JP Japan: how to get around

Numbering for districts, blocks, and houses is often not sequential; numbers are usually assigned chronologically as buildings are built, or based on distance from the city center. Small signs near street corners display the ward/neighborhood and district in Japanese (such as 名駅4丁目, Meieki 4-chōme); they often include the block number, but sometimes not, in which case the signs are very unhelpful since a district could be a dozen or more blocks. A building's entrance will usually show the block and house number (such as 5-6, sometimes written 5番6号), but not the district.

The lack of road names makes it difficult to give directions; maps and especially navigation apps are a blessing in Japan. A minute spent checking a map can save you half an hour of aimlessly walking.

• Most places are described in terms of the walking distance from the nearest train station, and relative to local landmarks. Business cards very often have little maps printed on the back to make navigation easier (at least if you can read Japanese).
• Many train stations have maps of the local area that can help you find a destination if it is reasonably close to the station.
• Police boxes (交番 kōban) also have detailed maps of the area. Going to a kōban to ask for directions is perfectly normal (it's why they're there), although the policemen usually don't speak much English.
• Google Maps and Apple Maps in Japan are very accurate, even showing the insides of buildings. However, it may occasionally misinterpret an address and lead you to the wrong location.

One of the first things any visitor to Japan should do is purchase a transportation IC card (交通系ICカード koutsūkei ai shī kādo). IC cards can be used to pay for public transport and at convenience stores, vending machines and restaurants in all the major cities.

Public transport fares are calculated automatically no matter how complicated your journey or how often you transfer; just tap on and off at the start and end of your trip. IC cards are also accepted in lieu of paper tickets for some bullet trains when journeys are purchased online in advance.

Most railways support IC cards; simply tap your card on the turnstile as you go in, and do the same as you go out. Most buses support IC cards as well, but their usage depends on the bus; you either board via the front door and tap once to pay a flat fee, or you board via the back door and tap in and then alight via the front door and tap out.

IC cards sometimes give a small discount over cash payments. Children under 6 travel for free. Children between 6 and 11 are eligible for child (子供用 kodomo-yō) cards entitling holders to half fares. Buying one requires ID, so bring the child's passport to a commuter pass office (定期券売り場) in any larger station.

Japan offers one of the most efficient rail transportation systems in the world, the crowning jewel of which is the Shinkansen (新幹線), popularly known in English as the bullet train, the world's first high-speed rail line.

The Japan Rail Pass offers — with a few exceptions — unlimited travel on all Japan Railway (JR) services including bullet trains, limited express and regular commuter trains. This used to be an incredible bargain, but you need to travel a lot to make this pay off now. See Rail travel in Japan#Japan Rail Pass for the pros and cons, and some sample computations on whether it's worth it.

There are also regional and local rail passes offered by the various JR companies (such as the JR East Rail Pass), as well as by the subway and private rail companies. Discount tickets are also sold, such as the Seishun 18 Ticket.

Japan's excellent Shinkansen network means that flying is rarely a necessity. Flying remains, however, the most practical mode of reaching Japan's outlying islands, most notably for connections from the mainland to Hokkaido and/or Okinawa. Flying is also useful for getting around sparsely-populated Hokkaido, as the Shinkansen network there is limited.

Tokyo's Narita Airport handles a few domestic flights, but most domestic flights leave from Haneda (HND) to the south of the city. Similarly, while there are some domestic flights from Kansai International Airport, more use Itami (ITM) to the north of Osaka, and Kobe's airport also fields some flights. Narita–Haneda or Kansai–Itami is quite a trek, so allow 3-4 hr to transfer. Chubu, on the other hand, has many domestic flights and was built for easy interchange.

List prices for domestic flights are very expensive, but significant discounts are available if purchased in advance. Japan's largest carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL, 日本航空 Nihon Kōkū) and All Nippon Airways (ANA, 全日空 Zennikkū) offer special fares where international visitors can fly domestic segments anywhere in the country at reduced rates. The most common discount ticket is called the Japan Explorer Pass (JAL) or the Experience Japan Fare (ANA), offer discounted economy fares. This is a particularly good deal for travel to Hokkaido or the remote southern islands of Okinawa. Alternatively, the airlines offer a Welcome to Japan Fare (JAL) or Visit Japan Fare (ANA). If you reserve on the airlines' respective international websites, the offers for international travelers may be displayed as the cheapest ones, but if you try on the Japan website (in English and in yen), the regular discounts for a purchase in advance may be cheaper.

