Japan Rail Café—a one-stop shop for travelers—is now open at Tokyo Station, as of March 5, 2020. Visitors can enjoy food, drink, and the latest seasonal travel information about Japan all in one handy location.
If you love Japan and want new travel experiences in the country, this is the perfect place for you!
The café provides current and often exclusive information about what is worth seeing in various parts of Japan at any given time of year. It is a great place to pick up seasonal tips that are not available in travel guidebooks or online.
If you want a chance to meet new friends on your travels and discover exciting parts of Japan that you never knew existed, Japan Rail Café is well worth a look-in while in Tokyo.
What is Japan Rail Café?
Opened by East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), the concept of Japan Rail Café is a hub where travelers can meet and interact, sharing travel plans and inspiring one another about where to go on their Japanese adventure.
The café serves food and drinks, offers travel support for new arrivals, and provides travel information on its large, interactive screen.
If you’ve ever been to Singapore, you might have been to JR East’s first Japan Rail Café, which opened there in 2017. The new Tokyo branch is modeled on the original.
Why visit Tokyo’s Japan Rail Café?
If you’re passing close to Tokyo Station on your travels, you should pop in Japan Rail Café. The reasons are many and they don’t only have to do with their food offering—up to 30 dishes that range from rice bowls to from burger sets and change every month.
The Japan Rail Café in Tokyo also offers many useful services if you’re trying to get around Japan.
You can find a wealth of travel information and go on a virtual journey using the interactive screen, for instance. The café works in conjunction with several tourism promotion campaigns to show you the most interesting things the Land of the Rising Sun has to offer.
On top of this, exciting footage of Japanese destinations is shown in the café on programs that provide seasonal information on travel in Japan to help give you ideas about the best places to visit.
If you prefer a human touch, the staff at the Travel Information Counter will be more than happy to help you to plan the perfect Japanese trip. For example, you may get hot tips on where to see cherry blossom when it is in season.
The Welcome Suica e-money card can also be bought here.
Authentic Japanese food and drink
It wouldn’t be a café without a selection of food and drinks for customers to enjoy. Japan Rail Café doesn’t disappoint. Visitors not only have all the travel information they need but an authentic experience of Japanese cuisine.
And, of course, every visitor has to try some Japanese tea—the café even offers advice on the proper way to drink it!
There are always various seasonal Japanese food and drinks available in addition to a wide selection of traditional bar snacks, Japanese beef steaks, and more. How does a salmon sashimi, Hokkaido scallops and avocado bowl sound? What about sipping on a hojicha latte (a tea latte infused with the fragrance of roasted tea leaves) while you plan the next leg of your Japanese grand tour? Check and check at Tokyo’s Japan Rail Cafe.
They also offer ekiben box lunches for you to eat on the go.
Meeting fellow travelers
At Japan Rail Café, you are encouraged to speak to your fellow customers and make new friends. The idea of the café is all about sharing ideas and travel tips.
What places in Japan have you visited that you would recommend? Are there any hidden gems you know of, or enchanting local festivals that only happen at a certain time of year?
You may find that other travelers have great tips to offer that could turn out to be the highlight of your trip.
How to find Japan Rail Café
Japan Rail Café can be found next to JR Tokyo Station, outside the Yaesu Central Gate. It can be easily reached from any part of Japan with the shink the Japan Rail Pass.
The address of Japan Rail Café is Gran Tokyo North Tower 1F.
Opening hours are as follows:
- Weekdays: 8am to 10pm
- Weekends & public holidays: 8am to 9pm
- Ticket information counter: 8am to 4pm (all days)