For many, the best "story" is the lack of one. Japan’s rail system is so frequent that you can often walk into a station and be on a train within 15 minutes.

: Friendly staff at manned counters can help you pick the right train even if you don't speak Japanese.

: If you buy a non-reserved seat ticket, you can board any train on that route that day and sit in the unreserved cars. 📱 The Digital Savvy Route

If you prefer to have everything on your phone, the app or website is the official way to book for major routes like Tokyo to Kyoto.

: Head to a Midori no Madoguchi (Green Ticket Office) or a touch-screen vending machine.