OpenRailwayMap/Tagging in Japan
This page deals with some specific aspects of Japanese railway mapping for OpenRailwayMap, such as with track names and signalling.
Tracks
Gauge
Most conventional (i.e. non-Shinkansen) trackage in Japan by the JR Group and several private railways (e.g. Odakyu, Seibu, Tokyu Corporation, Tobu Railway, Nankai Electric Railway) use the 1067 mm narrow gauge (狭軌, gauge=1067). The Shinkansen, as well as several private railways (e.g. Keikyu, Keisei, Hankyu, Hanshin) use standard gauge (標準軌, gauge=1435). Subway systems are usually standard gauge (either self-contained or with through running with standard-gauge private railways), but may be narrow gauge, usually where they have through service with JR lines or narrow-gauge private railways.
Other notable gauges used in Japan are the 1372 mm coach gauge (馬車軌間, gauge=1372, used on Keio Corporation lines in Tokyo, the Toei Shinjuku Line, the Toden Arakawa Line, the Tokyu Setagaya Line and the Hakodate City Tram.
Names
- Main article: Japan Railways
Most railway lines in Japan have distinctive names, usually referring to traditional regions (e.g. Sanyo Main Line), historical provinces (e.g. Shin'etsu Main Line), historical roads (e.g. Tokaido Main Line) or a major destination served by the line relative to the line's primary terminus (e.g. Hakodate Main Line, Takasaki Line). The main name name=* is tagged in Japanese; English names are tagged under name:en=*.
In several cases, line names may contain operator info, usually with urban JR lines and private railways. Examples are "JR Tozai Line" (a mostly-underground JR West commuter line) or the "Tobu Tojo Line" (a private railway line between Tokyo and Yorii, Gunma Prefecture). These can be integral part of the name, but these can be redundant with the operator=* tag (see below). Some private railway networks may have a main line with the name "(company) Main Line", such as with the Keikyu Main Line of Keikyu and the Hanshin Main Line of the Hanshin Electric Railway.
Operator
The operator=* value for most Japanese railways is usually the operator of the trains, which also owns and maintains the infrastructure, and the value being the full name of the railway company (without company type) in Japanese. Where there are through services from other railway companies, the primary operator (also infrastructure owner) is tagged as the operator. Some exceptions are with newer Shinkansen lines which are under Japan Rail Construction, Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT).
Electrification
Four common voltages are used for electrified railways in Japan.
- 750 V DC: mostly on urban rail systems (subways or tramways), either with third rail or overhead lines.
- 1,500 V DC: Most conventional (JR or private) electrified lines around Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, as well as electrified JR lines in the Chugoku region and Shikoku. Also used on some suburban railways in areas where mainline railways otherwise use AC (e.g. JR East Senseki Line around Sendai, Nishi-Nippon Railroad network around Fukuoka)
- 20 kV 50/60 Hz AC: Most electrified JR Group lines in Hokkaido, Tohoku region, Hokuriku and Kyushu. Frequency is 50 Hz in Hokkaido and Tohoku region, and 60 Hz in Hokuriku and Kyushu region
- 25 kV 50/60 Hz AC: used on the Shinkansen. Frequency is 50 Hz in Hokkaido, Tohoku and Kanto regions (exceptions being the Tokaido Shinkansen around Tokyo), and 60 Hz in Chubu, Kansai, Hokuriku, Chugoku and Kyushu regions.
Non-electrified lines are tagged with electrified=no.
Train protection systems
Train protection systems used in Japan include automatic train control (ATC, tagged railway:atc=*), automatic train stop (ATS, tagged railway:ats=*) and Train Automatic Stop Controller (TASC, tagged railway:tasc=*). As of 2025, no railway have been tagged with any of these.
High-speed
highspeed=yes is used on Shinkansen track, but is not used on conventional track (either narrow or standard gauge) with speeds greater than 130 km/h but lower than 200 km/h (this includes conventional JR lines rebuilt to standard gauge and upgraded to accommodate Shinkansen, called "mini-Shinkansen").
Signals and signs
Each signal should contain these tags:
- railway=signal
- railway:signal:direction=(forward/backward) according to the direction of the way
- railway:signal:position=(left/right) according to the direction of the way
Main signals
Main signals (主信号機) may have two to five lights, and are used as block signals (閉塞信号機), starting signals (出発信号機) or home signals (場内信号機). Possible aspects are proceed, reduced speed, caution, restricted speed and stop, with some variations by operator. On five-aspect signal, there may be also a "high-speed" aspect, using two green lights, allows trains on conventional track to travel up to 130 km/h (or 160 km/h as on the Keisei Narita Airport Line).
- railway:signal:main=JP:場内信号機/JP:出発信号機/JP:閉塞信号機
- railway:signal:main:form=light
- railway:signal:main:function=(exit/block/entry/intermediate)
Shunting signals
Shunting signals (入換信号機) are used for car shunting on sidings or yards. Two variations are used, a position-type signal (primarily used by JR and third-sector railways) and color-type signals (primarily on private railways). Trains can proceed up to 25 km/h when coupled, or up to 45 km/h on locomotives not hauling cars on non-interlocking switches accompanied by a shunting sign.
- railway:signal:main=JA:入換信号機
- railway:signal:main:form=light
- railway:signal:main:function=intermediate
- railway:signal:height=dwarf
Distant signals
Distant signals (遠方信号機) are connected with a home signal where sight distances are poor, such as on approaches to stations on single-track railways. There are four possible aspects, which relate to the home signal aspects: proceed, reduced speed, caution and restricted speed.
Repeating signals
Repeating signals (中継信号機) are connected to a home, starting or block signal where sight distances are poor, and repeats the indicated aspect of the main signal using lines of three white lights.
Obstruction warning signal
An obstruction warning signal (特殊信号発光機) is used to warn of possible obstructions on the line such as landslides, avalanches or vehicles stuck in railway crossings. These can either be composed of five red lights forming a pentagon, or a flashing red light bar, which is activated when an obstruction is detected by trackside sensors or around stations, an emergency button was pressed (such mas with a person falling into the tracks).