View source for Japan Railways Group

{{Short description|Group of companies that replaced Japanese National Railways}}

[[File:JR logo JRgroup.svg|200px|thumb|JR logotype|class=skin-invert]]
[[File:JR Rail en.svg|thumb|200px|JR Group service regions|class=skin-invert]]

The '''Japan Railways Group''', commonly known as the {{nihongo|'''JR Group'''||Jeiāru Gurūpu}} or simply '''JR''', is a network of railway companies in [[Japan]] formed after the [[Division and privatization of Japanese National Railways|division and privatization]] of the government-owned [[Japanese National Railways]] (JNR) on April 1, 1987. The group comprises six regional [[Passenger train|passenger railway]] companies, one [[Rail freight transport|freight railway]] company, and two non-service entities. The [[Japanese National Railway Settlement Corporation|JNR Settlement Corporation]] assumed much of the debt of the former JNR.

The companies of the JR Group operates a significant portion of Japan’s rail services, including intercity routes, commuter lines, and the [[Shinkansen]] high-speed rail network.

[[Hokkaido Railway Company|JR Hokkaido]], [[Shikoku Railway Company|JR Shikoku]], and [[Japan Freight Railway Company|JR Freight]] (JRF) are governed by the {{nihongo foot|{{interlanguage link|Act for the Passenger Railway Companies and Japan Freight Railway Company|ja|旅客鉄道株式会社及び日本貨物鉄道株式会社に関する法律}}|旅客鉄道株式会社及び日本貨物鉄道株式会社に関する法律|Ryokaku Tetsudō kabushiki gaisha oyobi Nippon Kamotsu Tetsudō kabushiki gaisha ni kan-suru hōritsu|Act No. 88 of December 4, 1986}}, also known as the JR Companies Act, and are overseen by the public [[Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency|Japan Railway Construction, Transport, and Technology Agency]] (JRTT). In contrast, [[East Japan Railway Company|JR East]], [[Central Japan Railway Company|JR Central]], [[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]], and [[Kyushu Railway Company|JR Kyushu]] are fully privatized and publicly traded.

Due to JR’s origins as a government-run entity, Japanese rail users often distinguish JR lines (including some now operated by [[Voluntary sector|third-sector]] entities) from other [[Private railway#Japan|private railways]]. This distinction is typically reflected in the way JR and other private railways are labeled on maps.<ref>http://www.jreast.co.jp/renrakuteiki/index.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406111028/http://www.jreast.co.jp/renrakuteiki/index.html|date=2016-04-06}} Using Suica Railway Pass, connect from JR to Private Rail/Metro!</ref>

== Background ==
{{See also|History of rail transport in Japan|Ministry of Railways (Japan)}}
[[File:021 新幹線 N700 Series Shinkansen high speed train arriving at Kyoto Station, Japan.jpg|thumb|[[Central Japan Railway Company|JR Central]] [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]] arriving at Kyoto Station]]
[[File:A JR train arriving in station.jpg|thumb|A [[JR West]] [[223 series]] train arriving in [[Osaka station]]]]
[[File:Railway transport volumes of Japan.svg|thumb|The [[COVID-19 pandemic in Japan]] abruptly reduced passenger railway ridership in 2020, which has been increasing since 1960.]]
By the 1970s, passenger and freight business had declined, and fare increases had failed to keep up with higher labor costs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Annual Report of Transport Economy(1975) – Chapter 4 Reconstruction of Japanese National Railways |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/english/white-paper/unyu-whitepaper/1976/1976020401-12.html |accessdate=2003-04-23 |publisher=[[Ministry of Transport (Japan)|Ministry of Transport]]}}</ref>

