Once you overcome the initial overwhelming feeling of a Japanese train station, trains in Japan will easily become your best friend.  They're clean, always on time, and majorly convenient in general.  There are so many different train lines and types of trains in Japan that it's no wonder some Japanese people have turned their passion for trains into a serious hobby.

If you're travelling to Japan, be sure to check out JR unlimited passes.  They're only available to people living outside of Japan and cover travel on numerous train lines, including shinkansen!  Though the price may seem steep, it will make your trip infinitely less stressful.  One of my friends was coming to visit me while I lived there and I insisted she purchase a pass.  After being in Japan for a week or so, she told me that was the best decision she made in planning her trip.

As I learned while living abroad, some train lines are particularly popular among train enthusiasts.  Hakone Tozan line, as pictured below, is famous in Kanagawa.  Riding this older style train is especially popular in the spring when the hydrangea flowers bloom along the tracks.

The most popular train of all may be the elusive Doctor Yellow, a yellow shinkansen train that uses on-board equipment to check the condition of the tracks.  The train runs rarely and doesn't stop at any stations so those who happen to catch a glimpse of it are truly lucky.

Trains are an important part of life in Japan so much that special merchandise has been created including collaboration items.  

Written by Carly Susman (www.carly-rose.com)
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