getting around japan
Japan has the best public transport in the world, and travelling around the country is one of the quiet pleasures of a trip here — fast, spotless, and punctual to the minute. It can look complicated from afar, but it comes down to a handful of pieces: the Shinkansen for the long hauls, an IC card for everything local, and a few apps to tie it together. Get those straight and you’ll move around Japan with an ease that puts most countries to shame.
The Shinkansen (bullet train)
The Shinkansen is the backbone of long-distance travel — gliding between cities at up to 320 km/h, departing to the second, and delivering you city-centre to city-centre with none of the faff of flying. Tokyo to Kyoto takes about 2 hours 15 minutes; Tokyo to Osaka about 2 hours 30.
A few essentials:
- Train types matter. On the main Tokaido line (Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka), the Nozomi is fastest, the Hikari slightly slower with a couple more stops, and the Kodama slowest. They cost the same on a normal ticket; the difference is only minutes.
- Reserved vs non-reserved. You can buy a reserved seat or ride in the non-reserved cars (turn up and sit anywhere free). Reserving is wise at peak times and around holidays; otherwise non-reserved is fine and flexible.
Classes. Ordinary class is comfortable; Green Car is first class; a few trains have ultra-plush GranClass. - Buying tickets. Buy at any station ticket office (midori-no-madoguchi), at green ticket machines, online via Smart EX or Eki-Net, or through resellers like Klook. For most first trips, individual tickets beat a Japan Rail Pass — see our guide to whether the Japan Rail Pass is worth it
- Big luggage. Oversized bags now need a (free) reserved space on the Tokaido and several other lines — book it with your seat, or travel light by forwarding your luggage (see below).
IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA)
An IC card is the single most useful thing in your pocket in Japan. These rechargeable tap-to-pay cards work on trains, subways, buses, coin lockers, vending machines, convenience stores and many shops — the equivalent of London’s Oyster or Hong Kong’s Octopus. You’ll tap one ten to twenty times a day.
The current picture (2026):
- They all work nationwide. Suica (Tokyo/JR East), Pasmo (Tokyo private rail) and ICOCA (Kansai/JR West) are interchangeable, along with several regional cards — a Suica bought in Tokyo works fine in Kyoto, Osaka and beyond. Don’t overthink the brand.
- Mobile Suica is the simplest option if you have an iPhone (8 or later) or Apple Watch: add a Suica to Apple Wallet before you even arrive, top it up from your phone with a credit card, and tap your phone at the gate. No deposit, no expiry, nothing to lose.
- No compatible phone? Most non-Japanese Android handsets can’t run mobile IC cards, so buy a physical card on arrival. The tourist **Welcome Suica** (28-day validity, no deposit) is sold at Narita, Haneda and major Tokyo stations; standard Suica/Pasmo are widely available again after the 2023–24 shortage; and **ICOCA** is the easy buy if you land in Kansai.
- Good to know: the maximum balance is ¥20,000; spend down a tourist card before leaving (its balance isn’t refundable); and you can’t buy a reserved Shinkansen seat directly from your IC balance.
Local trains, subways and apps
Within cities, you’ll use a dense mix of JR lines, private railways and metro systems — all covered by your IC card. Navigation is easy: Google Maps works well in Japan for train times and platforms, and apps like Japan Travel by Navitime or Jorudan are even more detailed. Trains are scrupulously punctual, so if you miss one, the next is usually minutes away. Avoid the worst of the rush hour (roughly 7:30–9:00am) with luggage if you can.
Buses
City buses are handy where trains don’t reach — Kyoto especially relies on them. Tap your IC card on boarding (or boarding and exiting, depending on the city). For long distances on a budget, **highway buses**, including overnight services, are far cheaper than the Shinkansen, if slower — a useful option for younger travellers or tight budgets.
domestic flights
For the long diagonal hauls — to Hokkaido in the north or Okinawa and Kyushu in the south — flying is faster and often cheaper than the train. ANA and JAL run extensive domestic networks, and low-cost carriers (Peach, Jetstar Japan, Skymark) cover the main routes inexpensively. For anything within the main island corridor, though, the Shinkansen usually wins on convenience.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis are clean, safe and metered, but pricey — best for short hops, late nights or the last stretch to a hilltop temple. The GO app is the main way to hail one; most accept IC cards and credit cards. Tipping isn’t expected.
A few practical tips
- Forward your luggage. Japan’s brilliant *takkyubin* courier services send suitcases hotel-to-hotel, usually overnight, for a modest fee — so you ride the Shinkansen with just a day bag. It’s one of the great hacks of travelling Japan.
- Use the coin lockers. Station lockers are everywhere and now operate by IC card — handy for the gap between checkout and your train.
- Mind the etiquette. Keep phones on silent and voices low on trains, queue on the platform markings, and don’t eat on local commuter trains (the Shinkansen is the accepted exception — that’s what the bento boxes are for).
A final word
Japan’s transport rewards a little preparation and then simply works. Set up Mobile Suica or grab a Welcome Suica on arrival, lean on the Shinkansen for the big distances, forward your bags between cities, and let Google Maps handle the rest. Within a day or two it becomes second nature — and getting around turns from a worry into one of the trip’s quiet joys.
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Is the Japan Rail Pass worth it? — the maths for your route
Japan itinerary: 7–14 days
Visiting Japan — the full country guide
Getting Around Japan: FAQs
What's the best way to get around Japan?
The Shinkansen (bullet train) for long distances between cities, and an IC card (Suica, Pasmo or ICOCA) for all local trains, subways and buses. Together they cover the vast majority of a typical trip quickly and easily.
Do I need a Japan Rail Pass?
For most first trips — Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka — individual Shinkansen tickets work out cheaper than the national pass since its 2023 price rise. The pass only pays off for ambitious, multi-region itineraries; see our dedicated guide for the maths.
Should I get a physical Suica or use Mobile Suica?
If you have an iPhone (8 or later), Mobile Suica in Apple Wallet is simplest — set it up before you arrive, with no deposit or expiry. Otherwise, buy a physical Welcome Suica or standard IC card on arrival; they all work nationwide.
How do I buy Shinkansen tickets?
At any station ticket office or green ticket machine, online via Smart EX or Eki-Net, or through resellers like Klook. You can reserve a seat or ride non-reserved; reserve at peak times and around national holidays.
Does Google Maps work in Japan?
Yes — Google Maps is reliable for train times, platforms and routing across Japan. Apps such as Navitime and Jorudan offer even more detail for complex journeys.