The [[Division and privatization of Japanese National Railways|JR Group companies were formed out]] of the [[privatization]] of the [[Japanese National Railways]] in 1987.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kasai |first=Yoshiyuki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_ZNEAAAQBAJ&dq=JR+was+formed+out+of+the+%5B%5Bprivatization%5D%5D+of+the+%5B%5BJapanese+National+Railways%5D%5D.&pg=PA217 |title=Japanese National Railways – Its Break-up and Privatization: How Japan's Passenger Rail Services Became the Envy of the World |date=2021-10-25 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-21397-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Imashiro |first1=Mitsuhide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fq0VAgAAQBAJ&dq=JR+was+formed+out+of+the+%5B%5Bprivatization%5D%5D+of+the+%5B%5BJapanese+National+Railways%5D%5D.&pg=PA21 |title=The Privatisation of Japanese National Railways: Railway Management, Market and Policy |last2=Ishikawa |first2=Tatsujiro |date=2013-12-17 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-78093-929-2 |language=en}}</ref>

The seven JR companies recorded a total profit of ¥ 88.9 million in 1988.<ref>{{cite news |title=New links and more choices |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/biztimes19900625-1.2.66.9?qt=seikan,%20tunnel&q=seikan%20tunnel |work=Business Times (Singapore) |date=June 25, 1990}}</ref>

== Ownership ==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
In 1987, the government of Japan took steps to divide and privatize JNR. While division of operations began in April of that year, privatization was not immediate: initially, the government retained ownership of the companies. Privatization of some of the companies began in the early 1990s. By October 2016, all of the shares of JR East, JR Central, JR West and JR Kyushu had been offered to the market and they are now publicly traded. On the other hand, all of the shares of JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku and JR Freight are still owned by [[Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency]], an [[Independent Administrative Institution|independent administrative institution]] of the state.

All the JR Group companies operating in the [[Honshū]] region are constituents of the [[Nikkei 225]] and [[TOPIX]] 100 indexes.

