simple tap-on, tap-off convenience, no matter the type of train you’re travelling on.  

With such efficient transport at your fingertips, every leg of your Japan rail tour with APT unfolds seamlessly, from Kyoto’s temples to Nara’s gardens and on to Hakone’s steaming hot springs. Enjoy the ride as Japan’s trains carry you past cities, tree-clad mountains, and, if you’re lucky, glimpses of Mount Fuji in the distance.  

Reliable, safe and technologically advanced, a trip to Japan simply isn’t complete without a journey aboard one of the world’s most remarkable and celebrated rail networks.