If you stray too far off the beaten path, you can find yourself in a rather unexpected sticky situation: JR East's “One Man Car” service. Some trains and parts of the JR East network are essentially disconnected from the rest of the system. What this means for you is that Suica doesn't work, but not only that, there will likely be no staff at some or all of the stations on your journey.

If the start station is staffless, you need a ticket of some kind. You have 3 ticket options if you're a foreigner, and 3 if you're a resident.

• If you're a foreign tourist…
  • Purchase a ticket for your exact route at a ticket vending machine if there is a ticket vending machine.
  • Get an entry record on the train at the designated boarding point for one-man cars.
  • Use a JR rail pass and don't worry about ticketing because you have unlimited travel on the JR network without fear.
• If you're a resident…
  • Purchase a ticket at a ticket vending machine with your exact route.
  • Get an entry record on the train.
  • Use　えきネットチケットレス
    • Use self check-in and be prepared to show any staff members who ask to see it.

If the start station is staffed, you will need to purchase a ticket prior to boarding or obtain an entry record from a staff member. Almost all stations with staff members also have ticket vending machines.

With one of the above ticket options, exit the train near the driver door and present your entry option and fare, if necessary.

• Fare is cash only, if you got an entry record on the train and did not purchase a ticket beforehand.
• If you have a JR rail pass, you don't pay anything.
• If you used えきネットチケットレス, use self check-out to create an exit record after showing the conductor or with the conductor.
• If you have a wholly paid ticket, you can discard your ticket in a box near the exit.

Though extremely rare now, some portions of the JR East network are entirely honor-system based. You need to deposit cash and your entry record in the exit station ticket box with your payment in this case.

If the end station is staffed, you will generally speaking present your fare ticket or payment option, or settle fare at the station with a staff member.

• Fare is still cash only. If your start station was staffless and you got a white-backed ticket / entry record, you must settle the payment in cash.
• There may or may not be a ticket gate. If there is not a ticket gate, you will physically show your ticket to staff, or show the QR code to staff from えきネットチケットレス.

In the case where you're traveling between two unstaffed stations, you will be settling your fare on the train or showing permission to leave directly to the conductor. Please don't get into a situation where you board a staffless train with no cash.

Depending on the route you're on, you may find yourself in a situation where there are absolutely no announcements in anything other than Japanese. I recommend, in this case, that you pre-calculate where your stop is by the number of stops between you and your destination.

You can and will be taken to mysterious far off lands, aka stations of despair if you aren't aware of where you are going.