- Guide for foreign tourists on how to ride trains, buses, and other public transportation in Japan
- Japanese railroads are operated independently by the operating entity – all are charged separately.
- Great value tickets, convenient tickets
- How to ride public transportation such as trains and buses in Japan
- Manners on Japanese Railways and Buses
- When boarding a train or bus, the first person to get off the train or bus is the one who gets off.
- Seniors have priority when sitting on seats.
- Seats have priority seating for the elderly and those requiring special consideration.
- No sound on cell phone calls, watching videos, etc. on trains and buses.
- Do not bring large luggage on crowded trains and buses in urban areas
- Have a nice trip in Japan!
Guide for foreign tourists on how to ride trains, buses, and other public transportation in Japan
This is information about moving around Japan, which can often be confusing.
Japanese railroads are operated independently by the operating entity – all are charged separately.
Japanese railroads are operated by a variety of entities, either private or local, or a mix of the two, each of which has its own facilities and operates independently.Therefore, tickets must often be purchased separately, and the JAPAN RAIL PASS is not available on “private railways” other than JR and its affiliated railroads.However, private railways are used more than JR by Japanese people, especially in urban areas.
The Japanese National Railways (JNR) was divided and privatized in 1987, and its lines were taken over by the Japan Railways (JR).Later, with the expansion and opening of the Shinkansen line, the parallel JR conventional lines (non-Shinkansen lines are called “conventional lines”) were separated from JR and became separate railroad companies operated by local governments and other entities.
The JAPAN RAIL PASS allows you to board those trains and the Tokyo Monorail.
Other trains that cannot be ridden with the JAPAN RAIL PASS are “private railways” and subways in each city.
Therefore, especially in Tokyo/Metropolitan area and Osaka/Kansai, there are quite a few areas that are inconvenient or inaccessible by JR if you try to travel only by JR.
You must decide whether you will use the JAPAN RAIL PASS only in Japan, especially in urban areas, or whether you will use “private railways” or subways even if you have to spend extra money.
Currently, there is no free ticket that covers all JR, private railways, and subways in Japan.
Great value tickets, convenient tickets
Nevertheless, there are some convenient passes that offer good value for money.
Anyway, here are some tickets that will save you from having to buy every single ticket, mainly in the Kansai region.
KANSAI ONE PASS
This IC card-type pass can be used on all railroads and buses in the Kansai region.It can be used for JR, private railways and subways in Kansai.It can be purchased in advance at major stations or Kansai Airport (3,000 yen) and charged in advance.Touch the card at an automatic ticket gate at a station or at a fare box on a bus to pass through.It is not a free pass, so the balance will decrease the more you ride.
Please note that the service will end in November 2025.
KANSAI RAILWAY PASS
This is a very economical ticket that allows unlimited rides on private railways and subways in the Kansai region for 2 or 3 days, which is not possible with the JAPAN RAIL PASS, but not on buses.The JAPAN RAIL PASS is a magnetic ticket, so it is used by inserting it into the ticket gate instead of touching it at an automatic ticket gate.
Please note that there are a limited number of locations where they are available.
KANSAI MaaS
The application is installed on a smartphone and used with a QR code.Various free passes are sold within this app, so it is convenient to purchase and use them.
Available in Tokyo + Kansai + major cities nationwide 「Welcome Suica Mobile」
Install the application on your smartphone, charge it, and use it.You can pass through an automatic ticket gate at a station or a fare box on a bus by simply touching it.It is not a free pass, so your balance will be reduced only by the number of rides you take. It is only available on the iPhone.
How to ride public transportation such as trains and buses in Japan
How to Ride the Railroad
It is always necessary to purchase a ticket in advance.For subways, it is convenient to purchase a ticket for the entire line so that you do not have to buy a ticket for each line.You will need the ticket until you get off the train, so be careful not to lose it.
Urban areas and large stations
Please note that the JAPAN RAIL PASS allows you to board only JR trains.
In most urban areas, there are automatic ticket gates where you pass your ticket through when you board and collect it when you get off.
Local and unmanned stations
Some local stations in rural areas are unmanned and do not have ticket gates.In such cases, tickets are purchased in advance at stations with automatic ticket vending machines.
At stations without automatic ticket vending machines, you can purchase tickets from the conductor after boarding the train or pay when you get off the train.A numbered ticket may be issued from a machine next to the door when you board the train, so keep it.
If there is a fare box next to the door when you get off the train, put your ticket in the box. If not, hand it to the conductor.If not, hand it to the conductor.The ticket is necessary for getting off the train, so be careful not to lose it.
