Transportation

Local Trains: Japan’s railway network is famous for its reliability and punctuality. Approximately 70% of the railway network is operated by Japan Railways (JR),and the remaining is run by private companies. Rails are built all throughout Japan so it is very convenient to travel around Japan by local trains. Not just as a method of transportation, but some trains like the Sagano Romantic Train are specialized as a scenic train. These trains are specially built for guests to enjoy the beautiful landscape from the train.

Bullet Trains (Shinkansen): The bullet train in Japan offers high speed transportation with comfort, and is one of the best ways to travel between long distant cities. Most bullet trains offer reserved seats and non-reserved seats. We recommend booking the reserved seats, especially in peak seasons like New Year holidays, the Golden Week (beginning of May) and the Obon week (beginning to middle of August). Japan Rail Pass (JR pass) can be used on all Bullet Trains with some exceptions like Nozomi and Mizuho. You can take a look at JR Pass official website for more information.

Domestic Air Travel: Depending on your destination, domestic flights are more convenient. Japan has over 80 airports throughout the country. Haneda (Tokyo) and Itami (Osaka) are the busiest and most used airports for domestic air travel. Besides major carriers like Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), there are also several budget airline companies (Low Cost Carriers) providing competitive prices, and sometimes it is a cheaper alternative compared to bullet trains.

Ferries & Cruises: As an island country, the ferry is also one of the major transportation methods in Japan. Short ferries crossing islands, and overnight trips by large ferries between major cities are available.
There are some special sightseeing cruises you should not miss in Japan as well, like the Miyajima Night Cruise in Hiroshima, and the icebreaker cruises in Hokkaido.

Buses: Although the railway network is well-established in Japan, there are still some areas which are not covered by railways. In this case, local buses become the best way of transportation.
A different type of bus, the express bus, is a less expensive alternative for travelling between distant cities. But keep in mind that it takes longer to get around places.
The schedule of these express buses varies from day to night, but night time buses are cheaper. This means that you depart at night and depending on your destination, you may arrive in the early morning. For example, it takes around 7-8 hours from Tokyo to Kyoto.

Cars: Although the transportation network is efficient in Japan, it is still more convenient to have a car while exploring rural areas such as Hokkaido. Car rental in Japan may be an option for these cases. Multilingual car navigation systems are also available upon request when you reserve a car. If you wish to drive a car in Japan, don’t forget to bring your International Driving License!

Taxis: The base fare for taxis is between 400-700 yen for the first kilometer. Taxi drivers provide a high standard of service, and won’t take advantage of clients on the fares.
Nowadays, taxi-calling APPs are becoming popular. You can easily call a taxi for pick-up and know how much you will have to pay beforehand.

Bicycles: Bicycles are widely used in Japan. If you want to deeply explore a city and relax, we recommend renting a bicycle or join a local cycling tour. Shimanami Kaido, which crosses between Onomichi and Imabari City, is one of the most popular cycling roads in Japan. You can enjoy the spectacular view and sea breeze while on the bicycle.

Discount Passes