Japan’s Public Transport

Japan's public transport system is seamless, and renowned for its punctuality and convenience. From the iconic Shinkansen whisking travelers across the country at staggering speeds to the intricate web of metro lines in bustling cities, navigating Japan is a breeze. Clean, comfortable, and well-maintained trains, buses, and subways provide a stress-free journey, while the famed Japan Rail Pass opens doors to unlimited exploration.

LOCAL TRAINS

Japan's local trains form an integral part of the country's extensive railway network serving urban, suburban, and rural areas and connecting neighborhoods and regions not covered by Shinkansen lines.

JR VS METRO

In Japan, the railway network consists mainly of two types of lines: JR (Japan Railways) lines and private metro/subway lines. JR stations are generally easily identified by the large JR logo which varies in colour depending on the region but is typically displayed prominently at JR stations and on JR trains. In contrast, the Metro logo, a white M inside a blue square is usually not as prominently displayed but can be found at station entrances and on the trains themselves.

You can also tell a JR from a Metro station by the way a line name and number is displayed. A JR train line will be presented with its representative letters and line number inside a square, and a Metro line will have its representative letters and number inside a circle. It’s helpful to be able to differentiate between the two, especially when traveling on a JR Pass. This will allow you to plan a route using mostly JR stations to utilize your pass to its fullest.

Chiba Urban Monorail and Shinjuku Line are both Metro Lines.
The Sobu Line is a Japan Rail Line.

WOMEN ONLY CARS

Women-only train cars, often marked with pink stickers or signs, are designated to provide a safer and more comfortable environment for female passengers, especially during rush hours. These cars were introduced in response to concerns about reported cases of inappropriate behavior, such as groping or harassment, on crowded trains. The implementation of women-only cars aims to create a secure space where women can travel without the fear of harassment or unwanted advances. These cars are clearly marked with large, pink ‘Women Only’ signs on the train itself, and often on the platform where you await the train as well. These signs will also stipulate at which times the cart is ‘Women Only’. Men using them inadvertently may be fined so if you are in doubt, avoid them by simply moving to another carriage on the line.

IC CARDS

IC Cards, such as a Suica or Pasmo cards, are rechargeable contactless smart cards widely used for public transportation and some tap and go purchases in Japan. They are a seamless way to utilize Japan’s public transport, they work across trains (JR and private lines), subways, buses, and even some ferries nationwide, eliminating the need for purchasing individual tickets which can be time consuming and a little confusing. Instead, simply load money onto your card, and tap the card on the reader when entering and exiting stations or buses. As you tap out of your destination station, the cost of your trip, and your IC Card balance will be displayed on a screen on the gate you’re passing through, so you can keep an eye on when you may need to re-charge. When you do need to re-charge, you can load money onto your IC Card at most any station throughout Japan, in amongst the ticket machines, there will 1, or 2 marked with either ‘IC CARD’ ‘PASMO’ or ‘SUICA’ and you simply insert your IC Card, click the ‘English’ option in the language settings on the machines, and follow the prompts to load it up. Keep in mind that these machines often don’t accept international credit cards, or credit cards at all for that matter, and so ensure you have cash handy when you need to re-load.

We recommend utilizing Suica and Pasmo especially whilst travelling around major cities. Unfortunately, they generally can’t be used on shinkansen lines for longer trips so you will have to purchase individual tickets instead, but for the ease of exploring, they’re far easier than purchasing tickets every time.

• Where to get them

  Since the international semiconductor card chip shortage, they’re not as readily available as they once were, but they are still available. Which option you choose is entirely up to you.

  Suica (Regular) - Valid for 10 Years - ¥600 Issuance Fee - Refunds issued for loaded funds if returned. - Requires a Passport
  As of February 2024, regular Suica cards have once again become available at Narita Airport and Tokyo Station. They’re intended for tourists only, so ensure you have your passport on you when purchasing.

  Welcome Suica - Valid for 28 days - No Issuance Fee - No Refunds for loaded funds. - Can Require a Passport.
  As of December 2023, Welcome Suica cards are available at the JR EAST Travel Service Center
  and Terminal 3 at Haneda Airport.

