Basics

In Japan there are JR and all others when it comes to train travels. In many cities, private rail companies either compete with JR or supplement JR with more frequent stops and services. Private rail companies that compete with JR often are cheaper than JR fares. This article is for anyone who is not qualified for the Japan rail pass or other short term visitor discount tickets. Below is the list of the routes that private rail companies compete with JR in terms of price and frequencies.

Tokyo/ Shinjuku – Odawara/ Hakone

• JR: 1,520 yen (add 950 for Odoriko and 1,760 for Shinkansen)
• Odakyu: 900 (add 910 for romance car)

If you are going to Hakone, you likely be passing through Odawara. You could save a significant amount of money taking Odakyu between Shinjuku and Odawara (and Hakone-Yumoto).

Odakyu beats JR in terms of price and frequencies. Odakyu usually runs 3 times an hour Odawara bound express and 2 – 3 times an hour Hakone-Yumoto (via Odawara) bound Romance car. On the other hand, JR (JR East) only runs once an hour direct train between Shinjuku and Odawara, otherwise a connection is required.

If you are leaving from Tokyo or Shinagawa station, JR is more convenient and service is more frequent. There would be 6 times an hour local trains and once an hour Odoriko train serving the cities.

Another option would be to take the Shinkansen from Tokyo or Shinagawa station. It is the most expensive and frequency is only 3 times an hour during off peak hours.

Odakyu sells discount tickets to Hakone and JR Central, the Shinkansen operator, sells discount ticket between Tokyo and Odawara/ Otami . I’m going to talk about it on another post.

Tokyo – Fujisawa

• JR: 990
• Odakyu: 600

Tokyo/ Shinjuku – Nikko

• JR: 2,640 (add 2,510 for Shinkansen)
• JR: 1,980 (add 2,100 for direct train from Shinjuku)
• Tobu: 1390 (add 1,470 for limited express)

This route is another popular route out of Tokyo for tourists and weekend getaways. This is another example that you save significantly more by taking a private rail company instead of JR.

There is no clear winner for the price as the only viable option for taking Tobu is to take a limited express. Tobu local trains require multiple connections. It is just not worth saving the money for added inconvenience and time.

On the other hand, there are 3 times an hour JR local trains from Tokyo/ Shinjuku to Utsunomiya, where you connect to a once an hour train to Nikko.

For the time, price, and convincing, the best option would be connecting to a Tobu limited express to Nikko at Kita-Senju or take the direct limited express, Nikko or Kinugawa, from Shinjuku. Limited express “Nikko” and “Kinugawa” have lower fares compare to the fare from Tokyo. This is because those trains run on Tobu’s tracks from Kurihashi station.

If you are a member of JR East’s online ticket reservation site, Eki Net (えきねっと), you have access to a various discounted limited express ticket. The discount only applies to certain dates and trains but it is worth checking it out. For example, the direct train, limited express “Nikko”, ticket between Shinjuku and Nikko is 4,080 yen but if you purchase at least 20 days in advance using Eki Net, the price drops to 2,040 yen.

Nagoya – Toyohashi

• JR: 1,340 (add 990 for Shinkansen)
• Meitetsu: 1,140 (add 360 for reserved seat)

JR runs 4 times an hour rapid trains and Meitetsu run 6 times an hour limited express and express trains. So you have many options of trains between Nagoya and Toyohashi/ Okazaki.

Meitetsu limited express couples additional 2 cars of reserved cars. If you want to ride the train comfortably, purchasing Meitesu’s μ first class ticket is a good option. The surcharge is only 360 yen. This is similar to the green car on local trains in the Tokyo area. On the other hand, JR trains have no nicer reserved seat on this route so it is first come first serve bases.

The other option is to take the Shinkansen with additional 990 surcharge to the JR fare. You can cut the travel time by half by taking the Shinkansen.

There are multiple discount ticket sold by JR and Meitetsu. I’m going to talk about it on another post.

Nagoya – Mino-Ota

• JR: 1,170 (add 1,200 for limited express)
• Meitetsu + JR: 830 (add 360 for reserved seat)

This route is mainly for commuters. You could save money by taking Meitetsu and connecting to JR at Shin-Unuma. If you take JR, a connection at either Gifu or Tajimi is required except limited express Hida.

The trick to reduce the JR fare is to use an IC card like Suica or Toica. The fare will be reduced to 990 yen instead of 1,170 yen.

You could pay extra 360 yen to take the nicer reserved seat on Meitetsu limited express. JR’s limited express ticket is expensive but the trick is that if you take the limited express “Hida” between Gifu and Mino-Ota, the surcharge is only 330 yen instead of 1,200 from Nagoya.

Nagoya – Ise

• JR: 2,040
• Kintetsu: 1,470 (add 1,340 for limited express)

This route is famous for the access to the Ise Grand Shrine and Ise-Shima Kintetsu wins for frequency, speed and service if you take the limited express. In terms of price, Kintetsu express (not limited express) is cheaper but takes marginally longer, 100 minutes instead of 90 minutes on JR.

What’s the point of JR operating the service to Ise and Toba from Nagoya? They are capitalizing on connecting passengers from the Tokyo area via the Shinkansen. Rapid Mie departs from the closest platform from the Shinkansen platforms and the connection takes less than 5 minutes whereas Kintetsu you wan to bank at least 15 minutes for connection. Also if you purchase a ticket from Tokyo to Ise by JR, the fare difference between Kintetsu and JR becomes just 150 yen.

There are multiple discount ticket sold by JR and Kintetsu. I’m going to talk about it on another post.

Conclusion

There are more routes that make you think twice before blindly taking JR just because. Some routes, JR is more expensive but it is also the fastest and/ or service is frequent.