Guide for Using JR Ordinary Trains of Tokyo

Tokyo’s JR ordinary trains - all JR trains except the Shinkansen, mainly run in Tokyo’s central area and its suburbs. Together with Tokyo subways, they are the most commonly used and essential modes of transportation for traveling around the city. Ordinary trains of JR typically travel at speeds of around 90 - 120 km/h, and fares are relatively inexpensive. When traveling in Tokyo, you’ll most likely use the following major lines:

The Yamanote Line, the Chuo Line (Rapid), the Chuo-Sobu Line, the Keihin-Tohoku Line, the Saikyo Line, the Keiyo Line, and the Narita Express.

JR Ordinary Train

How to Take JR Ordinary Trains?

1. Entering the Station

To enter a JR station, you need to have an IC card, a paper ticket, or a pass of JR ready.

(1) IC cards are very convenient to pay for most public transportation in Tokyo, including JR ordinary trains. You can purchase it at a ticket machine or a ticket office at airports or JR stations. If you use an iPhone, you can add a mobile SUICA or Mobile PASMO card directly to Apple Wallet without needing a physical card. Then, with an IC card in hand, you can enter the station simply by tapping it at the ticket gate.

(2) Or, you can purchase a paper ticket in the station. The ticket machine is convenient: Locate your destination on the route map displayed above the machine and check the corresponding fare. Select the appropriate fare and number of tickets on the machine and insert coins or bills. Then, you will get your ticket. Alternatively, you can purchase a ticket at a JR ticket office. By inserting the ticket into the ticket gate, you can enter the station. Remember to bring your ticket back after entering the station.

JR Ticket Machines

(3) With a pass of JR valid for the Tokyo area, like Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass, you can also ride JR trains in Tokyo quickly and conveniently. After arriving in Tokyo, find a designated ticket office or ticket machine at airports or major JR stations to get a physical pass with the e-voucher you bought on the official JR website. Then, insert it into the ticket gate or show it to the staff at the staffed gate to enter the station.

2. Finding the Right Platform and Boarding the Train

After entering the station, the electronic screens inside will display information about upcoming trains, including train type, departure time, destination, and the platform. Accordingly, find the train you want to take and confirm the corresponding platform. Then, go to the platform according to the signs and wait for your train following the times indicated on the screen.

JR Platform

Before boarding, with the help of the electronic screens on the platform or on the train itself, please:
(1) Double-check the train types. Some types of trains run more quickly than local trains, like rapid trains, but skip some small stations, which might be your destination.
(2) Confirm the final station of the train to make sure you get on the right train heading to the right direction.

Most JR ordinary trains have non-reserved seats, so take any seat you like after boarding.

Tips: Some lines, such as the Chuo Line (Rapid), have green carriages on their trains, which provide a more comfortable riding environment and higher ticket prices. If you board one by mistake, you will need to pay the price difference or move to a regular carriage. As a reminder, the green carriages are marked with a green four-leaf clover symbol on the exterior.

3. Alighting and Exiting the Station

To ensure that you can alight at the right station, please listen out for the on-board announcements carefully or check the electronic display screens from time to time, both of which can tell you what the next station is.

After alighting, follow the signs to the exit. When you reach the ticket gate, tap your IC card, insert your ticket, or show your physical pass to exit.

Tips – How to Take Limited Express Trains

Please note that there is a special train type of JR ordinary trains: limited express trains, which are the fastest of all JR ordinary services. For example, the Narita Express that connects Narita Airport with Tokyo and Shinjuku and the Fuji Excursion that runs between Shinjuku and Kawaguchiko are limited express trains. When taking these trains, you should know that:

In addition to the basic fare ticket, you need to purchase a separate limited express ticket to board these trains.

Unlike other types of ordinary trains, all JR limited express trains in Tokyo have reserved seats.

Some of these trains also have green carriages.

Due to these features, you need to follow different steps when taking these trains.

(1) Buying Tickets

First, you may want to know both in-person purchase and online purchase are OK.

In-person purchase: You can choose to buy tickets at a ticket office or a ticket machine inside JR stations. If you have an IC card, you need to purchase a limited express ticket only. If you do not have an IC card, you will need to purchase both a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket. To purchase tickets, look for a ticket machine labelled “Shinkansen · Express”. Follow the on-screen instructions to select your departure station, destination, travel time, number of tickets, carriage, and seat, then proceed to payment.

Online purchase: You can book tickets in advance on the JR website. Upon arrival at the station, collect your physical tickets from a ticket machine or at a ticket office. For those with an IC card, remember that only a limited express ticket is needed to buy.

For those hold a pass of JR valid for the Tokyo area, neither a basic fare ticket nor a limited express ticket is required. Just ensure that you obtain a reserved-seat ticket free of charge in advance at designated ticket offices or ticket machines at stations with your pass.

(2) Entering the Station, Taking the Train, and Exiting the Station

The only difference from the procedure described above is that you need to take the specific seat according to the seat number printed on your ticket after boarding.

Note that when entering or exiting the station, simply tap your IC card, insert your basic fare ticket, or insert or show your physical pass at the ticket gate. Your limited express ticket or reserved-seat ticket is only for inspection by the conductor on board.

