Unfold throughout 7,000 islands and dotted with megacities, mountain ranges and mighty nationwide parks, Japan generally is a little overwhelming to first-time guests eager to pack their trip with main sights.
However look a bit nearer, and also you’ll discover this Asian powerhouse is a delight to journey around, whether or not by practice, ferry or utilizing a employed set of wheels. Right here’s every thing it’s essential to learn about getting around Japan.
For intercity journey, take the practice
Trains are the most well-liked approach for vacationers to discover Japan, and arguably the perfect.
They’re quick, environment friendly and intensely dependable, and although they aren’t the most cost effective type of transport out there (the primary worth hike in many years occurred in October 2023), they will get you nearly wherever in the nation with minimal stress.
The primary operator is Japan Railways, generally generally known as “JR,” which consists of a number of distinct rail techniques that present one linked service all through the nation.
JR runs the well-known Shinkansen (bullet practice) routes, which attain almost 320km/h (200mph) speeds as they whizz between Japan’s main cities.
Along with JR companies, there’s a large community of personal railways, with every massive metropolis often having a minimum of one non-public practice line that companies it and the encircling space. There are a few sleeper practice companies nonetheless in operation.
Main stations are signposted in English, and stops on lengthy-haul trains are introduced in English. Probably the most difficult facet of using trains in Japan is navigating the generally huge stations with their a number of routes. Permit loads of time to search out your strategy to the platform you want.
The best way to purchase practice tickets in Japan
Tickets might be bought from both contact display screen merchandising machines in main practice stations (most have an English perform, and people for Shinkansen journeys settle for bank cards); from midori-no-madoguchi, which capabilities as JR’s in-house journey company and might be discovered at main JR stations; or from journey companies in Japan, which might additionally usually be discovered inside practice stations.
Japan Journey Bureau (JTB) additionally has branches in all places. Ticket costs are comparable with practice fares in Western Europe, with sooner companies costing greater than gradual trains.
Seat reservations can solely be made for Shinkansen (bullet practice) companies and sure tokkyū (restricted specific) traces (in which case they’re required).
Reserved-seat tickets might be purchased anytime from a month in advance to the day of departure. In any other case, tickets are unreserved, that means no allotted seat; these tickets gained’t promote out, however you may end up standing if all seats are occupied.
Many guests to Japan choose to purchase rail passes, which might make practice journey in the nation cheaper when you plan to undertake quite a few rail journeys throughout your go to. The Japan Rail Move is a well-liked choice, providing limitless rides on all JR companies over 7, 14, or 21 days.
There are additionally passes for particular areas of Japan (Tōhoku Space Move, Tokyo Extensive Move, and so on) for vacationers focusing their itinerary on a particular space of the nation.
You will discover out information about most passes from the related JR Railways web site (JR Central, JR East, JR West), although there are passes exterior the JR community, too.
Bus journey is the perfect funds choice
Japan has a complete community of lengthy-distance buses connecting the islands of Honshū, Shikoku and Kyūshū. They’re nowhere close to as quick because the Shinkansen, however they’re considerably cheaper. Buses additionally cowl extra areas than the practice traces.
Japan Railways (JR) operates the most important community of freeway buses in Japan; it tends to be a bit pricier than different operators nevertheless it’s dependable, and buses are likely to depart and arrive at practice stations slightly than bus stops elsewhere in town.
Cheaper operators with massive networks embody Willer Specific. You may ebook seats on Willer and different respected operators by the corporate’s Japan Bus Traces service.
Most lengthy-haul routes have an evening bus choice. Premium coaches have roomy seats that recline considerably; these can price virtually twice as a lot as unusual coaches, however you are still saving on lodging.
They have an inclination to reach very early, around 6am or 7am. All buses have bathrooms on board.
Hiring a automobile or motorbike provides essentially the most flexibility
For journey to rural areas, a automobile is one of the best ways to get around, particularly for 2 or extra individuals.
Areas which might be nice for exploration by automobile embody Hokkaidō; Tōhoku; Hida, Shirakawa-gō, the Japan Alps and the Noto Peninsula (Central Honshū); the San-in Coast (Western Honshū); Shikoku; Kyūshū; and Okinawa.
Navigation techniques have made driving in Japan a lot simpler than it was. In distant mountain areas, nevertheless, these usually are not foolproof; make sure you give your self loads of time to search out your vacation spot.
When hiring automobiles, costs are largely comparable amongst all companies, often ranging from around ¥7,000 per day (US$50) for a compact automobile, with reductions for leases of greater than at some point.
Nippon and Toyota each have massive rental networks around Japan and supply automobiles with English-language navigation techniques. Bookings might be accomplished on-line in English.
Hiring a motorbike for lengthy-distance touring isn’t as straightforward as hiring a automobile. Rental 819 is likely one of the few companies that makes it attainable to ebook in English.
Scooter leases, nevertheless, are frequent on smaller islands; you will nonetheless want a world license (although not a motorbike license) to lease certainly one of these. Helmets are obligatory for motorcyclists in Japan.
