{"id":7702,"date":"2015-05-14T21:32:54","date_gmt":"2015-05-14T20:32:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/insidejapanblog.com\/?p=7702"},"modified":"2026-02-26T16:19:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T16:19:51","slug":"getting-around-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/14\/getting-around-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting around Japan"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F7702\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p>So you&#8217;re going on holiday to Japan. One of the first questions you&#8217;ll probably ask yourself is: how are you going to get around?<\/p>\n<p>Japan has one of the safest, cleanest, fastest, most efficient, punctual and convenient public transportation networks in the world, comprising city subways, cross-country trains, bullet trains, highway buses, local buses, funicular railways, cable cars, ferries, monorails,\u00a0domestic flights, taxis&#8230; the list goes on! But for the most part, the best way to get around Japan is undoubtedly by train.<\/p>\n<p>This post will cover all the main forms of transport that you might use on a holiday getting around Japan.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">TRAINS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Japan Railways (JR)\u00a0group is Japan&#8217;s largest\u00a0train network and\u00a0comprises six regional rail companies: JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR Central, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu and JR Freight. Combined, these networks cover the whole of Japan&#8217;s four main islands: Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, encompassing a variety of subway lines, local railways and bullet trains.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the extensive JR network, there are numerous private railway companies operating throughout the country (more in-depth information about which\u00a0can be found <a href=\"http:\/\/www.japan-guide.com\/e\/e2019.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8279\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8279\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8279 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Shinkansen in rural setting\" width=\"468\" height=\"276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-1024x604.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-1200x707.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-900x530.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-720x424.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-1440x849.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-390x230.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-780x460.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/shinkansen_distance_dsc03618-1-510x301.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8279\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shinkansen in rural setting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Bullet train<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ah, the famous bullet train. How I could rhapsodise about its speed, efficiency and general enjoyableness. Oh wait &#8211; <a title=\"All Aboard Japan\u2019s New Maglev Train!\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2014\/11\/21\/all-aboard-japans-new-maglev-train\/\">I did<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>The JR bullet train, or <em>Shinkansen <\/em>as it is known in Japanese,\u00a0was 50 years old last year and is an amazing feat of engineering, whisking passengers across distances of hundreds of miles at speeds of up to 320 kph (200 mph). Not only is it speedy (and hella punctual, with an annual average delay measured in seconds), it&#8217;s an experience in itself &#8211; the seats are comfy, the staff wear cute uniforms and bow whenever they leave the carriage, and the edibles from the food trolley are actually &#8211; well &#8211; edible.<\/p>\n<p>I know I say this about a lot of things, but you really haven&#8217;t been to Japan until you&#8217;ve been on the <em>Shinkansen. <\/em>And with a Japan Rail Pass (see below), you get unlimited journeys across the whole network!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7706\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7706\" style=\"width: 443px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-maps-1.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-maps-1.gif\" alt=\"Operation areas of the regional JR companies and bullet train lines (source: japanguide.com)\" width=\"443\" height=\"379\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Operation areas of the regional JR companies and bullet train lines (source: japanguide.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Subway<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At first look, an underground railway network such as that of Tokyo can seem bewildering &#8211; but once you get used to it they are very simple and easy to use. Nearly every station will have subway maps with the station names in English, so there&#8217;s no reason why you shouldn&#8217;t be able to find your way around.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_8284\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8284\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-8284\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"SONY DSC\" width=\"468\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dsc04350-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-8284\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo Subway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you plan to use the subway system whilst in Japan (and we recommend that you do!), to make your life easier we suggest that you purchase an IC card (equivalent to a London Oyster card). These are sold under various different brand names in different cities (Pasmo and Suica\u00a0in Tokyo, Manaca in Nagoya, Icoca and PiTaPa in Osaka, for example), but the cards are in fact interchangeable &#8211; a Manaca will work in Tokyo, while a Pasmo will work in Fukuoka, and so on.\u00a0All you need to do is top up, then touch in and out of the ticket barriers at the beginning and end of each journey.<\/p>\n<p>Besides subways, the cards can also be used on most overground trains and buses in the majority of Japanese cities. For more information on IC cards and their compatibility, see <a title=\"IC Cards\" href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/japan-rail-pass\/ic-card\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>. And remember, if you have a Japan Rail Pass, you can save money by using it on JR-operated subway lines!