Last Updated: Apr 1, 2023

Upgrade to the Green Car

How to Travel in Japan in Style

This week’s article is going to be a comparatively shorter piece than those I usually put out. Rather than delve into the weeds on some remote area, we’re going to be taking a look at a handy hack that I’ve been meaning to write about for some time now. As evidenced in the title, the following exposé will detail how to take advantage of the so-called “Green Car” when riding on JR train lines. Never heard of this rarely utilized means of travel before? Well, read on to discover how to travel with the rest of your discretionary income holding cohort.

Put simply, the Green Car is JR’s premium class. Though not available on all lines, the Green Car can be found on lines that run great distances and have limited express trains. For example, the upgrade option is absent from Tokyo’s popular Yamanote Loop Line. However, it can most definitely be found on the Tokaido Line and Yokosuka Line as these cover sweeping swaths of Japan. In addition to these lines, you’ll also encounter Green Car options on the bullet trains as well as a more luxurious class of car called the GranClass. As you might imagine, this one is only for the true ballers out there.

Now, you’re probably wondering what amenities you gain by upgrading to the Green Car. Here…