JR Central

JR Central is a major passenger railway company serving central Japan and the country’s busiest intercity travel corridor. Officially known as Central Japan Railway Company, it operates the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka alongside conventional railway lines centered on Nagoya and Shizuoka.

The company forms part of the Japan Railways Group. Its services connect major cities, regional communities, business centers, visitor destinations, airports, and interchange stations used by other railway operators.

Contact Information

Information	Details
Official Name	Central Japan Railway Company
Common Names	JR Central, JR Tokai
Category	Passenger Railway Operator
Railway Group	Japan Railways Group
Headquarters	JR Central Towers, 1-1-4 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 450-6101, Japan
Tokyo Head Office	JR Central Shinagawa Building, A Wing, 2-1-85 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8204, Japan
Passenger Inquiries	Available through the official online questions, comments, and requests form
Lost Property Inquiries	Available through the official JR Central Find Chat service
Website	global.jr-central.co.jp
Number of Stations	405
Operating Distance	Approximately 1,970.8 kilometers
Shinkansen Route	Tokaido Shinkansen
Conventional Railway Lines	12 lines
Primary Operating Areas	Tokyo–Nagoya–Osaka corridor, Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and surrounding areas

Overview

JR Central’s principal service is the Tokaido Shinkansen, which links Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka. Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama trains provide different stopping patterns along the route.

The company also operates 12 conventional railway lines, including sections of the Tokaido Main Line, Chuo Main Line, Takayama Main Line, Kansai Main Line, Kisei Main Line, Gotemba Line, Minobu Line, Iida Line, Taketoyo Line, Taita Line, Meisho Line, and Sangu Line.

JR Central stations provide ticketing facilities, automatic fare gates, platforms, passenger information, toilets, lockers, shops, and connections to local transportation. Major terminals such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka offer reserved-seat ticket offices, restaurants, luggage services, hotels, and extensive interchange access.

Stations and Passenger Facilities

JR Central stations range from small regional stops to major terminals serving the Tokaido Shinkansen and conventional railway lines. Standard facilities may include ticket vending machines, automatic fare gates, platforms, route maps, toilets, lockers, waiting areas, shops, and passenger information displays.

Major stations such as Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka provide reserved-seat ticket machines, staffed ticket offices, restaurants, luggage services, hotels, and extensive connections to local trains, subways, buses, taxis, and other railway operators.

Transfers Between Trains

Passengers can transfer between conventional railway services and the Tokaido Shinkansen at designated interchange stations. Travelers using paper tickets may need to insert the basic fare ticket and Shinkansen ticket together at the transfer gate.

Passengers should follow station signs and allow additional time at large terminals. Platform assignments and transfer routes may differ according to the train, station layout, and operating conditions.

Tickets and Fare Payment

Passengers can purchase tickets from JR ticket offices and station vending machines. English-language menus are available on JR Central ticket machines, and selected machines can issue limited express tickets and reserved-seat tickets.

Local and rapid trains generally require a basic fare ticket. Shinkansen and limited express journeys require an additional express ticket, while Green Car travel requires the applicable premium ticket.

TOICA

TOICA is JR Central’s rechargeable contactless fare card. Passengers can tap the card at compatible gates for travel within supported IC-card areas and use it on participating trains, buses, shops, and vending machines.

TOICA generally cannot be used for continuous journeys crossing from one separate IC-card region into another. Passengers planning to cross an unsupported boundary should purchase the required ticket before entering the station.

SmartEX

SmartEX is an online reservation service for the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen. Passengers can search trains, purchase tickets, reserve seats, and use an eligible QR ticket or registered IC card for boarding.

Reservation changes and boarding procedures depend on the ticket product, available seats, payment method, and time remaining before departure. Travelers should check the conditions attached to their reservation.

Tokaido Shinkansen Services

The Tokaido Shinkansen operates Nozomi, Hikari, and Kodama trains between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. Nozomi services make the fewest stops, Hikari trains serve selected intermediate stations, and Kodama trains stop at every station along the route.

Reserved and non-reserved seating arrangements depend on the train and travel period. During designated peak travel periods, all seats on Nozomi services may require advance reservations.

Baggage and Passenger Rules

Passengers may carry up to two items of luggage within the railway’s permitted size and weight limits, excluding personal items such as handbags, umbrellas, and walking sticks. Dangerous, flammable, leaking, or improperly secured items may be refused.

Passengers bringing baggage with combined dimensions exceeding 160 centimeters on the Tokaido Shinkansen must reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area. Items with combined dimensions exceeding 250 centimeters cannot be brought aboard.

Travelers should store baggage securely without blocking aisles, doors, seats, or emergency equipment. Passengers remain responsible for supervising their belongings throughout the journey.

Accessibility and Passenger Assistance

Many JR Central stations provide elevators, escalators, tactile paving, accessible toilets, barrier-free routes, and boarding assistance. Facilities vary according to station size, infrastructure, and operating conditions.

Passengers requiring mobility assistance should contact station personnel or arrange support in advance, particularly when traveling through smaller stations or transferring between railway services.

Operating Services

JR Central trains operate daily, with schedules and frequencies varying by line, station, train category, and time of day. Tokaido Shinkansen services operate frequently, while some regional routes have longer intervals.

Maintenance work, severe weather, earthquakes, accidents, congestion, and other operating conditions may cause delays, cancellations, or timetable changes. Passengers should check current service information before beginning a time-sensitive journey.

Before You Go

Confirm the correct railway line, train category, departure time, and platform.
Check whether the journey requires a basic fare, express ticket, or seat reservation.
Prepare a paper ticket, TOICA card, QR ticket, or registered IC card.
Allow sufficient transfer time at major Shinkansen terminals.
Check whether Nozomi seats require reservations during the travel period.
Reserve an appropriate seat when carrying oversized baggage.
Review current service advisories before long-distance travel.
Ask station personnel for accessibility assistance when additional support is needed.