Low-cost carriers in Japan's domestic air market include Jetstar Japan, Peach Aviation, Fuji Dream Airlines, Skymark Airlines, StarFlyer and Air DO. Some of these airlines offer online bookings in English (Fuji Dream and StarFlyer do not). StarFlyer offers a discounted fare to foreigners on select routes. Their most basic offers may not include checked baggage (which is sold as an option), and if you reserve via a third-party website you may not be able to purchase the option.

ANA, JAL, and their subsidiaries offer a special standby card, the Skymate Card, to young passengers (up to the age of 22). With the card, passengers can fly standby at half of the full published fare, which is usually less than the equivalent express train fare. The card can be obtained from any JAL or ANA ticket counter with a passport-sized photo and a one-time fee.

Boats are a surprisingly uncommon means of transport for the island, as all the major islands are linked together by bridges and tunnels. The fares are generally fixed (some promotions may be applicable) regardless of purchase date although they can be comparable to or higher than discounted airline tickets.

Luggage is practically limited only by what you're able to carry, there are generally no size or weight checks. It's not uncommon to see school groups, sports teams, or military traveling in groups in shared accommodations with all their gear although truckers traveling with cargo are sometimes segregated to their own floors and facilities. You can also pay extra to bring a vehicle.

Booking is typically done by phone although tickets for some long distance ferries can be bought online through the operators' websites or sometimes third party agencies. The booking platforms are not necessarily very sophisticated but can be translated and used to book tickets with reasonable success. Otherwise, it's entirely possible to purchase tickets at the pier (leave some time before departure, especially if you need to navigate language barriers, but passengers can usually board up until minutes before the scheduled departure time--this is not an airplane).

Long-distance overnight ferries like those linking Okinawa and Hokkaido are booked with accommodations divided into classes that range from a mat on the floor of an expansive shared tatami room to hostel-style bunk rooms with privacy curtains/shutters to cruise ship style private hotel rooms and suites with their own en suite toilet, sink, and bathtub.

Food and purchasing options on board are relatively competitively priced and may include vending machines, a small shop/convenience store, and restaurant service ranging from a small cafe to a large buffet spread for specified mealtimes. Passengers are also welcome to bring their own food and drink (including alcohol) for consumption on board. On longer trips (particularly in second class) the primary means of entertainment is alcoholic — this can be fun if you're invited in, but less so if you're trying to sleep. Select lines have entertainment on board (performances/shows) and most have gender segregated bathhouse facilities available to all (bring your own or buy a towel on board for a couple hundred yen if traveling without room accommodations as they are not otherwise provided by the ferry).

For some smaller islands, boats may well be the only practical option. Hovercrafts and jet ferries are fast but expensive, with prices varying between ¥2000-5000 for an hour-long trip. Slow cargo boats are more affordable, a rule of thumb being ¥1000 per hour in second class, but departures are infrequent. There are also some inexpensive and convenient short-distance intercity ferries such as the Aomori-Hakodate ferry.

Local buses (路線バス rosen basu) are the norm in big cities and small towns. Bus fares are either fixed (you pay once, when entering or exiting the bus) or distance-based (you board the rear of the bus, grab a numbered ticket, and match the number with the fare displayed on a board at the front of the bus when it's time to get off). Many buses accept IC cards. Buses are indispensable in less-populated areas, and in cities such as Kyoto where there is not much local rail transit. The electronic board almost always includes a display and recorded voice announcements of the next stop — usually only in Japanese, although some cities (like Kyoto) make a welcome exception. However, if asked most drivers will be glad to tell you when you've reached your destination.

Highway buses (高速バス kōsoku basu; ハイウェイバス haiwei basu) are plentiful in Japan, and are a major mode of intercity transportation and cheap alternative to rail travel, especially for overnight travel. Many companies have adopted a dynamic pricing model, where fares are based on the time of day, the type of seating on the bus, and how far in advance the ticket is purchased.

Major operators of highway buses include the Willer Express, Japan Bus Lines, Keio Bus, and the JR Group. Regional transit operators also operate long-distance buses. Tickets for such buses can be purchased online (probably the cheapest option), at the point of departure (at a surcharge), or, with a command of some Japanese, at convenience stores. Most companies offer online reservations in English and several other languages.

Airport buses aka limousine buses (リムジンバス rimujin basu) travel from major train stations and hotels to airports. Such buses also travel frequently to their own terminals in the city.

