JR

JR (Japan Railways) is the largest railroad company in Japan. The Japanese government privatized its state-run company because it was incurring large amounts of debt. Since then JR (at least some branches) has been much more profitable.

JR runs commuter and freight trains in all four of the main islands. It is actually split into at least 9 companies: JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Kyushu, JR Shikoku, JR Freight, and two research divisions.

If you're a gaijin (or Japanese national living in a foreign country) planning to visit Japan, a good idea is to get a JR Rail Pass. They allow you to ride as many trains as you want (even Shinkansen), all over the country, for a period of 1, 2, or 3 weeks.

JR took over from Japan National Railways in 1987. Its passenger operations are divided between six companies:

• Central Japan Railway
• East Japan Railway
• Hokkaido Railway
• Kyushu Railway
• Shikoku Railway
• West Japan Railway

These companies run most of their operations independently, but share some trains (the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen, for example) and honor each other's tickets.

Nowadays, JR accounts for about 70% of Japan's railway mileage.