FUMI TOURSJAPAN JOURNEYS & RAILWAY GUIDES
An illustration of a beautiful journey by railway through Japan

FUMI TOURS · RAILWAY & TRANSPORT GUIDE

Japan by rail.
One wonderful stop at a time.

From Kansai Airport's first train to the final Tokyo Monorail into Haneda — a friendly, beautifully simple guide to travelling the Great-Value Hotel Trail.

Download the free PDF Browse the journey See the 13 hotels

Beautiful places. Useful connections. Your Japan, your pace.

Illustrated journey from Kansai Airport and Rinku Town, through Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Shizuoka and Tokyo to Haneda Airport, with Japanese castles, temples, Mount Fuji and cherry blossoms

A memorable journey through the heart of Japan.

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START WITH CONFIDENCE

Japan's railway network is easier when you take it one step at a time.

You don't need to memorise every line. This guide gives you a rhythm for choosing the right train, understanding transfers and arriving at your next neighbourhood.

Find the stationFind the lineCheck the directionTap inWatch the next stopTap out

THE FIVE GOLDEN RULES

Small habits. Happier journeys.

Good advice for the first arrival train, the busiest city interchange and everything in between.

01

Give the station time.

Allow 10–15 minutes to find your way at an unfamiliar local station, and more when boarding a reserved Shinkansen.

02

Follow names and colours.

Look for the operator, line name, station number and direction. Confirm that the service stops where you want to go.

03

Use the same IC card.

For a local trip, tap in and out with the same Suica or ICOCA on the same device. Don't change phones halfway.

04

Treat Shinkansen separately.

Keep a valid Shinkansen ticket or SmartEX reservation ready. An ordinary local-train balance does not cover that fare.

05

Ask when unsure.

Station staff are there to help. Stop, show your destination and take the right next step.

TICKETS MADE SIMPLE

Two ticketing ideas are enough to begin.

Your local IC card takes care of daily travel. A separate reservation takes care of the fast intercity Shinkansen.

IC

EVERYDAY TRAINS

Suica & ICOCA

Use an IC card for most JR local trains, Nankai, city subways and Tokyo Monorail journeys.

  1. Keep some balance on your phone or card.
  2. Tap in at the entry gate.
  3. Tap out with that same card or phone.

Gate turns red? Move aside and ask staff rather than tapping repeatedly.

Learn how IC cards work ↗
EX

BETWEEN CITIES

SmartEX & Shinkansen

For Kyoto → Nagoya, Nagoya → Shizuoka and Shizuoka → Tokyo, choose the correct train and reserve a comfortable seat.

  1. Book the right stations and train.
  2. Board with a linked IC card or valid QR ticket.
  3. Find your car and seat at the platform.

Remember Shizuoka: Nozomi doesn't stop there. Look for a Hikari that stops or a Kodama.

Explore SmartEX ↗

THE JOURNEY, STEP BY STEP

From the airport to the cities and back to Haneda.

Open a journey below to see the stops, transfers and the little details that make it easier. Follow the full route or choose the leg you need today.

01

FIRST STEPS

Kansai Airport & Rinku Town

The gentlest possible start: one short airport train, then three hotels within the Rinku area.

01FIRST ARRIVALKansai Airport → Rinku TownJR or Nankai · 1 stop
Your stop: OMO Kansai Airport

The route

  1. Kansai-airport Station
  2. JR Kansai-Airport Line or Nankai Airport Line
  3. Rinku-Town Station
  4. OMO Kansai Airport

How to make it easy

  1. From Kansai Airport Terminal 1, follow the train signs to the connected railway station.
  2. Choose a JR or Nankai local service that stops at Rinku Town. The journey takes only a few minutes.
  3. Tap in and out with the same IC card or phone.
  4. Follow the Rinku Town signs for the station-side hotel area.

Fumi tip Rinku-Town Station serves both JR and Nankai. Both work for this first one-stop journey.

02RINKU ON FOOTRinku Town hotel-to-hotel strollsWalk · station-area hotels
Your stop: Washington Hotel & HATAGO INN

The route

  1. OMO Kansai Airport
  2. Kansai Airport Washington Hotel
  3. HATAGO INN Kansai Airport

How to make it easy

  1. The first three suggested stays are all in the Rinku Town area, so changing hotels here does not require another train.
  2. Use Rinku-Town Station as the familiar landmark between the hotels.
  3. Allow time for luggage, weather and station exits.

Fumi tip An excellent opportunity to practise finding the station entrance, lifts, gates and bilingual signs before the longer journey begins.

02

CITY CONNECTIONS

Across Osaka

Learn Nankai, the Osaka Metro and JR without needing to master the whole network.