Some unmanned stations are equipped with automatic ticket gates or IC ticket gates, so in such cases, use the automatic ticket gate just as you would at a manned station.
How to ride a local bus
The following patterns are available depending on the bus company．
Bus with two doors
- Board through the front door and exit through the back door.
- Board through the rear door and exit through the front door.
And how to pay the fee
- Pay when you board
- Pay at drop-off
A combination of the above patterns.
Buses for which you pay the fare when you get off and the fare varies depending on the distance must take a “numbered ticket” from the machine next to the door when you board the bus.When you get off the bus, you pay the fare for the number on the “numbered ticket”.
Bus with one door.Express buses, etc.
Fees may be paid at the time of boarding or at the time of disembarkation.Tickets are often purchased in advance.
航空路線の乗り方
The basic boarding procedure is the same for both international and domestic flights.
Other transportation Riding boats, etc.
When boarding a ship, there is usually a terminal at the port where you can buy a ticket and board the ship.Please follow the instructions of the crew.
Tips on how to ride trains and buses
Even in Osaka, ticket booths at large stations can be very crowded.It is very difficult to stand in line in this crowd every time.
In such cases, IC cards are a strong asset.
In Kansai, the ICOCA IC ticket can be purchased at JR stations and can be used on most JR, private railways, subways, and buses in the Kansai region.It can also be used in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and other affiliated cities.Please note that ICOCA cannot be used beyond each area.For example, if you get on an IC card at a station in Kansai, you will get off at a station in Kansai.You will not be able to board the bus to Tokyo.
Since IC tickets of JR companies can be used mutually, Suica can be used to do the same thing in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Tokyo.
How to use ICOCA and Suica
Purchase an ICOCA or Suica card from an automatic ticket vending machine at the station in advance.A deposit of 500 yen is required.
Then, simply hold the ticket over the automatic ticket gate to get on and off the train.You can board as many times as you like for the amount of money you have deposited.With one ticket, you can ride any train or bus (some trains and buses are not available).
However, you will be charged for the ride.There is no discount.
The best value for your money in Kansai
One-day passes are sold for each subway.JR and private railway companies also sell multi-day free passes.Please feel free to purchase a ticket from an automatic ticket vending machine at a station or at the ticket counter.
Manners on Japanese Railways and Buses
When boarding a train or bus, the first person to get off the train or bus is the one who gets off.
When boarding a train or bus, be sure to get off before anyone else gets off.
Seniors have priority when sitting on seats.
On Japanese trains and buses, it is an encouraged manner to give up your seat so that the elderly can sit down.However, if you are not feeling well yourself, you may sit down.Also, some Japanese do not yield.
Seats have priority seating for the elderly and those requiring special consideration.
In public transportation such as trains and buses, “priority seating” is found on seats at the end of trains and buses.These seats are labeled “priority seats” or “silver seats.People who are not eligible for these seats should not sit in them.However, if the car is empty, it is okay to sit down.
No sound on cell phone calls, watching videos, etc. on trains and buses.
It is considered bad manners to make noise while talking on cell phones or watching videos on trains and buses.Refrain from talking on the phone, or talk on the deck of a bullet train or long-distance train.Use earphones when watching videos.
Do not bring large luggage on crowded trains and buses in urban areas
Trains and buses in Japanese cities can be very crowded.The morning and evening commuter rushes are especially bad.It is considered bad manners to bring large luggage (suitcases, etc.) because it is very difficult for only humans to get on board.
So what do Japanese people do when they have to travel with large luggage during rush hour, such as when traveling?
- Stagger your boarding times – avoid schedules that require you to board a commuter train during rush hour.
- Take a cab
- Travel by private car.Or have a family member or other person pick you up.
- Compact your luggage as much as possible.
- Send large items in advance.
So what do we do when we travel?
- Go to the hotel or inn ahead of time, leave your large luggage behind, and pack light.
- Send large luggage to hotels and inns in advance.
Bringing large luggage into crowded vehicles can cause problems even for Japanese.In Kyoto, large luggage is often brought onto local buses, causing social problems when residents are unable to board the buses.We recommend that you use luggage transportation services at the airport and between hotels.
Lack of space for large luggage on Japanese trains and buses is a problem.Another factor is that the number of buses is small relative to the number of passengers.Improvement is needed in Japan.
Have a nice trip in Japan!
It seems that there are still many things in Japan that are inadequate for welcoming foreigners.
Please cooperate with our manners and have a good trip in Japan.