  Pasmo Passport - Valid for 28 days - No Issuance Fee - No Refunds for loaded funds. - Requires a Passport
  Can be purchased at Haneda and Narita Airport, and Ueno, Ueno Okachimachi, Otemachi, Ginza, Shimbashi, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Mei-ji Jingu Mae, Shinjuku, Takadanobaba, Ikebukuro, and Iidabashi Stations.

  Digital IC Cards - For Iphones exclusively, not available of Android phones purchased from outside Japan.

  • Go to the Wallet app and select “Add”.

  • Select the “Transit Card” option.

  • Choose either Suica or PASMO, then select “Continue”.

  • Finally, enter in how much you want to charge your card, and then select “Add”. You will then be prompted to confirm your purchase, and that’s it.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

Train fares in Japan are distance-based, so the fare depends on your destination. Train route maps often found on the wall above the ticket machines display stations and fare information in both English and Japanese. Simply find your destination on the map, and the fare required from the station you’re standing in currently will be displayed beside it in Yen. Then all you need to do is head to any of the ticket machines, chose the ‘English’ option in the language menu, some machines will prompt you to choose your destination station (eliminating the need to read the map) or chose the amount you need to pay, (the fare you found next to your destination station on the map), then follow the prompts to purchase that ticket. Please note, that as with loading your Suica and Pasmo cards, these ticket machines often don’t accept credit cards, so having the cash on you to cover your fare is essential. Once paid for, you will receive a small paper ticket with your fare price and a large arrow printed on it, to pass through the gates into the station, simply insert your ticket into the gate in the direction the arrow is pointing, the gates will automatically open, and your ticket will spit out on the other side. Don’t forget to collect it again on your way through, otherwise you wont be able to use it to exit at your destination station.

• Fare adjustments

  Should you insert your ticket at your destination station, and it refuses your exit through the gate, its usually because the wrong fare was paid, but don’t stress, fare adjustment machines are available at every station. Simply insert your ticket into the Fare Adjustment machine, and pay the remaining fare shown on the screen. The machine will return your adjusted ticket, which you'll then be able to use to exit through the gates.

SHINKANSEN (BULLET TRAINS)

Shinkansen, often referred to as bullet trains, are Japan's high-speed railway network known for their speed (up to 320 km/h on some lines), efficiency, and punctuality. They’re the perfect choice when traveling large distances from city to city, but there’s a few things you should know.

SHINKANSEN TICKETS

If your route between cities requires a stretch on a shinkansen that didn’t require pre-booking, simply head to the stations closest JR Ticket office on arrival and the staff there will assist you in booking tickets to your next destination. Shinkansens leave very regularly, so outside of peak travel seasons and major cities, booking in advance isn’t always necessary.

JAPAN RAIL PASS

Whether traveling with a JR Pass is worth it, depends entirely on where you’re planning on heading. Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets are roughly the same price as a domestic airline ticket, so if you’re planning on traveling long distances from city to city, it’s likely worth the purchase price, however with the price increasing in October of 2023, it’s worth putting some extra planning into deciding if you’d benefit from a JR Pass, or not so much.

Designed specifically for tourists, the JR Pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains, including Shinkansen (bullet trains), limited express trains, and local trains for a consecutive set number of days (7, 14, or 21 days depending on the Pass your purchase) within the area you’ve designated your travel (you can purchase a pass that covers all of Japan, or specify a region to limit yourself to for a cheaper fee). With this pass, you’re not permitted free access to ‘Nozomi’ or ‘Mizuho’ Shinkansen on the Tokaido, Sanyo, or Kyushu Shinkansen lines, these are the fastest Shinkansen available, and an upgrade fee is required each time you wish to utilize these options in your travels when using the JR Pass.

The JR Pass can only be purchased outside Japan and require the delivery of an exchange order to your place of residence prior to embarking on your travels, for this reason, it’s recommended to order your JR Pass at least 2 weeks prior to your departure date. These exchange orders are valid for up to 3 months, so you can purchase your JR Pass up to 3 months prior to your departure date. Your date of travel and intended activation date will be asked for when placing your order to ensure that you’re not ordering it too early and risking it expiring prior to the date you wish to exchange it for your ticket.

To activate your JR Pass, simply take your exchange voucher and passport to any of the JR-ticket offices listed on the paperwork attached to your exchange voucher. You will be provided with a ticket that resembles the individual train tickets you’ve become familiar with. The pass starts counting days from the first day of use and is valid for however many consecutive days you’ve purchased. (7, 14, or 21), and it IS NOT REPLACEABLE, so please, be very vigilant with your JR Pass ticket.