03AIRPORT COAST TO CITYRinku Town → Higashi Temma, OsakaNankai Airport Express + Sakaisuji Line
Your stop: DEL style Osaka Higashi Temma

The route

  1. Rinku-Town Station
  2. Nankai Airport Express towards Namba
  3. Tengachaya — change to Osaka Metro
  4. Sakaisuji Line to Minamimorimachi
  5. Higashi Temma neighbourhood

How to make it easy

  1. Take a Nankai Airport Express towards Namba and get off at Tengachaya.
  2. Follow the signs into Osaka Metro and the brown Sakaisuji Line.
  3. Take a northbound service stopping at Minamimorimachi.
  4. Leave for the Higashi Temma area near the hotel.

Fumi tip Changing at Tengachaya avoids having to navigate the vast Umeda complex on your very first Osaka transfer.

04ONE EASY STOPHigashi Temma → UmedaOsaka Metro Tanimachi Line · 1 stop
Your stop: APA Hotel & Resort Osaka Umeda Eki Tower

The route

  1. Minamimorimachi T21
  2. Tanimachi Line towards Dainichi
  3. Higashi-Umeda T20
  4. Umeda hotel district

How to make it easy

  1. Look for the purple Tanimachi Line signs at Minamimorimachi.
  2. Travel one stop towards Dainichi to Higashi-Umeda.
  3. Follow the exit information and walk towards the hotel.

Fumi tip Osaka, Umeda, Higashi-Umeda and Nishi-Umeda are different station names in one large transport district.

05TO THE RIVERSIDEUmeda → TemmabashiOsaka Metro Tanimachi Line · 2 stops
Your stop: Hotel Noum OSAKA

The route

  1. Higashi-Umeda T20
  2. Tanimachi Line towards Yao-minami
  3. Minamimorimachi T21
  4. Temmabashi T22
  5. Riverside walk

How to make it easy

  1. Enter the Tanimachi Line at Higashi-Umeda.
  2. Take a southbound service towards Yao-minami.
  3. Ride two stops to Temmabashi, then follow your saved walking directions to the riverside.

Fumi tip This is a lovely example of combining a quick train journey with time to enjoy the neighbourhood on foot.

03

THE GREAT CORRIDOR

Kyoto, Nagoya & Shizuoka

Subway journeys, reserved Shinkansen seats and a rewarding slower passage east.

06A NEW CITYOsaka → Kyoto StationTanimachi Line + JR Kyoto Line
Your stop: Hotel Keihan Kyoto Grande

The route

  1. Temmabashi T22
  2. Higashi-Umeda T20
  3. Walk to JR Osaka Station
  4. JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid
  5. Kyoto Station — Hachijo side

How to make it easy

  1. Take the Tanimachi Line from Temmabashi towards Dainichi and get off at Higashi-Umeda.
  2. Follow the underground wayfinding towards JR Osaka Station; allow a comfortable walk.
  3. Board a JR Kyoto Line Special Rapid serving Kyoto.
  4. Stay aboard past Shin-Osaka until Kyoto Station. The hotel area is on the Hachijo side.

Fumi tip JR Osaka and Shin-Osaka are not the same station. Kyoto is further along the rail line.

07THE KARASUMA LINEKyoto Station → ShijoKyoto Municipal Subway · 2 stops
Your stop: Mitsui Garden Hotel Kyoto Shijo

The route

  1. Kyoto Station K11
  2. Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan
  3. Gojo K10
  4. Shijo K09
  5. Walk into the Shijo neighbourhood

How to make it easy

  1. Follow Kyoto Station signs for the municipal subway rather than JR platforms.
  2. Take the Karasuma Line towards Kokusaikaikan.
  3. Get off after Gojo at Shijo, then continue west on foot.

Fumi tip Look for the green Karasuma Line signs: they lead to the subway, not the Shinkansen.

08FIRST SHINKANSENKyoto → NagoyaKarasuma Line + Tokaido Shinkansen + Nagoya subway
Your stop: Prince Smart Inn Nagoya Sakae

The route

  1. Shijo K09 → Kyoto K11
  2. Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya
  3. Nagoya subway H08
  4. Higashiyama Line towards Fujigaoka
  5. Fushimi H09

How to make it easy

  1. Take the Karasuma Line back to Kyoto Station, then follow the Shinkansen signs.
  2. Use your SmartEX reservation or another valid Shinkansen ticket for the train to Nagoya.
  3. In Nagoya, transfer to the Higashiyama subway line towards Fujigaoka.
  4. Travel one stop from Nagoya H08 to Fushimi H09, then walk to the hotel.

Fumi tip The Shinkansen has dedicated boarding gates; an ordinary Suica balance alone does not pay for this journey.

09FIND THE RIGHT STOPNagoya → ShizuokaHigashiyama Line + Hikari or Kodama Shinkansen
Your stop: Shizutetsu Hotel Prezio Shizuoka-Ekikita

The route

  1. Fushimi H09 → Nagoya H08
  2. Tokaido Shinkansen
  3. Shizuoka Station
  4. North Exit hotel district

How to make it easy

  1. Travel one station west from Fushimi to Nagoya on the Higashiyama Line.
  2. At Nagoya, use the Shinkansen reservation for Shizuoka.
  3. Choose a Hikari stopping at Shizuoka or a Kodama; Nozomi does not stop at Shizuoka.
  4. From Shizuoka Station, follow the North Exit signs for the nearby hotel district.