How to Transfer from JR Ordinary Trains?

Transferring from One JR Ordinary Train to Another JR Ordinary Train

Since they belong to the same company, this situation is relatively straightforward. For example, if you want to transfer from the Yamanote Line to the Chuo Line (Rapid), you don’t need to exit the ticket gates when transferring. After getting off the train on the Yamanote Line, you just need to follow the directions to get to the platform of the Chuo Line (Rapid) and wait for the train.

Your IC card or physical pass of JR is only needed at the ticket gates at your departure station and final station. For those using a paper ticket, just buy a through ticket from your departure station to your final station.

Transferring from a JR Ordinary Train to a Train of Subway or Private Railway

Tokyo’s JR ordinary trains are operated by a different company from Tokyo’s subway and private railway trains, so the transfer process is a bit more complicated. The key point is that you need to pay for each one separately. So, you should exit the JR ticket gate first at the transfer station, and then enter the ticket gate of the subway or the private railway. Take using a JR ordinary train from A to B, and then transferring to the subway at B to C as an example:

If you have an IC card, tap your card on the ticket gate of station A to get into the station and board the JR ordinary train according to the above-mentioned steps. After arriving at B, you need to use the IC card to exit the JR ticket gate first. Then, follow the transfer signs inside the station to find the subway entrance. Tap your IC card at the ticket gate of the subway to enter and then board the subway. After arriving at C, use your IC card again to exit.

If you want to use the paper ticket, you will need to purchase a JR ticket at station A covering the journey from A to B and then take the JR ordinary train. After arriving at B, insert your ticket to exit the ticket gate of JR. Then, locate the subway entrance, purchase a subway ticket covering the journey from B to C, and use this ticket to take the subway.

A pass of JR can only cover your first leg of the journey, so, when arriving at station B, you need to use your physical pass to exit the ticket gate of JR first. Then, find the subway entrance, buy a subway ticket, or use the IC card to enter and exit.

Transferring from a JR Ordinary Train to a Shinkansen Train

Taking a Shinkansen train needs a basic fare ticket and a limited express ticket, though they may be printed as one ticket sometimes, and the IC cards cover neither of their fares, making the transfer a little complicated. Specifically, if you are travelling from station A to station B on a JR ordinary train, and then from station B to station C on a Shinkansen train:

Passengers with an IC card:

(1) If you have already purchased your Shinkansen tickets online in advance, first find a ticket machine or a ticket office to get your paper ticket. Then, use your IC card to travel from A to B. Upon arrival at B, do not exit the ticket gate, but follow the signs to the Shinkansen entrance. At the ticket gate of the Shinkansen, first insert the Shinkansen ticket, then tap your IC card to pay for the former journey, and finally enter the station and board the Shinkansen. After arrival, insert the ticket to exit station C. Note that if you get two printed tickets, insert both of them to enter and exit the station.

Note: Some Shinkansen routes offer “Shinkansen E-Tickets” when booking online, which can be linked to your IC card.

(2) If you have not purchased the Shinkansen ticket in advance, first use your IC card to travel from A to B. Upon arrival at B, do not exit the station, but locate a Shinkansen ticket machine to buy your ticket for the Shinkansen, when you will need to tap your IC card again to pay for the former journey first. Then, insert the ticket you got to enter the ticket gate of the Shinkansen.

Passengers using paper tickets:

Enter station A and station C at a ticket machine labelled “Shinkansen · Express” to get both the basic fare ticket and the limited express ticket you need at the same time. Insert the basic ticket into the ticket gate at station A to enter the station. Upon arrival at station B, do not exit the station or the ticket gate, but follow the signs to the Shinkansen entrance. Insert both the basic fare ticket and the limited express ticket into the ticket gate simultaneously to enter and to board the Shinkansen. To exit station C, also insert the two tickets into the ticket gate simultaneously.

Passengers holding a pass of JR:

First, please confirm that your pass of JR can cover the Shinkansen routes you plan to take. After that, if the Shinkansen you are riding on has only reserved seat, you need to first get a free reserved-seat ticket for the Shinkansen at a designated ticket office or ticket machine at a JR station with your physical pass.

The specific procedure for your journey is as follows: Get your reserved-seat ticket; insert or show your physical pass of JR to travel from A to B; alight the JR ordinary train; locate the Shinkansen ticket gate without leaving the station; insert or show your pass at the ticket gate to gain access; take the train. Note that the reserved-seat ticket is only for the conductor to check. After arrival, insert or show your physical pass to exit the station.

What Should I Do if I Bought a Wrong Ticket?

If you have not used the ticket: You can go to a ticket office and change it for a right one for free. Or, you can also use the ticket machine to change the ticket according to the instructions. If the two tickets are of different prices, you will gain or pay the difference.

If you have used the ticket: If you plan to get to a destination that is farther than that of your wrong ticket, you can get off at your right destination and find a fare adjustment machine at the station to pay the fare difference. If you plan to go to a destination that is closer than that of your wrong ticket, the difference will not be returned.