Hyperdia
 

With the demise of Hyperdia, is there a substitute currently available for looking up train timings in Japan? Is there no online version (in English) of the thick timetables used universally in Japanese rail stations?

Navitime, Jorudan, Google Maps.

Hyperdia can still be consulted and offers a wealth of information, but check it first, don’t rely on it.

Even when Hyperdia was being updated it wasn’t infallible, and none of the 3 tools above are completely reliable sources either - for instance, I’ve found that the same system has given me information that is different to that of other posters here running the same search.

Also, as there are so many different rail companies in Japan there is no single answer for finding the timetables you’ll see at stations.

I used to use Hyperdia a lot. Nowdays, I use Google Maps almost exclusively. Easy to use and seems pretty accurate. Also convenient if your departure point or destination is somewhere service by multiple rail stations.

I have tended to use Ekispert.

Editing to add that since the question was to look up train schedules, that’s what I use Ekispert for—looking up schedules when I’m planning my trip, eg for Shinkansen rides. I’m that nerd who likes to take printouts with me when I’m picking up a rail pass and making reservations. For on-the-ground navigation, I use Google Maps.

We are the same -- the data in Google Maps has improved incredibly in Japan fortunately just after the demise of Hyperdia. I wish it worked as well in the USA!

NAVITIME (almost) all the way for me. I’m a days walker but I find google maps to be overly optimistic about how fast you can get through a busy Japanese station, seems to be getting better, though.

One thing Google maps is really good at is seeing where the next bus is. That is rock solid.

Another nice thing about Google Maps in Japan is that you can easily submit data for missing entries, e.g. apartment names, etc.

Google Maps is highly accurate, I've never had to use anything else. Provides real-time delay information and even tells you which platform to board from.

I like that it gives the (basic) price for the route as well so I can compare it against airlines flying similar routes on google flights.