Travel to Japan

Once you have arrived in Japan you must learn to move around in the means of transport. In this article I give some recommendations to consider if you plan to travel to Japan.

Railway: Japan Railways (JR) is the main railway company in Japan. The Railroad is the most recommended means of transport for long distances. If you plan to visit several points in Japan, the best thing to do is to get a Japan Railways Pass, which allows you to take several railways for a period of 7, 14 or 21 days at an affordable price. This is purchased before entering Japan and is only available for visitors, in addition to offering a 10% discount on hotels in the JR group.

The railway system in Japan is one of the best in the world. They are the fastest, punctual, clean and comfortable. JR Railways is a group of companies that link all of Japan with the railway line of more than 200 thousand kilometers. They also have a rail system within the metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka. The best known and fastest train is the shinkansen, which reaches speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour. It is also one of the safest means of transport, since since it was implemented 30 years ago there have been no fatal accidents. For more information for the JR Railways system visit the page.

Subway: All major cities in Japan have a subway system that allows fast and efficient transportation at a low price (starting at 130 yen). There are subway lines such as Yamanote-sen or Osaka-Kanjo-Sen whose route goes around the entire city.

The subway system is the most used form of transportation by the Japan

ese, due to its practicality and low cost. Even for a foreigner it is easy to travel by this means, since the purchase system is explained with diagrams and many of the indications come in Japanese, Romaji and sometimes in English. Visit the page of Tokyo subway.

Bus: In all cities there is a bus service, although it is recommended that if you do not master the Japanese language you use other means of transport. The routes have the names only in Japanese, and use two payment systems: you pay when boarding or before getting off the truck. This can become confusing and complicated for a visitor who does not know the language.

In many cities they offer day passes so you can take an unlimited number of buses or trams in one day. These are known as ichi-nichi-josha-ken.

Cab: In any city you can find taxis that can transport you if you show a written address. You can tell that a taxi is available by a red light located in the lower left corner of the windshield. Be careful when approaching the taxi, as the door opens automatically, activated by the driver. Take into account that the taxi is an expensive means of transport in Japan.

Car: In order to drive in Japan, you will need to obtain an international driving license. Take into account that drives on the left and that the steering wheel is located to the right of the car. All highways are toll roads. The traffic lights are located on the other side of the intersection and the signs are in Japanese and Roman alphabet.

Outside of several metro stations you can find car rental agencies. Prices for the first day of rent are between 6,825 and 9,450 yen, while the following days are in 5,775 to 7,875 per day. You must also pay 1000 yen per day as a cost for the insurance. Also take into account that the cost may vary depending on the season. From April 28 to May 6, and from December 28 to January 5 are high seasons in which prices can skyrocket.