Getting Around Japan 🚂
- Apr 19, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Getting around Japan is mostly done by train, especially when it comes to major cities and traveling between them. Japan has an incredible and highly organized rail system, so good that even locals don’t use cars in big cities, and many don’t own a car at all.
The largest transportation company in Japan is Japan Railways (JR). Until October 2023, most tourists got around using a combination of two main tools:
JR Pass – mainly used for traveling between major cities via the Shinkansen (the fast and expensive bullet train)
Suica / Pasmo IC Card – Japan’s version of a transit card, mainly used for getting around within cities or for non-Shinkansen rides
Of course, it’s possible to manage without passes or IC cards, but in most cases they make the experience much easier and are highly recommended.
After the significant price increase of the JR Pass in October 2023, most travelers now choose to get around using a combination of:
Buying Shinkansen tickets individually (without a pass, paying per ride)
How do you buy Shinkansen tickets? Do you need to book in advance?
For most of the year, there’s no need to buy Shinkansen tickets in advance. You can simply go to a ticket machine or a staff counter and purchase them on the spot at the station. During busy periods, such as Golden Week (late April to early May) or cherry blossom season, it’s recommended to book tickets in advance online.
How do you know how to get from place to place?
Technology, my friends. Technology.
Google Maps is one of the best tools you can use. The app will show you exactly which train to take, whether it belongs to JR, which platform to stand on, schedules, availability, and more. In most places, you’ll find signage in both Japanese and English, and announcements on trains are also made in English after Japanese, making everything very clear and easy to follow.
You can read more about useful apps for Japan here.