== Companies ==
{{Further|Private railway#Japan}}
{{Location map+|Japan|float=right|width=350|places=
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	釧路	-->	|lat_deg=	42	|lat_min=	59	|lat_sec=	26	|lon_deg=	144	|lon_min=	22	|lon_sec=	53	|mark=	Lightgreen pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	旭川	-->	|lat_deg=	43	|lat_min=	45	|lat_sec=	53	|lon_deg=	142	|lon_min=	21	|lon_sec=	22	|mark=	Lightgreen pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	函館	-->	|lat_deg=	41	|lat_min=	46	|lat_sec=	36	|lon_deg=	140	|lon_min=	43	|lon_sec=	42	|mark=	Lightgreen pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (hokkaido).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	43	|lat_min=	4	|lat_sec=	15	|lon_deg=	141	|lon_min=	19	|lon_sec=	56	|mark=	Lightgreen pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	right	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	静岡	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	58	|lat_sec=	15	|lon_deg=	138	|lon_min=	23	|lon_sec=	20	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	三重	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	44	|lat_sec=	5	|lon_deg=	136	|lon_min=	30	|lon_sec=	39	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	飯田	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	31	|lat_sec=	11	|lon_deg=	137	|lon_min=	49	|lon_sec=	14	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	関西	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	43	|lat_sec=	49	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	30	|lon_sec=	0	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	東海鉄道	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	10	|lat_sec=	5	|lon_deg=	136	|lon_min=	52	|lon_sec=	57	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	新幹線鉄道	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	58	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	46	|lon_sec=	6	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (central).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	10	|lat_sec=	15	|lon_deg=	136	|lon_min=	52	|lon_sec=	57	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	本社(東京)	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	37	|lat_sec=	47	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	44	|lon_sec=	25	|mark=	Orange pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	愛媛(企)	-->	|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	50	|lat_sec=	22	|lon_deg=	132	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	4	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	徳島(企)	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	4	|lat_sec=	29	|lon_deg=	134	|lon_min=	33	|lon_sec=	0	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	高知(企)	-->	|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	34	|lat_sec=	2	|lon_deg=	133	|lon_min=	32	|lon_sec=	41	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	岡山(企)	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	39	|lat_sec=	49	|lon_deg=	133	|lon_min=	55	|lon_sec=	7	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	大阪(営)	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	42	|lat_sec=	26	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	29	|lon_sec=	44	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	東京(事)	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	35	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	43	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (shikoku).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	20	|lat_sec=	59	|lon_deg=	134	|lon_min=	2	|lon_sec=	31	|mark=	Turquoise pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	金沢	-->	|lat_deg=	36	|lat_min=	35	|lat_sec=	27	|lon_deg=	136	|lon_min=	40	|lon_sec=	3	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	京都	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	59	|lat_sec=	5	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	14	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	大阪	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	38	|lat_sec=	43	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	30	|lon_sec=	58	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	和歌山	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	13	|lat_sec=	48	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	11	|lon_sec=	29	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	神戸	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	41	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	10	|lon_sec=	51	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	福知山	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	17	|lat_sec=	49	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	7	|lon_sec=	4	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	岡山	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	4	|lon_deg=	133	|lon_min=	55	|lon_sec=	13	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	米子	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	25	|lat_sec=	20	|lon_deg=	133	|lon_min=	20	|lon_sec=	8	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	広島	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	24	|lat_sec=	0	|lon_deg=	132	|lon_min=	28	|lon_sec=	40	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	新幹線管理本部	-->	|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	43	|lat_sec=	49	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	30	|lon_sec=	0	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	福岡支社	-->	|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	35	|lat_sec=	25	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	25	|lon_sec=	11	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (west).