In fact there are 2 columns on the timetable "Arrival Time" and "Expected Time", showing how many minutes late it is expected to be. This can be anything from 5 to 50 minutes on any given day....
So when I came to Japan I was pretty much gob-smacked about how efficient and punctual the train service is here.
Lateness is measured in seconds. They are so punctual you begin to get worried if the train is 2 minutes late, as it usually means something terrible has happened on the line.
Not only that but they are so frequent! Even if you live way out in the countryside, the most you could expect would be every 15-20 minutes, but if you're near Tokyo or another big city, it's more like every 5 minutes.
Not only that, but despite the millions upon millions of people who use the trains every single day, they are clean, tidy, have absolutely no graffiti or damaged seats due to vandalism.
The only tattered seats I've ever sat on were a local train in a very remote place where the carriages dated back to the 1980's, and that was down to age rather than some idiot ripping it on purpose.
Fares are calculated by how many stops you go. Take for example the line near my place, it leads to Tokyo and charges 130 Yen (85p/$1.30) if you go 2 or 3 stops.
If you go a bit further and ride for 5 or 6 stops (20 minutes or so riding the train) you will be charged about 290 Yen.
This system exists nation-wide, the fare is calculated by checking where you bought the ticket and entered the gates, to the end point of your journey where you exit the ticket gates,
It automated, it's fast, it' makes sense, it's fair and the prices don't change at any time, ever.
Even better, if you change your mind on the way and want to get off at another stop, it doesn't matter - you just update your ticket at the station you got off at and the cost is adjusted. Simple!
The downside of this is that there is no such thing as a "return ticket" in Japan, you cannot get a cheaper price by purchasing your ticket back home.
if it's 600 Yen to get to the place your going to, it will be exactly 600 Yen to get back. (1,200 Yen round trip)
I'd much prefer that to, for example the London underground, which has tickets you can't use before 10am, charges you by zones rather than distance etc etc. Very confusing - and illogical.
In fact the Tube is one of the best train services in the UK, the normal long-distance train service is horrendous.
To be fair, I've heard that the recent "Oyster Card" system introduced a few years back is a lot better.
Ironically this is based on the Japanese "Suica Card" system, which has been in use on ALL trains in the entire country since 2001!
Currently there are no plans to extend the Oyster Card system to regular trains, I guess they prefer the lottery-based price system they have at the moment....
To go from London to Leeds may cost you £140 return, £90 single on the day, £230 first class, £18 if you buy it 6 weeks in advance (if you're lucky) then you have rail card discounts on top of that, but they cost money too. Huh?!
Then you get on the train and it might not be reserved and you have to stand up!
You could be on a new train and have nice seats, you could be sitting in a 1970's carriage with chewing gum on the floor, it's like rolling the dice every single time.
Let's compare and contrast with Japan's similar long-distance rail service, the Shinkansen. (commonly called the Bullet Train in the west)
You can buy a ticket at a train station either 5 minutes before you leave, or 5 months - it will cost you exactly the same. You want a reserved seat, it's usually a few hundred Yen extra, a "Green Car" seat (First Class) will cost you a few thousand more. (usually about £10/$20 more)
You will then travel in complete luxury, moving at 300kph in pristine seats that recline like aeroplane chairs.
In the 40+ years it's been in service, the only time it's been delayed was when there was a major earthquake, even then service was resumed about 30 minutes later.
I really feel sorry for Japanese people when they say they're going to the UK and want to ride the trains, I usually tell them "good luck with that".
Having experienced many kinds of long distance trains & subways in my life, I can wholeheartedly say that the Japanese train system is by far the best in the world, bar none!
In the interest of balance, there was an incident back in 2006 where a train driver was a few minutes behind schedule and tried to make up time by going too fast.
He ended up derailing the train on a bend which collided with an apartment building, many lives were lost.
You could argue this would only ever happen in Japan, pressures of work, punctuality etc, but I put this down to a freak accident and hope lessons have been learnt from this.
Final Word:
Be it the daily commute or the long distance travel for holidays (vacations), the Japanese train system will never let you down or disappoint you - ever.
In Japan you are actually compensated and apologised to if the train is just 2 minutes late, how many other countries can boast such an impeccably reliable service?
It's clean, on time, reasonably cheap and fast - what more could you ask for?
VERDICT - HIGH POINT
Been there, done that - tip!
If by a freak of nature you are delayed on a train and are late for work/school as a result, you can ask for a "Chien-Shou-Meishou", which is a certificate/admission of lateness from the train company.
It's so rare that the train is late, you'll need official proof, think of it like a doctor's note!
Excuses for being late in Japan are few and far between, make sure you don't miss your train!
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