Trains are simple in Japan... HA! Even when I've spoken the language, like in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., unless you know where you're going, it is difficult.Even though there are small signs in English, you have to pay attention to them. I strongly recommend getting a good map and watch for each station, so you know when to get off.
This guide in English is WONDERFUL. You can get them for free at the Fleet and Family Services Center on the second floor of PSD.
When you get to the station, you are confronted with a screen like this
. On the upper right hand corner is a little button on the screen to push for English. You look onto the wall to find where you're going, and what the fare will be. If uncertain, pick a low fare, and when exiting the train at your destination, look for the Fare Adjustment machines. Stick your ticket in, and it will tell you how much you owe to get back out the wickets. Those type of tickets go IN the wicket, and are sucked through, and returned to you, except when exiting, the machine keeps it.
. On the upper right hand corner is a little button on the screen to push for English. You look onto the wall to find where you're going, and what the fare will be. If uncertain, pick a low fare, and when exiting the train at your destination, look for the Fare Adjustment machines. Stick your ticket in, and it will tell you how much you owe to get back out the wickets. Those type of tickets go IN the wicket, and are sucked through, and returned to you, except when exiting, the machine keeps it.
I recommend getting the SUICA or PASMO cards. Have a 5000 Yen to start it out with. You just touch it to the wicket on the way in (do NOT put it in the machine!), and a radio signal tells you how much money is on it. On the way out, it tells you how much it charged your 'account' and what your new balance is. It takes the guess work out of how much it will be! See the video at the end of this post for how to use it. It makes it so simple. Go up to the Screen, press English, and look for PASMO or SUICA (they both can be used most places, in Yokosuka, you get the PASMO variety. Your card can be added to at any time you need more cash on it. Again, press English, stick it in, and it should step you through the process.
Children 5 and under are free. You just walk through the gates with them near you, and all is good. If you have older kids 6-12, they get their own PASMO card. If you are going to travel by train every day, get the monthly pass. It saves about 30%.
In Yokosuka, you look for these signs for which way you want to go. If going to Tokyo, you would want the #2 platform. Look for trains with Green or Red kanji in a small icon on them (front, side signs). Those are the express trains (they don't stop at every station) as the black, or LOCAL trains do.
Some subways in Yokohama (second largest city in Japan, 25 minutes away from Yokosuka) and Tokyo (largest city, and 1 hour away) have these signs. After 5 or so, some cars are for women only to prevent unwanted or lewd behavior. But how does one know, when you're packed in like sardines?
There are different train lines. Look at the different colors on the map. When changing trains, quite often you go through wickets OUT and OFF of your train line, and one back onto another. This is where the PASMO shines. No stopping, thinking, and how much will it be? Just look for your next destination sign overhead, and go for it! This is a subway in Yokohama. Most large stations are a labrynth. Many have escalators and an elevator. BUT, be ready to do steps. Those are usually the only direct way up out, or wherever.
There are two excellent web sites to plan train trips. One is Hyperdia and one is Jorudan. Google these. Hyperdia makes you look for the ENGLISH small icon on the left, but they're worth it. Spellings of the start and stop destination train stations is imperative, but it will tell you when the next ones are, when to change and where, and the times. Don't forget to look at the times for when you'll be coming back as well. Some people forget the trains stop at 1 or so. My 19 year old Japanese English student had to walk 5 hours in the middle of the night to get home when they didn't get to the train station on time. Ouch. If you're partying in Tokyo, go late, party all night, and catch the 5 a.m. sleeping train (joke) home. Taxis from Tokyo are EXPENSIVE, about the same as a night at a hotel.
Children 5 and under are free. You just walk through the gates with them near you, and all is good. If you have older kids 6-12, they get their own PASMO card. If you are going to travel by train every day, get the monthly pass. It saves about 30%.
In Yokosuka, you look for these signs for which way you want to go. If going to Tokyo, you would want the #2 platform. Look for trains with Green or Red kanji in a small icon on them (front, side signs). Those are the express trains (they don't stop at every station) as the black, or LOCAL trains do. 
Some subways in Yokohama (second largest city in Japan, 25 minutes away from Yokosuka) and Tokyo (largest city, and 1 hour away) have these signs. After 5 or so, some cars are for women only to prevent unwanted or lewd behavior. But how does one know, when you're packed in like sardines?
There are different train lines. Look at the different colors on the map. When changing trains, quite often you go through wickets OUT and OFF of your train line, and one back onto another. This is where the PASMO shines. No stopping, thinking, and how much will it be? Just look for your next destination sign overhead, and go for it! This is a subway in Yokohama. Most large stations are a labrynth. Many have escalators and an elevator. BUT, be ready to do steps. Those are usually the only direct way up out, or wherever.
There are two excellent web sites to plan train trips. One is Hyperdia and one is Jorudan. Google these. Hyperdia makes you look for the ENGLISH small icon on the left, but they're worth it. Spellings of the start and stop destination train stations is imperative, but it will tell you when the next ones are, when to change and where, and the times. Don't forget to look at the times for when you'll be coming back as well. Some people forget the trains stop at 1 or so. My 19 year old Japanese English student had to walk 5 hours in the middle of the night to get home when they didn't get to the train station on time. Ouch. If you're partying in Tokyo, go late, party all night, and catch the 5 a.m. sleeping train (joke) home. Taxis from Tokyo are EXPENSIVE, about the same as a night at a hotel.
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