How to make the most of your train routes

Study your routes

When I was working in central Tokyo, I had many route options for my commute. The fastest between my workplace and home was mad as I had to wade through Shinjuku Station, surf on crowded trains where I seldom got a seat, and navigate two transfers.

Eventually, I gave up on that trek and opted for a brisk walk to a station on the Chiyoda Line, no standing, and found a straight shot to my home station on a directly connecting line. It cost me more time, but I reaped the benefit of an after-work power walk and a seat on the train to catch up on email, reading, and meal planning. It’s worth studying Google Maps and train navigation apps and websites to find your optimal route. For day trips, too, I tend to check all the possible routes for the least stressful journey.

My Japanese friends advised me to consider my home base, work location, and route carefully. The result was a magic carpet ride thanks to a 定期券 teikiken, a period train pass, between my home, work, and many locations along the way where I could meet people any day of the week within Tokyo. These days, I live in the hinterlands of Chiba Prefecture, so long, Tokyo cheap rides.

Get the most out of ticket machines

Sure, you can slip your IC card into the ticket machines to top up your fare. But there are many more things you can do. I don’t bother with a teikiken these days as it’s not that advantageous to me. However, I get a lot of use of the ticket machines. When you top up your ticket, you have the option to pay in increments of 1000 yen, but have a look at another button - the “other amount”. I empty my random change into the ticket machines to lighten my purse. You can also print a history of your trips from an IC card. It’s useful for personal budgeting.

Go on an epic day trip for pocket change

You can get discount tickets for trains, but sadly, the prices have risen in 2024. However, a train ticket between two adjacent stations can range from 150 to 170 yen and take you on a day trip odyssey. JR East is okay with riders doing 大回乗車 omawari josha, which a grand circle ride. Get a ticket or use an IC card (no commuter passes allowed, however) and ride in a big circle within the train system. When you’re done the journey, disembark at a station adjacent to where you entered. It’s legal! Before you go, plan your route carefully, check the connections (some rural stations have infrequent service compared to big urban areas), and stay within the ticket gates. Some train fans suggest you bring your itinerary and take photos of train station signage in case you have to prove you’re not cheating your fare and have done a 一筆書きルート, ippitsu kaki ruuto, a one-stroke route within the train system.

If you’ve got time on your hands, yearn for some different scenery, and want to try some regional food offered at shops within the ticket gates, this is a cheap, fun day trip. I’m researching a route from the Joban line down to the southern Boso Peninsula and back to see the countryside and catch ocean breezes. This will be a lifesaver in the scorching summer heat.

What are your tips and tricks for train journeys? Have you done omawari josha? How was it?