Local Transportation

Planes, trains and automobiles.

Transportation is very expensive in Japan, so be prepared to dedicate a lot of your budget toward this if you plan to use trains and buses frequently to explore. Interns typically use trains or buses to commute. Interns can purchase a train pass teikiken 定期券 for one, three or six month periods, depending on how long they are staying.  Ask your co-workers, supervisor, or HR contact which type of pass is best to buy given your housing location. Be sure to get a SUICA or Pasmo (ICOCA in Kansai) pre-paid card to save time when going outside of your pass stations. You can refill these like a Charlie Card and it saves a lot of time buying tickets and figuring out the price each time you use the trains.

Sometimes, if you are at a university and have a Japanese university student ID card, it is possible to get a discounted rate for train. You can purchase SUICA or Pasmo IC smartcards as designated ticket vending machines at the train station. These cards are pre-paid and you can only use cash to add value. You can use it for most ground transportations--trains, subways, buses, etc. (unfortunately not in very rural areas), and e-payments at convenience stores and vending machines. 

 

 

Tips From Past Interns

About Shinkansen

If you buy Shinkansen tickets at a machine or ticket window, you can use the same ticket to transfer onto JR lines without paying extra: https://shinkansen.tabiris.com/shinaieki.html. For example, at Shinagawa, you could go straight through the JR transfer gate from the Shinkansen platforms to the Yamanote Line 在来線 platforms and travel within the Tokyo City limits for the same fare as the Shinkansen ticket. It could save you some time and money.

About PASMO and Commuter passes

I followed the instructions on the PASMO website. Note that the Japanese site has a little more information and some helpful pictures.

More specifically:

  1. I went to the “Commuter Rail Pass” office at my station to find the form mentioned on the site. I wasn’t sure which form to use (they both looked slightly different from the image on the Japanese site), so I showed one of the workers the online picture of the form and they directed me to a light blue-green form.
  2. Some of the specifics outside of demographic information I didn’t know how to fill out (too many hard kanji!!!), so I showed a worker a picture of my pass (which, fortunately, I had taken before losing it), and they helped me fill out the info.
  3. They asked for my ID (passport OK) and handed me a ticket and told me to take it to the station information center (which I guess counts as the “station or bus operator sales office” mentioned on the website)the following day.
  4. The following day, I showed the worker at the Information center my ticket and my passport, and I received a new copy of my commuter pass. I had to pay a fee of 1010 yen (in cash). Note that trains are almost always on time in Japan–pick up a schedule for the stations you use most and you can count on those times.

You will quickly learn that there are a variety of types of trains: 各駅停車 (kakueki teishaor kakutei, local) stop at every stop on the line, 急行 (kyuukou, express) stop at only certain stops, and 特急 (tokkyuu, limited express) only stop at the major stops. These can save you a lot of time in your commute, but if you get on one that doesn’t stop at your stop it is inconvenient. Check the schedule and make sure you choose the right one. Most trains stop running around midnight, even a bit earlier than in Boston.


Save your tickets! If you do buy individual tickets, you need to hold on to these as you use them when you exit the station. Unlike Boston where there is a single fare to ride the T, Japanese trains and subways charge based on where you are going and if you overshoot what you bought your ticket for you must pay extra when leaving. There are “fare adjustment machines” near the exit if you did not pay enough for the trip. Have your ticket or pass ready to tap as you exit the station.


Taxis are very expensive. It costs about ¥650-750 just to get into one, and then the meter goes up quickly as distance is covered. There are also “night rates” which can be up to 50% the normal rate so be careful when taking taxis late at night, though you may find yourself needing to if you miss the shuuden 終電 (last train). Also, taxi backseat doors open and close automatically–don’t try to close them yourself!

Travel

If you plan to travel extensively before or after your internship you may want to purchase a Japan Rail Pass

Selfie Sticks: As of September 2015, these long devices have been banned from over 1,000 JR stations in Western Japan so please check signs around the station should you decide to use a Selfie Stick, or just be safe (and not poke anyone!) and don’t use one!

Japan Rail Pass

The Japan Rail Pass (also known as the JR Pass) is a very cost effective rail pass for long distance train travel in Japan for any foreign tourists under the entry status of “temporary visitor.” JR Pass gives you unlimited access to the JR network nationwide for 7 days, 14 days, or 21 days. However, you must purchase the JR Pass Exchange Voucher before you go to Japan. Once purchasing the Voucher, you will have up to 90 days to exchange your Voucher for the JR Pass in Japan. You can easily exchange for a JR Pass at the airport upon arrival. You will need to present your passport so that the names on both the Voucher and the passport match. You can purchase your JR Pass Exchange Voucher: https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/

Here is a list of offices to exchange JR Pass Voucher: http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/exchange.html for that time. You can only purchase the JR Pass if you are going on a tourist visa. It is cheaper to buy in the United States. There are also a variety of day passes or week passes that can save you money when you’re planning to travel for a weekend.  Highway buses are cheap and practical options for longer distance, too. You can take overnight buses (many depart from major stations such as Tokyo Station and Osaka Station).

  • Although taking the Nozomi Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka may only take 2 hours and 20 minutes it will cost you 14,650 yen (about $135 at 105 yen to $1 exchange rate).
  • The overnight bus will take about seven hours but you can recline and (hopefully) sleep on the bus that will arrive in the morning for anywhere from 3,500 to 7,000 yen (about $33 to $67 dollar at 105 yen to $1 exchange rate), depending on which bus company you take. Make sure you reserve a ticket beforehand and give yourself plenty of time to find the bus stop since there may be multiple departure locations and can be confusing. 
  • If you think you will use the bus network extensively, Willer Express has an exceptionally cheap 5 day free pass for 15,000yen for those on tourist visa. Youth hostels are not always the cheapest option in Japan. Often there are 旅館 ryokan that target backpackers that are cheaper and nicer than hostels.
  • There are many online resources you can find for ryokanand 温泉 onsen. When in doubt, visit the Tourist Information Office at major train stations to find affordable accommodation options.

Long Distance

If you’re traveling long distances (to Hokkaido or Kyushu), taking a domestic airline might be a cheaper option.

  • Peach Airlines discounted fares, but beware of hidden fees.
  • Japan-guide.com has an extensive list and explanation to various airlines providing domestic services in Japan.

 Please find below all the airlines in Japan that provide domestic flights:

  • Domestic Airlines in Japan JAL Group / Japan Airlines
  • ANA Group Discounted Domestic Airlines in Japan(and services also to the region)
  • Peach Aviation: first discount domestic airline flying from/to various airports in Japan, strict and limited luggage policy, check for fees
  • Skymark Airlines: flies from/to Tokyo/Haneda airport and Kobe airport and throughout Japan. Most extensive discounted flights.
  • Jetstar Japan: domestic airline flying from/to various airports in Japan; strict and limited luggage policy, check for fees
  • Vanilla Air: flies from Tokyo/Narita to limited domestic cities, as well as to Hong Kong, China and Taiwan; strict and limited luggage policy, check for fees
  • Spring Airlines Japan: flies from Narita to Hiroshima, and to China
  • Air Do: mainly flights to Hokkaido

How to Use Trains in Japan

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