Joetsu is a rail junction in southwestern Niigata Prefecture, positioned between the Hokuriku Shinkansen corridor and conventional lines along the Sea of Japan coast. The city has two main passenger stations for intercity travel: Joetsumyoko Station for bullet train services and Naoetsu Station for regional and limited express trains. JR East, JR West, Echigo Tokimeki Railway, and Hokuetsu Express all serve the Joetsu area.
Joetsumyoko Station is the city's bullet train stop, used by Hokuriku Shinkansen services running east toward Nagano and Tokyo and west toward Toyama, Kanazawa, and Tsuruga. Naoetsu Station handles regional routes on the Echigo Tokimeki Railway network, JR East limited express services toward Niigata, and Hokuetsu Express trains through inland Niigata.
Rail routes from Joetsu run south and east toward Nagano, Takasaki, Omiya, and Tokyo, west along the Hokuriku corridor toward Toyama and Kanazawa, north toward Kashiwazaki and Niigata, and along the coastal line toward Itoigawa. Book trains from and to Joetsu online at Rail Monsters.