Transportation In Japan – Every Thing You Need To Know

How to commute in Japan? Well, most tourists may have the question in their mind when visiting Japan for the first time. So in today’s blog, we will give you detailed information about transportation in Japan as well as some useful tips to optimize your times and trips during your stay. As you ready? Here we go.

4 Major Means Of Transportation In Japan

Japan is famous for its fast and well-developed transportation. When you are here, there are plenty of ways to help you travel from city to city with ease. Depending on how much money you are willing to pay, traveling by airplane sometimes might be a better option than traveling by a bullet train. To help you find out which option is the best for your budget, we’ve summarised some information of 4 major means of transportation in Japan below. Let’s check it out!

1. Airplane

If your time is limited but you need to travel long distances like from Tokyo to Hokkaido or to Okinawa, traveling by plane will be the best option for you. The reason is that Japan is home to many low budget airline companies that travel not only around the country but also to many other parts of Asia. If you choose to leave on the promotion day, the airplane ticket price will be much cheaper than that of other means of transport on the same routes. To help you find the best national airline company suitable for your needs, we have something for you below:

Traveling by Airplane will help you save time.

ANA – All Nippon Airway Co. Ltd is the biggest airline in Japan on the basis of fleet size. It offers services to both domestic and international destinations which are good for people who travel in and out Japan. ANA covers the entirety of Japan so traveling domestically is pretty easy with this airline. For international flights, they have flights from and to Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, Korea, and China.

Peach – This is an airline offering incredibly cheap flights throughout Japan and the rest of Asia. It is one of the most popular airlines in Japan with flights going and coming frequently making it easy to fly to a wide range of places in the country.

Jetstar: Jetstar also offers cheap domestic and international flights, if traveling to Asia. Frequently flights scheduled throughout the day makes this airline is so simple for travelers to use.

2. Train

One of the things that make Japan famous is its highly developed train service. So when you are here, we recommend you should try it at least one time to experience one of the most spectacular technologies of the world. Trains in Japan can take you almost everywhere, sometimes transferring from one train to another, and the convenience of traveling by train worth it. You don’t have to worry about which train to travel with as every train in Japan is always on time and extremely clean. Depending on your amount of time and your budget, you can choose Shinkansen (Super express), express trains and local trains.

Bullet train in Japan

Tips for traveling by train (and almost public transportation in Japan):

You should know that talking by phone and smoking are not allowed inside the train (sometimes there is a smoking area for that). In some trains (even local trains), there are clean toilets so you don’t have to worry when nature calls.

3. Highway Bus

Highway bus in Japan

Another popular means of transportation in Japan is highway bus. While buses are slower than trains, bus tickets cost usually less than half so you can save a lot of bucks by traveling in this way. Highway bus is available in most areas of Japan, with the big cities serving as regional hubs. The buses are convenient and every 2 hours (less or more) the buses stop in 15 minutes at where you can go to convenience stores, restrooms or just stretch your legs. For young people, traveling by bus at night is a very effective way as the ticket is cheaper and sleeping in the bus will save them accommodation fee and also time as they are spending their sleeping time on travel. Another benefit of traveling by bus is that you have the choice to go to a particular tourist attraction that direct trains don’t. For example, if you want to go to Tokyo, the train will take you to Tokyo Station and then you have to go to other trains if you want to visit somewhere like Shinjuku or Shibuya. In contrast, if you choose buses, you will have options to go to many places in Tokyo without the need of taking another means of transport.

4. Taxi

Last but not least is taxi. Traveling by taxis can save you some time but it is not efficient in terms of money. If you travel with a group of people, you can choose taxi as it will bring you more comfort depending on the distance as you share the fare. But keep in mind that before traveling long distances by taxi, you should check how much money you have in your wallet.

Taxi in Japan

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Taxi is recommended for short distances as it would help you save time. But in case you have to travel long distances, it is better if you travel by trains or buses to save money. You also need to keep in mind that according to your location, public transport will end by 1:00 am as late.

Want to learn more about transportation in Japan? Check out the video below:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Much Does A Subway Ticket Cost In Japan?

With the price of 800 yen (about $8), you can buy a new Tokyo Subway 24-hour ticket which is available to both international and domestic visitors. This ticket is valid for 24 hours after the first use, allowing you to travel on unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.

There are also Tokyo Subway 48-hour Ticket and Tokyo Subway 72-hour Ticket

with the price of 1,200 yen and 1,500 yen respectively. Depending on how long you are planning to stay, you can choose the suitable type of ticket that matches your needs.

2. How Much Are Buses In Japan?

Buses in Tokyo’s 23 Wards: If you use buses in Tokyo’s 23 districts, you will have to pay first when entering from the front door of the bus. Within Tokyo’s 23 wards, the price is 210 Yen for adults (IC card 206 yen) and 110 yen for children (IC Card 103 yen).

Buses outside of Tokyo’s 23 Wards:

If you travel to outside of Tokyo’s 23 districts by bus, you will have to pay your fee when you get off. The fare varies based on how far and to where you have traveled.

You enter the bus from the back door. If you are going to pay by IC card you scan the card and if you are paying in cash you take a numbered ticket. Get off at the front door. You can pay the bus fare by scanning your IC card once more or by putting cash into the payment box.