Original vs Green Class: The JR Pass is available in both the "original" and "Green Class" and they differ primarily in the class of service they offer. While the Ordinary Pass is suitable for most travelers and offers cost-effective transportation across Japan, the Green Class Pass offers a more premium travel experience for those seeking additional comfort and luxury during their train journeys, with access to more spacious, comfortable seats, extra luggage capacity, and often a quieter experience with fewer passengers in the car.

• Luggage Restrictions

  It is required that those traveling with oversized luggage (luggage with a total height, width, and depth of 161cm to 250cm) reserve seats at a Shinkansen Ticket Office instead of using walk-on standing room to ensure space for their suitcases prior to boarding some Shinkansen trains. When traveling in large groups, it’s possible that you will be split into separate cars to ensure room for all the luggage, as as a general rule, each car only has space four 4 pieces of oversized luggage.

  Luggage with a total dimension greater than 250cm cannot be brought onto the shinkansen at all, with the exception of items such a sports equipment and musical instruments in a bag or case, and strollers, which don’t need a reservation at all, and can be bought onboard the Shinkansen regardless of size.

TRAIN ETTIQUITE

Japanese train etiquette is highly valued and contributes to a smooth and respectful travel experience.

• Silence and Consideration: Passengers are expected to maintain a quiet atmosphere on trains, refraining from loud conversations or phone calls. Phones are often put on silent mode, and conversations are kept minimal or in hushed tones to respect other passengers.

• Platform Etiquette: When waiting to board, passengers should line up in an orderly manner at the marked boarding areas, typically to the outside edges on the left and right side of the platform, leaving the middle clear for passengers to disembark. It's customary to wait until all passengers have disembarked before boarding the train.

• Priority Seating: Priority seating, designated for elderly, disabled, pregnant individuals, or those with small children, is respected by giving up seats when necessary. These seats are marked with signs indicating their purpose.

• Backpacks and Luggage: During peak hours, passengers are encouraged to remove bulky backpacks and place them on overhead racks to free up space, or if that’s not possible, spin your backpack to your front to allow you to have more awareness of its location and avoid accidentally knocking other passengers. Avoid blocking aisles or seats with luggage, and should you be traveling with large luggage in peak hours, it may be required for you to disembark to allow other passengers to get off at their stop, and then re-boarding before departure.

• Food and Drink: Generally, it's advisable to avoid eating and drinking at all on local trains in Japan, however light snacks or drinks like water are generally acceptable. It’s completely acceptable to drink and eat full meals while traveling on a Shinkansen, however, you should still avoid consuming strong-smelling or messy foods out of respect for fellow passengers and to maintain cleanliness.

BUSES

Traveling by bus in Japan can seem a little intimidating, but it’s an essential mode of transport in many smaller, and older cities like Kyoto and once you know how they work, they’re quite easy to navigate.

Navigational apps are very accurate when it comes to directing you to the correct bus stop and providing you with a bus number to look out for which will be clearly displayed above the windshield of the bus in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4 etc.) allowing for quick and easy recognition. When your bus arrives, enter through the back door, and take a ticket from the small dispenser next to the door, this ticket will provide you with the number that you will need to figure out your fare. Once you take your seat, search for the large display above the driver showing the route stops and fares, and match the number on your ticket with the number and fare on the display. Some buses, especially in Kyoto, will have set fares regardless of how far you travel, but if not, your fare will update as you go. We advise counting out your predicted fare ahead of time to have on hand for your stop, as the driver will only accept exact change, if you’re short, you’ll need to approach the change machine at the front of the bus to the left of the driver to get change. When your stop is approaching, press one of the buttons on the wall to signal the driver that you wish to get off at the next stop, and when you reach your stop, head to the front of the bus, drop your exact fare into the box next to the driver, and disembark.

If you’re able to use an IC card (Suica or Pasmo), just tap it against the card reader as you get on your bus and tap it on the reader to the left of the driver as you disembark. Should you find yourself with not enough on your IC card to cover your fare, speak to you driver to get assistance re-loading before tapping off and disembarking.

This electronic display at the front of the bus is what you’re looking for. Match the number on your ticket, to the numbered square on this board and your fare will be shown below it in Yen.