Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Chart Or Publication; Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
I was instructed by Tower to taxi across concrete ramp to Taxiway J. The airport diagram depicts the taxiways with what appears to be separated taxiways; whereas in real life it's a solid ramp area. We overshot Taxiway J and got into a position of not being able to turn onto; thus we had to use Taxiway B.  This was the first time either of us had been at that end of the airport and it was very confusing for the first time. I suspect it happens regularly because another carrier's two arrivals behind us did exactly the same thing we did as we waited on ramp traffic in front of us.I would suggest painting in the areas separating the taxiways; like many airports have a green color. Something to better depict the taxiway. Although I don't suspect I will make the same mistake having experienced this. My concern was uncertainty clearing across over concrete ramp to Taxiway J.
The reporter stated that after landing on Runway 29; his first time ever; he was expecting either grass or clear demarcations between taxiways. That was not the case; and in fact the taxiways are connected by massive concrete open areas which make the taxiways indistinguishable from non-taxiways. He would suggest a chart redesign which more clearly depicts the connected ramp; taxiway network. The reporter believes the chart should clearly show the ramp areas; where they in fact exist; but dashed taxiway lines where taxiways exist (such as currently shown for Taxiway B at the Ball Park). When he received clearance across the ramp to Taxiway J; his mind boggled because the real world did not fit the expectation he had developed from studying the airport diagram.
After landing on and clearing EWR Runway 29; a flight crew was cleared across the open ramp to Taxiway J. The Captain was confused because the commercial EFB airport depiction did not look like the airport's massive open ramps and indistinguishable taxiways.