Fumi tip On this part of the journey, the train’s stopping pattern matters more than the fastest-looking name.

04

THE FINALE

Tokyo & Haneda

Use familiar railway habits to reach eastern Tokyo, Ikebukuro and the airport with confidence.

10SHINKANSEN TO LOCAL JRShizuoka → Tokyo → KameidoHikari / Kodama + JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku + Chuo-Sobu Local
Your stop: HOTEL MYSTAYS Kameido

The route

  1. Shizuoka → Tokyo Station
  2. JR northbound to Akihabara
  3. Yellow Chuo-Sobu Local eastbound
  4. Kameido Station

How to make it easy

  1. Board a Shinkansen at Shizuoka with the correct Tokyo destination.
  2. At Tokyo Station, follow the transfer signs to JR Yamanote or Keihin-Tohoku for Akihabara.
  3. At Akihabara, find the yellow Chuo-Sobu Local towards Chiba or Nishi-Funabashi.
  4. Get off at Kameido and continue to the hotel.

Fumi tip The Chuo-Sobu Local has yellow signage. At Akihabara, make sure the train is travelling east.

11ACROSS TOKYOKameido → IkebukuroChuo-Sobu Local + JR Yamanote Line
Your stop: Dormy Inn Ikebukuro

The route

  1. Kameido Station
  2. Yellow Chuo-Sobu Local westbound
  3. Akihabara Station
  4. JR Yamanote Line via Ueno
  5. Ikebukuro Station

How to make it easy

  1. Take the westbound yellow Chuo-Sobu Local from Kameido to Akihabara.
  2. Transfer to the green Yamanote Line towards Ueno and Ikebukuro.
  3. At Ikebukuro, follow East Exit signs and use your saved hotel directions.

Fumi tip Ikebukuro has many exits. Choosing the right side of the station is often more important than saving a minute on the train.

12THE AIRPORT FINALEIkebukuro → Hamamatsucho → HanedaJR Yamanote Line + Tokyo Monorail
Your stop: Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport

The route

  1. Ikebukuro → JR Hamamatsucho
  2. Monorail Hamamatsucho
  3. Tokyo Monorail to Haneda Terminal 3
  4. Indoor connection to airport hotel

How to make it easy

  1. Take the Yamanote Line on the eastern side of the loop towards Tokyo and Hamamatsucho.
  2. At Hamamatsucho, follow signs to the Tokyo Monorail entrance.
  3. Board a service stopping at Haneda Airport Terminal 3.
  4. Follow the indoor signs towards Haneda Airport Garden and the hotel.

Fumi tip Haneda has three numbered passenger terminals. For this route, choose Terminal 3 — not Terminal 1 or 2.

13THE FINAL WALKHaneda Terminal 3 departuresIndoor hotel-to-terminal connection
Your stop: Airport departure

The route

  1. Villa Fontaine Grand
  2. Haneda Airport Garden
  3. Terminal 3 departures

How to make it easy

  1. The hotel is directly connected to the airport complex.
  2. Prepare travel documents and luggage before the departure morning.
  3. Follow the airport signs for international departures and your airline’s check-in area.

Fumi tip This finale needs no train journey at all — a lovely way to take the strain out of an early flight.

READ THE STATION, NOT THE WHOLE NETWORK

Four pieces of information make a train board useful.

TIMEWhen the train leaves.
SERVICELocal, Rapid, Airport Express or Shinkansen.
DESTINATIONWhich way the train is travelling.
PLATFORMWhere you wait.

If the line or destination seems unfamiliar, compare the station board with your phone's route before you enter the platform.

The impressive concourse of Kyoto Station
Kyoto Station — photography credits.

A LITTLE HELP ALONG THE WAY

When plans change, the journey can still go well.

↻

Missed the train?

For an ordinary local service, check the board for the next train travelling the right direction.

↗

Wrong platform?

Read the next station. If it's the wrong direction, get off at a suitable stop and find the correct service.

◎

Gate won't open?

Ask station staff to check the card balance or any unfinished entry/exit record.

？

Need a hand?

Show the station name or the lift symbol on your phone. Staff can direct you to the correct gate or exit.

A USEFUL PHRASE

すみません、この電車は ___ に行きますか？

Sumimasen, kono densha wa ___ ni ikimasu ka?

“Excuse me, does this train go to ___?”

THE BEST PART IS WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN STATIONS

Find your next train.
Then discover more of Japan.

From little food streets to grand railway stations, every connection opens another chance to experience the country. Look up, read the sign, and enjoy the journey.

Explore the Great-Value Hotel Trail →Download Japan travel guides ↗
Original Fumi illustration of the Rinku waterfront and Kansai Airport

Official railway information

For live departures, tickets and current station arrangements, the railway operators have the latest information.

Nankai ↗Osaka Metro ↗JR West ↗SmartEX ↗Tokyo Monorail ↗