What to anticipate on the highway
Japanese roads are usually in glorious situation. You are way more more likely to encounter roadwork in progress than a highway in want of restore.
Bear in thoughts that mountain roads are usually slender, as are many in the cities (the place you will additionally need to take care of one-approach streets).
Winter driving in Japan might be treacherous if you do not have expertise with snow and ice. Snow is feasible in greater elevations as early as November (October in Hokkaidō) and should preserve mountain passes closed as late as April.
Whereas roads are signposted in English, climate warnings and highway closures sometimes aren’t. When you’re driving by the mountains in winter, have somebody (maybe at your lodging) verify your route to verify it is possible beneath present circumstances.
It’s possible you’ll must translate your driver’s license
Vacationers from most nations can drive (each automobiles and bikes) in Japan with an Worldwide Driving Allow backed up by their common license.
Residents from a handful of nations might want to get a certified translation of their license; branches of the Japan Car Federation (JAF) do translations for ¥4,000, which takes two weeks.
Home flights are fast and low cost
Air companies in Japan are in depth, dependable and protected. Flying is usually sooner and generally cheaper than the Shinkansen (bullet practice), although extra dangerous to the atmosphere and affords much less probability to see the fantastic Japanese surroundings up shut.
Japan Airways, which incorporates Hokkaidō Air System (HAC) and Okinawa service Japan Trans Ocean Air (JTA), has essentially the most in depth home community; All Nippon Airways is second. Most cities have home airports.
Each All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airways (JAL) supply reductions of as much as 50% if you are going to buy your ticket a month or extra in advance, with smaller reductions for purchases made one to a few weeks in advance.
Some cities function bike-share schemes
Just a few cities – together with Tokyo, Osaka, Kōbe and Sapporo – have cycle-share schemes. They could be a little difficult to make use of, often requiring advance registration on-line – simply observe the step-by-step directions.
Many Japanese use bicycles to get around cities; by regulation, bicycles needs to be ridden on the highway, however many individuals use the sidewalks.
Cycle lanes are just about non-existent, however drivers (and pedestrians) are usually courteous. In cities, bicycles needs to be parked at ports or designated bicycle parking areas.
Many vacationer areas have bicycles for rent. These are virtually at all times heavy-framed, single-velocity buying bikes, although some locations have electrical bicycles; little one-sized bicycles are hardly ever out there.
They might be free as a part of an area tourism initiative; in any other case, non-public companies, often close to practice stations, lease them out for about ¥1,000 per day. Ask on the native vacationer info middle. Many youth hostels even have bicycles to lease or borrow.
Helmets are necessary for youngsters 12 years and beneath. Except highway touring, adults hardly ever put on them, so rental retailers do not present them (until they provide youngsters’s bicycles; then helmets for youngsters shall be included in the rental).
It’s tough to lease touring bicycles in Japan, however Cycle Osaka is one operator that provides them. If you wish to take your bicycle on a practice, it must be damaged down and saved in a motorcycle bag.
Boat and ferry rides might be gradual however memorable
Ferries are just about by no means the most cost effective strategy to get wherever and are at all times the least time-environment friendly, however the boat rides themselves might be memorable: lengthy-haul ferries in Japan have communal bathhouses, eating halls and even karaoke rooms.
On in a single day ferries, 2nd-class journey means sleeping in frequent rooms on plastic mats or the ground; nevertheless, you’ll be able to pay a bit further to improve to a dorm room (or lots further for a set).
Most main ferry corporations have English web sites for reserving tickets. In any other case, ebook by a journey company like JTB.
Accessible transportation in Japan is hit-and-miss
Japan will get blended marks in phrases of accessibility, or what known as bariafurī (barrier-free; バリアフリー) in Japanese. You may discover most service workers will exit of their strategy to be useful, even when they do not converse a lot English.
In cities, practice stations often have lifts, and station workers will provide help to on and off the practice with a brief slope. Rural stations are tougher to navigate.
Throughout the board, newer buildings are more likely to have entry ramps and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Main sights are sometimes accessible, even when not clearly so: shrines and temples, for instance, usually have again entrances with ramps.
That stated, what is taken into account “accessible” at many sights may nonetheless imply steep slopes or lengthy gravel paths.
A good variety of inns, from the upper finish of midrange and above, supply a barrier-free room or two (ebook properly in advance); observe that what constitutes barrier-free isn’t at all times constant, so verify the main points fastidiously.
Do you have to resolve upon arrival {that a} wheelchair (車いす; kuruma isu) could be useful, resort workers may help you lease one.
Some downsides: many neighborhoods in Japanese cities lack sidewalks, and eating places are sometimes too cramped to accommodate diners in wheelchairs. Search for shōtengai (商店街; market streets), which are sometimes pedestrian-solely, lined arcades – most cities have them.
Accessible Japan is the perfect useful resource for vacationers with mobility points – it produces an e book with numerous element. Moreover, discover Lonely Planet’s accessible journey hub for extra info.