Transportation Guide

Get an IC card (Suica, PASMO, or ICOCA). One tap pays for trains, buses, many vending machines, and convenience stores nationwide where the IC mark is shown.

• Welcome Suica (plastic): Sold at Narita, Haneda Terminal 3, and JR East Travel Service Centers. No ¥500 deposit; valid 28 days from purchase; unused balance is forfeited. One per person.
• Regular Suica/PASMO: ¥500 refundable deposit, no 28-day expiry. Better for stays longer than a month or return trips.
• Works for: subways, most city buses, coin lockers, 7-Eleven, and many taxis — look for the IC mark.

The Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

The crown jewel of Japanese engineering. Tokyo to Kyoto (~513 km) takes a little over two hours on a Nozomi.

• Nozomi: Fastest, most frequent, fewest stops on the Tōkaidō line. Nationwide JR Pass holders need a paid NOZOMI・MIZUHO Ticket supplement (or ride Hikari instead).
• Hikari: Semi-fast; skips some stations. Included on the JR Pass.
• Kodama: Stops at every station — slower, not fewer stops.
• Luggage: Bags over 160 cm total dimensions (length + width + height) need a reserved “oversized baggage area” seat at the back of the car on Tōkaidō, San'yō, Kyushu, and Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen. Over 250 cm is not allowed. The onboard fee without a reservation is ¥1,000.

Is the JR Pass Worth It?

Often not for a Tokyo–Kyoto–Osaka round trip. After the October 2023 price rise, the 7-day Ordinary nationwide pass is ¥50,000 on the official JR site. From 1 October 2026 that official-site price stays ¥50,000 (14-day ¥80,000, 21-day ¥100,000); travel agencies charge ¥53,000 / ¥84,000 / ¥105,000. Nozomi still needs a paid supplement. It starts to pay off when you add Hiroshima, Kyushu, or Tōhoku inside the same week. Add up your legs before buying.

Better alternatives for many itineraries:

• Regional passes: JR WEST Kansai Wide Area Pass; JR EAST PASS (from 14 March 2026 this replaced the old Tohoku Area and Nagano–Niigata passes).
• Single tickets: Buy English e-tickets on the SmartEX app and ride Nozomi without a supplement.

Tokyo and Osaka have dense, numbered subway networks. They are fast and cheap; JR and private railways are separate fares.

• Tokyo Subway Ticket: Unlimited Tokyo Metro and Toei subway (not JR) for 24 h (¥1,000), 48 h (¥1,500), or 72 h (¥2,000), from first use. For visitors on short-term stay; paper or QR. Does not cover JR Yamanote or other JR lines.
• Navigation: Stations are numbered (e.g. M14 = Marunouchi Line, station 14). Follow the numbers and line color if you cannot read the kanji.
• Exits: Yellow signs on the platform name the useful exits. The wrong one can add a long walk at a big station.

City Buses (Kyoto)

In Kyoto, city buses still matter for some temple hops. On most Kyoto City Bus routes you board at the rear and pay at the front as you get off (IC card or cash). They are often full; the subway and JR/Hankyu/Keihan trains are faster for longer legs.

Highway Buses

The budget option for overnight hops. A night bus Tokyo–Osaka is often well under the Shinkansen fare and saves a hotel night; prices move with the date. Willer Express is a common English-language booking site.

Japanese taxis are spotless, with automatic doors (don't touch them!).

• Cost: Expensive. Use them for short hops or when carrying heavy luggage.
• Apps: Uber works in Tokyo/Kyoto (it hails a taxi). GO is the most popular local taxi app.
• Red vs. Green: A glowing RED sign means "Empty" (Available). GREEN means "Occupied". It's the opposite of what you might expect!

• Takkyūbin (宅急便): Yamato (black cat) and others ship a suitcase hotel-to-hotel, typically a few thousand yen. Ask the front desk rather than dragging bags onto rush-hour trains.
• Station lockers: Most stations have coin lockers; many take IC cards. Sizes sell out by mid-morning at Tokyo and Kyoto.
• Share bikes / e-scooters: Luup and similar apps operate in some cities. Specified small e-scooters have age and lane rules — read the local terms before you ride.