Public transport in Japan
For the tourists travel around Japan, various public transport is available in Japan.
Railway is the main mean of transportation.
Especially, Shinkansen, the high-speed train of Japan, is convenient.
For moving very long distance, Domestic flights are available.
Bus is operated to move around the city and town and go to the sightseeing spots.
And many express buses connecting major city and local city are operated.
Taxi, Ship are also available for your travel.
Know make good use of each transportation.
Railway Domestic flights Bus Taxi Ship
To use these public transport, various discount tickets for tourist are sold.
Check them.
Railway
JR Lines
Mark of JR company
JR (Japan Railways) are the nationwide railway companies.
They were originally the national railway of Japan having the railway lines in the whole mainland, and it was privatized and split up into six JR companies in 1987.
But, the passengers can use all of the networks as a railway company.
In all areas, limited express trains that travel a long distance run, and many local trains are also operated.
In the center of Tokyo and Osaka, there is a loop line of JR.
The local trains are operated frequently all day, so it is a convenient transportation to travel around the city.
So, the tourists traveling around Japan will use the trains of JR mainly.
Japan Rail Pass is available for only JR lines.
About JR line, check the following page.
Shinkansen
Tokaido Shinkansen
Shinkansen (新幹線) is the high-speed train of Japan, and connects the main cities in Japan.
The first section was opened in 1964, and most lines have been constructed as the exclusive line for high-speed trains.
The lines start at Tokyo, and two main lines to western Japan and northern Japan connect the many main cities.
The trains run at a maximum speed of 260 to 320 km/h.
All lines are managed by JR, and Shinkansen is ranked as the special limited express on each section of JR.
Therefore, Japan Rail Pass is available.
Shinkansen is the fastest and most convenient transportation to move to distant city.
About Shinkansen, check the following page.
Railways in the large cities
Asakusa station of Ginza Line, Tokyo Metro (Subway)
Subway is set up in many big cities.
But all of them are not management by JR, so Japan Rail Pass is not available.
In Tokyo and Osaka, a loop line of JR runs in the central area.
Many subway lines cover the inside and outside of the loop line.
Sappro, Sendai, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto and Fukuoka cites have also the subway network, and these are managed by the city government.
In Hiroshima city, streetcar managed by a railway company covers the central area.
Various railway companies
Hakone Tozan Railway
Tokyo area, Osaka are and Nagoya area are the three major metropolitan areas of Japan.
In these areas, many railway lines by some railway companies are set up from the central part of the city to its suburbs to complement JR lines.
The name of the company is generally recognized as the line name.
Most terminal stations of the railway companies are by main station of JR, and the passengers can transfer easily.
Some lines are directly connected with the subway line, so many commuters can go to the center of the city on a train.
Many of commuters in and around the large cities use the railways.
Of course, you can use them as a method to travel around the cities.
But, Japan Rail Pass is not available.
In local regions, there are many small railway companies.
Most railway companies have a few short lines around the local city.
And some railway companies have the lines to popular sightseeing spots.
About various railway companies, check the following page.
Domestic flights
Mt.Fuji viewed from a domestic flight
Shinkansen is a convenient transport to travel around wide Japan.
But, when you want to go to the area over 600 km away from there, it will takes over 4 hours.
And, there are attractive remote islands where you can't go by train and bus.
In that case, domestic flight is available.
There are many local airports throughout Japan.
Many flights are based in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, etc. and the flights for various destinations are operated.
About domestic flights, check the following page.
Bus
Inside of an overnight express bus
Route buses are operated as a local transport in many cities and towns.
And, route bus goes to the nearest place of the sightseeing spots.
The inside of route bus is not wide.
If your baggage is too large, getting on the bus may be rejected.
Express bus is operated between large cities and distant local cities.
The fare is cheaper than Shinkansen and JR limited express.
So if you want to move cheaply, it is a good transport.
Many buses have trunk, so your large baggage may be OK.
And, many overnight express buses are operated.
Overnight train had been abolished, so the bus is the only transport to move in the night.
In large cities and sightseeing cities, tourist buses are operated.
It is convenient to visit popular spots around the cities efficiently.
About bus, check the following page.
Taxi
Taxi stand in front of a railway station
Taxi is also a transportation for tourist.
There are taxi stands in front of main railway station and airport, in a corner of major downtown, etc.
In Japan, when a taxi stopped in front of you, the taxi doors open automatically.
Of course, after you sit on the seat, the doors are closed automatically.
The method of payment is cash or credit card.
About taxi, check the following page.
Ship
Ferry to Miyajima
Japan is an island country, so many ferries connecting the islands are operated.
Major remote islands have airport, but there are many small islands accessible by only ship.
In Tokyo and Osaka, the ship called "water bus" is operated along the rivers flowing in the central area of the city.
It may be an attraction of the sightseeing.
Miyajima island with Itsukushima shrine is a world heritage site, and is located near the mainland.
For many worshippers, shuttle ferries are operated frequently.
About ship, check the following page.
There are many sightseeing spots to see and experience by boarding a ship or a boat.
Various tickets & passes
To use JR trains conveniently, Japan Rail Pass is well known.
It is for whole areas in Japan.
But, when you travel around limited area, local and cheap passes are also the choices.
JR consists of six local JR companies, and each company sells the passes for own area.
And, there are many other railway companies, and major companies also sells own convenient passes.
Check the following page.