Japan is a beautiful destination to explore and with so many interesting places to visit spread across the whole country on one hand and the high cost of travelling on the other, you should definitely know few useful tips on how to reduce the cost and move around Japan, both within and between cities. In this article we have put together few useful hacks your wallet will thank you for.
- Japan Rail Pass
- Public Transport Cards
- App for IOS and Android
- Tokyo Metro tips
- Kyoto Metro tips
- Move around Japan with FREE maps
JR Pass
Japan is famous for its developed train network which is a very convenient way to travel across the country. However, the speed, punctuality and flawless service also come with a high price.
One thing you should consider in order to make your travelling cheaper is getting a Japan Rail Pass. You can choose to buy 1, 2 or 3 weeks rail pass. JR Pass is a special ticket that is not sold in Japan, you need to order it online before going to Japan. It is created for foreign visitors on tourist visa. You can check the options and pricing at the official website or visit our blog post where we explain everything you need to know about JR Pass. We can only recommend it! Seems quite expensive at first glance, but trust us, you’ll save a lot of time and money by getting it. If we didn’t have the JR Pass we would end up paying three times more than the cost of one week JR Pass.
If you have this card, you just simply show it at the station and board a train without wasting any time for buying single ride tickets and it also includes Ferry boat ride to Myajima Island! The only thing to be careful about is to book a seat in long distance trains like Shinkansen. JR pass also includes travelling with these fast trains but it’s recommended to come a bit earlier prior your trip or even a day before to reserve your seat. It’s for free and you won’t need to worry to look for empty seats, especially if you travel in bigger group.
Move around Japan using Public Transport Cards
Once you arrive in Japan you should get a Pasmo card (there are many others, but we used this one). You can charge this card and use it for any ground transport, including buses, trains and trams, which makes it fast and convenient. Believe us, you will use this card very often and it also works across Japan, not only in Tokyo.
Don’t know what to visit in Japan? Check out these top 50 things to do.
In Japan you don’t need to worry about getting from one place to another. There is transport everywhere and every time. We didn’t wait for more than 10 minutes. Trains are fast, reliable and on time. So you can easily plan your itinerary without any problems.
JR-East App for IOS and Android
JR-East is a useful application for devices on Android and iOS. It’s free to download and easy to use. With this application you’ll not miss a train and it makes your planning easier. Just note that it requires connection to the Internet. But in Japan it’s not a problem to connect to WiFi almost everywhere and if you expect not to have Internet connection during the day there is nothing easier that to open the app in the morning in your hotel room, search for the right train and make a screenshot. It’s very useful especially with JR Rail Pass.
If you didn’t hear about it or you plan to buy your JR Pass you should check our article, where you will find everything you need to know for buying and activating JR pass.
The whole app has less than 100MB so it’s immediately ready to use. You can easily search your way according the map or by typing the destination and it will show you all of the possible ways and number of trains which you can use. It always gives more options so you can choose the one that fits you the most. Are you looking for easy way without transfers or you need a fastest way? The interface is very simple and intuitive. So download now and hit the road with no worries!
Tokyo Metro tips
Moving around Japan can’t be easier than using trains and subway lines. Tokyo Metro is the most comfortable way of travelling within the capital city. It connects all of the major tourist spots and the trains go very often. Need to get from Sensoji Temple in Asakusa to the other side of the city and visit the Shibuya scramble crossing? Use the following map to plan the fastest way.
(Download the full size map bellow)
https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/index.html
How to navigate on the station?
Every entrance to the metro is marked with a blue subway sign and the name of the subway station. Always remember the station name, colour and the number of the line you want to ride on. You will see the combination of a letter (representing the line) and a number (representing the station) in a coloured circle. When you get to the station follow the same sign. Make sure to follow the arrow on the overhead sign to go to the needed subway line.
Finding the right fare to the desired station might be a nightmare. That is why we recommend to use public transport cards described above. All you need to do is to top up the card at the vending machine and you don’t need to worry about single ride tickets anymore. To enter the subway simply hold the card over the card reader on the gate.
Before entering the train line up behind the white line on the platform and wait for the exiting passengers to get off before boarding the train. People in Japan are well organised and the trains go very often so there is no need to rush when trying to catch the train.
Find the right exit
When you get off the train look at the yellow direction board where you can find your exit number. All signs are written in both Japanese and English. If the gate doesn’t want to let you out it means you have traveled further than the ticket you bought allows you.It means you don’t have enough money on your travel card. You can pay the extra fare at a fare adjustment machine located near the gates. Simply place your ticket (or a card) into the machine and it will display the fare difference you need to pay. After inserting the difference you can pass the gate and exit the metro station.
Do you have Japan Rail Pass or plan to get it? You can reach most of the parts of Tokyo just by using JR lines and avoid paying extra for Tokyo Metro. This map might be helpful for you.
(Download the full size map bellow)
Kyoto metro tips
Unlike Tokyo, metro in Kyoto is very simple. It contains only 2 lines – Karasuma Subway Line and Tozai Subway Line which are connecting at Karasuma Oike station.
https://www.kyotostation.com/kyoto-subway-lines/
Therefore this Subway system is quite limited, you will need to use other ways of transport to access most areas of the city. This map of other JR lines might come in handy.
Maps which will help you better move around Japan
It can be very tricky to move around Japan if you don’t plan ahead. Get your free maps bellow to make sure not to get lost!
Now you know how to move around Japan easier and cheaper so it’s time to check out Japan’s most instagrammable places.
Or take a look at our list of most important things you need to know before travelling to Japan.
And don’t miss these top 50 things to do in Japan that you should definitely include in your bucket list.
We hope the above tips will be useful for you and will help you move around Japan easier and cheaper. If you have any other tips feel free to share them in the comments. Happy travels!
With Love,
Jelena and Luke
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