Rail transport in Japan

Japan
Operation
Major operators	Japan Railways Group
Statistics
Ridership	7.589 billion (2014)
Passenger km	260 billion (2014)
System length
Total	30,625 km
Electrified	21,600 km
Map Railway Map of Japan

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Rail transport in Japan is a major means of passenger transport, especially for mass and high-speed travel between major cities and for commuter transport in urban areas. It is used relatively little for freight transport, accounting for just 0.84% of goods movement. The privatised network is highly efficient, requiring few subsidies and running with extreme punctuality, though since privatisation several unprofitable but socially valuable lines have been closed by private operators.