You will find taxis everywhere in Japan, not only in the city but also in the country. Taxis are clean and completely safe, though a bit expensive. But sometimes, they are the only way to get where you are going. Taxi meters are strictly regulated and clearly visible to the passenger. If you are not sure if you have enough money for the trip, your driver may be able to guess the approximate cost of a trip beforehand. If you get a cost estimate beforehand, some taxi drivers will stop the meter at the estimated price regardless of how much further the destination may be. Taxi fares are higher at night. Tipping is not customary and would most likely be refused.

Taxi apps are increasingly common and the largest player is GO, which has an English-language app that takes the hassle out of communicating your destination. Beware that if you hail a taxi with an app, you cannot board it at or near a regular taxi stand and will often need to walk a block away to escape the geofence. These apps will provide the approximate fare, although trips are still charged by the meter and can fluctuate. Many taxi companies will add a fee for immediate phone or app hails; this booking charge is higher for taxis reserved in advance. Some taxi companies offer fixed-fare rides for smartphone hails.

It's often faster and cheaper to hail taxis on the street, although outside train stations and other transfer points you should board at a taxi stand. (The taxi stand will usually either have a long line of patient passengers, or a long line of idle taxis.) If the destination is a well-known location, such as a hotel, train station, or public facility, the name alone should be enough. Even in the major cities, you are very unlikely to encounter a taxi driver who can speak English, so having the Japanese name or address of your destination can be very helpful. Likewise, have staff at your hotel write down the names and addresses of places you want to visit in Japanese to show your taxi driver.

In Japanese taxis, the driver controls the opening and closing of the rear left passenger door. Try to avoid closing your door when you board the taxi. Taxi drivers have a reputation for speeding and aggressive driving, but there are very few accidents involving bad drivers.

All licensed taxis in Japan have green license plates. Illegal cabs will have standard white or yellow plates and should be avoided.

As of 2025 actual rideshare services are limited to small trials, mostly in remote country locations too small to sustain regular taxis. The Uber and Didi apps work but can generally only be used to hail taxis.

Rental cars and driving in Japan are rare in or around the major cities, as public transport is generally excellent and gets you almost everywhere. In addition, the roads of major cities like Tokyo are plagued with massive traffic jams and parking is expensive and difficult to find, so driving there is more of a hindrance than anything else. However, many rural areas can really only be explored with your own transport, so driving should certainly not be dismissed out of hand, especially on Hokkaido. Often the most feasible option is to combine the two: take the train out to the countryside and then pick up a rental car at a station. JR's Ekiren has outlets at most larger train stations and often has discounted train & car packages.

An international driver's license, Japanese license or translated national license will be required if you wish to rent a car or drive in Japan, and must be carried at all times. See the main article for details. Driving is on the left.

Japan has many great cycling routes. Rentals can be found throughout the country, especially near popular routes like the Shimanami Kaido Bikeway. Even very rural roads are well paved, but as Japan is quite mountainous, you will need your lowest climbing gear a lot.

In cities, it is a great idea to use a bicycle to get around, explore the city and see your sights.

Japan is an excellent country for hitchhiking, although some Japanese language ability is highly recommended. See Hitchhiking in Japan for a more detail and practical tips for this.

Though the cramped cities and older buildings present many barriers to those with disabilities and other mobility issues, Japan is a very wheelchair accessible country. Japan has switched into high-gear to create a "barrier-free" society.

The vast majority of train and subway stations are wheelchair accessible. Anyone who needs special assistance can inform station staff at the ticketing gates and will be guided to the train and helped off the train at a station. Most trains and local buses (but not long-distance buses) have priority seats (優先席 yūsenseki). The Shinkansen generally does not, but you can always reserve a seat (for a fee, or for free with a Japan Rail Pass). On a wheelchair, you can park in the hallway between cars, reserve a wheelchair seat (which are limited; JR recommends booking 2 days in advance, and you should keep your travel times flexible), or reserve a private room.

The major tourist attractions are partially adapted generally provide some sort of accessible route. While discounts are available for those with disabilities, disability identification cards not issued in Japan may not be accepted.

Hotels with wheelchair-accessible rooms can be hard to find and are often labeled "barrier free" (バリアフリー baria furii) or "universal" (ユニバーサル yunibāsaru) instead of "accessible". Even if an accessible room is available, most hotels require booking via phone or email.