Tips for Using Public Transportations in Japan
Japan is a wonderful country in the world. The country always attracted tourists by amazing destination and wonderful culture. With nearly 127 million people, Japan is in the top 10 countries with the largest population in the world but there are fewer traffic jams, even in Tokyo’s crowded metropolis. Proper planning makes public transportation in Japan so diverse and so convenient that families sometimes do not need private cars, even though most people own private cars or bicycles. It is expected that in the next two years, the country will be able to launch ships of up to 550 km/h. When you first arrive in Japan, most visitors may be overwhelmed by the overwhelming transit system, especially the rail maps. However, when using the public transport, you will feel that public transport of Japan is arguably the most convenient in the world.
For first time visiting Japan, the first thing to do when you come to the airport is to rent a Wi-Fi – usually, 200,000 per day for many people, rent and return equipment at the airport. Japan’s public transport system syncs almost seamlessly with Google Maps, so it’s easy to find the way, find the cheapest, nearest and best way to get directions or calculate the exact time of your arrival vehicles.
1. Railway
Japanese train stations are like a private world where there is regular operation between trains and passengers. Travelers begin to see the system of navigation between the line trains in Tokyo will have to “cry out” because too intertwined. However, thanks to that, Japanese railways can bring you to the right destination without having to walk too long. In Sofia Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in Translation, Charlotte’s character Scarlett Johansson was disturbed when she saw the map of JR lines in Tokyo and felt like she was “Alice in Wonderland”.
JR is the largest national railway system in Japan. There are also some smaller private-owned companies. JR operates on various types of trains, high-speed trains traveling from different cities and within the inner city. Shinkansen is the pride of JR in particular and the Japanese traffic in general. It is one of the fastest high-speed train systems in the world, capable of running at speeds up to 300 km/h in an earthquake or hurricane environment. Although the train is run at high speed, inside the Shinkansen is very quiet. Time travel between Kyoto and Tokyo (513.6 km distance) is only under three hours. Shinkansen’s one-way fare is quite expensive, sometimes up to 3.2 million and the more expensive it is.
However, the advantage of foreigners to travel to Japan when using the JR service in Japan is that they can buy JR Pass in the country for about 6 million VND (for 7 days use). This type of card when completed will be activated when arriving in Japan and only foreign visitors here to be allowed. If you travel a lot to Japan, follow the road from Kyoto to Tokyo or vice versa, you should buy JR Pass because you can use both the Shinkansen and the train to the airport.
2. Buses
The cheapest public transport, there are two types of buses in Japan, long distances, and the inner city. The Tokyo and Kyoto boulevards offer a variety of night buses for only 700,000 VND, with seats that can be laid in beds, comfortable footrests and 6 to 9 hours transfers. The bus destination is usually on the front of the vehicle, both in Japanese and in English. When you want to get off, passengers simply press the bell in front of you before the car stops at the next station. Furthermore, many Japanese youths or travelers who choose to travel between cities by bus because of the cheaper price of the train can save a night in the car. In addition, the bus can also view the city that if the train will be difficult to see. When traveling in the inner city of Kyoto, traveling by bus is much more convenient than going by train. Many people come to Kyoto to buy a full day package with a price of VND200, 000 / person.
3. Taxis
It is a convenient option but it’s also the most expensive public transport. Taxis in Japan are the high cost to the world and sometimes, many drivers also advised travelers should be surprised because they would be shocked to pay under the meter. In the evening, taxi charges may increase by about 20%. When traveling, if there are many reasons and the way to the airport will have to forward on two times, then you should call a taxi to the nearest station can take a train straight to the airport.
Besides these transports, tourists can choose other transports such as flight.