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	34	|lat_min=	42	|lat_sec=	26	|lon_deg=	135	|lon_min=	29	|lon_sec=	42	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	top	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	東京本部	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	35	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	43	|mark=	Blue pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	北部九州地域本社	-->	|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	53	|lat_sec=	18	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	52	|lon_sec=	22	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	長崎	-->	|lat_deg=	32	|lat_min=	45	|lat_sec=	5	|lon_deg=	129	|lon_min=	52	|lon_sec=	12	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	大分	-->	|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	14	|lat_sec=	0	|lon_deg=	131	|lon_min=	36	|lon_sec=	23	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	熊本	-->	|lat_deg=	32	|lat_min=	47	|lat_sec=	21	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	41	|lon_sec=	20	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	鹿児島	-->	|lat_deg=	31	|lat_min=	34	|lat_sec=	58	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	32	|lon_sec=	26	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	東京支店	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	40	|lat_sec=	35	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	43	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	沖縄支店	-->	|lat_deg=	26	|lat_min=	12	|lat_sec=	56	|lon_deg=	127	|lon_min=	40	|lon_sec=	40	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (kyushu).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	33	|lat_min=	35	|lat_sec=	21	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	25	|lon_sec=	1	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	新幹線鉄道事業部	-->	|lat_deg=	31	|lat_min=	48	|lat_sec=	48	|lon_deg=	130	|lon_min=	18	|lon_sec=	14	|mark=	Red pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	東京	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	44	|lat_sec=	24	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	45	|lon_sec=	38	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	横浜	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	27	|lat_sec=	45	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	37	|lon_sec=	10	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	大宮	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	54	|lat_sec=	12	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	37	|lon_sec=	27	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	高崎	-->	|lat_deg=	36	|lat_min=	19	|lat_sec=	22	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	1	|lon_sec=	1	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	千葉	-->	|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	36	|lat_sec=	44	|lon_deg=	140	|lon_min=	6	|lon_sec=	47	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	仙台	-->	|lat_deg=	38	|lat_min=	15	|lat_sec=	22	|lon_deg=	140	|lon_min=	52	|lon_sec=	1	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	盛岡	-->	|lat_deg=	39	|lat_min=	42	|lat_sec=	18	|lon_deg=	141	|lon_min=	8	|lon_sec=	0	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	秋田	-->	|lat_deg=	39	|lat_min=	42	|lat_sec=	54	|lon_deg=	140	|lon_min=	7	|lon_sec=	45	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	新潟	-->	|lat_deg=	37	|lat_min=	54	|lat_sec=	45	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	3	|lon_sec=	37	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=	<!--	長野	-->	|lat_deg=	36	|lat_min=	38	|lat_sec=	32	|lon_deg=	138	|lon_min=	11	|lon_sec=	19	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	5	|position=	bottom	}}
{{Location map~	|Japan	|label=		[[File:JR logo (east).svg|23px]]		|lat_deg=	35	|lat_min=	41	|lat_sec=	20	|lon_deg=	139	|lon_min=	41	|lon_sec=	59	|mark=	Green pog.svg	|marksize=	8	|position=	top	}}
|caption=JR group's main offices and branch offices<br />
[[File:Lightgreen pog.svg|8px]]	&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (hokkaido).svg|23px]]	{{Color|#2cb431|Hokkaido}}
[[File:Green pog.svg|8px]]		&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (east).svg|23px]]	{{Color|green|East}}
[[File:Orange pog.svg|8px]]		&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (central).svg|23px]]	{{Color|orange|Central}}	<br />
[[File:Blue pog.svg|8px]]		&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (west).svg|23px]]	{{Color|#0072bc|West}}
[[File:Turquoise pog.svg|8px]]		&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (shikoku).svg|23px]]	{{Color|#1cadca|Shikoku}}
[[File:Red pog.svg|8px]]		&nbsp;[[File:JR logo (kyushu).svg|23px]]	{{Color|red|Kyushu}}	<br />
(JR Freight, JRTT, and JR Systems are omitted)}}

