Japan Transit Encyclopedia: Every Mode of Transport Explained
By Tour in Japan editors · Updated
Your complete reference for getting around Japan — trains, buses, taxis, ferries, and everything in between.
Your complete reference for getting around Japan — trains, buses, taxis, ferries, and everything in between.
Quick Reference
| Mode | Speed | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shinkansen | 300 km/h | ¥13,000+ | City to city |
| Local train | 60–120 km/h | ¥150–2,000 | Suburban travel |
| Metro | 30–80 km/h | ¥180–320 | City center |
| Bus | 20–40 km/h | ¥210–500 | Last mile |
| Highway bus | 80 km/h | ¥3,000–8,000 | Budget long-distance |
| Taxi | 40–60 km/h | ¥500–10,000 | Convenience |
| Ferry | 20–40 km/h | ¥1,000–15,000 | Islands |
| Bicycle | 15 km/h | ¥700–1,200/day | Local exploration |
Trains
Shinkansen (Bullet Train)
| Type | Speed | Stops | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozomi | 300 km/h | Limited | Fastest, not on JR Pass |
| Hikari | 285 km/h | More | Covered by JR Pass |
| Kodama | 285 km/h | All stops | Cheapest Shinkansen |
| Hayabusa | 320 km/h | Limited | Tohoku/Hokkaido |
| Mizuho | 300 km/h | Limited | Kyushu |
| Sakura | 300 km/h | More | Kyushu |
JR Local Lines
| Line | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yamanote | Tokyo loop | Most important Tokyo line |
| Chuo | Shinjuku → west | Express to western Tokyo |
| Keihin-Tohoku | Yokohama → Saitama | Coastal route |
| Namboku | North-south Tokyo | Connects to private lines |
Private Railways
| Company | Route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Keio | Shinjuku → west | Rapid express |
| Odakyu | Shinjuku → Hakone | Romancecar express |
| Keikyu | Haneda → Yokohama | Airport access |
| Keisei | Narita → Tokyo | Skyliner express |
| Tobu | Asakusa → Nikko | Tobu Skytree Line |
IC Cards
All IC cards work interchangeably across Japan.
| Card | Region | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Suica | East Japan | JR stations, iPhone |
| Pasmo | Kanto | Metro stations, iPhone |
| ICOCA | West Japan | JR stations |
| Kitaca | Hokkaido | JR stations |
| TOICA | Chubu | JR stations |
Useful Apps
| App | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google Maps | General navigation |
| NAVITIME | Japanese train routes |
| Yahoo Transit | Real-time delays |
| Suica App | IC card management |
| JapanTaxi | Taxi booking |
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