I’ve experienced confusing public transportation all over the world, from the ever-stalling NYC subway to 12-hour sleeper buses in Vietnam. Yet, I was still nervous about navigating public transportation in Japan alone.
A hundred questions swirled around in my mind—Would I understand the directional signs, how do I easily purchase tickets, and what is the deal with Shinkansen trains between major cities?
After taking buses and trains all over Japan on a solo trip, I have the answers to all those questions and more. Japan’s public transportation is way easier to master than I anticipated. However, you will need these tips to make your Japan journey simpler and cheaper.
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Download a Suica or Pasmo Card to Your Apple Wallet
Standing in a busy metro station trying to figure out the ticket machines in a foreign language is a stress-inducing moment I know well. Rest assured that this is an experience anyone with an iPhone can avoid on Japan’s public transportation thanks to the virtual Suica card.
Just go into your Apple Wallet and click the plus sign in the top right corner of the screen. Choose to add a transit card, search for Japan’s Suica or Pasmo cards, and from there you can add it directly to your Apple Wallet.
Simply scan your phone at transit stations or on the bus and add more cash right onto your card via Apple Pay. It is so easy and makes paying for public transportation simple. Plus, Apple Wallet logs everywhere you’ve been which is good to have as a virtual keepsake and for safety purposes.
👉 Pro Tip: You can also use your virtual Suica card to pay at convenience stores.
The JR Rail Pass Deal Isn’t Always the Most Economical Choice
The words “JR Rail Pass” were burned into my brain as a travel necessity for Japan after doing my initial research. The JR pass allows travelers to take unlimited trains around Japan, which sounds economical and convenient in theory.
Until you find that the cheapest seven-day pass is close to $350 and prices soar even higher for longer-term passes. This being said, getting a JR pass can still be a cost-effective decision for short-term visitors who want to fit four or five cities into a single week.
For visitors like me who are spending up to a week in each city, using the JR Pass to get around Japan doesn’t make sense. I went from Tokyo → Kyoto → Osaka → Kyoto → Tokyo with day trips in between and all the trains still cost under $250 total.
👉 Pro Tip: Train prices vary depending on the time of year and get more expensive during the busy season. Visitors who wish to purchase a JR Pass can do so on the official Japan Rail Pass website.
You Must Pay Extra for Large Luggage on the JR Train
The JR line, also known as the Shinkansen, is the bullet train that whisks you hundreds of miles between Japan’s major cities in just a couple of hours.
You need to reserve a special ticket on the Shinkansen if you’re carrying any baggage that’s too big to be a carry-on item on a plane [ Source]. It’s free to add an oversized bag to your ticket, but you can be charged up to 1,000 yen ($6.78) without a reservation [ Source].
Trains Are Extremely Punctual
The NYC subway system has a mind of its own and there are many times I’ve been left craning my neck to look for a train that should’ve arrived 10 minutes earlier. That situation does not exist in Japan; when they give an arrival time, they mean it.
On the flip side of that, you can expect that train to go chugging down the tracks in the very same minute it arrives. Even being a minute late means you have missed your train in Japan, so arrive five minutes early to be safe.
Go Through the Proper Metro Entrance and Stand on the Correct Side of the Street for the Bus
Each entrance of Japan’s metro system has a number or letter assigned to it and it’s imperative to enter through the correct door. Some underground train stations in Japan span blocks.
Going in through the wrong entrance can put you far from the proper platform and make it difficult to find your way. You should also keep this in mind when you’re using Japan’s bus system.
I was in the rain for 20+ minutes, staring at my phone because Google Maps kept saying my bus had departed twice already when I was standing right there. It turns out ‘right there’ was supposed to be across the street. Always confirm your station or platform number.
Use Google Maps to Guide You Through the Whole Process of Riding Trains and Buses
As someone who never stepped foot in Japan before, Google Maps made me feel like a natural at finding my way around the country.
Google Maps provides a step-by-step guide for how to ride Japan’s public transportation to reach any destination. It’ll tell you how long the journey should take, real-time updates of when buses and trains arrive, and even an estimated price for the journey.
The second my flight touched down in Japan, Google Maps became the most-used app on my phone. It’s a necessity on any trip and the only app you need to make riding on Japan’s public transportation feel second nature.
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Maneuvering Japan’s public transportation made me undeniably nervous pre-trip. Yet, I was pleasantly surprised by the easy-to-understand transit system. I was even more elated to find that trains and buses are the cheapest and most efficient way to explore Japan.
You’ll be a pro at riding around public transportation in Japan with these pieces of advice in your back pocket. However, there are still more things you should know before your trip. Next up, read my article on what cultural taboos in Japan you should avoid.
