JR Pass & Trains

The Japan Rail Pass offers unlimited travel on JR trains, including most shinkansen (bullet trains). Perfect for multi-city trips.

• ✓7, 14, or 21-day passes available
• ✓Cost-effective for long distances

Shinkansen Tickets & Seat Types

How to buy shinkansen tickets, choose seats (reserved/non-reserved/Green Car), and avoid common rookie mistakes.

• ✓Reserved vs non-reserved explained
• ✓Green Car trade-offs

Regional Rail Passes (Often Better Than JR Pass)

JR East/West/Kyushu and other regional passes can be a better deal than the nationwide JR Pass—especially for focused trips.

• ✓Better value for region-focused trips
• ✓Works well with shinkansen segments

IC Cards

Rechargeable IC cards (Suica, Pasmo) make local transportation seamless. Use for trains, buses, and even convenience stores.

• ✓Easy tap-and-go payment
• ✓Usable nationwide

Tokyo Transport: JR vs Metro vs Toei

Navigation Apps

Essential apps to help you navigate Japan's complex transit system with real-time updates and route planning.

• ✓Google Maps (English support)
• ✓Hyperdia (train schedules)

Airport Transfers (NRT/HND/KIX and More)

The fastest and least stressful ways to reach the city from Japan's major airports—train, bus, taxi, and what to pick.

• ✓Train vs bus vs taxi comparison
• ✓Best choice by luggage and comfort

Luggage Forwarding (Takkyubin) & Coin Lockers

Japan's luggage forwarding is a travel superpower. Move city-to-city without dragging suitcases through stations.

• ✓Travel lighter between cities
• ✓Hotel-to-hotel forwarding basics

Highway Buses & Night Buses

Sometimes buses beat trains on price—and occasionally on convenience. Learn when to use highway buses and night buses.

• ✓When buses are better than trains
• ✓Night bus comfort tips

Taxis, Cashless Payments, and the GO App

Taxis in Japan are clean and safe. Learn when they are worth it, how payments work, and how to reduce friction.

• ✓When taxis save real time
• ✓How taxi doors and etiquette work

Car Rental & Driving in Japan (When It Makes Sense)

For rural areas, nature trips, and off-the-grid routes, renting a car can be the best move—if you plan it right.

• ✓Best for rural exploration
• ✓Tolls and parking expectations

Last Trains, Rush Hour, and Transit Timing

Japan runs on time—until it doesn't. Learn last-train habits, rush hour avoidance, and how to plan transit like a local.

• ✓Last-train planning mindset
• ✓Rush hour avoidance guidance

Transport Etiquette & Station Survival

Small etiquette rules make your travel smoother: escalators, queues, quiet cars, priority seats, and station behavior.

• ✓Queueing and on-train etiquette
• ✓Escalator conventions