<\/p>\n<p>If you are purchasing a Japan Rail Pass from InsideJapan Tours on our website, you can also order an IC card at the same time.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7709\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7709\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011.png?w=468\" alt=\"Tokyo subway map - less daunting than it might look, promise!\" width=\"468\" height=\"332\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011.png 1754w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-300x213.png 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-1024x726.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-1200x850.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-900x638.png 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-720x510.png 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-1440x1020.png 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-390x276.png 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-780x553.png 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/tokyosubway2011-510x361.png 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7709\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tokyo subway map &#8211; less daunting than it might look, promise!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Local train<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Japanese local trains are just normal, everyday\u00a0trains. It can be useful to familiarise yourself with the categories of train that are available &#8211; if only to avoid getting on a super-slow variety that stops at every stop!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-8283\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Local trains\" width=\"468\" height=\"351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/dscn1177-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a>These are:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Local (<em>kakueki-teisha <\/em>or <em>futsu-densha<\/em>) <\/strong>&#8211; Very slow! These trains stop at every station.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Rapid (<em>kaisoku<\/em>) <\/strong>&#8211; Misleadingly, these are not the most rapid trains. They cost the same as local trains but skip some of the stations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Express (<em>kyuko<\/em>) <\/strong>&#8211; Express trains skip more stations than the rapid trains, and may be more expensive.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Limited Express (<em>tokkyu<\/em>) <\/strong>&#8211; These are the fastest local trains, only stopping at major stations. You will usually need to pay an extra limited express fee if you use these trains.<\/p>\n<p>If you keep an eye on the screens on the train platform, you&#8217;ll find that most Japanese stations will display the train categories in English as well as Japanese.<\/p>\n<p>If you are purchasing a rail ticket at a Japanese train station, all you need to do is find your destination station on a map and look at the little number beside the station name. This number is your fare. Put your\u00a0money into the machine, select the appropriate fare and hey presto &#8211; you&#8217;ll receive a generic ticket that&#8217;ll take you as far as you need to go.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Japan Rail Pass<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve already begun researching your Japan holiday, you&#8217;ll probably already have heard of the Japan Rail Pass. This extremely economical deal promises unlimited travel on\u00a0the entirety of the\u00a0Japan Rail (JR) network (which includes\u00a0all bullet trains except\u00a0the &#8220;Nozomi&#8221;\u00a0and &#8220;Mizuho&#8221;, certain subway lines, and most local and cross-country rail services), and is available for periods of 7, 14 or 21 days at either ordinary class or &#8220;green&#8221; class (first-class).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7704\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7704\" style=\"width: 394px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-prices.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7704\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-prices.jpg\" alt=\"JR Pass prices correct as of 11 Feb 2015\" width=\"394\" height=\"114\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-prices.jpg 394w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-prices-300x87.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-prices-390x113.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 394px) 100vw, 394px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7704\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">JR Pass prices correct as of 11 Feb 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>To put these prices\u00a0in perspective, a\u00a0one-way journey on the bullet train from Tokyo to Hiroshima costs about half\u00a0that of an adult 7-day Japan Rail Pass (ordinary class)\u00a0&#8211; so if you&#8217;re travelling to Japan it&#8217;s really a no-brainer: <strong>buy a Japan Rail Pass!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can see a full list of prices in pounds sterling and purchase a Japan Rail Pass <strong>at face value<\/strong> on our website.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>BUSES<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Japan has an excellent network of local buses within cities and highway buses that cover cross-country journeys.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Local buses<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We usually recommend using subways and trains instead of buses in Japan, but in some cities where the subway network is not as comprehensive as that of Tokyo, taking the bus might be necessary. The most notable location in which you&#8217;ll find this is the case is Kyoto.<\/p>\n<p>On most local Japanese buses, you should enter through the back door (if there is one), pick up a numbered ticket from a small machine by the door, and keep your eye on the screen above the driver. This screen will match your ticket number with the fare you need to pay. When you get off, pay at the front of the bus &#8211; using the changing machine beforehand if you don&#8217;t have the correct change. In some cities, however, you pay a flat fare for wherever you&#8217;re travelling.