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Getting Around in Japan

Public transport network in Japan is well developed and reliable, but sometimes complicated. Rail travel is the most popular way to get around Japan in terms of frequency and extensive network across the country, while coach offer competitive fare for budget travellers. Since Japan stretches from north to south, air travel would be better for saving time and cost.
Helpful route & fare finder: Jourdan / Hyperdia

For international tourists, there are range of value passes offered by many transport operators such as JR Pass.

  • Air

All Nippon Airways ( ANA ) and Japan Airlines ( JAL ) are the two dominant airlines connecting major cities as well as inter-regional services often operated by their subsidiary operators. Special fares for international travellers are available.

Skymark Airlines offers affordable fare with complimentary 20KG check-in baggage allowance. Also, check inter-regional airlines that are headquartered in core cities as they offer relatively inexpensive fares compared with JAL/ANA: AIR DO (Hokkaido), IBEX Airlines , Fuji Dream Airlines (Shizuoka), STARFLYER (Kita-Kyushu), Solaseed Air (Kyushu/Okinawa)

As for Low-Cost airlines in Japan, Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan operates nationwide route network, based in Narita (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka) as main hubs. If you manage to grab promo fare, it would be much cheaper than travelling by rail or coach.

  • Rail

Rail travel is the most popular way of getting around in Japan. Railway operators are roughly divided into JR (Japan Rail) as nationwide network operator and other private railway operators that serve regionally.

JR ( Japan Rail ) : nationwide service

JR Group is the largest railway network, operating numerous ordinary train lines throughout the country as well as high speed inter-city service such as Shinkansen and limited express.

Ticket fare is based on distance. If you are taking Shinkansen, Limited Express or specific ordinary trains with first-class coaches (normally called “green cars”), add-on ticket (surcharge) is required together with the base fare ticket.

Fare between TOKYO – OSAKA by JR

JR used to be owned by the government then privatized and divided into regional operators namely JR Hokkaido, JR-East, JR-Central, JR-West, JR-Shikoku and JR-Kyushu. Yet, they maintain common ticketing rules, so that passengers do not need to purchase tickets separately.

Private Railway : regional service

Besides JR Group, there are many other private railway operators serving as regional transportation, from urban commuter, metro, monorail, tram to mountain railways. Within urban areas, multiple operators are often inter-connected, making it possible to travel without exiting/entering gates.

Private railway fare tends to be cheaper than JR. Some limited express trains require add-on fare e.g. Odakyu Railway’s “Hakone Romance Car”(Tokyo – Hakone), Tobu Railway’s “Spacia” (Tokyo-Nikko), Kintetsu Railway’s “Urban Liner”(Osaka-Nagoya) etc.

Value Pass

Both JR and private railway operators offer value passes.
→ List of JR Passes
→ List of Private Railway Passes

  • Coach

Travelling by long-distance coach is a great option for saving money although it is slower than rail travel. Dozens of coach operators offer competitive fare across the country, connecting major cities as well as to popular tourist destinations and remote rural areas.

Route & Fare finder

Japan Bus Online
Kosokubus.com

Value Pass

Japan Bus Pass
JBL Pass
Tohoku Highway Bus Ticket ( within Tohoku region )
SunQ Pass ( within Kyushu region )

Self-Drive

Self-drive is an economical option for group travellers or when exploring remote rural areas. Legal age of driving in Japan is 18yrs old, and international driving license is required.

Costs & important notes

  • Hiring a car costs around 6,000-10,000 yen/12hrs (for 5-seater compact vehicle). Surcharge may be added if your starting/returning point is different.
  • Japan’s toll fee, petrol and parking fee in urban areas cost relatively expensive.
  • All passengers are required to fasten seat belts. Drunk-driving is strictly prohibited resulting fine as much as 500,000yen if exceeding 0.15mg/litre.

Car rental directory
TOYOTA Rent a car
NIPPON RENT A CAR
Nissan Rent a Car
Times CAR RENTAL

Value Pass

Expressway operators offer discount passes exclusive to international travellers:
Central Nippon Expressway Pass : valid for Central Nippon Expressway (“Chuo-do” in Japanese), between Tokyo – Nagoya.
Hokkaido Expressway Pass : valid for Hokkaido Expressway
Kyushu Expressway Pass : valid for Kyushu Expressway