Public transportation in Japan is mainly represented by railroads.
1. Railroads
A network of ultra-modern high-speed trains connects most of the country's cities and also serves most domestic routes in metropolitan areas. They are divided into long-distance trains and local lines, which in turn are subdivided into simple express trains, "limited express" trains, and ordinary electric trains that run with all stops.
Whatever the distance, all Japanese trains are equipped with cushioned seats, coffee and refreshment machines, toilets, public telephones, and convenient signage in Japanese and English.
To travel by rail, the Japan Rail Pass (valid only for visitors with a tourist visa, purchased in advance) provides unlimited travel on Japan Railways trains, buses, and ferries, as well as some private trains, for a specified period of time (one, two, or three weeks). The ticket is personalized and cannot be transferred to another person (you must show your passport during inspections to verify the legitimacy of the purchase).
2. Urban Railroads
Inner-city rail lines are color-coded, have rather confusing routes, and often leave from the same platforms, so you should carefully study the information boards (they also provide information about the price of travel to a particular station).
Tickets cost 120-300 JPY and are purchased at special ticket machines at stations and handed over at the exit of the train at the destination station. There are special electronic orange cards worth 1000, 3000, 5000, and 10000 JPY, which must be inserted into a special machine before traveling, and the ticket price is automatically deducted from the card.
When you switch from one company's branch to another company's branch, you buy a new ticket. You can also pay extra for the ticket at the destination station.
3. Bus service
Most bus routes operate from 7:00 to 21:00. Some buses serving remote areas operate from 5:30 to 23:00. Each stop is labeled with its name, route and number, often in Japanese only, however.
Pay before you get off the bus. In the city it costs about 200 JPY, outside the city depending on the distance. There is a one-day pass for around 1200 JPY (600 JPY for children under 12), which is also valid for subway travel in some cases.