<\/p>\n<p>[youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=szElk4nswRo&amp;w=420&amp;h=315]<\/p>\n<p>To make things easier, cities in which buses are the main mode of transport will usually offer one-day passes for the bus systems. These are extremely useful for tourists &#8211; so if you are in a city without a subway network, ask at tourist information to find out the best card to buy.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Highway buses<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Highway buses are an inexpensive alternative to trains and cover long distances over the whole of Japan. However, as the Japan Rail Pass offers such outstanding value, you&#8217;d be a fool to plump for buses!<\/p>\n<p>The only instance in which we&#8217;d recommend using a highway bus is if you&#8217;re going to be resident in Japan for over 90 days, making you ineligible for a Japan Rail Pass.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7712\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7712\" style=\"width: 338px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-bus-japanguide.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-7712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-bus-japanguide.png\" alt=\"Highway bus (photo: japanguide.com)\" width=\"338\" height=\"149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-bus-japanguide.png 338w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/jr-bus-japanguide-300x132.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 338px) 100vw, 338px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7712\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Highway bus (photo: japanguide.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>RENTAL CAR<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">As much as we do love trains, there are some locations in Japan where rail travel doesn&#8217;t quite cut the mustard. The main locations where this is the case are Hokkaido (Japan&#8217;s northern island) and Okinawa\u00a0(the southern, subtropical archipelago).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Hokkaido<\/strong> does have a rail network, but as the island is sparsely populated and\u00a0consists largely of untamed wilderness, it is far from comprehensive. Driving in Hokkaido, on the other hand, is a complete breeze &#8211; long,\u00a0empty roads, dramatic scenery, and the ability to make detours and stops whenever you like make this by far the best way to travel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The various islands that make up <strong>Okinawa<\/strong>, meanwhile, do not have a rail network at all (well, there&#8217;s a single, one-track monorail in Naha &#8211;\u00a0the prefectural capital &#8211;\u00a0but that hardly counts). There is a bus system, but take it from me &#8211; it&#8217;s an\u00a0<em>infinitely <\/em>better idea to rent a car. As in Hokkaido, the rental process is easy and the driving is an absolute doddle &#8211; plus it allows you to explore places that you might never have found if you&#8217;d taken the boring old bus.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Renting a car on mainland Japan is also a viable option if you feel particularly inclined to motor travel as opposed to rail &#8211; but be aware that driving long distances can be pretty dull, as Japanese motorways do just look pretty much like motorways anywhere else&#8230;\u00a0 Probably best use the train.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">&#8230;and remember, get your International Drivers Permit before you go to Japan!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7369\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7369\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen.jpg?w=468\" alt=\"Rental car\" width=\"468\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-1440x960.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-390x260.jpg 390w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/dsc03306_screensharpen-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rental car<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">DOMESTIC FLIGHT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">These days, with budget operators such as <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flypeach.com\/home.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Peach Aviation <\/a>offering ridiculously cheap fares between destinations in Japan and surrounding countries, domestic flights are most definitely an option if you&#8217;re planning to visit far-flung corners of the archipelago. You are most likely to use a domestic airline if you&#8217;re planning to visit the islands of Okinawa, Yakushima or Hokkaido &#8211; but there are plenty of other routes available. Remember, however, that flying entails an awful lot of hanging around and faffing about &#8211; so if you are making a long-distance journey on Honshu or Kyushu Island, it&#8217;s usually easier and less stressful (yep, you guessed it)\u00a0just to get the train.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_7711\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7711\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/peach.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-7711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/peach.gif?w=468\" alt=\"Example flight map by Peach Aviation. Other airlines operate additional services.\" width=\"468\" height=\"341\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-7711\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Example flight map by Peach Aviation. Other airlines operate additional services.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! So you&#8217;re going on holiday to Japan. One of the first questions you&#8217;ll probably ask yourself is: how are you going to get around? Japan has one of the safest, cleanest, fastest, most efficient, punctual and convenient public transportation networks in the world, comprising city subways, cross-country [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2359],"tags":[1369,1374,1388,1389,1517,2144,2238,2241],"class_list":["post-7702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-transport-and-travelling-in-japan","tag-bullet-train","tag-buses","tag-car-hire","tag-car-rental","tag-flights","tag-subway","tag-train","tag-transport"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7702"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36322,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7702\/revisions\/36322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}