The Japan Railways Group consists of seven operating companies and two other companies that do not provide rail service. The operating companies are organized into six passenger operators and a nationwide freight operator. Unlike some other groups of companies, the JR Group is made up of independent companies, and it does not have group headquarters or a [[holding company]] to set the overall business policy.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

The six passenger railways of the JR Group are separated by region. Nearly all their services are within the prescribed geographic area. However, some long-distance operations extend beyond the boundaries. The ''[[Shirasagi (train)|Shirasagi]]'' train service between {{STN|Nagoya|x}} and {{STN|Kanazawa|x}}, for instance, uses JR West rolling stock but the segment of track between Nagoya and {{STN|Maibara|x}} is owned by JR Central, whose crew manage the train on that section.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

[[Japan Freight Railway Company]] operates all [[freight]] service on the network previously owned by JNR.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

In addition, the group includes two non-operating companies. These are the [[Railway Technical Research Institute]] and Railway Information Systems Co., Ltd.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}}

To cover various non-railway business areas, each regional operator in the JR Group has its own group of subsidiary companies with names like "JR East Group" and "JR Shikoku Group".
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Business
!Logo and color
!Company
!Type
!Fully privatized
![[Ticker symbol|Traded as]]
!Region(s) of operation
!Note
|-
| rowspan="6" |Passenger
| style="color:#2cb431" |[[File:JR logo (hokkaido).svg|40px]]<br />Grass
|[[Hokkaido Railway Company]] (JR Hokkaido)
| rowspan="8" |''[[Kabushiki gaisha]]''
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|[[Hokkaidō]]
|Operates [[Hokkaidō Shinkansen]]
|-
| style="color:#0c8c11" |[[File:JR logo (east).svg|40px]]<br />Forest
|[[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East)
|2002
|{{plainlist|
*{{tyo|9020}}
*[[Nikkei 225]] component
*[[TOPIX]] Large70 component}}
|[[Tōhoku region|Tōhoku]], [[Kantō region|Kantō]], [[Hokuriku region|Hokuriku]], [[Kōshin'etsu region|Kōshin'etsu]]
|Operates [[Tōhoku Shinkansen|Tōhoku]], [[Yamagata Shinkansen|Yamagata]], [[Akita Shinkansen|Akita]] and [[Jōetsu Shinkansen|Jōetsu]] Shinkansen Lines, along with [[Hokuriku Shinkansen]] with JR West
|-
| style="color:#ff7000" |[[File:JR logo (central).svg|40px]]<br />Pumpkin
|[[Central Japan Railway Company]] (JR Central)
|2006
|{{plainlist|
*{{tyo|9022}}
*{{NAG|9022}}
*[[Nikkei 225]] component (TYO)
*[[TOPIX]] Large70 component (TYO)}}
|[[Chūbu region|Chūbu]]
|Operates [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]]
|-
| style="color:#0072bc" |[[File:JR logo (west).svg|40px]]<br />Ocean
|[[West Japan Railway Company]] (JR West)
|2004
|{{plainlist|
*{{tyo|9021}}
*[[Nikkei 225]] component
*[[TOPIX]] Large70 component}}
|[[Hokuriku region|Hokuriku]], [[Kansai region|Kansai]], [[Chūgoku region|Chūgoku]], [[Kyūshū region|Kyūshū]]
|Operates [[Sanyō Shinkansen]] and [[Hokuriku Shinkansen]] (with JR East)
|-
| style="color:#1cadca" |[[File:JR logo (shikoku).svg|40px]]<br />Sky
|[[Shikoku Railway Company]] (JR Shikoku)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|[[Shikoku]]
|
|-
| style="color:#ff0000" |[[File:JR logo (kyushu).svg|40px]]<br />Scarlet
|[[Kyushu Railway Company]] (JR Kyushu)
|2016
|{{plainlist|
*{{tyo|9142}}
*{{Fukuoka Stock Exchange|9142}}}}
|[[Kyūshū]]
|Operates [[Kyūshū Shinkansen]]
|-
|Freight
| style="color:#2d86bd" |[[File:JR logo (freight).svg|40px]]<br />Slate
|[[Japan Freight Railway Company]] (JR Freight)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|Nationwide
|
|-
|IT Services
| style="color:#B3424A" |[[File:JR logo systems.svg|40px]]<br />Burgundy
|{{Interlanguage link|Railway Information Systems|ja|鉄道情報システム}} (JR Systems)
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|Nationwide
|Develops, operates and manages computer systems, including [[MARS (ticket reservation system)]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Products and Solutions – JR RAILWAY INFORMATION SYSTEMS CO.,LTD. |url=https://www.jrs.co.jp/english/Products_and_Solutions/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.jrs.co.jp}}</ref><br>Jointly owned by the railway operating companies<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Overview – JR RAILWAY INFORMATION SYSTEMS CO.,LTD. |url=https://www.jrs.co.jp/english/CorporateOverview/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.jrs.co.jp}}</ref>
|-
|Research & Development
| style="color:#9932cc" |[[File:JR logo RTRI.svg|40px]]<br />Lavender
|[[Railway Technical Research Institute]] (RTRI)
|{{Ill|Public Interest Incorporated Foundation|ja|公益法人}}
|{{n/a}}
|{{n/a}}
|Nationwide
|Conducts research and development of railway-related technologies, such as [[SCMaglev]]<ref name="auto" /><br>Non-profit organization funded by the railway operating companies<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Railway Technical Research Institute |url=http://www.rtri.or.jp/eng/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Railway Technical Research Institute |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219051808/https://www.rtri.or.jp/eng/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

== Network ==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
JR maintains a nationwide railway network as well as common ticketing rules that it inherited from JNR. Passengers may travel across several JR companies without changing trains and without purchasing separate tickets. However, trains running across the boundaries of JR companies have been reduced.

JR maintains the same ticketing rules based on the JNR rules and has an integrated reservation system known as [[MARS (ticket reservation system)|MARS]] (jointly developed with [[Hitachi]]). Some types of tickets (passes), such as [[Japan Rail Pass]] and [[Seishun 18 Ticket]], are issued as "valid for all JR lines" and accepted by all passenger JR companies.

== Unions ==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
Various unions represent workers at the different JR Group companies, such as the [[National Railway Workers' Union]], [[All Japan Construction, Transport and General Workers' Union]], [[Doro-Chiba]], and the [[Japan Confederation of Railway Workers' Unions]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Companies|Trains|Japan
}}
* [[Rail transport in Japan]]
* [[List of railway companies in Japan]]
* [[Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification]]
* [[SoftBank Telecom]] – former Japan Telecom, an affiliated company of [[Japanese National Railways|JNR]] established in 1984

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{Country study}} – [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/jptoc.html Japan]

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Rail travel in Japan}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090721022109/http://space.geocities.jp/hisakyu_rail/japan/index_eg.html Hisakyu's Railway Guide] (archived 21 July 2009)
* [https://www.desktoptetsu.com/rule.htm JR's Rule on Passenger Tickets]

{{Japan Railways Group}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Japan Railway companies|*]]
[[Category:1067&nbsp;mm gauge railways in Japan]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge railways in Japan]]
[[Category:Conglomerate companies of Japan]]
[[Category:Japanese brands]]