How to Travel around Japan: the Best Way

Which is the best way to travel around Japan? There are diverse means of transportation allowing you to reach anywhere nationwide, of which the air travel is the fastest and the bullet train is the most popular.

People Waiting for Trains at the Station, Japan

People Waiting for Trains in Japan

The Fastest Way – Flights

A large number of domestic flights take off and land at the airports all over Japan every day. You can easily shuttle between two cities in the shortest time, with an affordable price. For example, to fly between Tokyo and Osaka, you will spend 1-1.5 hours on the plane, while the air fare is varied in JPY 8,200-45,810. For low-cost carriers like Peach Aviation and Zipair, you can easily get a budget flight. If you’re in a hurry to some place, a flight is definitely the best way to meet your need.

The Favorite – Shinkansen, the Bullet Train

Shinkansen, the bullet train, is popular with people for its high speed, convenience and comfort. The top speed of the Shinkansen train is up to 320 km/h (199 mph). Although it’s slower than the air travel, it is the fastest on land. As an airport is usually far away from the downtown, a railway station of Shinkansen is much easier to reach in the city. With 10 Shinkansen routes, you can travel around Japan with little hindrance quickly. The tasteful bento (meal box) and drinks at fair price are also provided on the well-facilitated trains; it would be a pleasant journey on a Shinkansen train. Travelling from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen, you will spend 2.5h and JPY 14,920 or so for a reserved seat, cheaper than the great mass of flights.

Taking a Flight in Japan

Japan Express Train

A Great Option – Limited Express/Express Train

Limited express and express trains embrace a little more stops than the bullet train, and it’s slower and cheaper. For a long-distance journey stretching cross Japan, there may be a few transfers on the way. However, passengers can stopover at more sites to enjoy the beauty of Japan, and the limited express and express trains are suitable for the tourists who have plenty of leisurely time.

If you take a limited express or express train from Tokyo to Osaka, you may have 3 or 4 transfer to reach the final destination, spending 8-9.5 hours and JPY 8,910-14,600. Generally, a non-reserved seat is cheaper than the reserved ones. A Japan Rail Pass can also be utilized to save money for the travelling expense. Even so, it’s not cost-effective if you’re going to take a single trip during the validity period of your pass. Only frequent travels could recover the cost of JR Rail Pass in Japan.

Alternative for Surrounding Tours – Highway Bus

Highway bus is the cheapest way of transportation for a long-distance trip to travel around Japan, but passengers would be tired after the lengthy ride. Thus, the highway bus is more suitable for short trips in the surroundings of a city. Besides, highway bus has more handy boarding sites in the city, and is flexible to travel to the surrounding areas. For instance, the highway bus between Tokyo and Mt. Fuji costs JPY 2.060-2,390 and 2-2.5 hours, which is a popular route for tourists. The Nouhi buses shuttling between Nagoya and Takayama as well as Takayama and Shirakawa-go attract many passengers, too.

The overnight highway bus is a little bit expensive than those run in the day, but it’s still cheaper than other vehicles. The overnight highway bus is often equipped with seats with larger space, allowing the passengers to lie back against the backrest. You can also save time and accommodation cost for a night.

Highway Bus

A Glimpse of Ferry Ship

The Best Way around a City – Metro/Urban Rail Transit

When you arrive in a city in Japan, the local transportation is absolutely prefect to go around the city. Metro, together with urban rail transit system, is the best way having the high flow of people. As the subway system is well-connected with JR rails and multiple private railways, you can easily have a transfer. Also, the local transportation card can make your ride easier.

City bus is the other choice to travel around a city, but it has more stops and is not as fast as metro or the rail transit.

The Most Expensive Vehicle – Taxi

Taxis are everywhere on the streets in a big city in Japan, ready to take you to your destination. When public transport stops, a taxi may be your only means of transport particularly in a countryside. It is the most expensive mode to travel around Japan, so it’s not recommended to take a taxi when getting to Japan generally. But if you are traveling in a group of three or four, a taxi may be affordable sometimes.

Taxi fare is metered by the distance you traveled, with the exception of some fixed-rate routes to the airport and major tourist attractions. There is an additional charge from 22:00 to 05:00 at night, and the expenses incurred on the expressway are paid by the passengers. During the day, a taxi ride in Tokyo for 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) and about 25 minutes, the cost is JPY 2,500-3,000. From Narita Airport, the taxi fare is fixed as JPY 23,500 to Shinagawa and JPY 26,500-27,500 to Shinjuku or Shibuya.

See more about Taxi Apps in Japan

To Offshore Islands/Cross a Bay – Ferry/Cruise

You could never miss ferries and cruises in Japan, which is a special way to travel around the island country. There are a number of ferry routes to offshore islands like Sado Island, Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands, crossing a bay, or sailing along the coast such as Tokyo-Hokkaido Sunflower. The Sunflower ship departs in the evening or at night, and shuttles between Oarai and Tomakomai for 17h 45min to 19h 15min.

Ferry & the Pier in Hiroshima

Enjoy Driving? Rent a Car

If you enjoy driving, self-driving tour by a rented car is also great. It’s very convenient to hire a car in Japan with numerous car rental services. It should be noted that, you must have an international driving license issued by any signatory country of Convention on Road Traffic Geneva 1949, or the original driving license in a few of these countries with the translated copy in Japanese.

Cycling is also a great way of travel for cycling lovers and outdoor enthusiasts.

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